Any free 2 day shipping?

[southrider]

Do any member dealers offer free 2 day shipping to match what I can get with Amazon Prime?

Or are you not allowed to?

Clark

 

[Shane Holland]

There are plenty of "real" Festool dealers who actually know the products and support them all over the country. Certainly there's at least one in your neck of the woods. We offer free ground shipping on all orders, no minimum. Plus, we don't collect sales tax outside of NY/VA.

Here's how long it takes for ground shipping from The Tool Nut. Basically, most of the east coast.

 

[lawhoo]

Shane,

Why do you all collect VA taxes?  Do you have a store there?  If so, where?

 

[Shane Holland]

Why do you all collect VA taxes?  Do you have a store there?  If so, where?

I live and work remotely, in Virginia, which is where I am from and where my family lives. So, we have a tax nexus here.

 

[copcarcollector]

There are plenty of "real" Festool dealers who actually know the products and support them all over the country.

[sad]

 

[southrider]

So apparently it IS allowed, but no one is currently doing it, or it doesn't work financially?

Also - closest dealer is 40 miles, and only stocks a few items. Sales tax here is up to 10.25%. It wastes a whole day to go there.

No woodcraft or Rockler stores within 200 miles.

I HAVE ordered from 3 dealers on here. It always takes 1 to 2 days to ship, then 3-5 days to get here, IF I don't find out it's back ordered AFTER I place the order.

When you need something right away Amazon is the only option,and if you order it today it will BE here day after tomorrow with no sales tax AND no upcharge for 2 day shipping.

So - which IS the real dealer offering service?

I patronize the little guy as often as I can.

There is a need for reasonably priced expedited shipping, and since Festool controls price and other add-ons I just thought that a dealer might find another way to differentiate themselves as long as it makes economic sense to them.

 

[six-point socket]

I think that smaller tool dealers will struggle with the cost because they don't reach the same shipping quantities as Amazon. Meaning they don't have the same power while negotiating shipping rates and other commodities.

Since I use DHL and UPS, I can tell you that their prices, even the reduced ones for small business shipping quantities like mine are a joke compared to what Amazon pays per parcel. In my line of work I can offer complimentary/free next day/ 2nd day shipping (even world wide) to my clients/customers, if I was a tool dealer I'm pretty sure I couldn't do that.

Additionally, DHL and UPS don't care about customers like me (us), I have zero leverage against them even when I choose the most expensive "express options". If the parcel doesn't make it: it's either force majeure (weather, customs, ...) = they don't even reimburse you for the actual shipping cost and if it turns out to be their fault reimbursement is limited to shipping cost. So their 24h / 2nd day promises hold absolutely no value, especially not with overseas shipping.

Long story short, what sense does 24h/ 2nd shipping make when its not guaranteed = backed up by a company like Amazon that has very, very different contracts with their logistic partners = contractual penalties if a certain number of successful deliveries isn't met during a certain time frame.

Little story, I ordered a somewhat expensive component for my stereo from a dealer. The day it should be delivered it was pulled from the truck because they hadn't enough drivers and every driver was needed to work on "priority" parcels. (Only company granted priority status with common (not express) parcels = Amazon) So I got my box from Amazon with some low cost items, but not my valuable stereo component. Me and my driver, we joked about it all in good will and he said: "You know Oliver, my boss always tells me: bring back whatever parcels you have to at the end of your shift, but if you bring back an Amazon prime parcel you'd better be dead" And I believe him that this was not a joke.

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[Shane Holland]

Prime isn't really expedited shipping. Amazon just has distribution centers littered all over the country. So, they have product that's pretty much always within 2 days of all locations using ground shipping.

We have become conditioned to be a society of immediate gratification, I guess. Even when we really don't need something immediately.  [unsure]

It's no mystery that I'm not a fan of Amazon. I don't personally agree with their business practices and ethics.

That said, good luck with your purchase. If it doesn't work out, we'd be eager to serve you.  [smile]

 

[six-point socket]

Hi!

You're right, prime isn't exactly expedited shipping - but Amazon being who they are ensure it is expedited At least here in Germany - even the worst logistic company ever (Hermes, if that should ring a bell) get's the stuff to you within 24 hrs. Of course, that is also because most Amazon warehouses are very close to, sometimes even in the same building with, their carriers.

I do understand where you are coming from [member=48572]Shane Holland[/member] when talking about business practices and ethics in regards to Amazon.

