Thread: Keep Your Money Local - Support Our Local Business

It's the same here, the local business owners seem to think they are entitled to business simply because they are 'local', they make no effort to actually earn the business of the local people. I've just bought a new wood heater, the local guy who sells wood heaters is coming to repair my old one on Wednesday. I don't know which Wednesday he's coming, but about seven years ago he told me he would come on Wednesday. I did not buy my new heater from him. He is just one of the local business people who I don't even bother going to when I am after something. They can't compete with internet sellers on price, and they don't bother trying to compete on service. Not sure what they think they have to offer.

My experience is this happens at all levels. We have a farming operation in a country town where I have discovered very disappointing levels of some locals charging my elderly parents very unreasonable prices when they got older and could be taken advantage of.

What really ****es me off is that my parents employed their main farm hands for 30 and 40 years respectively. How many employers can say the same.

I was brought up on being honourable and can only hope we find some more locals that feel the same way (potential employees , contractors, suppliers or otherwise) or we will need to look further afield. And that is not what we want.

There is some excellent local businesses in Ballarat. Checkout the post one of them just made about the "buy australian" theme going around at the moment ( I have always bought australian if it is possible ... and if I can afford it. sadly this rules out 95% of anythiing I'd buy unless its food).

Industrial World (Ballarat Bearings) - Australian Made Products | Facebook

I'm amazed stuff like sprockets and chain is still made in melbourne!

Originally Posted by DoubleChevron

There is some excellent local businesses in Ballarat. Checkout the post one of them just made about the "buy australian" theme going around at the moment ( I have always bought australian if it is possible ... and if I can afford it. sadly this rules out 95% of anythiing I'd buy unless its food).

Industrial World (Ballarat Bearings) - Australian Made Products | Facebook

I'm amazed stuff like sprockets and chain is still made in melbourne!

There is a large chain maker in Brisbane also firms who cut gears and sprockets. Nobles do lifting gear of all kinds at Salisbury (Qld.).

When I was running my tool business I ended up importing most of my stock from the USA. Local suppliers were, in the main, bloody greedy, and gave appalling service.

Hello All,

Well this tip is not exactly local to me - however, what was offered must be considered to be a Sterling Level of Service. I was trying to source parts for the Holley 350 CFM 7448 carburettor that is on Bluey - my future tow vehicle. My initial contact with Peter from Holley Parts Wholesaler located in Guildford Western Australia was through their email.

Within hours I received a reply saying, "we can help you and supply you with what you need - call me" and their phone number.

So I called them. I provided the description of the symptoms that resulted in my first ever engine fire. Now that was an "interesting" experience that I am not in a hurry to repeat.

I waited on the line and I could hear Peter's brain whirring away as he ran through different scenarios...

"Has the car run on ethanol blend fuel? Because ethanol melts the gaskets on cheap rebuild kits"

"Has the car ever run on Autogas?"

Since there is a mighty big LPG tank taking up one side of the van - it was a pretty good guess that it had.

Eureka!!!

"Oh" says Peter, "Autogas totally eats the old alloy floats out.
You need a nitrophyl float - we can sell you one of them.
Plus a genuine Holley rebuild kit that can be re-used up to 4 times. Unlike the cheap ones
I will also supply a fully detailed disassembly and assembly pamphlet with the kit.
If you strike any problems during the rebuild - stop straight away... give me a call and I will run you through it, to get you out of trouble"
Then the last bit of sage advice. "Only do one gasket at a time".

Now that is a level of service which is sure going to be damned hard to beat!

Kind regards
Lionel

Hello All,

Going back to my original posting - there has been movement at the station.

Last Monday I ordered a tool because it was not in stock at my local store. I was informed it would be ready to pick-up last Wednesday. Thursday came around and I dropped into the shop after not receiving the promised phone call to let me know the item had been delivered from their branch located in the neighbouring town. The next step was that I had to decide which capacity rating I wanted and then telephone them to order it.

I did not call them back as I was going to contact the branch in the next town and secure it and go drive over to pick it up myself.

This morning I received a telephone call from the local mob. The caller said that my item had arrived and is ready for pick-up. Hmmm I cannot remember ringing them back to order it... oh well gift-horses mouths ... It is bit like a lucky dip though - I wonder which capacity rating tool is waiting for me. Bet you it is the dearest one!

The tool mob are just up the road to where I have to go to a four wheel drive parts mob. I took a front and rear shock absorber into them so they could see which ones to order it and read their parts numbers. The rear shocks are fine. The front ones are either missing a part or they sent the wrong ones. Because what I took to them to inspect and what I received are not the same.

Off I go la-lah- la, merrily-merrily... At least I will be able to get one of the jobs done now. This is progress I suppose ...

Kind regards
Lionel

Hello from Brisbane.

For the job that I’m presently doing on my truck I need several sizes of BSF bolts and nuts. None of the dwindling local sources of Land Rover parts had them or knew where to try.

So, by process of elimination last week I found myself phoning a specialist parts outlet in Melbourne - can’t see the point in naming names. Told the nice lady that I was after a couple of items listed on their website but wanted to check on availability, price and delivery charges. After several unsuccessful attempts to identify their own web site pages and/or check if they knew what are fairly common parts on a Series Land Rover I was put on to the “Boss”. Do you know the part numbers? No, but they are X, Y and Z in the front axle page of your website. No good without the part numbers mate - ok, can I email them to you? Better do that - so, I did and no response.

Were there a viable alternative - tried all the specialist bolt suppliers around the place - I might have walked away rather than phoning back again today. Incidentally, enjoyed much the same performance from an Adelaide based bolt supplier when chasing two bolts that the Melbourne place reckoned I should try a hardware store for.

Buy local and support a needy cause.....

Cheers,

Neil

Not sure if you're north or south side, but this is a well run, family business.

boltz and nutz - Google Search