Does Festool ever give out incentives or freebies if you make large purchases?

[SittingElf]

I have an interesting story about this:

So last September I lost my entire woodshop in a garage fire.  I had accumulated at least 80% of all Festool products available.  (Multiples of some)  All of these items were purchased from the same local shop.  (I like to support local businesses)  When I went in to replace all items and add a few new pieces I was offered no discount.  The salesman tried using the excuse of Festool's MAP pricing.  I happen to earn my living being employed in a marketing department so this excuse just didn't fly for me.  Minimum Advertised Price has nothing to do with what a shop is able to charge at the register to a loyal customer.  Maybe there's a special policy enforced by Festool to it's dealer network that goes beyond the definition of MAP?

How many times does a shop sell $18k+ of Festool product to the same guy TWICE!?

I don't make it a habit to ever ask or assume any kind of discount will happen.  In fact I find when I'm making large purchases it's usually offered to me instead.  I know when I ran a small business, my best customers were well taken care of.

Welcome to the FOG.  Bummer about the fire.

As far as Festool dealer policy I admit I don't know the details.  That said is it well known that N. American Festool dealers are not allowed to discount, period.   It is not a MAP deal so don't feel short changed by Festool.  Of course there really isn't anything to prevent dealers from offering freebies or discount on non-Festool items paired with a large Festool purchase.    

Brice,

I'm not sure your statement is absolutely true.  The Sherman Anti-Trust act would seem to forbid manufacturers from telling their distributors and retailers what price they are allowed to sell a product for.  They CAN limit advertised pricing, but I believe they would be in violation of Federal Law if they "required" retailers to actually sell the products at a given price point.

That being said, companies like Festool can certainly make life hard on a retailer that doesn't toe the line, and frankly they don't need to because all the retailers clearly don't see the need to discount, but I think Festool and others would be in deep trouble if they pulled someone's authorized status for quietly discounting, as that WOULD run up against Sherman.

My two cents anyway.

Cheers,

Frank

Like Alex said.

Festool use to force dealers in the UK to price fix but not that long ago Festool got a telling off.  Now we can get festool a lot cheaper in the UK.   Not long after Festool got a telling off! The Internet dealers dropped the prices.  

My regular dealer soon lost interest in selling Festool because the profit margins had fallen dramatically due to internet dealers selling it at low prices.

From what I have been told festool have changed tactic and are trying to regain control over pricing by not allowing dealers to buying huge quantities of festool tools.   I assume this is to stop them making little profit on each tool but sell in large quantity to make up for it.

In the UK like Alex said dealers would just sell you the tool for less but print the receipt out at full price.  

I am revisiting this subject to call out a significant RARE error on my part. (Blame it on age-related dementia!)

Up until 2007, the statement I made was absolutely true. Vertical price-fixing by manufacturers was illegal and subject to both civil and criminal action. The Supreme Court overturned long-standing law that forbade fixing retail pricing by manufacturers. The SCOTUS effectively changed the law and allows manufacturers to set minimum retail pricing by their dealers and distributors. This obviously is detrimental to the consumer, but allows the manufacturers to protect a luxury, or valued brand by their ability to prevent their dealers from discounting their products.  The laws in the EU...specifically the U.K. may differ, but a Roberts-led court overturned more than 100 years of established law, stating that our modern society and technology made the existing law archaic and damaging to manufacturers.

I have been wrong before, but it is so rare that I had to drink a whole bottle of wine to calm myself after the realization of my error! [crying]
I might point out, however, that I was right...well... up until 2007! [embarassed]

Here's a summary of the 2007 ruling.
Supreme Court allows Price Fixing

Embarrassed,

Frank

 

[Stephen B]

[big grin]  [big grin]  [big grin]  [big grin]  [big grin]  [big grin]  [big grin]

This from a man who only yesterday wrote -

http://festoolownersgroup.com/general-friendly-chat/merry-midsummer's-eve-everyone/msg324507/#msg324507

Please take this in jest Frank.  [big grin]

 

[upscale]

What do I look like guys, the Festool Freebie Fairy?  [blink] 

Hey, this is supposed to be a family friendly website. Your fairy picture appeared onscreen and my cat who sits on my desk beside my keyboard jumped up and feaked out at your picture.

