Hare & Forbes MachineryHouse Physical store

PS 1810 – Purchased the PS 1810. The saw itself is ok, only adjusting due to weather change. The dust extraction allowance is inadequate with large gaps everywhere, OH and S would ban it for this reason. I am waiting for it to be out of warranty to rectify. The sliding table saw is a waste of time for mid sized boards, I have got bolt on modifications and an additional runner to make it stable Show details

Inept staff – Narrow minded inept staff & sales team - the lot of them. I placed an online order the day before and paid via direct transfer as I have done many times in the past over the years. I was notified by email that most items are not in stock which is fine however I found myself unexpectedly driving past the next day and decided to pop in and pick up… Read more

some sandblasting screens out of my $600 + order. So I stopped in to the pick up area and asked the warehouse if I could pick up just the sandblasting screens out of my order giving the invoice number. Was told I need to go across the road to "sort out some nonsense about the invoice" So I go over there, wait 10 - 15 mins before any staff could assist me, asked what I need to do to sort out whatever needs to be sorted out, explained I just want to pick up my sandblasting screens out of my order, nothing else. I was asked to show the invoice & remittance as the payment had only been made the day before, the secretary needed to confirm the payment not sure what came of that but I was told I would need to wait for management or someone higher up to speak to so I continued to wait. Sometime later I finally get to speak to the higher up, again I had to quote the invoice number and show remittance, then told it needs to be confirmed by head office, so I continue to wait. This person comes back to me all confused saying some of my items are not yet available etc when im starting to really loose my patience explaining for a third time I only want to pick up the sandblasting screens out of my order, just my $25 sandblasting screens, I want nothing else but my sandblasting screens, I have explained to warehouse staff, showroom staff now management that's all I want. Then finally someone actually understood, I then had to wait a further few minutes while an invoice was typed out? printed then back across the road to explain 1 more time I just want my sandblasting screens out of my order. FFS Hare & Forbes, something so simple made so hard and you took a valuable half an hour out my day and raised my stress levels, im now joining the many who are very unimpressed with your failing customer service skills, ive spent over 40k with your company and I stood in your showroom office feeling like I was trying to scam you out of some sandblasting screens after showing an emailed invoice and remittance twice, perhaps with some of the massive profits you make spare some of that money to train the clowns you put behind desks.

Very Satisified with the Sales & After Sales/Servive of 'Machinery Warehouse' – I purchased a mini lathe from H&F Perth (Halfo AL51-G) early Jan - 2024, My opinion of the lathe is - Good Design BUT Very Poor Build Quality and Manufacturing Detail.. (and yes you get what you pay for, otherwise all good) First Threading operation the Lathe died. Rang H&F Perth (Jason) who reacted immediately to supply new parts and suggested I… Read more

fit them, rather than return the Lathe to H&F Perth. Excellent Service - Good Result. Approx 6 weeks later another failure with unknown cause resulting some broken parts. Drove to H&F Perth and spoke to Service Manager (Samantha Blackwood) who explained I was too far out of town to do an onsite repair. However as luck would have it, she had a technician coming down my way, early in the next week and would do an inspection. True to her word the Technician (Ritch Barrett) arrived at my place on the time nominated and not only did an inspection, but supplied and installed any thing on my lathe that did not meet specification. I could not be Happier with the obliging service I had received for such a 'Low Cost' Lathe. I am also Extremely Happy that I chose to purchase from H& F Perth rather than buy an 'On-Line' Lathe from other so called 'online suppliers' - who normally do not offer this kind of service.. EXCELLENT SALES and EXCELLENT SERVICE. Thank You H&F Perth... Jim Alcock

Great – Brought a lathe from Brisbane store. Have had a couple of issues but every time the service has been excellent. Highly recommend this company. Show details

Customer (no)service for parts – Customer service 0/10. Let me explain. First and foremost it's not any individual that I've rated as less than zero. It's the H&F policy on doing the right thing by their clients. I have a lathe that required a tool post hold down bolt. I figured if someone wrecked one I'd best get two, just in case. Cost of the bolt was $7.50 each, which in… Read more

itself is a bit much, to say the least. Then they tell me that they don't stock them down in here in Melbourne so I'll have to pay $13.18 to have it posted down from their Sydney warehouse. That make it $31 for two bolts that turned out to be very poorly made from Grade 2 units. When I opened the parcel I get two bolts that looked like they had had the hex heads hand ground to fit a t-slot. Not parallel, not square and every edge was burred. I ring their Melbourne office to let them know that I'm very disappointed with the whole experience and I get told, albeit politely, that I need to ring their head office in Sydney to tell them as there wasn't anything they could do from their Melbourne office. I'm not angry but I am extremely disappointed and would suggest that anyone thinking of buying from this company think long and hard of this sort of lack of service before purchasing anything from them.

