What's up with Jet?

Gripes with Jet:

1. Ordered a 2HP dust extractor in December....its nearly mid February and I'm still waiting for the thing. Got told the reason there's a wait because of the Chinese New Year. Surely someone at Jet should have factored in the Chinese New Year and stocked up on a few dusties to carry them over. Made the mistake of paying up front for the machine....learned my lesson the hard way there.

2. Enquired about some parts for my Jet 10" table saw. It's taken Jets Head Office on the east coast nearly a month to reply to their office here in Adelaide as to availablity and price of the items. Now that Ive actually ordered the parts can I look forward to another month long wait till they arrive??? Its obvious they don't carry any spares in Australia for what is a current model piece of machinery. Has anyone dealt direct with overseas Jet suppliers for parts?

So I have my new drum sander which I cant use until I get a dustie and the second hand table saw cant be used either until I get the two metal plates that are part of the blade guard assembly.

Not good enough Jet....:~

Chinese New Year doesn't start till the 12th Feb

Ok So since when is Jet in Australia run by Chinese ????

The machinery comes from Taiwan/China.

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Originally Posted by kiwigeo

The machinery comes from Taiwan/China.

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So Jet Australia hasn't any stock ???

This is advertising something you don't have and from previous experience is illegal in this country or was.:?

He ordered in December long before Chinese New Year oh thats right Aussies close up for 4 to 6 weeks don't they.

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Originally Posted by kiwigeo

Gripes with Jet:

1. Ordered a 2HP dust extractor in December....its nearly mid February and I'm still waiting for the thing. Got told the reason there's a wait because of the Chinese New Year. Surely someone at Jet should have factored in the Chinese New Year and stocked up on a few dusties to carry them over. Made the mistake of paying up front for the machine....learned my lesson the hard way there.

2. Enquired about some parts for my Jet 10" table saw. It's taken Jets Head Office on the east coast nearly a month to reply to their office here in Adelaide as to availablity and price of the items. Now that Ive actually ordered the parts can I look forward to another month long wait till they arrive??? Its obvious they don't carry any spares in Australia for what is a current model piece of machinery. Has anyone dealt direct with overseas Jet suppliers for parts?

So I have my new drum sander which I cant use until I get a dustie and the second hand table saw cant be used either until I get the two metal plates that are part of the blade guard assembly.

Not good enough Jet....:~

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Easy to fix. Walk with your wallet and buy another Brand.:2tsup:

Unfortunately as I pointed out in my post Ive already paid the full price for the dustie.

In the case of the Jet saw parts....I don't have alternative options. There must be hundreds of these saws around Australia but little or no spare parts held in country.

I have also put in an order for a Jet product that is currently being advertised on the back of the current issue of Australian Woodworker ..... obviously with a different store than your own but I cant get an expected arrival date ..... tried a few times but no direct answer to the question. Luckily I am not in too much of a hurry and haven't bothered to push it.

From looking at the back of the Australian Woodworker there seems to be a growing Jet "Network" in Australia ...... not much good if they cant get hold of the stock.

Jet dealer here in Adelaide is also an antique supplies business.

.......Carbatec are directly across the road.

Call me paranoid but I get the feeling that Jet are running a "just in time" style business. Minimal stock held in their shops and stock to fill orders coming from Taiwan/China as the orders get placed.

I had the same issue with parts for a JET 6" jointer last year. One of the blade adjusting cams in the cutterhead broke (not surprising if you saw the design.....). Went back to Major Woodworking where I bought the machine - they just put me onto JET Head Office (Melbourne). The required part wasn't in stock. I was given the choice of waiting for it to be included in their next shipping container from China (!), or paying an exhorbitant "shipping fee" to have the part sent out directly. I should add that the part concerned was about the size of a 5 cent piece, and weighs about the same....:((

In the end I had to convince them to send the part by airmail post - left to JET I'd probably still be waiting. Dismal service. Apart from consumables (e.g. blades) I suspect they hardly keep any spare parts in country.

Frankly, you'd get just as good, if not better, spares support out of Carbatec for one of their own machines. I've bought JET machines in the past, but certainly wouldn't pay the price premium again.

