Thread: Carbatec Ordering system

......and they wonder why people buy online from os

But wait, we can fix that by charging GST on that

Originally Posted by Hermit

What gets my goat is the Carbatec automatic back-order system. And unavailability of many items.
I'd love to see them update their website so that out-of-stock items are listed as such, with an option to back-order.
(Written in the hope that someone from Carbatec reads this. )

Why not write to Carbatec and tell them directly.

I have no interest in a particular retailer or store but a retailers conduct can be considered "misleading or deceptive if the business knew it was false, did not care if it was true or not, or had no reasonable grounds."

"Consumers have the right to expect that a business will not mislead or deceive them."

"It is illegal for businesses to mislead consumers when advertising goods and services."

"Business conduct is likely to break the law if it creates a misleading overall impression among the audience about (for example) the price, value or quality of consumer goods or services."

"It is a business´s actions and statements that matter - not its intentions. A business can mislead and deceive, without intending to."

All sourced from Misleading or deceptive conduct : Department of Justice and Attorney-General

How that applies to stock levels is a good question, but if the retailer continually gives the impression that items are in stock when in fact they are not and have not been for a considerable time it could be deemed misleading. I recently took on a major electronics retailer about a stock level of 1, their normal stock level, when an item was advertised on a special promotion. The retailer conceeded after OFT agreed that it was not a reasonable stock level for an advertised promotion.

As a consumer you have rights and the ultimate power of veto - the ability to walk with your money still in your pocket.

I must admit I was confused by the word "system" in the title of the thread.

Originally Posted by Hermit

(Written in the hope that someone from Carbatec reads this. )

You must be bloody joking Steve. I note that Carbatec no longer seem to be a sponsor of this forum, but when they were they had their very own sub-forum. It had only one entry in it from somewhere in 2009, and even that was from a member. For the next three years or so that remained the only entry.

This Forum would be a perfect place for them to participate, if only they had the foresight of a lobotomised newt. It is clear that they simply don't care, just as long as some kind of EOY profit keeps rolling in. The seem to be incapable of realising that the profit would be so much better (and easier to get) if they lifted their game, even to the level of consciously incompetent - at least they could work on it then (being conscious of it).

Currently I am on the hunt for some dust extraction bags, as I am about to rev up the DC for the first time. It's a generic 2hp type, and you'd have to think it would be easy - get the dimensions of the current bag, check the CT website and order. Except that they don't give the dimensions of the bags - just "suitable for our machine xxx". Apparently they're not even savvy enough to realise that there are other DCs out there besides their own. That means that I have to look forward to the doubtful pleasure of getting the correct info on the phone on Monday (and if that involves somebody actually measuring a bag....well I'm quite sure that will be too much trouble). Wish me luck!



Fred, you are quite right - putting GST on all imports won't help the Oz retail trade one iota, simply because it won't improve the service, increase the range available, and eliminate the gouging. The fools among them (that is to say that they are not all fools) don't realise that even with GST and ID the prices are still way ahead, even accounting for air feight - we don't shop OS to save the GST/ID - we do it to avoid the far too common gouging and get access to the complete range on offer. All it will do is create a bureaucratic nightmare for all concerned, and clog up Customs with more paperwork etc. With the Public Service cuts that the Feds are talking about this will become even worse.

I've said it before, but there are some exceptions to this such as Lie Nielsen Oz - it's not worth buying from the USA because they put a reasonable price on their goods. If they (and a mere handful of others) can do it......

There are some pretty spectacular examples of this gouging, but for me, the grandaddy of them all is the local cost of French Hand Stitched rasps (not the manufacturer's fault at all). To buy them locally you still have to go through the same 8 week waiting period as "the other way" because they only buy to customer's orders (with a very few exceptions of the obviously popular models). The only difference is that the price is around double. Actually, there is one other difference - the retailer cannot offer any advice, as he has none to give.

OK, , and getting a little sideways off the topic I suppose.

Originally Posted by Mobyturns

Why not write to Carbatec and tell them directly.

I doubt it would make the slightest difference to CT. They have recently "bought back" some of the "franchised" stores, including Sydney. Stock levels are even worse now. Knowledge level is about the same.....

I only go to Carbatec for the entertainment value.......its fun watching the ongoing battle between the staff and their computer "system".

If they say they have anything less than 5 of an item in stock, spin a coin as to whether they really have any at all.

Originally Posted by Mr Brush

I only go to Carbatec for the entertainment value.......its fun watching the ongoing battle between the staff and their computer "system".

If they say they have anything less than 5 of an item in stock, spin a coin as to whether they really have any at all.

The original binary system heads or tails I/O

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

You must be bloody joking Steve. I note that Carbatec no longer seem to be a sponsor of this forum, but when they were they had their very own sub-forum. It had only one entry in it from somewhere in 2009, and even that was from a member. For the next three years or so that remained the only entry.

This Forum would be a perfect place for them to participate, if only they had the foresight of a lobotomised newt.

Yeah, I guess it was a pretty forlorn hope that Carbatec might actually read this thread and try to improve their game as a result. Flogging a dead horse.

Meantime, my current Carbatec order is going as smoothly as usual. I ordered a bench grinder, diamond dresser, grinding jig, parting tool and 3 x DMT DiaSharp hones a couple of weeks ago.
No grinders in stock, no parting tools in stock and they sent only two DiaSharp hones, one of which was the wrong one, (2 x coarse hones, but no fine or extra-fine). I was told to send back the wrong one and they'd send the correct one immediately. Didn't happen. Still waiting for that, 5 days later. Maybe next week.....

So now I have a grinding jig and dressing tool, but no grinder to use them on and not even a full set of diamond hones to use in the meantime while I'm waiting.

Carbatec need to pull their socks up, but of course they won't. I think they actually like their reputation of having the worst service in the industry. If only there was a viable alternative in Oz.

I think that Rockler will get a lot more business from me in the future.

Edit: That's my gripe over with - I'll shut up now.

I guess at the end of the day we only have ourselves to blame………As despite the hapelessness of it we still go back somewhat begrudgingly! The only time they will take note is when the bottomline falls out of the business. ie it is boycotted.

Instead of finding a new source maybe we can encourage existing sources to pick up a few new lines. Won't be a one stop shop but neither is carbatec if you have to go back 50 times to get what you ordered.

Originally Posted by DSEL74

I guess at the end of the day we only have ourselves to blame………

Definitely not!

Originally Posted by DSEL74

The only time they will take note is when the bottomline falls out of the business. ie it is boycotted.

Catch 22 though - where to we go in the meantime?

I'm getting better at making up new slogans for businesses, and have added Carbatec to the list:

Australia Post - "What's A Few Days Between Friends?"

Highlands Hearing - "We're All Ears"

Aldi - "I Mean, How Bad Can It Be?"

Carbatec - "Where Else Can You Go?"