Some Companies Just DO IT RIGHT - Lee Valley

[peter halle]

For Christmas I got a gift certificate from my brother for a company that as a woodworker and contractor for the last 30 years I had never purchased from.  Finally on Friday the 10th after reading a thread on talkFestool I decided to order.  And I requested the free printed catalogs.  Within 3 minutes of printing out my receipt I had an email order confirmation.  Within 5 hours I had an email notification of shipment and a tracking number.  Now I have the product.  So, 4 days and approximately 8 hrs later (including the 2 day weekend) from keyboard to my door.

That is how it is supposed to be done.  Rob Lee and the gang at Lee Valley Tools:  [thumbs up] [thumbs up]  Your reputation precedes you and you can add me to your long list of fans!  Well done and thank you.

Peter Halle

 

[GhostFist]

Lee valley stand by their products. I think they have something like a 90 day return policy on all their non consumable products making sure you're satisfied with what you buy. Robert Lee's feedback on this forum should be proof of the customer service they deliver.

 

[nclemmons]

Lee Valley Rocks.  Love their catalogs and products.  Great people!

Amazed this is your first order with them.  But then you are really young still!

Hope it was a good gift for you.

neil

 

[peter halle]

Lee Valley Rocks.  Love their catalogs and products.  Great people!

Amazed this is your first order with them.  But then you are really young still!

Hope it was a good gift for you.

neil

Some things are worth waiting for.  I also spent some time with the catalogs.  Sorry, catalogs on the internet might be able to present much information, but printed catalogs in hand evoke emotion, planning, and a connection with the products.  [thumbs up]  All these are my opinions only off course.

PSST:  The rumors of me being 29 are inaccurate.  They correct fact is that I have wrinkles that are that old.

Peter

 

[PeterK]

Lee Valley has amazing catalogs. In about 10 years of doing business with them, I have never purchased anything they manufacture or sell that I was disappointed with. Also their customer service is absolutely top notch as so many have said. Have tried a couple times purchasing from GWade and was so upset with the quality of tools and other stuff they sell. Looks so nice in the catalog but total dissatisfaction upon receipt. I am a Lee Valley customer for life.

 

[nclemmons]

If you have not done so, you really need to look at their gardening and hardware catalogs as well as their woodworking catalog.

Plus they have a great gift catalog around the holidays too.

neil

 

[dicktill]

... not to mention their great sense of humor. Go to Lee Valley's website, put "AFD" into the search function. Be sure to add each item into the "cart" (you don't actually have to buy them, but just DO it).

 

[peter halle]

If you have not done so, you really need to look at their gardening and hardware catalogs as well as their woodworking catalog.

Plus they have a great gift catalog around the holidays too.

neil

I have fresh unopened gardening and hardware catalogs on the counter.  Would have been a crime of some sort not to look at the tool catalog first.  In depth.  And dogear a few pages.

 

[TinyTiger]

They are awesome, aren't they?  They've been great to buy things from, and they went the extra mile to help me when I lost a screw out of the vise I bought from them some time back.  Their level of customer service is truly impressive and they work to get the details just right.

 

[mouppe]

At least twice a year the have free shipping offers. One is probably coming up around Memorial Day if it's the same as last year.

 

[otis04]

There used to be an outdoor writer, I think McManus, who wrote an article about fishing catalogs. 
As I remember, he said every spring, fishermen anxiously await the arrival of the new catalog so they could go through every page and find new items they never knew existed that they couldn't live without.
I think there are certain parallels to catalogs referenced on this forum!

 

[Oldwood]

I whole heartily agree Lee Valley does it right & they have right from the very beginning. One of my first purchases was a water bath grinder that is cast iron & quite heavy. It arrived broken in the post & I expected  the usual send it back we will look at it & decide who is at fault & then credit or send a replacement. I was surprised to hear the service rep say dam the post office is getting good a breaking things I will get a new one out to you today and you can keep the broken one or send it back freight collect. That was about 30 years ago & it seems they have maintained or increased their commitment to customer service.

Their no questions asked return policy has kept me coming back without any concern that the product will not live up to the marketing or if I decide it just is not the right tool for the job.

Gerry

 

[TinyTiger]

There used to be an outdoor writer, I think McManus, who wrote an article about fishing catalogs.  
As I remember, he said every spring, fishermen anxiously await the arrival of the new catalog so they could go through every page and find new items they never knew existed that they couldn't live without.
I think there are certain parallels to catalogs referenced on this forum!

Yes!  Patrick F. McManus and the book was called "A Fine and Pleasant Misery".  One of my all-time favorites.  [big grin]

We know what he means too, don't we?

 

[fletchtool]

I've been a customer of Lee Valley since the mid 1980's and they are second to none in customer service: 90 day return policy; answer any questions you might have and if they can't, they will find someone who can; or will call the manufacturer (if it's not them) and get the answer. Great advice, no rushing you when you are at the counter and want to look at what you are buying. Always make sure you understand what you are buying and how it works.  No question is ever a dumb one as far as they are concerned. I always feel I have received good or better value for my money when I buy from them. Customer for life .

Fletchtool

 

[upscale]

For Christmas I got a gift certificate from my brother for a company that as a woodworker and contractor for the last 30 years I had never purchased from. 

You've been woodworking for thirty years and this is the FIRST purchase you've made from Lee Valley Tools. Festool sells muchly by reputation and Lee Valley Tools does the same. Peter, have you been hiding in a cave? Where have you been boy?

??? ??? ???

 

[peter halle]

For Christmas I got a gift certificate from my brother for a company that as a woodworker and contractor for the last 30 years I had never purchased from. 

You've been woodworking for thirty years and this is the FIRST purchase you've made from Lee Valley Tools. Festool sells muchly by reputation and Lee Valley Tools does the same. Peter, have you been hiding in a cave? Where have you been boy?

??? ??? ???

That is absolutely the truth and I have only a few Veritas products that were all purchased from other retailers.  I actually ran across a copy I made of a Festool marketing DVD that I received back in 2005 that was the reason I even heard about Festool. 

And for clarity, I don't live in a cave.  I live in a hollowed out tree.  Across the hallway are the Keebler elves.  [big grin]

Peter

 

[Paul G]

Never bought there before, will now take a closer look.

 

[Jerry White]

I once bought a feeler gauge from Lee Valley.  Months later, I received a padded envelope from them.  I opened it, puzzled, as I didn't remember ordering anything lately.  Inside was a knurled nut and a note.  Lee Valley said that the feeler gauge was supposed to have a knurled nut on it not a hex nut and that they just became aware the gauges were being shipped with hex nuts.  Now who else would go to such lengths for such a small purchase?

I have to admit that that knurled nut is handy when using the feeler gauge.  I think of their great customer service every time I use that gauge!

 

[ridgenj]

My first purchase was an excellent experience and the explanations we received from Rob second to non.
With my purchase I got the catalog and I just realized how much I have been missing to have something in my hands.
As an adolescent  it was the ultimate summer job to distribute all the beautifully printed  jewels from.. You name them.

On top of the excellent products they have, their catalog is just worth to have and keep looking at.
BTW I received also a FT catalogue a few days ago.
What a nice hobby, tradition still prevail.

Cheers
Luis

 

[skids]

WELL! What did you order???!!  [wink]

I want one of their Veritas Block planes. Not even sure why, since I don't need a plane THAT nice..But it sure looks purdy.

I gotta get me one of these catalogs...This is easily an hour on the throne if it's as good as you say it is!