A vent

[ozhunter]

Didn't know where to post this, but anyway.

I went to my local branch of a large hardware chain today. I have had them cut sheets of ply on the panel saw they have in the timber shop, on previous occasions.

I wanted to get some Formply cut on the panel saw, because I'm not set up to handle big sheets at the moment, and it's difficult and dangerous by yourself anyway, so I said to the pleb behind the counter, can I get some Formply cut on the panel saw. No, was the reply. It wrecks our blade, she says. Why in hell would you have saw in a hardware shop and not be prepared to use it, just because it might be a bit hard on the blade. There is a fee to have them cut the sheets, all-be-it a small one, and I'm sure the blades are not that dear,but struth, a hardware shop that won't use a saw for what it's designed to be used for. It just shows how far down the toilet things are going I reckon. I was a frequent visitor, at least weekly and sometimes more, but as long as my backside points to the ground, I'll never set foot in there again. They won't miss my custom, but it's just ridiculous that such a large business won't do something like this for their customers. What else is a panel saw for, anything with a blade will wear the blade out or get bluntened from use.

When I got home I rang the store and tried to speak to someone higher up the food chain than the broom jockey I got the first time, but got no where - not that I expected to.

I went to Mitre 10 but they don't have a panel saw, so I'm screwed and pretty wild to.


Bah humbug to them.

Just had to have a little vent.

[BobL]

That sounds like a decision made by a half-wit bean counter who has no idea of a customers's needs.
If it really does blades serious damage what do they expect the people buying the stuff to cut it with ?
They could always charge a higher fee for cutting the form ply to cover the cost of blades.

[_fly_]

Did you ask if they could direct you to a real hardware store in the area?

[ozhunter]

Bob, that would be too much like common sense.

fly, I had to leave the shop before I said something that I would have regretted later. Although I'm pretty sure the exclaimed "What!" and the vigourous head shaking as I walked away was an indication of my joy.

Ended up going to Mitre 10 and getting the full sheets. Bought them home with the intention of cutting them up with my circular saw - a painful exercise, but it would have go tthe the job done. Went looking for the old faithful Makita......now where did I put that......oh crap, my brother borrowed it and it has never returned home. Only option left was the cordless DeWalt circular saw. It did the job, but would have been so much easier on the big panel saw.

[FenceFurniture]

If it really does blades serious damage what do they expect the people buying the stuff to cut it with ?

What, you reckon they think about that??

[jimbur]

Memo - don't buy blades from them.

[corbs]

Duty of care maybe? They have the ability to break down large sheets into manageable sizes but refuse. Any injury sustained through managine large sheets could be paritally attributed to their lack of service?

[lightwood]

Didn't know where to post this, but anyway.

I went to my local branch of a large hardware chain today...............

When I got home I rang the store and tried to speak to someone higher up the food chain than the broom jockey I got the first time, but got no where - not that I expected to.

...............

Funny you put it that way.??
A very close relative of mine was working in head office of that company. The way she used to put is was like this... "The trolley-boys were promoted above their area of expertise.... to manage the stores" Then they tuned up at head office and made her life miserable.
No point going higher up the chain that the poor devil sweeping the floor!

Regards,
Peter

[ozhunter]

Sounds like it should be a Government Department. It's so silly. I almost wouldn't believe someone if they told me.

I sent a strongly worded, but civil, email to the customer service mob. I doubt I'll hear from them though.

Mind you, the other one is only a small step above, the girl that drives the till sits in a dark little corner, chewing gum and using single syllable replies to questions. Customer service is a thing of the past in a lot of areas nowadays.

Although there is a little hardware shop in the Blue Mountains that is owned by an elderly German bloke, the shop is stacked to the roof with all the usual crap, but he gets in German chisels, try squares and the like, because "zat is vat ve used ven I did my apprenticeship, not like ze rubbish now", and a nice old bloke to boot. He goes out of his way to help and gives a few bucks off if you buy higher end items. I call in there everytime I go past, cause I like listening to him talk, and to gawk at the nice toys, and buy one occasionally. It's lucky FenceFurniture doesn't have wheels, or the good stuff 'd gone before I got there.

[FenceFurniture]

It's lucky FenceFurniture doesn't have wheels, or the good stuff 'd gone before I got there.

Hmmm. Perhaps not quite so clever to point that out. It's only about 15 mins or so on the train (yes, I know perzackly where he is). Let me know a few days before your next planned visit.

[artme]

Funny you put it that way.??
A very close relative of mine was working in head office of that company. The way she used to put is was like this... "The trolley-boys were promoted above their area of expertise.... to manage the stores" Then they tuned up at head office and made her life miserable.
No point going higher up the chain that the poor devil sweeping the floor!

Regards,
Peter

That is known as The Peter Principal - Promoting someone to their level of incompetence.

Doesn't it make your blood boil?

[dabbler]

I reckon there are several things in play here.

More than likely the floor-jockey has either mis-interpreted a company directive or been fed misinformation from a workmate or higher-up who in turn has mis-interpreted said memo. It's probaby an eqiuipment traing or OHS isue rather than concern for saw blades. Let's face it, we've all faced ill-informed customer service at some time.

Add that to The Peter Principle (it ain't new either, is it) and you're bound to get crap customer service followed by crap response to complaint about crap service.

Shame you're in a rural area with slim pickings. I bet another outlet in the chain will still cut formply. I'm glad you could work out a solution though.

[Sturdee]

I bet another outlet in the chain will still cut formply.

Actually it's company policy not to cut form ply to size. Some time ago I saw an official notice in the panel cutting area of the Nunawading, Vic, store directing staff not to cut formply but only chipboard or MDF for customers.

So the rant, and all subsequent comments, are ill informed.


Peter, who doesn't subscribe to the "Peter Principle", another ill formed assumption.

[ozhunter]

Sorry Sturdee

A month ago, they cut up 8 1200 x 2400 sheets of 19mm ply for me and didn't raise an eyebrow, and they where going to cut Marine ply, until I changed to ordinary ply to suit the job.

In the real world, it matters little what is on a notice board in another store in another state.

A hardware company with a policy not to use a panel saw on a panel because it's "hard on blades" is absolute BS, and penny pinching in the extreme, by a multi million dollar company.

It's like a plumber telling a customer they won't dig a trench there, because it's "hard on the shovel".

There is nothing ill-informed about this thread. I was fully informed twice about the "company policy". It just penny pinching crap.

[I_wanna_Shed]

Although there is a little hardware shop in the Blue Mountains that is owned by an elderly German bloke, the shop is stacked to the roof with all the usual crap, but he gets in German chisels, try squares and the like, because "zat is vat ve used ven I did my apprenticeship, not like ze rubbish now", and a nice old bloke to boot. He goes out of his way to help and gives a few bucks off if you buy higher end items. I call in there everytime I go past, cause I like listening to him talk, and to gawk at the nice toys, and buy one occasionally. It's lucky FenceFurniture doesn't have wheels, or the good stuff 'd gone before I got there.

Which shop is that? I'll call in on my way past next time.