Amazon US no longer carrying Festool?

[Scott in Bend Oregon]

While window shopping on Amazon.com US, I noticed that they only had about 100 listings for some Festool accessories and no power tools. There was a mostly complete Festool line available through 3rd-party sellers like Hartville Hardware.  Am I not viewing this correctly or did I miss something? 

 

[Packard]

Half the time I ordered Festool products from Amazon, it was sold by and shipped from Hartville Hardware, who bills themselves as America's largest hardware store.  They appear to have the entire line.  The stuff seems never to be discounted anywhere, so I shop where I feel comfortable. Hartville has been reliable.  So has Toolnut.
https://www.hartvillehardware.com/search?tag=2020-festool-full-assortment

 

[Ron B]

I just checked Amazon and received over 1000 hits on Festool.  I then tried Festool HKC and received 103 hits. However, even though most were Festool, they were not HKC related items.  Instead, cordless drill items, cords, Planex sanding extensions, etc.  However, Amazon Festool looks ok to me.  On Black Friday I checked and found some specials from Europe with free shipping.  Saw blades, 800 guiderail and guiderail bag at basically half price, so I do check from time to time. 

 

[vkumar]

If you click on "sold by Amazon" the list of Festool items is only 62, most of these are accessory type items.

 

[elfick]

https://www.festoolusa.com/dealer/online-dealers

I thought Amazon was previously listed here but I could be wrong, they are definitely not listed now.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I know everybody's happy to see Jeff become world's first trillionaire, but why would it matter if Amazon sells them or a 3rd party vendor?

 

[RustE]

...why would it matter if Amazon sells them or a 3rd party vendor?

I’d rather buy from the 3rd party directly. I’ve heard some rather bad stories about Amazon’s terms and conditions for them.  Besides, with Festool prices being the same, support the smaller businesses.

Hartville Hardware is about 20-miles from me and they’re good people.  Hartville Tool is the same folks, just a big warehouse versus the retail store.

Festool Nirvana and ToolNut are also good. 

 

[Svar]

I’d rather buy from the 3rd party directly. I’ve heard some rather bad stories about Amazon’s terms and conditions for them. 

Nobody forces them to list on Amazon. If they do so, they must be benefiting from it.

 

[Ron B]

The www.festool.com dealer list does not include all dealers.  I have purchased Festool items on the internet from Industrial Supply in New Orleans and also know there is a company called Diamond Tool that I think is out of Philadelphia, or maybe New Jersey.  I have not purchased from D. Tool, but have purchased from Industrial Supply and would buy from them again. 

 

[Mike Goetzke]

I know everybody's happy to see Jeff become world's first trillionaire, but why would it matter if Amazon sells them or a 3rd party vendor?

Last night on the news I heard he is second to Elon now.

 

[Stan Tillinghast]

Betcha NOW he’ll regret that divorce!

 

[AlexThePalex]

I’d rather buy from the 3rd party directly. I’ve heard some rather bad stories about Amazon’s terms and conditions for them.

What is so bad about their terms and conditions for Festool?

Last night on the news I heard he is second to Elon now.

Amazon is a very solid business, and with every sale Jeff Bezos earns his cut, and he will keep on earning his cut. Elon Musk's value is largely based on stock value of a dream that somehow skyrocketed this year. At one point it will inflate just as quickly.

 

[RustE]

What is so bad about their terms and conditions for Festool?

Not specific to Festool.

Businesses that choose to sell on Amazon must, at minimum, meet the same return policies as Amazon.  Typically 30-day return window, for any reason, in any condition, and with prepaid return shipping label.  This is similar to the Festool 30-Day Money Back Guarantee, where “lightly used tools” can be returned for refund.

But what if you launch a week-old TID 18 from a roof and it gets damaged?  According to the Amazon policy, the seller has to take the return.  According to the Festool policy, the tool is damaged and is not eligible for return.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Not specific to Festool.

Businesses that choose to sell on Amazon must, at minimum, meet the same return policies as Amazon.  Typically 30-day return window, for any reason, in any condition, and with prepaid return shipping label.  This is similar to the Festool 30-Day Money Back Guarantee, where “lightly used tools” can be returned for refund.

But what if you launch a week-old TID 18 from a roof and it gets damaged?  According to the Amazon policy, the seller has to take the return.  According to the Festool policy, the tool is damaged and is not eligible for return.

Seem like a win for the customer to me.

 

[Wood_Slice]

Some of the Festool items sold by 3rd parties have their price jacked above the manufacturer set amount. I have seen a MFt3 for $735 which is curremt listed to over $900

 

[AlexThePalex]

Some of the Festool items sold by 3rd parties have their price jacked above the manufacturer set amount. I have seen a MFt3 for $735 which is curremt listed to over $900

That's capitalism. A smart consumer makes sure those businesses quickly run out of customers.

 

[xedos]

That's capitalism. A smart consumer makes sure those businesses quickly run out of customers.

Or not.  Try and buy a domino 500 is the U.S. now, or a Bosch 65 sander.  You can’t find one at dealers. So , someone that actually has one to sell and ship has a much more valuable commodity, in the short term. 

 

[Crazyraceguy]

That's capitalism. A smart consumer makes sure those businesses quickly run out of customers.

Or not.  Try and buy a domino 500 is the U.S. now, or a Bosch 65 sander.  You can’t find one at dealers. So , someone that actually has one to sell and ship has a much more valuable commodity, in the short term.

That might be ok for a private seller but it sure doesn't look good on a retailer. Supply and demand is one thing, but gouging because you can is just not smart.

 

[ttf5003]

I also noticed that most of the Festool power tools are no longer listed on Amazon.

 

[Mjolner174]

I think that the lack of listings on Amazon is as a result of lack of inventory. I've gotten some good deals from the Amazon Warehouse in the past, but I've noticed that the Amazon Warehouse which used to have 40-50 items, has been down to about 10 lately. All of the major online Festool dealers have multiple items on back order. Amazon, is just probably just choosing to not offer the item, rather than deal with selling it and trying to fulfill backorders.

The other thing that I noticed is that amazon was charging more than the Festool fixed price on some items, Particularly right before Christmas the price for drills and the TID were jacked up. Amazon consistently adjusts its prices based on demand and inventory and it can not be counted on to sell things for the Festool decreed price, if Amazon thinks that it can squeeze some more juice out of it.

I can't imagine that Amazon would drop a product line that it doesn't have to compete on price on. I think that the independent dealers would rejoice, if Festool cut off Amazon and I think that it would level the playing field dramatically for the rest of the online retailers. I've heard that Festool dealers are rewarded based on sales volume and I doubt that there are too many who do more in Festool sales than Amazon.