Thread: Catalogue GMC

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

Bounty Hunter

Just to return to the original thread for a moment, I spotted this site a few weeks ago myself soon after the Australian GMC site disappeared. Clearly they have re-established themselves in pommie land.

Without knowing the exact details, and I am sure someone will be able to help here, I suspect they are declared bankrupt in Australia and will not be able to re-open for business for at least 7 years. I think that is the time frame (or it may be 5 years).

"they were bought by an english company called Silverline also known as Powerbox. No bankruptcy, were simply sold"

I am sympathetic to them for creating a niche in the market and the also because of the means of their demise.

GMC made alot of tools that were previously too expensive cheap enough for the home handyman to purchase...think compressors, generators etc

My understanding is they made the cardinal sin of putting too many eggs in one basket in that a huge segment of their market relied on Bunnings. I don't know if there was a falling out, but Bunnings decided to withdraw the GMC products and introduce their own brand Ozito.

GMC were booted from Bunnings because Ryobi went exclusive with Bunnings foregoing the 25 years trading hey had done with other companies like M10. This is similar to what Ryobi do overseas with American big box retailers. They simply did not need Ryobi, GMC and Ozito. Ozito are their own brand so they were always going to stay...it then became down to GMC and Ryobi and with Bunnings price matching policy they wouldnt have to price match Ryobi if it was exclusive to them!

Their 24 month guarantee was clearly too generous also and was open to abuse.

GMC tried to rein in some control by introducing a warranty that was determined by them, ie you rang GMC when you had a problem instead of going back to the store. This way we didnt have Bunnings people just handing over new items when the customer had "told" them the old unit had a problem. 70% of items that came back from Bunnings to us with faulty written on them actually had no faults at all. But with OH&S these days Bunnings staff are not allowed to test anything that comes back....basically they just take the customers word.

GMC were clearly sailing very close to the wind anyway and Bunnings action booted them straight over the precipice. The cynic in me might suggest that Bunnings were aware of the possibilities and it certainly opened an opportunity for their own Ozito brand.

I mention all this because I found many of their tools to be very good value albeit a little agricultural and not the best ever quality. It was the lower end of the market after all. They were very innovative in that they marketed products nobody else was making.

Sorry, I am in danger of highjacking the thread myself here.

The original reason I was looking at GMC was I was chasing a ball bearing and spring that escaped from my GMC biscuit jointer. I have not worked out yet whether the pommie version is the same.

GPT in Campbellfield in Melbourne bought all the GMC spare parts when GMC Oz folded...I dont think they would have one but you never know.

Finally, I don't expect to see GMC in Oz for quite a while, if ever.

Only way I could see GMC returning is through Woolies.....Bunnings are dead to them now and GMC are dead to Bunnings.

Regards
Paul