Um I actually switched to Jet machinery after getting the run around from Carbatec last year over a bandsaw blade order. I did pop across the road to Carbatec last time I was at the Jet agent and it looks like they're carrying alot more stock than last time I was in there. They even had a 2HP dustie sitting on the floor.

I think it's a shame they don't take the australian market more seriously.

The Jet machine's i've used I've been impressed with. But they are expensive, and are hard to track down.

I plan to buy a 14" Jet bandsaw... but I might keep my cash, till it's getting loaded onto the trailer.

I just emailed Jet in the US and received a reply within an hour informing me the part was available and I can order it over the phone using my credit card.

Local agent waits 4 weeks for a response to an email to Jet Head Office Australia....I wait 1 hour for a response to an email to Jet US.

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Originally Posted by kiwigeo

I just emailed Jet in the US and received a reply within an hour informing me the part was available and I can order it over the phone using my credit card.

Local agent waits 4 weeks for a response to an email to Jet Head Office Australia....I wait 1 hour for a response to an email to Jet US.

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Local agent and Aust Head Office need a boot up the ####.

When you get the part (but not before), write to them with a copy to US Head Office and tell them the experience. Who knows it might convince Jet Aust to do something about what appears to be a chronic problem.

All the Jet stores are supplied by the main office in Brisbane.

So any complaints should go there first then to Tiawan as the main manufacturer.

Since Jet Australia took over there has been more delays

Judging from the staff manning the Jet stand at the last WWW show, 'Jet Australia' is just a front company for the old 'Woodman Group' - Gregory Machinery/Major Woodworking Equipment among others. They seem to have done a 'deal' with Jet's parent company to stop the other local companies importing direct (so I was told) - strangely prices are up & service is down compared to when there was actual competition in the local market :~

bsrlee - that's exactly what happened. It explains why Major Woodworking are keeping more of their own-branded MWE products alongside the JET. Guess which one they have the better margin on??? The good old days are well and truly over for JET resellers around Australia.

Frustrating to see such a great range of products (JET) being so badly handled locally.

I 'd have to agree that JET Head Office here need a size 10 up the proverbial.....I just need a good run up :D

It isn't only Jet that has huge delays. I ordered a 12 inch planer and 16 inch thicknesser from a Melbourne company in late November and paid $2000 of the $3600. I am still waiting. The initial delivery time was supposed to be January and now it may be March. Seeing I sold off my old machine in December I am far from happy and will not be buying from or recomending that business again. I was going to ask for my money back last week but my wife calmed me down and I am trying to be patient. I don't do patient very well. AWT in Airport West needs to lift its game.........

Col
Hoppers Crossing Vic......

I haven't bought machines in about 12 months, so I might be out of touch with current practices, but I'd never consider paying more than a 10% deposit against something a supplier doesn't have in stock.

Times are tough and margins are tight, but there is no excuse for taking a large proportion of the price up front AND failing to deliver by the expected date.

Several other forumites seem to have experienced similar issues with a range of suppliers recently. As you say, it isn't just JET at fault here. Are the Chinese not buying enough of our iron ore to make our woodworking machines?? :(

Now one of the best suppliers of Jet tools was Gary Pye Woodturning and always at competitive prices.
I bought some thicknesser blades from Gary and the price and service was superb.
I notice that he has his own branded GPW machinery now which looks more Jet than Jet.
Gary might be using the same factory.
A very obliging fellow, always liked talking with him at the woodshows.
FWIW look here:
Gary Pye Woodturning :: Gary Pye Woodturning - GPW 18" Bandsaw

Ditto.

Have one of his home-brand woodlathe scroll chucks; good price, performs well.

It's Gary and Rohan btw.

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Originally Posted by Mr Brush

I haven't bought machines in about 12 months, so I might be out of touch with current practices, but I'd never consider paying more than a 10% deposit against something a supplier doesn't have in stock.

Times are tough and margins are tight, but there is no excuse for taking a large proportion of the price up front AND failing to deliver by the expected date.

Several other forumites seem to have experienced similar issues with a range of suppliers recently. As you say, it isn't just JET at fault here. Are the Chinese not buying enough of our iron ore to make our woodworking machines?? :(

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I originally paid only 10 % but as I have a limit on daily transactions I thought I would make a couple of payments when I was in the area thus getting to $2000 before I started to wonder if what I was doing was such a clever idea. In hind sight it wasn't. AWT were a Carbatec agent but changed that by going over to China and buying machines at the same factories at a higher spec and cheaper sale price. I am sure I will be happy with the purchase in the end but the waiting is a curse.

