Okay...
"Calling the company callous and arrogant, [the judge] ordered [Home Depot]
to pay the former Boca Raton man $3 million in punitive damages. That's on
top of the $15 million a jury in March said the company should pay him for
stealing his so-called "Safe Hands" gadget that is now affixed to radial
saws at nearly 2,000 Home Depots nationwide. "
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/home-depot-called-arrogant-ordered-to-pay-ex-680890.html
Best I can tell, the "safe hands" device is a two-dollar plastic guard. The
inventor originally offered the invention to HD for $2,000 per saw.
On Thu, 13 May 2010 16:31:16 -0500, "basilisk" <[email protected]>
wrote the following:
>
>"Larry Jaques" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> On Thu, 13 May 2010 12:00:54 -0400, "J. Clarke"
>> <[email protected]> wrote the following:
>>
>>>On 5/13/2010 11:14 AM, HeyBub wrote:
>>>> Okay...
>>>>
>>>> "Calling the company callous and arrogant, [the judge] ordered [Home
>>>> Depot]
>>>> to pay the former Boca Raton man $3 million in punitive damages. That's
>>>> on
>>>> top of the $15 million a jury in March said the company should pay him
>>>> for
>>>> stealing his so-called "Safe Hands" gadget that is now affixed to radial
>>>> saws at nearly 2,000 Home Depots nationwide. "
>>>>
>>>> http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/home-depot-called-arrogant-ordered-to-pay-ex-680890.html
>>>>
>>>> Best I can tell, the "safe hands" device is a two-dollar plastic guard.
>>>> The
>>>> inventor originally offered the invention to HD for $2,000 per saw.
>>>
>>>Looking at the guy's patent, it's a lot more than a "two-dollar plastic
>>>guard". On the other hand it's the kind of rube goldberg contraption
>>>that just begs to be defeated.
>>>
>>>I can't see where it's worth 2000 bucks a pop though unless he makes the
>>>things out of gold.
>>
>> From an article in the Palm Beach Post News, "Company officials liked
>> the gadget Powell ultimately invented, according to his suit. It
>> purchased eight of them for stores in Los Angeles and Atlanta. They
>> told him they'd like to buy the devices for each of their 2,000 stores
>> for $1,200 apiece.
>>
>> After Powell balked at the price, he claims they contacted another
>> company to produce the safety equipment for them. He has since moved
>> his company from Boca Raton to North Carolina."
>>
>> I see why the guy said "Fuck him." He turned down a $2.4 million
>> offer after they purchased 8 at his retail price. It was an extremely
>> dumb move on both their parts, wasn't it?
>
>Possibly not his best move, but it was his invention, design and product,
>he should be able to charge whatever he wanted. HD had two valid
>options, not use it or pay his price.
True, but I was merely commenting on the reason behind the guy saying
FO to the inventor. It's the same with the asshole who invented the
saw stop. He had a chance to go global with a great invention but
chose the "extreme filthy lucre" route instead of just becoming
famous, well liked, and very, very wealthy. A sane person just has to
shake their heads at that kind of action. There isn't a hint
whatsoever of altruism in either of the guys and they'll go down in
history as greedy bastards instead of good, smart guys who got rich
and did society some good. Fuck 'em both. "I spit on your
grandmother's shadow." is a saying by Native Americans to show their
disgust with a person's life choices when they disgrace their lineage.
These guys' grannies' shadows are surely drowning by now.
>If someone offers me 60% of my regular price, I will offer something more
>in their price range or respectfully decline.
Ditto.
--
Work and struggle and never accept an evil that you can change.
-- Andre Gide
Robert Haar wrote:
> On 5/14/10 5:59 AM, "Ed Pawlowski" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>
>> "Lobby Dosser" <[email protected]> wrote
>>>>
>>>
>>> Looks like a lot more than $2.00 worth of plastic, including
>>> prevention of unauthorized use. However, why would anyone want one
>>> of these? Easier and cheaper to just use miter or table saws.
>>
>> They are used in HD stores to prevent untrained employees or random
>> customers from using the saws and cutting their hands off. It can
>> save big bucks from injury lawsuits.
>>
>
> Correct. But a lock out on the power would do the same. The other
> features seem to be spring loaded blocks to hold the work piece and
> dust collection.
There is a lockout on the power as well. In theory, only those with a need
to know, know the super secret code.
