Thread: Fed up with Carbatec.

Originally Posted by number86

Hello all. Long time lurker, first time poster.

Last year I bought a 2nd hand Carbatec portable thicknesser. This year the motor burned out, and I so I ordered a replacement.

Anyway. I might be in the market for a new thicknesser very soon. I assume the Ryobi (Bunnings) and the Sherwood (Timbecon) are similar machines to the one I'm replacing. Are there others I should know about?

Hi, I'd rather not get into the issue of CT as I have had, usually, great responses from them here in Brisbane. I can certainly give a great positive report card to someone here in Brisbane named Jocelyn, though I don't know if that is the same person referred to in other posts. It all depends on the people you deal with. In my experience Carba-tec are a good company but do not seem to be good with repairs I must say. Their cheaper competitors, Hare and Forbes, however, at least here in Brisbane, have been wonderful. I had the motor burn out on a Chinese 12 inch table saw (in warranty, just) and their service guy turned up on time and fitted a new, higher spec motor, no fuss.

My main contributions to this thread, however, are a different view.

1. If I had a motor burn out on a machine here in Brisbane - out of warranty - I would not necessarily go to the original supplier. We have a great electric motor repair place here (A.C Hargreaves) - no connection to me - that can repair or replace just about any electrical motor I have ever taken to them. There must be equivalent companies close to you?

2. the portable thicknessers are very light-weight and are all probably Chinese made. It really would be better to save up and purchase a good thicknesser with cast iron tables and decent motor, preferably spiral/helical head if new or a good second hand European machine OF ANY CUTTER HEAD DESIGN.

I hear you.
My wife ordered a jet drum sander for me late December2015.
Was told it would be here in Perth within two weeks...
Four weeks pass, no sander. When I rang to ask where or when, I was told four had arrived a week ago and had all been sold.
So I asked why wasnt I given a call to say my order had arrived?
The answer was "You hadn't ordered one"...
At this point I got a tad annoyed and asked the guy, 'Are you calling my Wife a liar? Here is tne order number m you twatt".
Mumble mumble mumble was the answer, so I said dont bother as I wont ever do business with you again.
Lo and behold m THREE months later I get a call from Carbatec saying my sander had arrived.....
Rest assured my reply was not polite.
End result is Carbatec has lost over 5k worth of consumables sales and 15k plus
Machinery sales from me.

Recently I was in touch with Carba-tec to purchase a portable thicknesser and a dust extract system from the brissy mob, I ask what sort of deal can they do, exact words were where did you get the prices from , "internet" my reply , then that's the price, so much for customer loyalty I have spent quite a few $$$ in their shop over the last few years, I checked around and Hare & forbes had similar machines and offered me a $50 voucher also a $20 one and the chap said wait 2 weeks and check for the Tax time specials that wee happening, I did and saved a total of $260 (which I spent at the Brissy wood show) Teguy at H & F couldn't help me enough explained the dust extactor wasn't the country til end June and they would deliver free when arrived, I am not bagging out Caba-tec just the facts from a now EX customer.

Originally Posted by Dingobass

I hear you.
My wife ordered a jet drum sander for me late December2015.
Was told it would be here in Perth within two weeks...
Four weeks pass, no sander. When I rang to ask where or when, I was told four had arrived a week ago and had all been sold.
So I asked why wasnt I given a call to say my order had arrived?
The answer was "You hadn't ordered one"...
At this point I got a tad annoyed and asked the guy, 'Are you calling my Wife a liar? Here is tne order number m you twatt".
Mumble mumble mumble was the answer, so I said dont bother as I wont ever do business with you again.
Lo and behold m THREE months later I get a call from Carbatec saying my sander had arrived.....
Rest assured my reply was not polite.
End result is Carbatec has lost over 5k worth of consumables sales and 15k plus
Machinery sales from me.

Hold on, just back up a minute.....your wife ordered you a drum sander????

These issues appear to come up continually with Carbatec, however unfortunately there does not appear to be an appropriate alternative to them - especially on my side of Melbourne.

If there was, I would seriously consider using them.

Originally Posted by cava

These issues appear to come up continually with Carbatec, however unfortunately there does not appear to be an appropriate alternative to them - especially on my side of Melbourne.

If there was, I would seriously consider using them.

thats the main issue isn't it, we need another 1 stop shop for competition, because unless your prepared to deal with all the little retailers to get what carbatec has, there isn't an alternative. I wonder if we can convince Rockler to open in Aus.....

I only buy my Festool sandpaper and domino from Carbatec...

Originally Posted by bubblesold

Recently I was in touch with Carba-tec to purchase a portable thicknesser and a dust extract system from the brissy mob, I ask what sort of deal can they do, exact words were where did you get the prices from , "internet" my reply , then that's the price, so much for customer loyalty I have spent quite a few $$$ in their shop over the last few years, I checked around and Hare & forbes had similar machines and offered me a $50 voucher also a $20 one and the chap said wait 2 weeks and check for the Tax time specials that wee happening, I did and saved a total of $260 (which I spent at the Brissy wood show) Teguy at H & F couldn't help me enough explained the dust extactor wasn't the country til end June and they would deliver free when arrived, I am not bagging out Caba-tec just the facts from a now EX customer.

Yeah I'm a big fan of H & F, they also have an email list that sends out regular discount codes. Last purchase I made was 45 dollars down from 60 and I wound up getting like 30 bucks of rulers and a tape measure thrown in for free. Great value.

CT's service went south the day they changed their phone service......to ring from regional South Australia to CT Adelaide? "hello Brisbane" and wait and wait and then hang up in disgust !!! micky mouse to say the least !!!!!

Originally Posted by bubblesold

... exact words were where did you get the prices from , "internet" my reply , then that's the price, ...

Yes, I learned that you never say I got it off the internet. You name the supplier and include shipping. When I bought my festool saw I went to a local supplier to see if they would price match a Melbourne company (free shipping at the time) as soon as I use the "i" word the guy turned around and just walked off. I should have said company X in Melbourne with free shipping.

John

Originally Posted by Yanis

Yes, I learned that you never say I got it off the internet. You name the supplier and include shipping. When I bought my festool saw I went to a local supplier to see if they would price match a Melbourne company (free shipping at the time) as soon as I use the "i" word the guy turned around and just walked off. I should have said company X in Melbourne with free shipping.

John

So stupid. I understand the internet has made life harder for retailers but that's not how you solve the problem.

Bunnings, Masters, Mitre 10, H&F, Carbetec ......... SERVICE ???????

Unfortunately, Carbetec is far from the bottom of the pile.



Fair Winds

Graeme

Originally Posted by GraemeCook

Bunnings, Masters, Mitre 10, H&F, Carbetec ......... SERVICE ???????

Unfortunately, Carbetec is far from the bottom of the pile.



Fair Winds

Graeme

That's the problem with chains I guess. Wildly different service across the stores.

CT arent the only gig in town. There are some truly excellent retailers out there which really deserve our business.

Perhaps it's time the WWF puts up a list of hardware retailers, timber merchants and various associated suppliers? I think it would be excellent. My bookmark list is great, but there might be more than I know of (here in Oz) to save buying from OS.