Are all their branches terrible or is it just the Vancouver branch? I
swore I would never shop there again after two episodes when it took 6
phone calls and a month each time to get a refund for faulty items.

I relented because of the most recent flier tempting offers but run
into trouble almost instantly placing the order and finally had to
cancel it.

I do not want to bore people with extensive whining but I am
interested: Is this a local issue or is it representative of the KBC
corporate culture? Are they different in USA from Canada?

Michael Koblic,
Campbell River, BC

wrote:

Are all their branches terrible or is it just the Vancouver branch? I
swore I would never shop there again after two episodes when it took 6
phone calls and a month each time to get a refund for faulty items.

I relented because of the most recent flier tempting offers but run
into trouble almost instantly placing the order and finally had to
cancel it.

I do not want to bore people with extensive whining but I am
interested: Is this a local issue or is it representative of the KBC
corporate culture? Are they different in USA from Canada?
I've only been out there once or twice. I picked up a surface
plate that was on sale, and didn't want to pay freight on it.

I have never had a problem with anything I got from them. I buy
combined drill-taps, taps, some drill bits and small stuff from
them a few times a year. I try to always shop at KBC first,
as they are the last tool distributor left in the St. Louis area,
and so I want to support them for the special cases where I need
something right NOW.

So, at least the St. Louis office has worked out well for me.

Jon

On Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:14:57 -0500, Jon Elson
wrote:

wrote:

Are all their branches terrible or is it just the Vancouver branch? I
swore I would never shop there again after two episodes when it took 6
phone calls and a month each time to get a refund for faulty items.

I relented because of the most recent flier tempting offers but run
into trouble almost instantly placing the order and finally had to
cancel it.

I do not want to bore people with extensive whining but I am
interested: Is this a local issue or is it representative of the KBC
corporate culture? Are they different in USA from Canada?
I've only been out there once or twice. I picked up a surface
plate that was on sale, and didn't want to pay freight on it.
=================================================
I have never had a problem with anything I got from them. I buy
combined drill-taps, taps, some drill bits and small stuff from
them a few times a year. I try to always shop at KBC first,
as they are the last tool distributor left in the St. Louis area,
and so I want to support them for the special cases where I need
something right NOW.

So, at least the St. Louis office has worked out well for me.

Jon
=================================================
Hey Mike,

I'm with Jon on this one. I've dealt with them in Windsor for many
years, and no trouble. In fact, as a hobbiest, they have given me
some great deals, and great service. I wish I was closer to them now,
but I moved about 70 miles further east a little over 8 years ago, and
I don't get into Windsor nearly as much. They have always comped me
pretty well on shipped orders too, albeit it's small light-weight
items.

Take care.

Brian Lawson,
Bothwell, Ontario.

Their on-line catalog blows. Easier to have a print catalog to speed
things up. Their back order software blows. They won't show something in
a backorder status if it will be coming from another branch.

Back in July, I ordered maybe 6 items, the web order showed them
all, but they didn't charge for a threading insert, as it turned out to
be back ordered. Never told me it was back ordered, the invoice with the
bulk of the parts never showed a back order. Imagine my surprise at the
end of September when a threading insert came (shipping was almost the
same as the part!).

Talking with the rep, this is a known quirk of their invoicing, and
this problem has been around since 2007.

If KBC got a real web catalog and fixed the little issues, I'd use them
a lot more. If competitors do a better job, KBC might think about
copying them....

On Oct 12, 9:54*am, Louis Ohland wrote:
Their on-line catalog blows. Easier to have a print catalog to speed
things up. Their back order software blows. They won't show something in

....

If KBC got a real web catalog and fixed the little issues, I'd use them
a lot more. If competitors do a better job, KBC might think about
copying them....

I've had mixed experience with the store in Toronto.

Probably the thing that bothers me most is the $25.00 minimum.

Just recently I was after some M8 socket head bolts. Since I have run
afoul of the minimum policy in the past, I asked for a box of 100.
Didn't really need that many but...

Guy behind the counter sez: "Sorry. We only have eight of em."

Me sez; "Okay. I take them."

Guy sez: "Can't sell them to you because it's less than the minimum."

Me sez (In a fit of diplomacy!): "Ah.. Wonder if you would mind to
check
with someone and see if you can?"

He toddles off and checks with the someone (probably Paula, the
owner).
Five minutes later he comes back and says that it's OK.

So they sell me the eight pieces.

When I walk out of the place I don't know if I should be ****ed off
with them for
being stupid, or be grateful that they helped move me a small step
along
on one of my projects.


FWIW, someone on the Yahoo Unimat group recently suggested this
place: http://www.boltdepot.com/default.aspx

Prices look good. And I need a bunch of M6 stuff.



DOC

Measure thrice. Cut twice.

On Wed, 19 Oct 2011 06:06:42 -0700 (PDT), doc
wrote:

[...]

FWIW, someone on the Yahoo Unimat group recently suggested this
place: http://www.boltdepot.com/default.aspx

Prices look good. And I need a bunch of M6 stuff.


1) They do not ship to Canada
2) The ship UPS only

Two of the most common reasons why one even bothers with KBC.

My most recent order is still incomplete. OTOH I have been told that
Paula Bass (founder's relative?) is the go-to person if there are
problems.

Michael Koblic,
Campbell River, BC