Fellow FOG Members-

I am looking for your recommendations. I am preparing to make a rather large Festool purchase and would like to know who you suggest I place my order with? I would prefer to do business with an "independent" and avoid the big box retailers (Woodcraft/Rockler). My experience is that service can be difficult to receive at these stores & the scope of their knowledge of the Festool line can be hit or miss. I would like to find an independent salesman with experience and knowledge with the tools who provides EXCELLENT customer service. Preferably, they should also be a FOG contributor. I have reviewed Shane's list of dealers who are FOG members but would like to hear of some real world interactions with these folks.  I look forward to hearing your endorsements.

I've had good luck with these guys: http://www.bobmarinosbesttools.com/

Bonus is their site is well designed, so it's pretty easy to get exactly what you need.

I don't understand why Ohio is a problem.

Since you plan to order a bunch of stuff why don't you split the order among several dealers and compare their service?

I'd start with those dealers who contribute information to the forums.

Bob Marino

Tom Bellemare

Sean Ackerman

I'll go ahead and include Dan Clermont even though he only sells to Canadian customers.

After not so good experiences with local dealer, Bob Marino has been fantastic for me with multiple purchases over the last couple years. I especially measure it more for what happens after the sale. I've had a couple of product issues and Bob was all over it before I could even think through what to do. Being in Indiana, everything that comes from Ohio or is drop shipped direct from Festool is same day ship and next day arrival for me. Very highly recommended!

Tom

What tms0425 said.  After the deal is what matters the most, Mr Marino will come through for you.  Thanks again Bob!   

I deal with Uncle Bob.   Class act.  Very trustworthy.  I live in Ohio and in most cases received the items in a day or so because it ships from Ohio. 


Eric

I haven't worked with Bob Marino, yet. But I have had good service from both Tool Nut and Tool Home.

I'll add my vote for Bob Marino.  All dealings have been handled exceptionally well.  Bob even took the time to call me before shipment to clarify an order when I had inadvertently fat-fingered the quantity.  I couldn't ask for any quicker delivery or any better packaging of the ordered goodies. 

 

Donald Cope of Athens Georgia. That might seem like a long ways away from Trinity County California, but Don Cope is a furniture maker, and teaches woodworking and (more important) furniture design at a local university.

As a new woodworker 6 years ago, Don could explain Festool equipment, and also guided me through purchases of machinery for my shop. Machinery he doesn't sell. If you need information, he's your guy.

Gary Curtis
Weaverville, California

Tom Bellemare is in Texas, do not know if he ca solve your Tax problem. I have ordered for both Tom and Bob over the past two years.  Both are very knowledgeable dealers and offer fantastic service. 

I consider myself blessed to have a local brick and mortar Festool dealer who does such a brisk business with my fellow professionals and the movie studios that he can maintain a far larger than average inventory. When I see a new Festool in Europe, I place a pre-order with my local dealer. Later, by the time those tools are being sold in the USA, if I need a second one, I have time to wait.

Still, sometimes obscure accessories are not in local stock. My primary local dealer is not set up for on-line business. So, I also have relationships with Tom Bellemare at Tool Home of Austin, TX. I have spoken to Bob Marino, but so far I have not placed an order with him. A good friend who does not participate on FOG buys quite a lot of things from Bob.

During the 2011 AWFS in Las Vegas, I had a nice lunch with Dan Clermont of Ultimate Tool Supply of Burnaby, BC. I have visited his physical store, but because I am in business in California I cannot buy from Dan on-line.

About 2 hours east of me in Palm Desert, California Jay Andrews and his fabulous Festool-trained staff run "The Festool Store" and In Touch International. Besides their physical store, they encourage on-line orders.

I have purchased a number of tools and accessories from Bob Marino, from Toolnut (Sean Ackerman) and from Tool Home (Tom Bellemare) over the past two+ years.
All three provide excellent customer service, follow-up and are very knowledgeable.   And they participate and contribue here on FOG.  You can't go wrong with any of them.

I have talked to Bob and to Sean by phone and both were immediately available and able to answer some specific technical questions.  On a specific occasion Sean went truly above and way beyond for something special for my daughter, which was a colored Tanos mini-Systainer (shout out to Sean, she still LOVES her toolbox).  Bob is incredibly patient and has helped me track down some particular parts and pieces, when I was working on my MFT setups and homemade sysports, and to his credit even directed me to a best-of-breed tool (non-Festool) when I inquired about stripping siding (RAS vs. Rotex). 

I have also purchased Festool stuff through Acetool, Amazon, and Rockler before I became more enlightened.  While those transactions were fine, since discovering the above dealers I don't use "commercial" retailers... unless some weird deal comes up (like Rockler's gift card special sale through WWGOA induced me to get a CXS, netting about 40% savings).  I hate to take any business away based on price, but it's a reality with a green & blue hoard as big as mine has become.   

I sent Tom Bellamare an a while back email because I had a question about and order...He emailed me back while he was on his honeymoon...

Great service.


Bob's pretty darn good to, as is Sean.

These guys are knowledgeable and helpful to the point if absurdity.

Jon

Ive only bought on line from uncle Bob, hes been awesome to deal with.

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