--
-Mike-
[email protected]
On 05/14/2010 06:11 AM, Robert Haar wrote:
> On 5/14/10 5:59 AM, "Ed Pawlowski" <[email protected]> wrote:
>> "Lobby Dosser" <[email protected]> wrote
>>> Looks like a lot more than $2.00 worth of plastic, including prevention of
>>> unauthorized use. However, why would anyone want one of these? Easier and
>>> cheaper to just use miter or table saws.
>>
>> They are used in HD stores to prevent untrained employees or random
>> customers from using the saws and cutting their hands off. It can save big
>> bucks from injury lawsuits.
>
> Correct. But a lock out on the power would do the same. The other features
> seem to be spring loaded blocks to hold the work piece and dust collection.
I suspect they're also there to allow minimally-trained employees to use
the saw, and to make it physically more difficult to get into trouble.
Chris
"HeyBub" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Okay...
>
> "Calling the company callous and arrogant, [the judge] ordered [Home
> Depot] to pay the former Boca Raton man $3 million in punitive damages.
> That's on top of the $15 million a jury in March said the company should
> pay him for stealing his so-called "Safe Hands" gadget that is now affixed
> to radial saws at nearly 2,000 Home Depots nationwide. "
>
> http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/home-depot-called-arrogant-ordered-to-pay-ex-680890.html
>
> Best I can tell, the "safe hands" device is a two-dollar plastic guard.
> The inventor originally offered the invention to HD for $2,000 per saw.
>
Home Depot arrogant?? Who woulda thunk that. LOL
A classic example of an arrogant big boy just stealing what they want and
not paying for it. They got called on it. Not to worry, they will just
pass the cost of the settlement onto all of their customers.
I have seen this device. It looks effective and obviously worked. I wonder
if a home made device could be made for radial arm saws. I don't have one at
the moment or I would try it. It has hydraulic clamps on it. And it can only
be used for straight 90 degree cuts. But it is safe.
On 2010-05-13 11:14:07 -0400, "HeyBub" <[email protected]> said:
> Best I can tell, the "safe hands" device is a two-dollar plastic guard.
> The inventor originally offered the invention to HD for $2,000 per saw.
Here's a pitcher:
http://v3.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?DB=EPODOC&adjacent=true&locale=en_EP&FT=D&date=20060928&CC=US&NR=2006213349A1&KC=A1
There's
also a link to a PDF of the patent document.
On 2010-05-14 08:42:41 -0400, "Mike Marlow"
<[email protected]> said:
> There is a lockout on the power as well. In theory, only those with a
> need to know, know the super secret code.
You know those portable roadside message boards? Most of them still
have "password," the default, as the active password.
Occasionally, you'll see a message like "Zombie Attacks Ahead" as a result...
"HeyBub" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Okay...
>
> "Calling the company callous and arrogant, [the judge] ordered [Home
> Depot] to pay the former Boca Raton man $3 million in punitive damages.
> That's on top of the $15 million a jury in March said the company should
> pay him for stealing his so-called "Safe Hands" gadget that is now affixed
> to radial saws at nearly 2,000 Home Depots nationwide. "
>
> http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/home-depot-called-arrogant-ordered-to-pay-ex-680890.html
>
> Best I can tell, the "safe hands" device is a two-dollar plastic guard.
> The inventor originally offered the invention to HD for $2,000 per saw.
If only he could have invented a way to get a Hell Depot employee to respond
to the P.A. page and come and operate the saw....
Sadly this is quite common, either you sell them your design for what they
want to pay or they just make a near-copy and run you in circles with
lawyers. It applies to tool, software, even screenplays believe it or not.
Hopefully the appeals court in this case declines to hear HD's appeal for
lack of legal errors in the first trial.
On 5/14/10 5:59 AM, "Ed Pawlowski" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> "Lobby Dosser" <[email protected]> wrote
>>>
>>
>> Looks like a lot more than $2.00 worth of plastic, including prevention of
>> unauthorized use. However, why would anyone want one of these? Easier and
>> cheaper to just use miter or table saws.
>
> They are used in HD stores to prevent untrained employees or random
> customers from using the saws and cutting their hands off. It can save big
> bucks from injury lawsuits.
>
Correct. But a lock out on the power would do the same. The other features
seem to be spring loaded blocks to hold the work piece and dust collection.
"Larry Jaques" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Thu, 13 May 2010 12:00:54 -0400, "J. Clarke"
> <[email protected]> wrote the following:
>
>>On 5/13/2010 11:14 AM, HeyBub wrote:
>>> Okay...
