Does the Festool Owners Group Affect Your Festool Purchases?

[Wim]

In Holland I could choose between a few high-quality brands. FOG pushed me over the edge to start buying these tools, but they also convinced me of the superiority of the system approach of Festool. And I'm still glad to hit the green slippery slope.

 

[tDot]

I was looking for an FA (Festool's Anonymous) forum, instead I found this place.  It doesn't help the addiction, it just feeds it.

 

[peter halle]

[welcome]

Welcome Home.  You are in good company.

 

[busybeaver]

Festool's Quality sold me time and time again. This is getting to be another expensive hobby(maybe addiction fits better? [cool]) (US$3000 [blink]  in the past 4 weeks).
This forum is very useful as a source of knowledge regarding tools and their setup, use, and all of those impossible-to-fit-in-the-owner's-manual things.
That being said, this site has had a degree of influence on my selection of Festool tools--but not as much as my dad.

 

[ShawnR]

For me, the forum has a little bit of swing.  I would never buy a tool just based on the review here or in any magazine.  But, after working with a tool hands on, the review here could be the butterfly effect that pushes to towards a yes or no.  If I felt the tool was not right for me, there is nothing said that would swing that vote to a yes.  But, if I am on the fence it would surely swing it.  Also, if I am considering a purchase, the review could help to accelerate the purchase.  ie, I know I am going to buy a OF1400 and a Domino, after looking at projects and reading through comments about the convenience of working with the tool, I have changed my spending habits so that a larger allocation of funds go towards the festool trust.

I see the biggest benefit of the forum of being able to network.  In that, I look at the projects page and when I find someone that is working on something I am considering building, I contact them and get more details. That alone has pushed me to go out and try a tool I may not have thought I wanted(needed).

Thus, the forum drives me towards new purchases and helps me make a decision when I might have reservations and did not buy a tool outright.

 

[Wim]

The FOG has another effect on my purchases. If I have to decide on which size of a certain tool to buy, the FOG may give me a push in the right direction. So I went from a OF 1010 (I bought in Holland) to a OF 1400 in the USA. Comments at the FOG showed me that the OF 1400 was just a little bigger but with a wider field of use. I also hesitated in Holland to buy a MFT. Now I have a MFT/3 and I'm still telling myself how stupid I was to wait that long. I had a TS 55 in Holland and I bought the same again because it did what I wanted and I needed not a bigger saw.
My next buy will be a sander and the Domino, but that is for my next visit to the USA. And I'm sure the comments at the FOG will guide me to the right sander.

 

[sw1211]

My next buy will be a sander and the Domino, but that is for my next visit to the USA. And I'm sure the comments at the FOG will guide me to the right sander.

One sander???  Good luck with that.  [smile]

 

[erikfsn]

I think that part of the reason I recently bought a Domino was due to the enthusiasm people expressed for the tool here and elsewhere.

 

[Wim]

One sander???  Good luck with that.  [smile]

@ Steve, I really hate sanding and painting/staining, so that is why. Maybe Festool will change this after my first sander.

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

So, it's been a while since this poll was created.  Anyone else interested in weighing in on whether the forum is doing a good job of helping you make educated, well-informed purchasing decisions?

 

[waynelang2001]

If it wasnt for this forum i would not be holding out for the C15 to be released.........because my dealers here in SA have no clue on new festool products in the pipe line. Even when i went there and told them about the C15 they said oh we have it here it just came out, and what do they bring out of the back room ??? a T15....

[poke]

 

[Guy Ashley]

The greatest qualification this Forum has is the field experience of its members, and therefore their knowledge and experience with the Festool system in various "on site" / "workshop" scenario's which they share makes you think, how much better is that, how much more effective/efficient would that make me.

Some items I would never have considered but having read the reviews of guys like Brice, Jerry Works and seen the Festool TV demo's it makes realise how much better they could make your approach to and therefore your end product.

Also this forum whilst being "overseen" by Shane, does not control the input of FOG members, so if a piece of equipment is still needing improvement or has limitations, (Kapex?, Carvex?) then members share their concerns.

