Carbatec

[Larkan]

In at Carbatec Melbourne during the week and it seems they are reducing a number of stock items. The plan is to draw down stock from Brisbane which will be interesting time wise. I wonder if the costs will rise due to transport, time will tell won't it? Interested in other opinions.....

Cheers, Kerry

[Nanigai]

FWIW my opinion is that if I go to a store to buy something I want it there and then. If they don't have stock to supply my needs I usually go elsewhere, or just shop online. We don't like it much but we are used to the phrase "that will be plus freight" up here
Cheers, Ian

[Scott]

Here we go again! This is picking an old sore and nothing seems to have changed. On principle I refuse to deal with them

[Redgy]

The Adelaide store has done the same, looks like they've made room for the Festool superstore to the detriment of other things I would buy more often eg CMT router bits. For me it goes....ring Ctec they say "we can get it down in a week" I say no thanks and buy online, get it quicker and cheaper. Having said that Bunnings now stocking good range of Freud router bits.

Redgy

[BlackbuttWA]

After several bad experiences ( yes, I am a slow learner) I only use them as a last resort.
When driving a 3 hour return trip & wasting half a day only to be told it will take 7 weeks for delivery it is not funny.
This is after a phone call earlier that morning confirming they have the item in stock.
I have also noticed the reduction of stock items over the last couple of years.
I now find it easier, cheaper & far less hassle to order from the Eastern States (Australia).
The savings on fuel is usually cheaper than the cost of freight & I get it delivered right to my door.

That's my 2 cents worth.

Col

[Larkan]

That would really get my blood boiling especially after confirmation.

How are those Mandurah crabs going Col? I lived in Perth as a kid and used to go crabbing down your way when the crabbing season was on.......very tasty. I also used to go to Collie and the Marron there were sensational.

Cheers, Kerry

After several bad experiences ( yes, I am a slow learner) I only use them as a last resort.
When driving a 3 hour return trip & wasting half a day only to be told it will take 7 weeks for delivery it is not funny.
This is after a phone call earlier that morning confirming they have the item in stock.
I have also noticed the reduction of stock items over the last couple of years.
I now find it easier, cheaper & far less hassle to order from the Eastern States (Australia).
The savings on fuel is usually cheaper than the cost of freight & I get it delivered right to my door.

That's my 2 cents worth.

Col

[cray-]

I've just had my first experience with Carbatec and it has so far not been a good one. Apparently they are the sole Australian distributor of Kreg jigs, I checked their prices and compared against the same items on eBay shipped from the US, seemed quite competitive. I live quite far from the Perth Carbatec store so Saturday was my only opportunity to get there, then I find out they close at 1PM. I figure that the fuel and time was worth more than a $15 delivery fee and decide to order from them online.

I went ahead and ordered a jig kit and some screws on Monday, hoping I'll have them by the end of the week so I can get on with the job on the weekend. Tuesday I get an email saying the items are back ordered but the jig is now in stock. They would ship the item within 2-3 days at no extra charge. I assume the screws will follow at a later date. The money is taken out of my account but only for the jig+shipping, not the screws. No indication that the item has been shipped, no ETA on the screws. Not holding my breath about getting the jig for the weekend.

I checked their website today and noticed all the Kreg gear is on special, 10% off including items that apparently out of stock! Perhaps they're trying to entice more people to order out of stock items so that they can bulk up their order from the OEM since they need to fill my back order? Or maybe I'm just inventing scenarios because I'm a cynic?

I found this older Carbatec thread, I think next time I'll just order from Amazon like they did, didn't realise they're even cheaper than eBay: https://www.woodworkforums.com/f28/ca...roller-155769/

[Larkan]

That rates as a lousy experience and one you don't want to repeat. Very frustrating when your mid project.
And retail questions why people buy online from OS.......

Cheers, Kerry

[maggs]

I think Carbatec might be clearing the K4 stock as the new K5 jig is being released next month. I've been thinking about getting one of these myself but I'm waiting to see a review of the K5 before I go ahead.

Steve

[cray-]

I think Carbatec might be clearing the K4 stock as the new K5 jig is being released next month. I've been thinking about getting one of these myself but I'm waiting to see a review of the K5 before I go ahead.

I only ordered the Jr/R3 jig, if I do end up getting the big K4/K5 I doubt it'll be from CT.