>>>
>>> "Calling the company callous and arrogant, [the judge] ordered [Home
>>> Depot]
>>> to pay the former Boca Raton man $3 million in punitive damages. That's
>>> on
>>> top of the $15 million a jury in March said the company should pay him
>>> for
>>> stealing his so-called "Safe Hands" gadget that is now affixed to radial
>>> saws at nearly 2,000 Home Depots nationwide. "
>>>
>>> http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/home-depot-called-arrogant-ordered-to-pay-ex-680890.html
>>>
>>> Best I can tell, the "safe hands" device is a two-dollar plastic guard.
>>> The
>>> inventor originally offered the invention to HD for $2,000 per saw.
>>
>>Looking at the guy's patent, it's a lot more than a "two-dollar plastic
>>guard". On the other hand it's the kind of rube goldberg contraption
>>that just begs to be defeated.
>>
>>I can't see where it's worth 2000 bucks a pop though unless he makes the
>>things out of gold.
>
> From an article in the Palm Beach Post News, "Company officials liked
> the gadget Powell ultimately invented, according to his suit. It
> purchased eight of them for stores in Los Angeles and Atlanta. They
> told him they'd like to buy the devices for each of their 2,000 stores
> for $1,200 apiece.
>
> After Powell balked at the price, he claims they contacted another
> company to produce the safety equipment for them. He has since moved
> his company from Boca Raton to North Carolina."
>
> I see why the guy said "Fuck him." He turned down a $2.4 million
> offer after they purchased 8 at his retail price. It was an extremely
> dumb move on both their parts, wasn't it?
Possibly not his best move, but it was his invention, design and product,
he should be able to charge whatever he wanted. HD had two valid
options, not use it or pay his price.
If someone offers me 60% of my regular price, I will offer something more
in their price range or respectfully decline.
basilisk
"Larry Jaques" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I see why the guy said "Fuck him." He turned down a $2.4 million
> offer after they purchased 8 at his retail price. It was an extremely
> dumb move on both their parts, wasn't it?
It wasn't a retail price, it was *the* price--apparently the only one he
ever intended to charge them. They tried to low-ball him figuring either
way they'd come out ahead. If he caved they'd pay a lower price, if he
refused they would just steal his design. That plan doesn't seemed to have
worked out so well.
"Lobby Dosser" <[email protected]> wrote
>>
>
> Looks like a lot more than $2.00 worth of plastic, including prevention of
> unauthorized use. However, why would anyone want one of these? Easier and
> cheaper to just use miter or table saws.
They are used in HD stores to prevent untrained employees or random
customers from using the saws and cutting their hands off. It can save big
bucks from injury lawsuits.
After Home Depot ripped him off and got caught $4K was cheap and it proved
to much cheaper if they would have just "fessed up". The $4K had nothing to
do with what the gadget was worth. It was punishment for being theives,
unsanctioned by the courts. Now it is.
"J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
Looking at the guy's patent, it's a lot more than a "two-dollar plastic
guard". On the other hand it's the kind of rube goldberg contraption
that just begs to be defeated.
I can't see where it's worth 2000 bucks a pop though unless he makes the
things out of gold.
On May 13, 11:14=A0am, "HeyBub" <[email protected]> wrote:
> Okay...
>
> "Calling the company callous and arrogant, [the judge] ordered [Home Depo=
t]
> to pay the former Boca Raton man $3 million in punitive damages. That's o=
n
> top of the $15 million a jury in March said the company should pay him fo=
r
> stealing his so-called "Safe Hands" gadget that is now affixed to radial
> saws at nearly 2,000 Home Depots nationwide. "
>
> http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/home-depot-called-arrogant-ordered-...
>
> Best I can tell, the "safe hands" device is a two-dollar plastic guard. T=
he
> inventor originally offered the invention to HD for $2,000 per saw.
HD got what it deserved. If they had paid up initially, then they
would have shelled out $4 million instead of $20 million plus. They
did rip off his invention and then said "F*** You" to him. The price
per saw seemed a little bit out of line at $2,000 per, but we don't
know what he had in cost to develop it to begin with or if the $2,000
covered installation as well.
Allen
On 5/13/2010 11:14 AM, HeyBub wrote:
> Okay...
