Has any seen a Kobalt 50mm chisel at Masters?

Hi Fellas,
I purchased a Kobalt 38mm wood chisel from Masters Home Improvements. As I don't normally use a chisel more than once a year, I have stuck with a cheap one, but it turned out it was chrome vanadium(says so on the packing).

The 38mm chisel sharpened up well and holds an edge - Not to bad for Under $12- I like it and now want he next size up (50mm ) to complete the set -well not really a set-6 chisels 3 different brands.

My local Masters shop has only the hook where the 50mm chisels should hang but no chisels-its been like that for near 3 months that I have been chasing the 50mm chisel. I have left details at the service desk and even spoke to a consultant on line - no results and no feedback.
The galling thing is that the online software indicates the store has chisels in stock. They haven't ,as I had staff look for them. One of the staff has told me that this happens once in a while .The online software tells them stuff is there and it is not.

I am wondering if Kobalt 50mm chisels are in stock at other stores.If any one is going through a Masters Home Improvement store, would it be too much trouble to have a look to see if there are 50mm Kobalt chisels on the display in the tool section.

The information will help be send the appropriate feedback to where it needs to go!

Thanks in advance
Grahame

Nerang is showing stock.

There is a thread somewhere that discusses the foibles and inaccuracies in Masters online stock database - though it I have never had an issue.

They will deliver, price inc postage came up at $24.93 ($14.98 for chisel). Fair price on postage.
Just for fun, I selected "Truck delivery" - I won't tell what happened - I'll leave the laughs to you.

Thanks Dabbler for your reply
The thread about the stock level inaccuracies was mine . I am frustrated at not being able to get past what seems to be a filtering out of a customer concern.

I reckon I would have better luck on lotto than entrusting my online dollars to the Masters system.

A bit of independent research on indicates why they are not doing so well.

70 odd respondents out of a 104 rated them terrible of a 5 step rating system.ie Terrible,Bad,Ok, good and Excellent.

Many of the complaints referred to the delivery system ,ordering and paying for an item and rocking up to the local masters to be told the goods had been delivered to the shop and collected.

I just want to establish that there is no shortage of chisels nation wide. Masters have a new boss named Matt Tyson who hopefully can turn things around.

Its interesting as the local Bunnings and masters are 10 mins apart. Drive from one to the other and Masters car park is 1/4 to a 1/3rd full and Bunnings is chockers on a prime business day like today.

They must have more money than us at Nerang, our listed price for 50mm Kobalt chisel yesterday was $11.38

Grahame

Prices diffs like that don't do them any favours, do they.

I recall 18months or so ago, some threads bemoaning Bunnies experience and applauding Masters. My experience with both has been mixed and I thought at the time that Masters would hit the same levels as Bunnings for product and service. I have another Bunnings much closer and tend to go there, but I'm lucky to have sveral of each I can get to and from within

Nerang Masters and Bunnings are very close to each other, but I would class the location as depressed compared to other Bunnings locations, they both seem to attract the same numbers of cars though.

Damn - just checked Rocky prices and they are same as Mackay.

Just checked their website for nearest store to me and it wants to send me many Kms further (to Braybrook) than the store that I know is nearest to me (Roxburgh Park)
Also put in my son's postcode (he lives 100km from me in Ballarat) and it wants to send me to Roxburgh Park.
Price for both stores is $14-98 - at least that is consistent. Also says that the chisel is in stock.
Obviously their web-site needs a lot of work

Just checked the Masters website for Mackay and it seems that someone is watching .It now indicates nil stock for the Kobalt 50mm Chisel. Since the 26th at least someone has changed as I have a screen shot of my search ,albeit mis typed.

Still no feed back from the local service desk or the consultant.

However if someone is actually in a Masters shop,can you please have a look to see that there is actually a 50mm chisel there,as we can't trust the software.

Thanks again
Grahame

I have heard from a relative who should know, that Masters are not doing well at all, not even breaking even and that the next 6 months
will determine their fate

Hi,

I called in at Masters at Northland (Preston) yesterday - there was plenty of Kobalt 50mm chisels in stock for $14.98.

cheers

Acolyte

Thank you Acolyte,
It beginning to appear that this may be just an isolated glitch in the Masters restocking and ordering system.
Thats fair enough if it was just that. Its the time that has elapsed in recognizing the problem and fixing it up that is a concern,given they had been informed there was a problem.

Thanks for checking and the feedback from you.

Grahame

I have also come across this problem of Masters web site showing in stock when the shelf is empty. This is sometimes due to "shrinkage" otherwise known as theft. You would think that the web site could be updated by a human to say shelf is empty and no stock on (physical) site.
I am fortunate that there are a couple of Bunnings down the road from Masters. Would you believe I could (and do) drive past Masters to get to Bunnings.

Theft certainly is a possibility but that puzzles me why a thief would only take only the 50mm sizes.The rest of the rack,same brand different sizes,was completely stocked.Other branches appear to have them.
Grahame

Plenty of stock at Oakleigh South in Victoria. Price is $14.98 or $15.00 if paying cash for one item.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by China

I have heard from a relative who should know, that Masters are not doing well at all, not even breaking even and that the next 6 months
will determine their fate

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I quite like their product variety different from bunnings, hope they pull through.

The local Mackay branch now has a supply of 50mm chisels, but I do not need one now, as a kindly forum member has purchased one and sent it up to me.:D
The local chisel prices have been changed, in that the 38mm chisel is more expensive,at $13.98 than its larger 50mm brother which is $11.98.:doh:

The web information-re 50mm chisels- which a few weeks back was updated to indicate nil stock at Mackay (as of 29.3.2104) still remains at nil stock.:no:Remember that they were going to let me know when the chisels were in stock? It did not happen .:((

Despite silly things like that, I too would like to see Masters continue, but I can't see myself paying upfront for a flat pack kitchen after experiences others have had with the same item in other parts of the country.
Masters are far too slow at fixing their mistakes.

As the economy contracts further, people will surely be become more discerning in how they spend their money on big expenditure items and will be likely to check first.
Thnks to everyone that replied to this post.

Grahame