That is priceless and allows informed purchasing decisions.

 

[peter halle]

Does the forum influence my buying decisions?  With the exception of a Kapex, ETS 150/3, T15+3, TDK12, Domino, RAS 115, Rotex 150, seveal rails, accessories, some classes, future purchases, etc - Not at all.  Yea, right.

Joking aside, I totally agree with Guy.  Guy, great post  [thumbs up]

 

[Kevin D.]

I think it makes you feel like you are not alone out there in belonging/participating on this forum, and that in turn encourages further Festool purchases.

There's a tendency to shy away about owning Festool on other forums.  Some folks, just don't get it, but people here do.

 

[Wood_Junkie]

Much to the chagrin of my wife, and the detriment of my pocketbook, this forum has definitely swayed me to expand my Festool herd   hoard   holdings...  Chief amongst those that it "influenced":  the C12, the OF1400, a Rotex, several other sanders, organization galore, and oodles of accessories.

However, the first "push" down the green slide was actually the sale of a childhood collection, which prompted my justification to purchase the Domino-- my 1st Festool.  Truly, the most unique of Festool's offerings, IMO.
Craigslist almost immediately led me to a TS55 and Midi... I found the FOG right after these, and then the ride got very, very fast.

The member contributions realllly have swayed me to buy a number lot of things.  Brice's reviews and demos, Jerry Work's various things (the MFT write-up especially-- now I have... well, several), Bob's excellent service, Rick's supplemental manuals, tutorials posted by everyone with great and new ideas, and wholly newly invented "products".  RonWen's Domino plate being a prime and recent example.

Add to all this Admin's who interact and do a fantastic job (I still boggle at Shane's "jog out to the warehouse" to verify the LR32 contents), and actual corporate response (Intro training classes!!)    [not worthy]

Once you get past the sticker shock, it's all a blue and green love-fest here.    [big grin]   

 

[Jesse Cloud]

This forum has (happily) cost me a lot of money.  The uniqueness of Festool offerings sometimes makes it hard to figure out what the darned things are for.  I never would have bought the MFS or the Parallel Guides without the tutorials on the forum.  I was skeptical that a miter saw could be worth $1300 for a long time, but the forum changed my mind.  Going through the same process with the OF2200 now, probably just a matter of time. [wink]

I think Shane and his management have done extremely well in their stewardship of the forum.  I know some of the nonsense we put on the forum must make them wince, but they wisely let it work itself out.  Allowing negative comments about the products increases the integrity of the board and improves its value to us.

And thanks to the moderators, too.  You guys are doing a great job.

 

[marrt]

I definitely would NOT have purchased any Festools without this forum.  While the concept has a lot of appeal (unified systems approach, dust control), I simply would not have paid such a premium without convincing evidence from satisfied users. In the US at least, we're "conditioned" to believe the market is efficient.  Consequently, in an efficient market, there's a direct relationship between price and value.  However, as a marketing guy myself, I know that much of this is BS.  So, I need to see evidence from satisfied users. This forum provides that. 

I'm sure there are times when "management" cringes at some of the comments/disclosures on the forum.  However, in the end, I think the forum enhances the value of Festool, supporting both with new purchases and education for existing assimilated brothers users.

 

[Wood_Junkie]

Sometimes FOG directly makes them happen... like feeding an addict from the trough...

http://festoolownersgroup.com/classifieds/of1010-router/

 

[josephgewing]

I don't have quite as many Festools as Fred West but, thanks in part to this forum and the Festool class I attended, I am getting close.

Joe Ewing

 

[Corwin]

I don't have quite as many Festools as Fred West but, thanks in part to this forum and the Festool class I attended, I am getting close.

Joe Ewing

Joe,

Yes, I too remember to good 'ole days when that FredWest guy was leading the pack.  And, like you, I was close in the running.  But, now there's this new guy in town that goes by DavidCBaker...

[jawdrop]  and, just when we thought we were getting close ...                            [big grin]