Col

So.....it seems we have an ever expanding range of MWE branded gear in Sydney, and GPW branded gear in Qld......hmmm :rolleyes:

Either all the resellers are getting fed up with JET Australia, or (more likely) there just isn't enough margin in the supply chain any more. They can only make a crust by sourcing their own machines direct from China.

Col - hopefully your machines will be delivered sooner than expected, and after all the hassles I hope you get more machine for your money ! I'm like you though - my first inclination would be to get the cash back from the supplier and go somewhere else.

:?

Here's an extract from the latest GPW newsletter:

We have started to import our own branded range of
machinery including bandsaws, tablesaws, dust
collectors, sanders, mobile bases, drill press,
mortisers etc. Having many contacts and visiting
Taiwan and China for the last fifteen years we know
which factories to use and are trying to offer all
machines with upgraded specs at very
competitive pricing. Another plus for our customers is
that we are also making youtube videos of the
machines. So far we have on of our GPW-18LD
Bandsaw. Clickhere to watch our video. Yes there is
a rumour that we have a new woodlathe in stock,
we are just making a few minor changes and testing
it, be assured this is one serious lathe weighing over
450kg with all the goodies on it, hopefully next
newsletter we can officially unveil it.

Waiting for my dustie and the parts for my table saw. Now Ive just learned the new Imac I ordered and that was supposed to be 10 days away is now not due in country until end of March. At least I haven't paid anything for the Mac yet.

And so we wait.......:(

Sounds like they think we should feel privileged to to hand over cash to them. Jet has just been milking it. Lets face it, it would not be difficult for an experienced machinery supplier to do a Jet style of machinery sourcing to ensure better quality control.

A WA company, Beyond tools is doing the same . I was told that the owner has struck a direct relationship with the factory and visits them to ensure quality control. The machines sure looked well put together and were certainly not in Jet price territory,

Okay a call from Jet today and my dustie has landed in Brisbane. Parts for the Table Saw have also arrived.

Recently I was lucky to get offered a (Blue) Jet JPM-13 Planer/Moulder. I didn't have the dust port so I thought that I would ring the local (Sydney) Jet distributor and see if one was available. I got a positive answer and was told that they would ring back later that day. Later on I thought that I might add a few things (Blades and a mobile base), but was bluntly told by another salesman that he didn't what I was talking about and to contact Jet in Brisbane. So late Friday arvo I sent a email to Jet (Australia).

I get into work Monday morning, no reply email, but at 0600 maybe a tad early:U. Later on I got an email from a Brisbane base Jet distributor explaining that Jet Australia had passed on the email as they were a wholesale business only. Fair enough. We traded a few more emails till I ordered from the Brisbane base distributor, the dust port and the blades. I try to support locals but . . .

Pat,

Next time give the Australian agents the flick and ring up Jet's service dept in the US.They ship overseas and take credit card payment. I was about to do this but my parts arrived at the last minute.

Cheers Martin

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Originally Posted by Pat

Recently I was lucky to get offered a (Blue) Jet JPM-13 Planer/Moulder. I didn't have the dust port so I thought that I would ring the local (Sydney) Jet distributor and see if one was available. I got a positive answer and was told that they would ring back later that day. Later on I thought that I might add a few things (Blades and a mobile base), but was bluntly told by another salesman that he didn't what I was talking about and to contact Jet in Brisbane. So late Friday arvo I sent a email to Jet (Australia).

I get into work Monday morning, no reply email, but at 0600 maybe a tad early:U. Later on I got an email from a Brisbane base Jet distributor explaining that Jet Australia had passed on the email as they were a wholesale business only. Fair enough. We traded a few more emails till I ordered from the Brisbane base distributor, the dust port and the blades. I try to support locals but . . .

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This may interest you Pat Jet JPM13 13" Planer :2tsup:

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Originally Posted by Mr Brush

Col - hopefully your machines will be delivered sooner than expected, and after all the hassles I hope you get more machine for your money ! I'm like you though - my first inclination would be to get the cash back from the supplier and go somewhere else.

