Thread: Who does not have anything from Carbatec?

My computer was out of action for about a week (we transferred over to broadband) so I was very interested in the results of this poll question. I have a shed full of carbatec stuff at home and an even bigger shed full of carbatec stuff at work. All of this was sourced from the Brisbane branch. I have found the service there to be both very good and a bit poor. The bits and pieces I have purchased from home have all been delivered promptly and at a fair price. But about 3 years ago I bought a large truck full of tools and machinery for work. I went to carbatec and the best price from them was no better than I could get purchasing one off and small items for home. I then was up for delivery costs and insurance while in transit. I approached a local hardware store who organised the same order at about 7% cheaper (a saving of many thousands of dollars). They delivered for free, covered the insurance costs and sent out a team of men and a forklift to help me unload.

Yet as I say my own personal dealings with them have been good. They have a large slice of the market (as this poll shows) so they must be doing something right.

Originally Posted by chook

They have a large slice of the market (as this poll shows) so they must be doing something right.

Not necessarily Chook. :eek:

Maybe lack of decent local competition or they may be only one-of buyers not repeat customers.


Peter.

You can buy the kits here in the US for $29.99 They are the same as Delta's. You can use hard wood or steel and make it to fit your needs. You can find them all over the web. Richard

Just ordered two this morning, $45 each which is cheaper than importing from the US. Works out to about $40AU plus freight which I think would be more than $10.00.
Coming in via Speights Shifty Link Hardware-Kooweerup.
Evil little man that Ian Speight, tells my wife lies about tool purchases

I have been to Carbatec Brisbane a lot, usually in my lunch "hour." It takes me 10 minutes to drive there, 10 minutes back and 40 minutes to find someone who really doesn't want to serve you if they can help it. If someone finally decides to notice you want to be served you most often cannot get the Item - unless its on the shelves. I was surprised on one occaision and bought a dust extraction unit and a 12 1/2 inch planer there but could nerver find that guy again. I did most of my research for the rest of my machinery there but couldn't get any one interested in serving me so looked for alternatives. Glad I did because I've now got a shed full of Jet gear and I love it. And the guys at Gregory Machinery can either sell it to you then and there or tell you exactly when it will be there. They just don't have as much additional stuff as Carbatec. I only go to Carbatec now when I have 2 days off. One to go to Carbatec, wait to get served and be told that it's not in stock - and the other to search for what I want somewhere else. They have a great cattledog - shame their service and stock levels don't match up.

I have to agree re problems at the melbourne Store(s). I have used the Richmond store a few times. Bought a table saw there a year or so ago, sheer accident - they had one there someone had ordered and obviously got tired of waiting for. But I don't know how many times I have been down there to purchase something and they are out of stock. Now they have moved out to Bayswater I won't be using them again, checked it out as I was in the area last week but it is still a disorganised mess a la Richmond. Must be the most inefficient retail outlet ever. As was said before, the Catalogue is great, but forget ordering something out of it if you want it in this lifetime.

Mick.