Timbercon show prices ?

[stolar]

Why do people lie without any obvious advantage or reason? <?xml:namespace prefix = v /><v:shapetype class=inlineimg id=_x0000_t75 title="Stick Out Tongue" smilieid="6" alt="" border="0" src="images/smilies/tongue.gif" o<img o:spt="75" coordsize="21600,21600"></v:shapetype>
It just turns me off wanting to deal with them ever again!! <v:shape id=_x0000_i1027 style=" 12pt; 12pt" alt="" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata src="file:///C:\temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image003.gif" o:href="http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/smilies/mad.gif"></v:imagedata></v:shape>:mad:

I was at the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 /><st1:City w:st="on"><ST1:place w:st="on">Melbourne</ST1:place></st1:City> show yesterday and wanted a small Japanese ripping saw.. Carbatec did not have it and I found it at Timercon stand. 51.50 seemed bit dear but I could not remember what the price should have been. Anyway take it to the girl at the till and ask if they have special show prices and if that labelled price was a special show price.
Sure she said that is special show price.
Checked it in their catalogue later and that is their full catalogue price!?! :rolleyes:<v:shape id=_x0000_i1028 style=" 12pt; 12pt" alt="" type="#_x0000_t75"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image003.gif" o:href="http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/smilies/mad.gif"></v:imagedata></v:shape>

I did not say iw as not going to buy it if it was not on special, why the hell did she have to lie? Maybe their "special show price" is the standard catalogue price!?! in which case shy bother pretending there is anything special about the show price?!?:mad:

I really do not like dealing with people where I have to on lookout for scams all the time. Sure this was not really a scam of any scale or significance but just gives me an idea what they are like! :mad:

Good one Timbercon! You have lost one customer for good!
Out of sheer stupidity! :mad::mad:

Not happy !

[Sir Stinkalot]

I think that they must have employed people with little product knowledge to just man the registers. I asked if they had any 300mm sanding disks to go on the machines they sold and I had to go through three people before I got told no!

[Bodgy]

Last time I went to the WW show, they freely admitted that the guys manning the stand were ring ins, just for the show. Not necesssarily bad as most of the guys I spoke with were moonlighting tradesmen.

If I were you I'd email Hague Gobby (Timbecon Grand Poobah), explain the situation and you may get a voucher or something.

I don't think Timbecon are inherently evil, its just that, in a few areas, their management is incompetent.

[Auld Bassoon]

I believe that they'd hired temps to work the tills as I overheard one chap telling a small group of lasses what to do...

[clubbyr8]

If I were you I'd email Hague Gobby (Timbecon Grand Poobah), explain the situation and you may get a voucher or something.

I don't think Timbecon are inherently evil, its just that, in a few areas, their management is incompetent.


My experience with Timbecon is one of non-existant customer service. I have previously documented my "encounter" and I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a response from Hague Gobby. In my case he wouldn't return phone calls (he was always too busy). My "encounter" got sorted out eventually but I will not buy from them ever again. I even stear clear of them at the WWW show.

I doubt whether their ringins are even tradesmen. A couple of years ago at either the Sydney or Canberra WWW show, some clown in green (or was it orange) turned a thicknesser on and fed a bit of wood through it. The thicknesser grabbed the wood and through it and nearly hit awoman pushing a stroller. This clown thought it was funny. I wonder if he had thought it to be funny if the woman's husband had picked the wood up and shoved it where the sun doesn't shine.

Bob

[Chesand]

I had a bad experience over a warranty problem and refuse to buy from them.
I think they rely on the fact that we are on the east coast - 3000 km away from them

[Dan]

...but I could not remember what the price should have been.
Don't they give away catalogues at their stand?

[gazaly]

Don't they give away catalogues at their stand?
That doesn't always help you though. :(

I was in the actual store a few weeks ago to get a new saw blade. I had checked my 2006 catalogue, which I got at the Wood Show in August, before leaving to make sure of the price, but found it dearer once in store.

When I questioned the price, I was told, "You must have the OLD 2006 catalogue, not the current one!"

"What's the difference?" I asked, as the catalogues on the counter looked exactly the same as mine.

"Oh the current one has a darker cover!"

"And higher prices." I added, which was greeted with a look loathing.

Pretty bloody cheeky if you ask me :mad:

[Clinton1]

I don't think Timbecon are inherently evil, its just that, in a few areas, their management is incompetent.

Interesting statement.

