Australian Business Model???

[cava]

Not sure if this is the correct forum or not, so Mods move if required.

I have a panel saw that was purchased from another member here, several years ago. I won't name the original supplier/importer but it is not Carbatec.

Recently the saw blade belt started to slip, and whilst I could tighten it, decided to get a new replacement belt. Consequently, I contacted the original supplier to seek if they had the belt in stock. The belt in question is a standard 680mm v-belt that is used, really quite common, I assume that it is in many table/panel saws including current models.

Well the upshot is they did not have a replacement, and suggested that I go to a bearing supplier for the new belt. Being somewhat adventurous I decided to push the point, and noted that it is a requirement that spares be kept for a few years to cover this type of thing. ACCC requirement IIRC.

The response was that they could freight one in for me, if I paid the $88 delivery fee, plus the $12 belt cost, or go elsewhere. The response was very unperturbed as if I, the customer, was a nuisance.

It looks as if the local bearing place will get my business, and the new bandsaw and combination thicknesser/planer that I was considering, will be purchased elsewhere. The last thing I need is to have problems which won't be resolved on any new machinery from this establishment.

Welcome to Australian retail!

Just my rant.

[elanjacobs]

Honestly, I think you're pushing the point for the sake of it. The part required was a generic consumable that is readily available and they told you where to find one.

[cava]

Honestly, I think you're pushing the point for the sake of it. The part required was a generic consumable that is readily available and they told you where to find one.

Perhaps.

But considering that this is a relatively small/cheap part that would (I assume) be used in several of their products, it should be readily available and is possibly an indication of what may affect other less trivial parts. Most people, including myself, buy goods with the expectation of a modicum of after sales service which is enshrined in legislation.

Once again, just my rant....

[woodPixel]

Are they supposed to have spares? I dont know if they really owe anyone anything after the warranty (other than being good business).

Is it normal for a business to carry spares for things they might not sell any longer?

Just curious.

[Junkie]

Given it's an older model, it sounds like they were doing you a favour. How would you have felt if they quoted you $100 and then you found one from a bearing shop for $12?

[cava]

Are they supposed to have spares? I dont know if they really owe anyone anything after the warranty (other than being good business).

Is it normal for a business to carry spares for things they might not sell any longer?

Just curious.

In the industries I have been involved in, there is a legal requirement to carry spares for a minimum of 7 years after the model runs out.

The belt is, it is assumed, identical to that fitted to current models, hence the dismay that it is not available in stock.

[Big Shed]

Cava, I think that 7 year requirement was on manufacturers and I cannpt find anywhere where that still exists. In any case, no business can keep in stock all the parts for all the goods they sell, if they did you would be paying a lot more for your goods.

In your case, the seller offered to obtain the part and quoted you a price, they also told you it would be cheaper to obtain elsewhere. You, obviously, refused to pay the high price and went to obtain the part elsewhere.

Quite frankly, for common spare parts such as belts, bearings, capacitors and the like I would not even consider going to the original tool seller as you would always pay inflated prices and I would go straight to the relevant specialist business such as a bearing place.

You would do the same for a lot of motor vehicle parts, you would go straight to SCA or Repco etc, where 9 times out of 10 you would buy the part cheaper than from the original car dealer.

I agree that it looks like you are pushing a point for the sake of pushing a point and the seller has offered you the part regardless, you just didn't like his price.

Popular to common belief, the customer is not always right.

Edit: I did actually go to the ACCC website and could not find any reference to the 7 year spare parts requirement, you might us to where it states that.

[tonzeyd]

Agree with other posters especially this

Quite frankly, for common spare parts such as belts, bearings, capacitors and the like I would not even consider going to the original tool seller as you would always pay inflated prices and I would go straight to the relevant specialist business such as a bearing place.

I wouldn't say they are inflated as often times the price of the spare includes factors such as testing, branding etc rather than being a copy of unknown quality/compatibility other than it fits.

Plus I'd be surprised if you could go to Carbatech and even on their current line that you could get an OEM replacement bit quicker/cheaper than going to a specialist store.

[rustynail]

Specialized parts yes, probably need to go to the manufacturer. For anything else, save a few bucks and buy generic. A belt would probably be one of the easiest parts to pick up.
I think the supplier was pretty reasonable with you. Not much sense stocking stuff that can be obtained anywhere. And cheaper.

[Sturdee]

Cava, I think that 7 year requirement was on manufacturers and I cannot find anywhere where that still exists.

Could be wrong but I understood that the 7 year requirement to stock spare parts related to the motor vehicle industry, not required by the ACCC but by other legislation as a condition for government subsidies.


Peter.

[chambezio]

A few times this situation has been done in reverse. On my ELU Flip Over Saw The nylon with steel braides started to split and slip. Took it to my very good Bearing and Belt shop and was told..."Mate you will have to get it from ELU" Ummm this saw is nearly 30 years old and parts in Australia have been non existent for years. Trolled the Web and found that over the years parts had stopped being made but with some upheavals with company brands and the remake (basic saw) of the saw some new parts fitted my old one. I was a happy chappy. I did have to get the belt from England so was a little pricey but it fitted.

The main reason also why I had to go genuine is that the belt fits with no way yo tension it up. So what you are relying on is correct belt size that has to be "rolled" on as you turn the motor and the gear that belt goes on. When I got the belt it took some time figuring out the method. I may have got hint from the net (more than likely)

My Bearing and Belt shop have on more than one occasion gone to extraordinary lengths to find a part they have on their shelves

[elanjacobs]

I did actually go to the ACCC website and could not find any reference to the 7 year spare parts requirement, you might us to where it states that.

I went looking as well and all I could find was "a reasonable amount of time"

[cava]

After trying to find the pertinent legislation on the ACCC site I gave up and contacted a technical representative in my industry.

This person stated that the ACCC deleted the relevant time requirement many years ago, and is relying on the industry code. The code, which is largely unwritten, effectively allows for the repair or replacement of cheaper items, say <$500 and repair over this amount. But this tends to be limited to the warranty period, with a prorata refund after the warranty has expired. If the item was expensive ie >$1000 then good business dictates that some prorata discount on parts/service applies in favour of the customer.

All delivery costs of parts are borne with the Company during the warranty period, but outside of that the customer pays - sometimes this is waved if the customer kicks up a big enough stink.

Further to this, I hunted around for a suitable belt without luck. Though I did manage to get a similarly sized belt from a bearing supplier, which did not fit.

The profile of the belt was thicker (larger) than the original but could be used, however the length is apparently an unusual size and could not be fitted no matter what I did. Some 2 hours later trying to fit it, I gave up. At issue is the belt is too short by 15mm and the next size up is apparently +50mm. Unperturbed, I will try again with other outlets and see what I can dig up in the generic market.

[derekcohen]

Get a link belt?

Regards from Perth

Derek

[KBs PensNmore]

Did you look on Ebay??? Sometimes obsolete components can be found on there, as they make 15,000,000 parts/product for a manufacturer of which the manufacturer only wants 10,000,000, so the rest are kept as a sale-able item, to be sold on Ebay, for example.
Kryn