Who went to the Hare & Forbes sale?

[Ausworkshop]

Just wondered if anyone got any bargains from the Hare & Forbes sale today?

I went down for a look at the 12inch bench top disk sander I saw advertised in their add in the AWR.

They had it for about $1 less than usual price.
Turns out after a quick search online that Carbatec sell almost the exact same one for 30 bucks cheaper until the end of March.

I mentioned it to the guy and asked if he'd match the price and he grunted 'nup' and walked off on me. So I got a free sausage sizzle and left.

That's the second time I've bothered to drive down to the sale looking for bargains only to find a whole lot of average or over priced crap from China.

Very disappointed with what I thought used to be a good company with great service and bargain machinery. I don't think i'll bother going there again, sale or no sale.

I could get half that stuff from online sites, delivered to my door, for less than they are asking at thier once a year sale! I guess thats the way the world is going.

Whats everyone elses opinion?
Anyone else go to the sale?

[AlexS]

Yeah, went there to get the LED work light with the mag. base. Also picked up a set of ear protectors and some grinding wheels, and some lanoline spray - we'll see how good it is. Lots of people there, didn't look at prices on other stuff. It's not far from me, so travel wasn't a consideration.

[toolbagsPLUS]

Had every intention of buying dust extractor and stuff from H&F Brisbane but on the way up realised Carba-tec was closer. So rang 'em up on the car phone and told them of my plight and the prices, they matched and in some cases bettered the H&F sale prices. So turned of the road pressed Carbatec in the GPS and saved on petrol money as well.:2tsup:

Cheers


Steve

[sinners]

could you get the sale price and buy off their site because i tried to sign up and it wouldnt let me. Was this an in-shop thing only?

Josh

[BoomerangInfo]

Well I joined up online and managed to buy a drill press. Picking it up is something to be sorted out yet.

I'd been after a 3/4 height pedestal press from my local h/ware store for weeks. I just misse dbuying the last floorstock they had. Price at that time was $343, and we get 10% off there, so that seemed pretty good.

So I ordered another from them. Went to pick it up yesterday after waiting two weeks to get it in, and the guy says "that's be $479 please". I go ??!!! and tell him to forget it, as I could get a full height pedestal in Brisbane for $420. He told me he couldn't even go below $470.

So I jumped on the H&F site, and they had virtually the same drill I wanted for $329, reduced from $385, so I jumped while I had the chance, as that's the cheapest I've seen it anywhere I can pickup from.

Russell.

[orraloon]

I got the sale flyer in the mail and when I compared it with last years cattledog there were no bargins to be seen. Saved me a drive down so not all bad.

[Gaza]

dont forget that our dollar has dropped down from 90ish to 65 now. most items at HF are priced higher than there current caterlog. so it is a sale just not a lot of bargins for us all.

[funkychicken]

I bought myself a Metal lathe and associated bits on Friday, I saved a fair bit too.

[Rookie]

I went down yesterday and bought a bench drill. Been looking for ages and it was the first time I have seen a decent one under $300. I needed an 80mm quill travel. I was happy.

[Afro Boy]

I went down a weel before the sale and got the 3PH dusty (http://woodworkforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=91126) for the sale price.

I haven't been there before but they seemed quite nice and the guy who loaded the dusty into my ute was really helpful. It was bucketing down with rain and he wrapped up the box in plastic wrap to keep it all dry and protected whilst I drove home.

[PEN]

I went to North Parramatta on Friday and purchased the annual disposables as I have at H& F for many years Great sale for that sought of thing.
Also purchased a small bobbin sander that will come in handy mainly for making mdf templates. Yes, I thought the prices on the disposables were a little higher than last yea, but as explained above that has to be expected because of the dollar.

I can't complain about H&F prices or service, but I suppose it depends on your own expectations. If you are buying Chinese made you expect to pay cheap, but if you want Rolls Royce you have to pay their price. Just compare the Chinese quality saws with the quality of say Felder and Altendorf. Because things are tuff Felder and Altendorf are not going to cut their prices by 50% just to get sales. They have been around for to long to go down that track and their reputation will be there long after the recession is gone.

PEN:):)

[Milar]

I went down on Saturday and though long and hard about getting the Scheppach wetstone grinder for $199. Didn't get it, got a mobile base that was $10 off I think and a few odd and ends.

A soon as I got home, I decided I should have got the grinder! By then it was too late.:rolleyes:

[munruben]

I decided not to go at the last minute so I saved some money.:)

[ToothFairy]

Got to Northmead (NSW) early on Thursday morning; bought a Scheppach 2000 sharpener for $199, and a couple of other bits and pieces. But H&F don't carry the wheel dressing tool, and they package the grading stone and jigs in bundles. Not an attractive deal. Sydney Tools advertised the dresser and grader on their website, so I tried that. 30 minutes after I placed my online order, all Scheppach products had disappeared off the site -- though the credit card payment still went through. A phone call on Friday revealed that they don't carry Scheppach stuff any more, so I'm expecting a credit refund.

Meanwhile, I'm sure I can use the Tormek grader, but I'm not sure about their dressing tool. Should be OK if the bar arrangement for the jigs is the same diameter. Anyone know?

- Michael

[Alastair]

I went down to Windsor Rd, really looking for some trifles, and to try and convince myself on a contractor saw, ($850 cf cattledog $990).

In fact also found that 1hp motor I needed for b/s (and which was not mentioned in the sale flyer) was reduced from ~$195 to $159, so that was a bonus.

Best deal I saw was their TS250 saw, reduced from $1625 to $1250

I had been there earlier in the week, and can confirm the cattledog prices were same as posted prices, for everything I saw, so would have to say the sale was genuine.

Came away with the motor, and rt angle drill attachment and micrometer from the general sale, so happy.

Was contemplating going back for the saw, but after building inspection on a house I am looking to buy, found I would have to do ~$12k work, so might have to pull out and forfeit $1350 deposit, so could not justify the expense. Bugger:((

[Old farmer]

I am deaf, on a stick, so cannot get around easily. I have been e-mailing H & F on Windsor Road since early last week teeing up prices on specials, placed the order and hoping for delivery on Wednesday.
So far, I have been treated well, would be very disappointed if it all falls in an heap as the family has been dealing with H & F since the 1970s.