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Well I waited and waited and waited some more and eventually two crates arrived on a tilt truck. After busting our bums getting 450kg and 250 kg into the shed I unpacked it all and cleaned up the buzzer to find it poorly machined and not the machine I ordered. A completely different model number. The thicknesser was missing the cast tables and height winding wheel. Since initially paying the deposit on November 19th last year and then to wait four months to find very ordinary machines was a huge disappointment to say the least. AWT were called and the machines went straight back and I got my money back. One day later I have a 15 inch Carba-tec thicknesser in my shed ready to go as I have just cleaned and sorted it and the 12 inch Carba-tec buzzer arrives next Thursday. Carba-tec is where I should have gone in the first place. Carba-tec gave me a good price which included delivery of the buzzer and spare tungsten blades for each machine and it came to just under $4900 and the only delay is that the buzzer has to be trucked from Brisbane. Four months without striking a blow has been a huge curse but has allowed me to clean out all the junky old tools and totally refresh the shed. Leda only have 3 phase in 12 inch and the Jet prices are over the top. Unless I went for an old second hand machine there wasn't much choice. The 5 year warranty on Carba-tec machines is a winner too.

Col.....

Hi Col,

Thanks for informing us of what has transpired. I'm glad you have been able to source machines from other sources. Paying a premium price for poor service is no fun and I think Jet (in Australia at least) is probably showing us what we really mean to them. No wonder their dealers are reducing reliance upon Jet products and are importing machinery direct from manufacturers ( including the same ones Jet uses).

Well here we are FIVE years down the track and the same old chestnut.....
Ordered a Jet spindle sander a month ago via Carbatec Perth.
Guess what? It still hasn't arrived..
NOT HAPPY JAN! Twice I have called and twice I get the same answer, "it is on the truck"......
Now I do realise that living in the Wild West means we have to wait for stuff but four weeks to travel 3000k is just plain ridiculous. I can get stuff from the USA in three days......
Upshot is I now have a backlog of Guitar bodies that need edge sanding as well as a few unhappy customers.

I don't care if Jet are good, I won't be coming back for more and if I don't get a call this arvo telling me it will be here by early next week I will cancel the order and go elsewhere.

This is not the fault of the guys at Carbatec in Perth, they are just as peeved as I am.

Suggest to the Carbatec boys that they try and source a machine from Carbatec Adelaide...they usually have one on the floor.

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Originally Posted by Dingobass

Well here we are FIVE years down the track and the same old chestnut.....
Ordered a Jet spindle sander a month ago via Carbatec Perth.
Guess what? It still hasn't arrived..
NOT HAPPY JAN! Twice I have called and twice I get the same answer, "it is on the truck"......
Now I do realise that living in the Wild West means we have to wait for stuff but four weeks to travel 3000k is just plain ridiculous. I can get stuff from the USA in three days......
Upshot is I now have a backlog of Guitar bodies that need edge sanding as well as a few unhappy customers.

I don't care if Jet are good, I won't be coming back for more and if I don't get a call this arvo telling me it will be here by early next week I will cancel the order and go elsewhere.

This is not the fault of the guys at Carbatec in Perth, they are just as peeved as I am.

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Cheers Kiwi,
it seems that all the stock has to come direct from Brisvegas...
makes a lot of sense, NOT.

The truck probably is held up by the wet in Darwin!!!!!! That's the trouble when only one company has sole distributorship of a product.

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Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore

The truck probably is held up by the wet in Darwin!!!!!! That's the trouble when only one company has sole distributorship of a product.

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It's more likely the machine is still sitting in the factory in China.

Just off the phone to Carbatec, again....
Update info is they had four arrive last week, one of which was mine.. They sold them all!!!
Then the excuse of "but you hadnt ordered one"
really over this. It was ordered on the 28th December, I have got a copy of said order.....
before I lost my mind I wished the chap a good day and hung up..
When I calm down I will be informing them to insert said machine up whom evers butt it was that sold it and that I am taking my business elsewhere.. Say bye bye to at least 1k a month in sales to this little black duck...

Send them a small debits claim for loss of income, that may get their attention. Depending on you state you may even then have them declared bankrupt (NSW increased the minimum from $500 a few years ago).