Considering they're the only place in Aus you can get the screws from and the Kreg jigs work best with the proper Kreg brand screws, you'd think they'd keep their stock levels up on such an important consumable.

Regarding the K5, there is a fair bit of discussion about it on the Kreg Jig Owners Community: Introducing the all-new Kreg Jig® K5 - Kreg Jig Owners Community
They've changed the handle around, added wings to help stabilise big pieces and removed a clamping location I believe. One of the things I and many others noticed from the video was the amount the work piece moved when the clamp was applied. A Kreg rep claimed this was due to the video being made with a pre-production prototype and that the production model would be better, I think I'll wait and check reviews after it ships.

Regardless of CT's service, I can't wait to get my jig and start playing around.

[maggs]

IMHO there are many things Oz retailers can do to stem the tide of OS shopping. One of them being to carry reasonable stock levels. About 90% of the tools I want to buy are either not in stock or need to be special orders. If I was a retailer in the woodworking business the first thing I would do is make sure I monitored forums like these to see what gear is trending and what's not.

A few weeks ago I decided to get one of the Grr-Ripper devices. I went to the manufacturers site and found the Oz distributor and went to their site and ordered 2 of them. Even though they were 50% dearer than from the USA I thought I'd support my local store. 48 hours later I get an email from said distributor telling me as he previously stated "they are no longer selling these items". This was the first email and it implied there was a previous email which there wasn't. If you're not going to stock or sell them, ### have them on your site for sale? This isn't a lone case, it happens to me all the time.

It's hard to have any sympathy for retailers when they crap in their own hat.

Steve

[delbs]

I am not a seasoned veteran of carbatech purchasing as I've only been working with wood for that past 18months or so. I have had enough small experiences with them that I now buy from lee valley. They always ship quickly and give you a tracking number and fantastic customer service. These things I haven't always received from carbatech

My only gripe is they need to update their inventory to reflect on their website. I wouldn't order something if i knew it was on back order for 3 weeks

[malb]

I have been trying to deal with them (Melbourne) for seven years. During their last sale in May, I dropped in to collect some stuff that was on sale. For the first time in about 15 visits, I actually found the three main things I wanted in stock and on the shelf, Picked them up and lugged them around for 20 minutes while browsing the shop. During that time another customer entered and engaged the only person attending the storefront seeking assistance.
Finished browsing, headed to the counter to pay, put my three items on the counter, opened wallet and pulled $140 cash out, waited, waited, waited, all the while hearing 3 or 4 staff apparently chattering in the tea room? behind the sales counter partition.

Meanwhile the one staff member in store was still engaged with assisting/advising the other customer, though he did seem interested in coming to take my money once he satisfied their enquiries. At about 10 minutes, he actually called to the staff in the tearoom? asking for one of them to handle my transaction. Grumbling heard, but no one appeared. Actually checked time on my phone about a minute after the grumbling, waited another 5 minutes (timed), put my money in my wallet and walked out the door leaving the stuff on the counter. Finally got my stuff a few weeks ago after ordering online from Brisbane in a 'free shipping' sale, same prices as the original sale that I walked out off.

Two visits prior, wanted to purchase a pair of vises for a planned workbench build, checked that they were in stock, went to collect, face vise there, no twin screw available, paid for the face and asked them to order the twin screw, they seemed to understand the request, but I never heard from them to say it arrived. Finally emailed via Brisbane, they did not have any indication of it being backordered, but offered to supply at same price plus shipping. Walked in at the next sale 3 months later not expecting to get vise, 2 on the floor, same price, nabbed one. None of the other stuff I was looking for was in stock though.

After my last episode, I actually sent a message via their contact us tab on website, outlined situation and requested to be removed from catalogue and email mailing lists as I would not be buying off them again. No acknowledgement or attempt to make up, but surprise, the emails and cats keep coming. Now in my blocked sender list.

Not worth persisting with now I am a grumpy old man.

o

[cava]

Whats the alternative to Carbatec for Melbourne woodworkers? For me, I work in Moorabbin and live on the Peninsula.

[wolften]

Whats the alternative to Carbatec for Melbourne woodworkers? For me, I work in Moorabbin and live on the Peninsula.

Lee Valley Canada

All Australian retailers will learn from them.