Cusomter Service really lacking – I went there to try and purchase a replacement part for a lathe supplied by them, Although it was something you would expect to wear, they had zero stock in any store. They took all my details and said they'd check with the manufacturer and get back in contact, they never did. Its worth noting that the ony reason I went to the store was that… Read more

during the same morning I could not get anyone to answer the phone. Also, If you try and leave an enquiry on their website you'll find it doesn't work as their contact form fails to accept any post code, but then wont let you submit your message because it says the post code is blank. When I originally bought my lathe from them, it was also a drama as the delivery company called me on the planned day of delivery and said I lived further away than they deliver to. I then had to go and collect it myself, but then it took weeks and weeks for Hare & Forbes to refund the amount I paid for delivery. I had to make numerous follow up calls and then they refunded about $5 too much and sent me an email asking me to pay them back.

Customer service one particular sale person issue "Lathe quick change tool post" – I walked in this morning 23/12/20 and knew what I wanted. I may not have had all the exact measurements but close to the mark. A tall European looking gentleman around in his 50sh came to the counter. His manner was somewhat staunch. I told him that I was after a quick change tool post. He wanted to know what for? answer Lathe! He wanted size?… Read more

Answer around 250-300mm swing! He could not help me. (I think he was hiding his ignorance about the subject) I became agitated as my answers should have given him an indication. Question: What centre hight? My answer: obvious around 13 or 15 cm half the swing! I asked him to show me the tools and I can tell you the one I want. He showed me a very large one in a glass case. We were not getting anywhere. I was getting very agitated by his manner, I asked for a catalogue? Looked in the catalogue I found the one, looked up and the salesperson had walked away he was standing at the end of the counter near the office door by himself. It was very obvious he did not want to serve me. I needed this tool post, I had ordered it online three times and three times my money was returned because of transport issues from China. I was extremely close to walking out. Called him closer to me. Told him the size I wanted. He needed to ask another salesperson where the tool was. (again ignorance reigned) Ready to Clinch the sale. But still more obstacles! He needed to know my name and postcode to find me in the computer. Gave him my company name and personal name. He was not able to find me. I told him to forget about the name just make it a cash sale. By now all the salespeople were following us and the issue. One gentleman of east Asian appearance came to the rescue. He found my company name on the computer immediately and the sale was done. I asked if they sold engraving tools. Unfortunately not. He talked about engraving etc. We struck a note here with a common interest, but I think he was trying to calm me down. It sort of worked. Merry Chrismas and a Happy and Healthy New year

Poor inflexible public relations – I live in a rural area of SW WA so asked friends from Melville to buy the Ute swivel hoist for me and some holding straps. Hoist was on special on the internet Monday night 30th November 2020. They attended the Kewdale store 9.45am Tuesday 1st December 2020 intending to purchase for me and other items for themselves. Very disappointing customer… Read more

service, totally inflexible and abrupt to the point they felt they were interrupting the man’s day. The price went from $239 to $275 overnight. I have now read previous reviews which indicate a hit and miss positive experience with this company and staff so we’re not alone and will never use or recommend them again.

thicknesser cracked mtr housing new zealand store auckland – just saw some one else with my problem ,tried warranty claim told ha well out off warranty time,told never seen this happen before.told cheaper to buy a new one cheaper than a whole new motor wasnt impressed with sales staff, this machine is like brand new was his first remark thanks 4 reading be aware Show details

Always great to deal with, the Mates Rates discounts really add extra value to sale prices – I've bought online from Hare & Forbes for some years now using the Mates Rates discount codes, and picking the item up instore. The range is fantastic, and the website is really laid out quite logically and simply with no stupid "snazziness" like some companies feel compelled to do! The amount of stock instore is fantastic, although it seems a… Read more

little less than the old site, but at least you can see, touch, and power on quite a lot.

The staff have always been really helpful and I've never had any reason to complain, so kudos to H&F!