HARE & FORBES=par excellence

Have heard a lot of negative comments over the years about H&F sales & service, have had several dealings with them in the past and found them on par with all the others in the machinery game, until today.
I needed to change my saw over from 415 to 240V as the new shed won't have 3 phase in the foreseeable future, so last week I rang H&F Brisbane, Adam up there was helpful tracked down the last 240v motor for it in Aust and then gave me some hints on rewinds and the actual specs of the motor. So I rang around visited motor rewinders and came to the conclusion the original was the best bet (and some $200 better priced than anyone else:) ). So yesterday at 3.00pm I rang Brisbane again, Adam is now in H&F Sydney, so Dave, whom used to be in Sydney H&F helped me and retracked the motor took my order and said it'd be here in a little while.
To my utter amazement it was delivered at 2.30pm this arvo, complete with a complimentary new manual for the saw, motor sourced then a 30 odd kilo package delivered for $20, in less than 24hrs, IMHO it doe not get any better than this for customer service.
Adam & Dave from Hare & Forbes, Take a bow lads, bleedin brilliant.

Great to see a good compliment, :) :) :)
get a bit weary of the whingers ...

I have never had a bad dealing with H&F,except for one little minor issue, picked up my table saw and they kindly used a forklift to put it in the back of the Landcruiser, the bastards didn't offer any advice as to how I was supposed to get it off again:p

I've had mainly good service and advice from H&F, except from a young bloke in Parramatta's Spare Parts who is about as useful as tits on a bull. Generally, the sales staff are knowledgeable and helpful - even if you are obviously out of your depth they don't treat you like a dill.
When I bought my AL50A lathe, they put it in the trailer with a forklift in about 30 seconds, took me about 2 hours to get it off the trailer onto its stand on my own, with timber blocks, car jacks and rollers. Just as well I could get the trailer into my workshop!
Cheers
Graeme

My experience at H&F Brisbane is that noone really wants to get off their bum to assist. It's only just around the corner, but I don't own any Hafco gear, nor am I likely to, because whenever I've walked in, I've wandered around like a lost soul for 10 minutes trying to get someone to help me out. When they do appear, they don't seem to know much about their machinery other than knowing where it is in the catalogue. Just my two bobs' worth, obviously others have had differing experiences.

I've bought the majority of my stuff from H&F in Sydney. Their prices are always better than the others and service is second to none. I needed a new blade changing thingo for my thicknesser. I rang spare parts and it arrived in the mail 2 days later free of charge. No complaints here.

Good to hear some positive feedback. I've dealt with H&F in Brisbane many times over the years. Their products are good value for money, there is a wide range, they turn up as expected and well packaged etc. I have found, though, that aftersales service is limited to parts, not advice. They don't seem to have an in-depth knowledge of their products, but maybe thats only the woodworking machines?
Anyway, I will continue to deal with them, as their products represent good value, in my price range.

Cheers,

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Originally Posted by Andy Mac

Anyway, I will continue to deal with them, as their products represent good value, in my price range.

Cheers,

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They do in mine as well, which is why I keep going in, hoping for some improvement:(. I'm almost in the market for a largish jointer, so we'll see how they go:cool:.

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Originally Posted by Iain

I have never had a bad dealing with H&F,except for one little minor issue, picked up my table saw and they kindly used a forklift to put it in the back of the Landcruiser, the bastards didn't offer any advice as to how I was supposed to get it off again:p

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Horsepower Iain? :D :D

It occurs to me that most of the problem with hare & forbes is the variability of their staff. Some seem most helpfull and on the ball certain other staff seem to generate the desire to hit something, preferably large flesh coloured and standing on the other side of the counter.

But you get that sometimes.

cheers

All the positive remarks seem to come outside Victoria, funny that:rolleyes: . Have bought a lot of stuff from them, their after sales service leaves a bit to be desired.

Tiger,

I had the on/off switch play up on my BP16a a couple of months after purchase, rang Melbourne branch and a new one was in the mail (from Brisbane IIRC) in a couple of days, very happy with the after sales service here.

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Originally Posted by Tiger

All the positive remarks seem to come outside Victoria, funny that:rolleyes: . Have bought a lot of stuff from them, their after sales service leaves a bit to be desired.

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I tried to give H&F Melb some of my hard earned in exchange for some equipment, however, decided to give it to someone more business-like after receiving some "attidude" over the phone.:mad:

Now for those of us reading here that run a business there is a lesson here.

I can not believe that business owners will allow a situation where the quality or suitability of the product , the ability to supply it or its price/ value for money being the reason the a potential customer fails to purchase.:confused:

We repeatedly see complaints here about ###### or @@@@@ atitude, I'll never buy any thing there.

This is one of the few areas where the current liberal governments labour reforms may help the country....... improving attitudes in machinery supply houses.
I supose If the owners attitude stinks there is no hope.


conversely there are those who are always cheerfull, respectfull and helpfull and there are many who will buy from them in spite of other factors because of their attitude.:D

cheers

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Originally Posted by Mulgabill

I tried to give H&F Melb some of my hard earned in exchange for some equipment, however, decided to give it to someone more business-like after receiving some "attidude" over the phone.:mad:

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The really surprising thing about them is that some of the salesmen don't have good product knowledge as well as having a bit of "attitude". They don't seem to care whether you buy their stuff or not and I got tired of their "not sure about how that works" approach. They definitely seem more content to sit in their offices than to research their products.