Carvex Dead

[john5mt]

Ok....what's up with the Carvex?

Ive been an avid festoolian but im a little ticked.

Bought it when it was first released in NA and last summer it started to vibrate like a MOFO

sent it in and the quote was 392 bucks to fix it...motor, case, balancing shaft. Basically it wore itself out like a chinese pos

Are they not making the carvex with quality parts? Ive had my bosch 1591 evsk since 2005 and it never gave me a lick of trouble. and it cost half as much WTH?

Why can I get a brand new carvex and a systainer and all the associated parts for less than what it cost to repair my old one? Is this seriously how festool does business? Even though i loved the way this saw cut before it broke. I will not ever waste the money for another and seriously consider future festool purchases that do not offer unique capabilities. I was buying all festool to because i wanted long term usage out of tools, but if i cant get festool to outlast my chinese produced tools that are half or a third as much cost. There is no reason to purchase them.

 

[peter halle]

Sorry to hear about your issue with the Carvex.  Nothing I am about to write will probably help, but sometimes it is more expensive to repair things than what they cost or are worth.  It would seem that until the beginning of June you were happy with the Carvex and what it produced for you.  Complaints about the longevity of the Carvex appear to be rare here if my memory is correct.  Obviously there will be exceptions.  There are lots of questions and complaints about it not doing what people want to do or how they want it achieved, and certainly a bunch of comparisons to other manufacturers' tools which are the answer to all means.

Peter

 

[Cheese]

Sorry to hear about your issue.  [sad]  Is it corded or cordless?

It’s bad enough that the saw crapped out but if it’s the corded version, then the final coup de grace is the $392 repair estimate. A new Carvex with accessories and Systainer costs $372 and has a 3 year warranty. Why would anyone spend $392 for repairs and a 1 year warranty?

I’d think Festool would simply write you a brief note explaining that the cost of repairs was in excess of the price of a new Carvex. And as a current Festool customer they would give you a discount on a new Carvex. Take $372 minus the SYS 1 price of $72 yields $300. Now discount the saw by 15% for your trouble and the cost of customer satisfaction and it’d be yours for $255.

Festool certainly isn’t losing money and more importantly they aren’t losing a customer. 

 

[Holmz]

...Ive had my bosch 1591 esvk since 2005 and it never gave me a lick of trouble. and it cost half as much WTH?
...

Wise decision to have a good back up unit.
Will it fit in the carves sustainer?

 

[Holmz]

Sorry to hear about your issue.  [sad]  Is it corded or cordless?

It’s bad enough that the saw crapped out but if it’s the corded version, then the final coup de grace is the $392 repair estimate. A new Carvex with accessories and Systainer costs $372 and has a 3 year warranty. Why would anyone spend $392 for repairs and a 1 year warranty?

I’d think Festool would simply write you a brief note explaining that the cost of repairs was in excess of the price of a new Carvex. And as a current Festool customer they would give you a discount on a new Carvex. Take $372 minus the SYS 1 price of $72 yields $300. Now discount the saw by 15% for your trouble and the cost of customer satisfaction and it’d be yours for $255.

Festool certainly isn’t losing money and more importantly they aren’t losing a customer.

I'd buy a rattlecan of green paint and put the Bosch into the systaner, and still have $300+ left over. Selling the Carvex for parts could get some additional$ and cents.

 

[antss]

I was buying all festool to because i wanted long term usage out of tools, but if i cant get festool to outlast my chinese produced tools that are half or a third as much cost. There is no reason to purchase them.

The mystique that Festool has created about its tools being more robust and longer wearing than other makes is simply a myth.  They aren't necessarily worse than the popular brands with one notable exception. But they aren't better, it's just what people tell themselves to justify the higher purchase price Festool has managed to command.

Ask pretty much any tradesman or serious woodworker which jigsaw is going to last the longest and the reply quickly single out Bosch. Many guys have models that are decades old and still going strong.  My everyday beater is from 1993.  They're the energizer bunny of jigsaws.

will not ever waste the money for another and seriously consider future festool purchases that do not offer unique capabilities.

Uniqueness is a good reason for buying Festool.  The track saw got me started in the 90's when no one else had one.  Domino is another unique offering.  Conturo is also in the same category.  Their routers used to be the only ones with serious and efficient dust collection, but that has changed.  OF2200 is still a nice bit of kit if you need a handheld 3+ h.p. unit.  The large 850 planer has little to no competition, but aside from those there isn't much unique in the lineup. 

 

[Holmz]

...

will not ever waste the money for another and seriously consider future festool purchases that do not offer unique capabilities.

Uniqueness is a good reason for buying Festool.  ...
Their routers used to be the only ones with serious and efficient dust collection, but that has changed.  OF2200 is still a nice bit of kit if you need a handheld 3+ h.p. unit.  The large 850 planer has little to no competition, but aside form those there isn't much unique in the lineup.

Which routers "used to be the only ones with serious and efficient dust collection"?

 

[antss]

Which routers "used to be the only ones with serious and efficient dust collection"?

[huh]  um, how many routers do/have they had over the years ?  :

and I guess I need to clarify "efficient for a router" so we don't get off track.

 

[Holmz]

Which routers "used to be the only ones with serious and efficient dust collection"?

[huh]  um, how many routers do/have they had over the years ?  :

and I guess I need to clarify "efficient for a router" so we don't get off track.

No - you do not need to clarify "efficient".
It was more of a trick question... As the OF2000 was made by a Mafell, and the 1000 I think was somewhat like the LO50.
or
Was it some other earlier router(s)...? ... and then who/which company actually made that one before it was rebadged as Festo or Festool?
Was it Elu or some other company?