I'd agree that there were a lot of ringins. Maybe not at Carbetec, but Timbecon and MIK made me think that there were a lot of them.

At the shows, just like at the stores or at Bunnings, I think it pays to be aware that there are a lot of sales staff with no experience, and to seek out the ones that have knowledge, when you need advice or to ask a question.
Can't blame the blowin staff... little or no training is provided, and a lot of info is thrown at them and maybe they confuse some of it.

Tough luck on that one though, but those saws are nice to use :)

[Dan]

That doesn't always help you though. :(


But in this case it would have.

[Sir Stinkalot]

To their credit they are damed if they do and damed if they don't.
If they didn't put on casual staff to do nothing but run registers then they would likely loose sales and we would have members posting here saying that they had to wait 15 minutes while some the sales staff were busy demonstrating a product.

I also wouldn't expect every item to be on sale just because it was at the show. You could count the saving that there is no postage costs.

I wouldn't think it was a blatant lie that you were told it was on sale .... perhaps if they were a little more experienced they could have mentioned that many items are on sale but they are not sure on your particular item.

[baxter]

I'd agree that there were a lot of ringins. Maybe not at Carbetec, but Timbecon and MIK made me think that there were a lot of them.:)

I am aware that at least two of the Carbetec staff at the Melbourne show were from their Sydney shop and that others had come to supplement their Melbourne shop staff.

As for MIK, I have seen most of their Melbourne Show staff at Sydney WWW show and at Newcastle Woodworking Expo. I have spoken to Vanessa, one of their cash registers ladies at Melbourne, when I have telephoned their Adelaide shop.

They both take staff with them to give good service, so Clinton's overallcomment may be illfounded.

As for Timbercom, I had the same experience - stood waiting to ask a question to be told "sorry I'm a casual" and didn't know a bee from a bulls foot - at Sydney WWW show in 2005. Don't both going near them to buy anymore.

Their problem is that they appear to have a small shop staff in Perth, but bring a large quantity of product to the East coast shows , to get exposure, then can't service with their own staff. End up peeing off the East coast prospectives who decide not to deal with them. Would be better off coming over on a smaller scale and give good knowledgeable service.

That's my fix on the problem.

[gratay]

the item i bought at the timbecon stand rung up the catalogue price on the register not the advertised price on the stand and i had to question it before it got sorted out ...

[Clinton1]

They both take staff with them to give good service, so Clinton's overallcomment may be illfounded.

Possibly illfounded.

[scooter]

...
Their problem is that they appear to have a small shop staff in Perth, but bring a large quantity of product to the East coast shows , to get exposure, then can't service with their own staff. End up peeing off the East coast prospectives who decide not to deal with them. Would be better off coming over on a smaller scale and give good knowledgeable service.

That's my fix on the problem.

Hard to please everyone, though. Personally, I'd rather they have a large display like they did & tons of stock. Knowing how busy it is I was happy to wait to speak to someone who knew their products.

As per someone's bunnings comment above, I don't tend to expect boutique service from a supermarket environment.

In my opinion, better for the average woodworker with a bit of patience for Timbecon to have a large display & plenty of stock (like they did) plenty of people in green shirts (like they did, even if some were temps or whatever & didn't know the product particularly well), but were all friendly & cheerful in my encounters at least.

No affiliation, just posting my experience & POV.


Cheers..................Sean

[Lignum]

Not all the stands were like it. The W W House were ok and the bloke doing the demo on the performax sander was pretty good;) :)

[Felder]

The W W House were ok and the bloke doing the demo on the performax sander was pretty good;) :)

Yet ugly....... :p:p:p:p:D:rolleyes:;)

[Wild Dingo]

I had a bad experience over a warranty problem and refuse to buy from them.
I think they rely on the fact that we are on the east coast - 3000 km away from them

oooh believe me it aint personal they do much the same to the locals :rolleyes:

I refuse to set foot in their store or stall... PERIOD... for me I thought they would be the ducks nuts since they are south of the river and easier for me to access but after my experiences with them I will travel the extra 100klicks return to go to Carbetec to bypass them.

Warrenty? What warrantee? I wouldnt take any peice of machinery I bought of them back to them to be fixed! If I cant fix the thing or I cant find someone who will then I will toss it and go elsewhere to get another.

But believe me it isnt personal nor an West coast - East coast thing... the statement regarding some issues with management and Id add staff is right on the nail head.

[Chesand]

Dingo
I eventually fixed the problem myself but I should not have had to as the machine was faulty when taken out of its sealed box.