And I do indeed fear the day where it might be like buy online from Amazon or buy nothing online at all. But then again, it's a free market economy and anyone can try and challenge Amazon online, in the mall or on the street. But as long as dealers constantly decrease stock and variety, rather go for cheap instead of reasonable products - Amazon will win. And I'm not talking about tools here, but everyday supplies. Theres quite some stuff that I never thought I would ever buy online, but with the local shops telling me we don't have this, we don't have that anymore... Simply x'd out or replaced by low cost "alternatives". Whats the option?

From my perspective high-end/luxury sales work and then the dollar stores three streets further down the road - it's the mid that is missing out, it's the mid that is vanishing. But that's not Amazon's fault - at least if you ask me - but I guess that's not a topic for the FOG.

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[peter halle]

Toolnut / Amazon?  I know what my choice would be.

If I am going to buy Festool products I personally want to deal with those who know.

Peter

 

[bobfog]

I guess one of the benefits for us folks living in the UK is that we're such a small island, if a dealer has the item in stock, next day delivery free of charge on orders above £50 is pretty much the norm. Sometimes even if out of stock, if you order early enough in the day, they'll still get it to you next day by getting their distributor to ship directly to you.

I do confess though, I'd use amazon if they were cheaper or shipped more quickly. I don't really need a lot of advice before purchasing tools, there's more information available from Youtuber's, picking up the phone to Festool, forums, etc that in this day and age you really don't need face to face advice, plus in the UK we have distance selling rules that mean if you made the wrong choice, like mis-judging the size/weight of an item, you can just send it back.

 

[DB10]

  And one of the downsides to living in Australia is delivery times, you either have to be a very patient person or if you really want your deliveries within a couple of days then you need to be very rich. My avarage wait is usually about a week, I did have to wait four weeks once for one Festool item to turn up.

 

[copcarcollector]

Toolnut / Amazon?  I know what my choice would be.

For me, it would depend on what I needed at the time. Some sandpaper, I can get on Amazon in 2 days. Advice from a dealer on which sander to buy? Obviously Tool Nut, or another experienced dealer, though it may take a week for it to arrive.

 

[semenza]

So are we talking Chicago area?

I would just like to note that Amazon Prime is not free. There is a yearly subscription charge.

Seth

 

[Lou in DE]

What's faster than Amazon Prime?  - Tool Nut - at least here on the east coast - my Festool orders
are delivered within 24 hours!

 

[McNally Family]

Toolnut / Amazon?  I know what my choice would be.

If I am going to buy Festool products I personally want to deal with those who know.

Peter

I have yet to buy any Festool items from Amazon, although we have purchased tons of other items from them over the years.  What I do wish I had purchased was Amazon stock, but that is a story for another day.

I made my first Festool purchase, C18 set w/ Centrotec Installers set, from the local WoodCraft store.  I did this because the owner of the Franchise did such a wonderful job of educating me about Festool.  I like the local contact and never feel guilty if I don't buy tools with them anymore (I do buy other items such as finish and other small items).  It is fun to browse their store on Saturday afternoon, as well.

I split my online Festool purchases between two dealers, and alternate between them for each purchase.  I also seek their advice about  which tool to purchase and why, and have received outstanding advice each time (as recently as today in fact).  Without saying their names (wanting to remain impartial and not show favoritism), think the letters "S" and "B", and see what you come up with!

Buying online is the only way to get any kind of discount, due to no sales tax (In Tennessee, that is 9.25%).  While that may seem high to some, keep in mind we have no State income tax here.

 

 

[Stephen B]

[size=8pt]

  And one of the downsides to living in Australia is delivery times, you either have to be a very patient person or if you really want your deliveries within a couple of days then you need to be very rich. My avarage wait is usually about a week, I did have to wait four weeks once for one Festool item to turn up.

[size=13pt]In the 1920s in Australia it apparently took three months to get a phone installed to a house. Now we get impatient if it takes more than 10mins to set up a mobile phone account.

My dealer who is 150kms away can get goods to my nearest town in under 24hrs. The hold up is the transport company's small distribution centre in that town which delays the process another 2-3 days. Fortunately, I am frequently able to visit my dealer in person and enjoy a quality shop face experience.
[size=10pt]
[member=42735]DB10[/member]

 

[Nat X]

Amazing that there are really people in the world who don't realize that Amazon loses money on most sales.

 

[six-point socket]

Not so much anymore it seems.
http://money.cnn.com/2016/04/28/technology/amazon-earnings/

In the end, who cares - it's one big experiment  [scared]  [eek]  [big grin]

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[copcarcollector]

Amazon loses money on most sales.

But they make up for it in volume---  [blink]