Discontinued Li battery pack announcement?

[Ocfishingguy]

So, was at a dealer last week, asked them to order the DWC 18 kit. Went in today, and dealer said it wasn't ordered due to selected Li 3.1 & Li 5.2 tools were discontinued based off announcement on 1/7/2020. All the affected SKU's were to be sent back by 2/72020.  With update on those SKU's "TBD".... Including TSC, HKC, BHC, C 18, and others. The smaller 2.6 batteries and the Ergo batteries for the sanders weren't on the list (That I could see).  Afterwards, I went to Ganahl Lumber to see if any of the Li tools were on display, and they too were taken down from the shelves. Anyone else run into this recently?! Any news or insight greatly appreciated.

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[usernumber1]

whats the announcement on 1/7/2020 ?

 

[GarryMartin]

Seems strange. Perhaps something to do with the 4.0Ah and 6.2Ah batteries? Might be that they're moving to those sizes being a standard replacement in the kits for the 3.1Ah and 5.2Ah standards...

They're certainly still available in the UK so appears US specific?

 

[Ocfishingguy]

Yes, in the USA. Assuming it relates to a newer battery, but why not just the battery itself, and not the entire product.

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[xedos]

Because they need inventory for the recon store ?

 

[Bob D.]

Could it be because the battery serial number is tied to the kit?

So they bring the whole kit back, swap out the batteries, then syc
up the serial numbers of all the kit components and send it back out.

 

[Ocfishingguy]

No idea, seems logical, but costly. Anyone else run into this, at brick & mortar dealers in the states? Ill try to get a pic of the announcement.

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[jarbroen]

Maybe it means we'll see another round of discounted batteries...
I'd be really happy to get some of the 3.1 batteries for my T18.

 

[Cheese]

Maybe it means we'll see another round of discounted batteries...
I'd be really happy to get some of the 3.1 batteries for my T18.

Most likely...we saw this same thing happen when the Airstream series was released.

 

[Cypren]

If they're replacing all the batteries with higher capacities, man, did I pick a bad time to buy a whole set of cordless tools last month.  [blink]

 

[xedos]

If they're replacing all the batteries with higher capacities, man, did I pick a bad time to buy a whole set of cordless tools last month.  [blink]

30 day return policy ?

 

[Ocfishingguy]

Yea, thats horrible timing. Assuming the serial numbers of the batteries are tied to the serial number of the tool?

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[Cheese]

Yea, thats horrible timing. Assuming the serial numbers of the batteries are tied to the serial number of the tool?

Doubtful that the battery serial numbers are tied to the tool serial number. However, the battery part numbers are tied into the kit part number through the BOM, Bill of Material.

Thus, if Festool sells the 201399 TSC Kit, it automatically comes with 201066 5.2 Ah batteries and if Festool now wants to sell the same kit with 6.2 Ah batteries, they need to change the part number of the kit. So they pull the kits, change-out the batteries and place a new part number label on the Systainer.

Or...they just sell the already assembled kits that they have at a discounted price. That has also been done in the recent past.