[Sprog]

In my experience I have always found Timbecon to be helpful, knowledgeable and courteous.

They honour their warranties and change items with no questions asked.
I bought a jointer from them and after assembly found the fence to be faulty. Took the fence back and it was changed immediately with profound apologies for any inconvenience caused.

I suppose I could have had a whinge on some woodworking forum or other about how I had to take it back and how terribly inconvenient it all was.

I have also never had a problem with Carbatec in Balcatta. Always had positive results there as well.

I think if you treat people with courtesy and respect it is usually returned and with beneficial results.

[meerkat]

It's one of those things, maybe she didn't know, maybe she was told the right thing and maybe it wasn't updated on the system/product.

What I am trying to say is just maybe she thought that she was telling you the truth and wasn't deliberately lying.

My experience is that unless you take it higher then it won't be fixed.

FYI I got an ML-392 from them on the weekend and they threw in a blade jiggy thing. When I got home and opened the box ... nothing just the instructions:eek::mad: Maybe it was a con or maybe and more likely someone nicked itsome where between packing and when we got it.

SWMBO called head office and no probs just let them know and they will swap it. She did and yep no probs.

This is pretty much the service I have experienced (except for a water stone incident) a far more positive one than Carbatec. But then again they haven't been too bad either. I've certainly had worse with other companies.

[stolar]

In my experience I have always found Timbecon to be helpful, knowledgeable and courteous.
....
I think if you treat people with courtesy and respect it is usually returned and with beneficial results.

are you saying that asking if the price was "show special" is rude and asking for trouble and i have only myself to blame that the till girl lied to me?


BTW the price itselfe was not an issue, and yes they did have catalogues there.
Suggesting that I shoudl not have trusted the till girl and shoudl have consulted the catalogue is exactly the point I was making. If I cannot trust them what they are telling me, I don't want to spend my hard earned with them. That is the long and the short of it.

Did not expect this thread to snowball like it did. :rolleyes: Just wanted to have a minor whinge :o !

[Wood Borer]

I found the people at the Felder, Lie Nielsen, MIK and UBeaut stands to be spot on. I didn't have time to go to the other stands.

I agree with Scooter, at the high turn over stands it must be difficult for the companies to employ knowlegeable staff especially if they are only paying them for three days work.

It is disappointing though if you left a stand feeling like you were a victim. I guess you have to weigh up if it was a one off unfortunate incident or if it is the norm.

I have been guilty in the past of walking away empty handed grumbling and missing out whereas in hindsight I perhaps should have bought the item. No need to punish yourself for their stuff ups.

[stolar]

In this case it is not really about staff knowing about stuff they sell (although that helps), and it is not about missing out becuase i did buy the saw. It is not even about the price, it was plain to see and i decided to buy at that price. :rolleyes:
It is about being lied to.:mad:
She does not need to know if the saw is crosscut or rip to know if the labeled prices are specials or not.:rolleyes:
If she did not know she should have said so instead of giving me a "make up truth". It is just not good enough! :mad: And, there is no law stating that I need more then one unfavourable experince to take my business elswhere. Luckily we have choice!:rolleyes:

[silentC]

I bet she didn't even understand what you were asking her. "Is this a special show price"? Probably might as well have asked her if she thought that it was going to rain. It must be a mind numbingly boring job to stand there at one of those things and man a till.

I just wonder if people expect these companies to pack up all their competent staff and ship them to Melbourne or wherever for 4 days. Imagine how much it would cost. And who's going to run the business while they're all away? She was a gun for hire. Probably the only requirement was 'retail experience', which translates to 'have you ever worked a till?'.

Special show price? Yeah, whatever. Just give me your money.

[stolar]

...
Special show price? Yeah, whatever. Just give me your money.

Thanks for the chuckle :) !

That is probably spot on !

Still, i prefered the Carbatec experince where i got 10% off the labeled price :).
What can i say, i am a sucker for a discount !:o

[Sprog]

are you saying that asking if the price was "show special" is rude and asking for trouble and i have only myself to blame that the till girl lied to me?

Did not expect this thread to snowball like it did. :rolleyes: Just wanted to have a minor whinge :o !

No, I am not saying thay at all :D
My post was in reply to the other posts knocking Timbecon, just giving a balanced view.

[Wild Dingo]

In my experience I have always found Timbecon to be helpful, knowledgeable and courteous.