The Carvex is not a rebadged Bosch.

 

[peter halle]

How about we stay on topic.

Peter

 

[Cheese]

Uniqueness is a good reason for buying Festool.  The track saw got me started in the 90's when no one else had one.  Domino is another unique offering.  Conturo is also in the same category.  Their routers used to be the only ones with serious and efficient dust collection, but that has changed.  OF2200 is still a nice bit of kit if you need a handheld 3+ h.p. unit.  The large 850 planer has little to no competition, but aside form those there isn't much unique in the lineup.

Uniqueness is indeed a good reason for purchasing Festool. Granted, Festool does not have the same commanding lead in this arena that they had say 5-7 years ago, however they still offer some unique products that offer much merit.

I’d say the LS 130 is still in that category as is the Kapex despite its extremely dodgy reputation for reliability. Perhaps the MFS variants broach this boundary, however they’ve been discontinued.

The electronic torque sensing on their drills is also above reproach. As is the previously mentioned tools like the DF 500/700 series.

 

[semenza]

This thread should not be used to restart a discussion from a previously locked topic. Nor turn it into a Kapex issues topic.

The OP has a situation with his Carvex  costing more to repair than replace. And though the saw apparently had been working very well for him it has not held up as long as would be hoped.  Peter H. mentioned earlier in the topic that we have not had many complaints about Carvex longevity. It is an unfortunate event for john5mt.

Thanks,

  Seth

 

[john5mt]

Yes.....my questions were concerning the build quality how on earth does every functioning part on this saw wear out in so few years?

Why is it only warrantied for 36 months when a Chinese building company like Hitachi offers a minimum 5 year professional warranty on tools that cost a 1/3 as much. Apparently they dont have more confidence in their german manufacturing than Hitachi has in the Chinese manufacturing.

How does it cost 392 dollars to fix a 350 retail saw? Theyre trying to make more on the parts than they made on the saw the first time.

 

[antss]

While warranty can be an expression of confidence in build quality, it isn't necessarily a byproduct. 

If practical, a company will strive to offer zero warranty.  It generally helps with the marketing to offer a warranty and absorb the costs though.  Festool doesn't have a fiver because they don't have to.  We keep buying the gear despite the high prices and not best in class warranty.  That said , it is better than many companies warranty.

The $392 also covers labor to teardown and rebuild the saw as well as profit for all the layers of distribution to get those parts in place in Indy.  Free estimates aren't really free.  I also think return shipping is in that # too , isn't it?  So broken down, I can see how we get to nearly 400 bucks even if the number is ludicrous.

Assuming John didn't abuse his saw  - and If they were savvy FT would eat their $100-$150 net cost and replace the saw with a new one.  The bump to their reputation would easily exceed the investment.  How much do we think the bad taste in John's mouth is going to cost in lost sales down the road ?    And do you suppose the perception of this group's members (whether warranted or not) is negatively affected by more than $150 ?

 

[Holmz]

Yes.....my questions were concerning the build quality how on earth does every functioning part on this saw wear out in so few years?

Why is it only warrantied for 36 months when a Chinese building company like Hitachi offers a minimum 5 year professional warranty on tools that cost a 1/3 as much. Apparently they dont have more confidence in their german manufacturing than Hitachi has in the Chinese manufacturing.

How does it cost 392 dollars to fix a 350 retail saw? Theyre trying to make more on the parts than they made on the saw the first time.

There are some good products from China, and where it is not then the value is perceived as high. If it weren't then the trade deficit would not be so outstandingly high.

In any case Hitachi is based in Japan, who were known for poor quality in the early days of transistor radios and Hondas.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitachi
But the times have changed since the 60s, and the Japanese tools have been good for many decades.

We all know or want to believe that BMWs and Audis are superior to Lexus and Nissan Skyline GTRs, and that USDA Corn fed beef is better than Kobi beef... And the Carvex is better than a Hitachi.

 

[Steven Owen]

Sorry to hear about your Carvex John.  I thought it would have been covered by a 3-year warranty.  I guess not.

You’re best alternative for a replacement would be the Bosch 572, it’s assembled in Hungry with Swiss made parts from Mafell.  I wouldn’t drop $400 on a repair. 

 

[semenza]

Sorry to hear about your Carvex John.  I thought it would have been covered by a 3-year warranty.  I guess not.

You’re best alternative for a replacement would be the Bosch 572, it’s assembled in Hungry with Swiss made parts from Mafell.  I wouldn’t drop $400 on a repair.

  From what I gather it is more than three years old.

Seth

 

[Michael Kellough]

My Bosch 1582 DVS (the first Bosch tool-less blade change jigsaw with dust collection)
is more than thirty years old.

 

[semenza]

Sorry to hear about your Carvex John.  I thought it would have been covered by a 3-year warranty.  I guess not.

You’re best alternative for a replacement would be the Bosch 572, it’s assembled in Hungry with Swiss made parts from Mafell.  I wouldn’t drop $400 on a repair.

  From what I gather it is more than three years old.

Seth

My Bosch 1582 DVS (the first Bosch tool-less blade change jigsaw with dust collection)
is more than thirty years old.

      I was not commenting on the longevity. Just trying to clarify that John's  saw had been covered by a three year warranty and is no longer under warranty due to being more than three years old. Am I right about that [member=5864]john5mt[/member] ?

Seth

 

[john5mt]

Yup. It was 3.5 years old.

Good tip on the mafell parts. Have to check it out. That increases my confidence in that saw. The amount of people that are getting such short usage out of their carvex's is crazy. Whereas my experience and the testimony has been the boschs last forever.