>
> "Calling the company callous and arrogant, [the judge] ordered [Home Depot]
> to pay the former Boca Raton man $3 million in punitive damages. That's on
> top of the $15 million a jury in March said the company should pay him for
> stealing his so-called "Safe Hands" gadget that is now affixed to radial
> saws at nearly 2,000 Home Depots nationwide. "
>
> http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/home-depot-called-arrogant-ordered-to-pay-ex-680890.html
>
> Best I can tell, the "safe hands" device is a two-dollar plastic guard. The
> inventor originally offered the invention to HD for $2,000 per saw.
Looking at the guy's patent, it's a lot more than a "two-dollar plastic
guard". On the other hand it's the kind of rube goldberg contraption
that just begs to be defeated.
I can't see where it's worth 2000 bucks a pop though unless he makes the
things out of gold.
"Steve" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On 2010-05-13 11:14:07 -0400, "HeyBub" <[email protected]> said:
>
>> Best I can tell, the "safe hands" device is a two-dollar plastic guard.
>> The inventor originally offered the invention to HD for $2,000 per saw.
>
> Here's a pitcher:
> http://v3.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?DB=EPODOC&adjacent=true&locale=en_EP&FT=D&date=20060928&CC=US&NR=2006213349A1&KC=A1
>
> There's
> also a link to a PDF of the patent document.
>
Looks like a lot more than $2.00 worth of plastic, including prevention of
unauthorized use. However, why would anyone want one of these? Easier and
cheaper to just use miter or table saws.
"Steve" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On 2010-05-14 08:42:41 -0400, "Mike Marlow" <[email protected]>
> said:
>
>> There is a lockout on the power as well. In theory, only those with a
>> need to know, know the super secret code.
>
> You know those portable roadside message boards? Most of them still have
> "password," the default, as the active password.
>
> Occasionally, you'll see a message like "Zombie Attacks Ahead" as a
> result...
>
LOL!
On Thu, 13 May 2010 12:00:54 -0400, "J. Clarke"
<[email protected]> wrote the following:
>On 5/13/2010 11:14 AM, HeyBub wrote:
>> Okay...
>>
>> "Calling the company callous and arrogant, [the judge] ordered [Home Depot]
>> to pay the former Boca Raton man $3 million in punitive damages. That's on
>> top of the $15 million a jury in March said the company should pay him for
>> stealing his so-called "Safe Hands" gadget that is now affixed to radial
>> saws at nearly 2,000 Home Depots nationwide. "
>>
>> http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/home-depot-called-arrogant-ordered-to-pay-ex-680890.html
>>
>> Best I can tell, the "safe hands" device is a two-dollar plastic guard. The
>> inventor originally offered the invention to HD for $2,000 per saw.
>
>Looking at the guy's patent, it's a lot more than a "two-dollar plastic
>guard". On the other hand it's the kind of rube goldberg contraption
>that just begs to be defeated.
>
>I can't see where it's worth 2000 bucks a pop though unless he makes the
>things out of gold.
From an article in the Palm Beach Post News, "Company officials liked
the gadget Powell ultimately invented, according to his suit. It
purchased eight of them for stores in Los Angeles and Atlanta. They
told him they'd like to buy the devices for each of their 2,000 stores
for $1,200 apiece.
After Powell balked at the price, he claims they contacted another
company to produce the safety equipment for them. He has since moved
his company from Boca Raton to North Carolina."
I see why the guy said "Fuck him." He turned down a $2.4 million
offer after they purchased 8 at his retail price. It was an extremely
dumb move on both their parts, wasn't it?
How much of the $15M and $4M will be reimititurred by the judges?
--
You will find that the mere resolve not to be useless,
and the honest desire to help other people, will, in
the quickest and delicatest ways, improve yourself.
-- John Ruskin
"Robert Haar" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:C812B64C.494D94%[email protected]...
> On 5/14/10 5:59 AM, "Ed Pawlowski" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>
>> "Lobby Dosser" <[email protected]> wrote
>>>>
>>>
>>> Looks like a lot more than $2.00 worth of plastic, including prevention
>>> of
>>> unauthorized use. However, why would anyone want one of these? Easier
>>> and
>>> cheaper to just use miter or table saws.
>>
>> They are used in HD stores to prevent untrained employees or random
>> customers from using the saws and cutting their hands off. It can save
>> big
>> bucks from injury lawsuits.
>>
>
> Correct. But a lock out on the power would do the same. The other features
> seem to be spring loaded blocks to hold the work piece and dust
> collection.
>
Those other features are important to prevent holding you hand in the blade
path. That alone makes it more valuable than just a lock on the power.
Put yourself in the position of making a saw safe for use by 3000 people
you've never met or trained, but can sue you if they get nicked.