I think if you treat people with courtesy and respect it is usually returned and with beneficial results.

Everything following is said putting my own views of Timbecon to one side as I dont believe its solely an issue that can be laid only on their doorstep... other businesses need to also look at these issues.

Okay so Im trying to understand you here Sprog...
So your saying that if someone has a problem with them or another store its more likely that persons fault than the store management sales people whatever?

And if they have a problem with them its because they (the customer) were rude or discourteous disrespectful to managements staff or whatever?

So if this is right your saying In other words if one has a problem with them they should shut up and say nothing cause if they have a problem its their own fault not that of the store or its staff?

Sometimes Sprog its irrelevent weather or not you as a customer are polite courteous respectful or spend shyteloads of money in the store! Its often more that there are problems with the store itself its management its staff and or its training process... Good/bad service does not necessarily lay solely on the doorstep of the customer who has a bad experience at that store! Sometimes the store itself is the problem the staff is the problem or heaven help us management itself is the ruddy problem!

Blaming the customer for any bad service they get is just plain bloody bullshyte... sure theres bad customers rude customers and demanding arrogant customers JUST as there are bad customer service bad staff and demanding arrogant management in stores INCLUDING woodworkers stores

Fair enough put up an opposing view (and its something Ive always recognized that some others will have glowing experiences with the same store as others myself included had bad ones with) no worries but dont assume by posting such coments as above that its necessarily the customer who caused the problem...

In the case above that stolar refers to it WAS poor staff training pure and simple... the girl didnt have ANY training to be able to respond to his questions without having to resort to lies (big lies small lies irrelelvent still lies and with a basic bit of training unnessessary) she didnt appear to even have a rudimentary knowledge of the pricing structure of the show special items let alone anything else... THAT should have been basic training BEFORE the sheila was put behind the till... was he rude for asking? was he rude to expect at least a modicom of response? was he disrespectful and therefore it was his fault he got the lie?

Anyway staff training was at fault in large part... a better question would be is there a way that Timbecon or other companies like them for that matter could have casual staff given at least basic knowledge PRIOR to the show (they prepare months in advance for these shows this should simply be another facet of that preparation) rather than just grabbing some chickybabe of the street and tossing her in without a clue? that should be a more pertenant and relelvent issue than trying to blame either Timbecon or the customer for fault

All businesses should look to basic knowledge training for any staff they hire... this doesnt for a show mean indepth knowledge of each machine but rather a basic knowledge of the show specials and pricing for that event... not difficult and given some research the training could be included as part of the package when hiring from an agency

[Iain]

I ordered some goods from Timbecon, ex stock and 3 weeks delivery via camel train across the NUllabor.
Enquired about warranty claims on heavy machinery, told to send goods back to Perth at my expense and they would fix, I suggested that a local service agent would be more convenient and cheaper for me (and other Vic residents).
Response wa we only use reputable companies to repair machinery, so, it appears that WA is the only honest state and the others are full of thieves and liars.

[Tony Morton]

Hi Branco
I've only had two experiences with Timbercon I faxed two orders on a Monday morning and had the goods by the weekend great service.

Cheers Tony:)

[TassieKiwi]

I bet she didn't even understand what you were asking her. "It must be a mind numbingly boring job to stand there at one of those things and man a till.

.

:confused: :confused:

:D

D

[silentC]

man verb (t) (manned, manning)
17. to furnish with personnel, as for service or defence.
18. to take one's place at for service, as a gun, post, etc.

:p

[keith53]

I bought an 8" grinder from Timbecon at the Brisbane WWW show this year and was quite happy with the service from the guy I dealt with. I thought he knew his stuff. Same with MIK. I bought a new tool rest for my lathe last year. The post for it was unavilable at the time but I paid for it and it arrived about 3 days later.

By the look of it, there's been far more negative interractions with Timbecon than positive and it begs the question - why don't they pay more attention to the abilities of the 'rent a crowd' rather than simply bums on seats? Its an unfortunate fact that there are those that will crap on about something they know absolutely nothing about and the comments in this thread by disgruntled customers would no doubt add up to quite a few $ in a year. Maybe some people just never learn.

[baxter]

Dingo did that get the splinter out of your paw. (but I do agree with you)

[Sprog]

Okay so Im trying to understand you here Sprog...
So your saying that if someone has a problem with them or another store its more likely that persons fault than the store management sales people whatever?
And if they have a problem with them its because they (the customer) were rude or discourteous disrespectful to managements staff or whatever?
So if this is right your saying In other words if one has a problem with them they should shut up and say nothing cause if they have a problem its their own fault not that of the store or its staff?

