A vent

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.

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.

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

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. :((

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Originally Posted by BobL

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

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What, you reckon they think about that??

Memo - don't buy blades from them.:D

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?

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Originally Posted by ozhunter

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.

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

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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

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.

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Originally Posted by ozhunter

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

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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. :D

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Originally Posted by lightwood

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

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

Doesn't it make your blood boil?:~:~

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.

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Originally Posted by dabbler

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

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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. :)

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.

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Originally Posted by ozhunter

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.

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

It's just in Katoomba not far from the highway.

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Originally Posted by ozhunter

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,

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sturdee

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. :)

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Originally Posted by 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.

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Hmm, there is a big differences between ply, marine ply and Formply.

Normal ply and Marine ply is easy on saws but Formply is a different kettle of fish

We don't cut yellow tongue, green tongue or red tongue either. The resins in these timbers cause the blade to gum up and jam. But don't let this stop anyone from bashing us Bunnies workers, we love getting paid min wage to cop abuse from angry customers.

Bought a mower there recently. Got great advice from a nice bloke who knew what he was talking about. Went back and thanked him the next Saturday. (Off topic but a bit of balance)

John, your explanation is what I should have got from the timber yard. "Hard on blades" is a cop-out, throw away line.

I'm not bashing anybody. I don't think it's unreasonable to expect a proper answer from an employee, in any business, to a question that is directly related to the job they are doing. Regardless of how much they get paid to do it. I was not rude or abusive to anyone, then or now.

The boffins in the complaints dept. haven't even bothered to acknowledge that I sent them an email. Not even an automated "yep, got it, we'll get back to you shortly" and I wasn't rude or abusive to them either.

Try Mr Plywood

This a little bit after the fact. I expect all is resolved now, but below is a simple jig for cutting sheet material without too much difficulty. I have couple of these jigs at 1200mm and a couple at 2400mm.

I did not take these pic especially to show the jig as they came from another thread so it doesn't show the saw in position. The saw is run with the motor over the central guide rail so has to be lifted sufficiently to clear. It does mean a slight loss of cutting depth, but is not an issue for sheet material. Use the manufacturer's edge to run your saw against and leave enough material on the bottom section so that the first time it is used it cuts to the width of the saw. In the pic I was cutting 32mm thickness.

Clamp the work on the material behind the guide.

On my guide I have cut one side to suit my 235mm saw and the other side for the 185mm saw. There is of course no interchangeability between brands of saw. A new saw means a new jig. A different type of replacement blade can also affect whether the guide is exactly right.

Of course it is easiest to get the pros to cut yours sheets, but if all else fails...

Regards
Paul



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