[eek]  [scared]  [mad] 

 

[Brice Burrell]

I am revisiting this subject to call out a significant RARE error on my part. (Blame it on age-related dementia!)

Up until 2007, the statement I made was absolutely true. Vertical price-fixing by manufacturers was illegal and subject to both civil and criminal action. The Supreme Court overturned long-standing law that forbade fixing retail pricing by manufacturers. The SCOTUS effectively changed the law and allows manufacturers to set minimum retail pricing by their dealers and distributors. This obviously is detrimental to the consumer, but allows the manufacturers to protect a luxury, or valued brand by their ability to prevent their dealers from discounting their products.  The laws in the EU...specifically the U.K. may differ, but a Roberts-led court overturned more than 100 years of established law, stating that our modern society and technology made the existing law archaic and damaging to manufacturers.

I have been wrong before, but it is so rare that I had to drink a whole bottle of wine to calm myself after the realization of my error! [crying]
I might point out, however, that I was right...well... up until 2007! [embarassed]

Here's a summary of the 2007 ruling.
Supreme Court allows Price Fixing

Embarrassed,

Frank

Frank, imagine my surprise when after reading this I didn't find a new message in my pm inbox with your apology for questioning my post.  I guess it's fair to expect it to take some time for you to write the lengthy heart felt apology on your error.  I''l give you till noon. [tongue]

 

[Brice Burrell]

What do I look like guys, the Festool Freebie Fairy?  [blink]  

Hey, this is supposed to be a family friendly website. Your fairy picture appeared onscreen and my cat who sits on my desk beside my keyboard jumped up and feaked out at your picture.

[eek]   [scared]   [mad]  

Pictures of Shane freak me out every time too....... [tongue]

 

[Jason Kehl]

I've spent plenty on Festool, around 10k on my first plunge and and I'm over 20k by now, almost all of it from the same dealer. I received a pair of safety glasses once. I have received from that dealer some very good pricing on large stationary equipment and always very good service. He's informed me that he can't do anything on Festool itself so he makes up for it elswhere.

It's also good to remind ourselves (as I've had to do sometimes) if we feel a bit down about a lack of freebies for the amount purchased that it works both ways. I have a small carpentry business, we build and/or renovate homes and cottages from the foundation through to the interior finish as well as cabinetry. Some projects are quite large, taking the better part of a year for the 3 of us to complete and I am not in the habit of giving away my services for free, even on these large and expesive projects. I expect that our high quality work and excellent customer service is reward enough for my customers. They never ask for a discount or free work, so I don't expect it from my tool supplier.

It sure is nice when he saves me a few bucks though...

J

 

[sancho57]

Personally,

I dont sweat the swag from the dealer. Mines if possible will throw in a nice calendar, small note /sketching pad (not festool) etc.

I got my share of swag, but I buy a tool for the tool. What I expect from my dealer is service the same from the manufacturer.

I bought a festool swiss army knife and carry it with me and use the heck out of it.

My festool mini cooper, Never work alone coffee cup, towel etc, I never really use them.

Which reminds me I got to look for the mini.

My dealer here, I just send him a text tell him what I want, he gives me a fair price, not always the cheapest sometimes it is but its fair and evens out for the things he is a little bit pricer on.

He gives me a price I text him back tell him to order it, he doe. I dont pay til it comes in then its either same day of next day door to door delivery.

He doesnt charge me till it comes in and is ready for delivery.

I find with festool if ya want any extras, go to your dealer when a rep is there showing the new kit off and answering questions etc.

You can get some things off him if ya work him right.

 

[johninthecamper]

if you have no tools registered, on your first purchase you can get a voucher for $50 for every five hundred spent,up to $200,from getting a demo,if you are a business.
SHANE, correct?

 

[Throwback7r]

I wish I got that!

 

[festooltim]

I here on casual Fridays Shane wears that outfit to the office. I think that's why some of his coworkers are sick on Fridays.

 

[festooltim]

Oops their goes any chance of my swag.

 

[NiteWalkerGR]

if you have no tools registered, on your first purchase you can get a voucher for $50 for every five hundred spent,up to $200,from getting a demo,if you are a business.
SHANE, correct?

I didn't get this either.  [sad] [crying] [mad]

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

The demo voucher program was a pilot in only a few areas. It no longer exists.