I went back and actually re-read my original post and nowhere can I find any relevance to this rubbish you are attributing to my post.
Where did I say any of that?

Just get over your 'bad experience', move on. The more you pick at it the worse it will get.

[Sprog]

By the look of it, there's been far more negative interractions with Timbecon than positive and it begs the question - why don't they pay more attention


It is usually the negative comments that get posted, the satisfied customers often do not post and just get on with it.

[Wild Dingo]

In my comments to you sprog I was referring particularily to this comment:


I think if you treat people with courtesy and respect it is usually returned and with beneficial results.

The implication being from those words of yours is that the customer in this case the starter of the thread and or anyone else with a bad customer experience with this company or any other were in the wrong and didnt treat their staff with courtesy and respect and therefore bought their problems on themselves.

As to the comments in my last post as you would have READ if you had actually READ it :rolleyes: I was referring to all companies and the need for training the staff they use at shows as well as their stores no particular reference was made to Timbecon or my views of that company which in this instance of my comments were irrelevent to the post I was making... but as a generalization of the lack of training that is given the rent a staff mob at the shows... In fact I purposely left my views of Timbecon which are already well known and therefore unnessessay to rehash out of the post by inclusion of this comment I thought that was rather clear?


"Anyway staff training was at fault in large part... a better question would be is there a way that Timbecon or other companies like them for that matter could have casual staff given at least basic knowledge PRIOR to the show (they prepare months in advance for these shows this should simply be another facet of that preparation) rather than just grabbing some chickybabe of the street and tossing her in without a clue? that should be a more pertenant and relelvent issue than trying to blame either Timbecon or the customer for fault"
... and made my comments to include all companies at these shows who hire cheep quick labor people to fill slots without bothering to give them even the most basic of training of even the specials at the show

I have personally "moved on" as you so contemptuously put it... quite simply I dont care about the company... And if you had bothered to notice I no longer say very much regarding the company at all and that is how I intend to keep it however the views Ive expressed with my last two posts are as valid as your own many comments are... as to comments from the opposing veiw there will ALWAYS be comments that will be positive to the company and thats a good thing and I think there should be more people who have good great or even mediocre experiences with ANY company putting up their views and experiences good or bad it all goes to giving each of us a more balanced veiw... by people putting up their comments on such boards as this the companies who bother to look and read them will learn if theyre on the right track if theyre doin a good job if their staff are up to scratch if their training is good enough and a whole raft of other things that could in fact HELP their business... without doing so both the good and the bad the company learns nothing and nor do the forumites.

[felixe]

Don't forget the Xmas sale next Saturday, another excuse to visit them!!:p

[Sprog]

In my comments to you sprog I was referring particularily to this comment:

I think if you treat people with courtesy and respect it is usually returned and with beneficial results.

The implication being from those words of yours is that the customer in this case the starter of the thread and or anyone else with a bad customer experience with this company or any other were in the wrong and didn't treat their staff with courtesy and respect and therefore bought their problems on themselves.

I think if you treat people with courtesy and respect it is usually returned and with beneficial results.

Just read it, it says what it means nothing more, nothing less. If you wish to put your own interpritatation on it, then so be it. :cool:


As to the comments in my last post as you would have READ if you had actually READ it :rolleyes:
Sorry, no, didn't read it, short attention span :D

[Wild Dingo]

[I]Sorry, no, didn't read it, short attention span :D

:p :p :p short attention span of a sprog eh? sorta like the attention span of a gnat eh? :D :p

[RETIRED]

Simmer down boys.:cool: :D

[silentC]

You went out of character for a while there, Dingo, I could almost understand you. ;)

[Wild Dingo]

aaahh tis all good there ol son :cool: ... me an the young sprogo were just havin a bit of a good humoured go at each other... mind you Id sorta forgotten about his attention span problem but I will memba for next time no worries ;) But its all good mate :cool:

Sorry silent mate I shall try bedderah :o :D

[Sprog]

We're cool .

We forget that when you write something it may be open to differing interpretations.

Dingo, maybe the attention span of a goldfish, about three seconds I think, that is why they don't mind being in a glass bowl. Each revolution is a new experience. :D

The "young Sprogo" hehe, I wish :D

[baxter]

Come on Sprog and Dingo, don't kiss and make up now, it was just starting to get good.