Thread: Fine Tools Australia

Pretty disappointed with them.
Ordered 3 items (chisels, spokeshave and router plane).
I received 2, but the plane is missing. Sent 2 emails, no answer. Sent a third just now. I don't expect anything now.
Will not order again, that is for sure.

I brought a Luban No.5 low angle plane from them a while ago and had no problem with delivery and quality of the plane was good for the price paid.
If you don't get a reply from your email you could try the other social media platforms that he lists on his site if you are on them. Pity they don't have a phone No.listed.

Got a reply shortly after my last email.
And a refund for the missing item.
They are having some issues, apparently.

Good news

Originally Posted by kungsleden

Got a reply shortly after my last email.
And a refund for the missing item.
They are having some issues, apparently.

Glad you posted this, thank you - I have a slew of bookmarks I've assembled whilst reasearching lots of varied things, and one of them is a list of tool and equipment suppliers. I was about to put a note/strike them from my list based on your experience!

I've had no issues either, but there was a family issue that complicated things - a lot.
Stevo

I am surprised that no-one has started a thread which encourages people to write about positive experiences when dealing online and timeliness and cost of their deliveries. Lack of posts for the poorer ones would indicate less than adequate service.

I've used them before and never had a problem. Good service and good quality tools.

Peter

Originally Posted by woodtryer

I've used them before and never had a problem. Good service and good quality tools.

Peter

Me, too.

I usually describe the Luban stuff as 90% the quality of Lee Valley or Lie Nielsen at half the price.

The Luban bronze no.1 plane is seriously cute, and mine is used constantly.


Cheers

Graeme

I ordered 2 Luban Planes which were promptly delivered and well made although the throat of one was not wide enough to allow the blade to protrude. I queried this twice but never received a reply. It required a lot of careful filing to make that plane useable. I next ordered 3 items, 2 of which were delivered promptly but the third was not and 2 months later I have not received an answer to emails and no goods or refund. It is probable this is a cheap off-shore operation and I will not order from Fine Tools again.

Brian

Originally Posted by big-termite

...... It is probable this is a cheap off-shore operation and .......Brian

No.

They are actually based in Melbourne.

I received notice today that there will be a refund for the missing item.

The prices are seriously good.

The warranty is also exceptional. 5 year replacement - thats confidence.

I'll give those cute little butt chisels a purchase and perhaps a jack plane?

Originally Posted by big-termite

I ordered 2 Luban Planes which were promptly delivered and well made although the throat of one was not wide enough to allow the blade to protrude. I queried this twice but never received a reply. It required a lot of careful filing to make that plane useable. I next ordered 3 items, 2 of which were delivered promptly but the third was not and 2 months later I have not received an answer to emails and no goods or refund. It is probable this is a cheap off-shore operation and I will not order from Fine Tools again.

Brian

I too have ordered items from Fine Tools Australia (in 2018) and some items were delivered and some items were not. Jason became very difficult to contact after this and it took over 2 months to get a refund for the items that were not delivered. No stock and refunds is clearly a trend with this store, as reported in this thread already. I made suggestions to Jason to replace out of stock items with alternative choices, but apparently those items were not in stock either (even though the online store reported they were in stock). Jason even stated the following to me:

"There’s an undetermined amount of time until we receive further shoulder planes from Luban. They’ve been on backorder for 14 months so far."

If ordering from his store and you're prepared to take the risk, my suggestion is to request evidence that he has readily available stock on hand. Having said that, I probably still wouldn't take the risk - not having stock and stating you do is reprehensible conduct by a business - definitely not someone to trust period. During this prolonged time to contact Jason, he explained to me, that he was difficult to contact, because he was overseas with limited email access. I find this excuse unacceptable for an Australian store and it reinforces other posts/suspicions here, whether he is based in Melbourne at all. From my experience, you're looking at a real lottery, for whatever you order (and purchase) from Fine Tools Australia, on whether it will ever be delivered. I got my refund eventually, but the thing is, he is not the only option for Luban products in Australia - there's a few including Timbecon. I have since purchased Luban products from numerous stores in Australia and across the world. For instance, I now own a Luban 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 7 and an 8 (among others). Luban (or whatever it's called, in whatever country across the world) are exceptional products. Here's the catch however: the demand for them worldwide is high, because they are that good and stores are going to report them as "out of stock". They will stay that way for a long time too. With someone like Timbecon, they at least will tell you that it's "out of stock" and you will not be able to make a purchase while it is - that's what a reputable store does.