Festool Canada

[gjfunk]

For most tool purchases from Festool, you will not save any money buying from a US retailer over buying from Hafele if you are in Canada.  Even if the net prices are lower in the US, the duty will get you everytime.   I'm not ready to drive to the US (even though I'm only 45 minutes from the border) to pick up items and drive them through customs.  It's not worth the time or money to me.

I've always found the US prices to be significantly less. I live close to the border so don't have any transport cost.

I thought I heard a while back that Festool was going to improve their Canadian distribution. It's not clear to me why the prices should be more than 6% higher to cover duty costs which don't even apply to all items.

Apple sells all of its products for pretty much the same prices in the US and Canada. Festool should as well.

Greg

Greg

 

[Dan Clermont]

For most tool purchases from Festool, you will not save any money buying from a US retailer over buying from Hafele if you are in Canada.  Even if the net prices are lower in the US, the duty will get you everytime.  I'm not ready to drive to the US (even though I'm only 45 minutes from the border) to pick up items and drive them through customs.  It's not worth the time or money to me.

I've always found the US prices to be significantly less. I live close to the border so don't have any transport cost.

I thought I heard a while back that Festool was going to improve their Canadian distribution. It's not clear to me why the prices should be more than 6% higher to cover duty costs which don't even apply to all items.

Apple sells all of its products for pretty much the same prices in the US and Canada. Festool should as well.

Greg

Greg

Perhaps I have been lucky over the 15 or so purchases I have made with Festool in the US but I have never once been charged the 6% duty. Hafele won't charge me PST (5%) (Provincial Sales Tax)

If I had to buy from Hafele I wouldn't buy Festool's !!!! Kinda like the guy who walks into a store with a gift card in hand wanting to see the MFK and the OF2200 only to have an arrogant salesman point to a box and say "There they are!" He walked out with the gift card and never bought a darn thing!

Dan Clermont

 

[Cannuck]

As I understand it, the fundamental reason for tariffs (duty) is that Festool is an European company and therefore does not benefit from NAFTA.  Apple on the other hand is an American company and is not subject to tariffs for goods imported to Canada.  Any duty that Apple pays on equipment manufactured outside of the US would be paid in duty to US government, whether the item was sold in US or Canada.

If you drive across the border and stay for less than 72 hours, you can't  legitimately bring back a Festool without paying duty (unless  you spend less than $300, which doesn't buy a whole lot of Festool!).  I travel alot internationally for work, so I don't want to chance being blacklisted for not claiming a Festool purchase from the US.  I'd rather pay the duty, than have a "body-cavity" search each time I cross the border.

If I get the items shipped from US to Canada, I usually end up paying duty, brokerage fees and GST.  This is what ends up balancing out for the more than 6% markup that Hafele charges.  I haven't even had to explore the warranty issues on items purchased from the US - if there are any?

All that being said, as per my last post,  I'd encourage people to buy from the US dealers who are very active in this forum, and who clearly offer great service and care about the products as much as we do.  I will definitely purchase from one of them for my next big ticket items.  The smaller accessories and supplies - well I can't beat the next day service from Hafele, so those will stay in Canada (sorry).

 

[gjfunk]

I'm not sure what the rational for the remaining duties is. Routers are free as are pretty much all electronic goods regardless of where they're made. Circular saws have a 6% duty as do German cars. Most accessories like guide rails wouldn't have any duties.

I usually walk my purchases across the border and can't recall ever paying duty except when I imported a car. The duty book is so large and complicated I think they simplify the categories most of the time. They also don't charge any taxes on small items (usually less than about $200). A distributer like Hafele would have to include duty on all applicable items.

Greg

 

[Dan Clermont]

I've claimed every tool I have taken across the border back into Canada. Why would I risk the fines, confiscation of my car and being black listed over a $300 to $600 purchase! I've paid taxes but never the 6% duty you claim on any Festool and maybe someday they will ding me for duty which is just fine.

The price difference between Hafele and dealers in the US is marginal. For me it comes down to how well I feel I am treated by the sales person and also the knowledge base they have. I once asked what was included with the OF 1400 and was never able to get the Hafele sales person  to tell me. Can I buy sandpaper from them? Sure, and I probably will someday but I stock up when I buy the tool in the US.

Dan Clermont

 

[robsw]

So far all my purchases have been from the US and never had to pay duty, just GST & PST. Recently I received a quote from Hafele for a MFT/3 for $642 + GST. A difference of about $30. A relatively small difference but it took almost a month to get the quote! I don't have that much patience and would rather take my business elsewhere. I'm only minutes away from the border.

 

[SPL]

Hi Richard,
Speaking of Germany...
I am also living in France (in Lyon). I have tried to buy from various mail order companies here and I am not very satisfied either. I now order from 24tools.de. They are in Berlin but they are quick (less than a week), they are cheaper than the french dealers and they sell the whole range of products from Festool. Das komplette Programm! Until now I am very happy with them (and contrary to England the plug is the same as in France). If you order a lot, well, let say several tools, at the same time you can even ask for a special quotation.  There website is in german but they say they speak english (I never tried).

Sylvain

Can Festool please find us a French Bob. 
I've resorted to going to England to buy my Festools.  There's no stock here and no service that I can find.  Maybe we're just too close to Germany but not close enough? 

 

[artacoma]

After having a go with Hafele I sent an email with my concerns to Festool Corp and they replied the same day asking for suggestions for Canadian suppliers. I told em Lee Valley of course  and also named a couple local suppliers, anyways  it sounds like they are looking for a Canadian supplier. I also suggested they allow cross border sales.
I just missed the courier with my 2 routers (700 & 2200) a 1/2 an hour ago so I get to pickem up tomorrow morning. The accessory kit though is gonna be 4 weeks and for some reason is untrackable on the Hafele  website because.............. they don't know why. I also had to go to festoolusa.com to  look up the part#s and phone back for a price quote?!!????which they had to phone to me the following day??!!!???
I'll be cross border shopping until they get this sorted out. Rant over.
If anyone can suggest shipping agent that can reship from the states please post here.I'm in Victoria BC.
sorry my first post is so negative I'll be sure to post some reviews once I get handy with my festuff

cheers

Rik

 

[Matthew Schenker]

Good Morning,
I think it's vital for Festool to hear these kinds of concerns, and step up to make improvements.  After all, that's one of the functions of a forum like this!  However, while Festool USA is a strong presence in the FOG, the rest of Festool's international branches are essentially uninvolved.  That starts with Canada.  I'd like to change this, and get more internatonal branches to look at this forum, because I think they could benefit from our discussions and criticism.

I want to come up with a way to get Festool's international branches to take a closer look at the forum.  I thought this discussion might be a good place to broach the subject.  Depending on the ideas that come up, I would then follow up with discussions in other places in the forum.

What do people think about some kind of new "Festool International" board for reaching out to international branches?

Opinions?

Matthew

 

[Frank Pellow]

Cannuck mentioned Marc St. Pierre of Hafele who came to his shop and said that he was very happy with him.  Marc also came to my shop (all the way from the Ottawa area).  A little over a year ago, Marc demonstrated the entire Festool product line to about 20 people in my shop.  Marc did a great job and he knows a lot about both woodworking and Festool.  I purchased both a larger circular saw and a smaller MFT through Marc just after the demo.

But (and it?s a big but), Marc is the only person that I have met at Hafele that knows anything about Festool.  Also, there is very limited on line information, getting a price list is like pulling teeth, there is no forum presence from Festool (in spite of promises made by Marc at the demo), and I got the run around when I was encountering problems with my Rotex sander last year.  Bob Marino came to the rescue and I was able to repair the sander myself.

So, most of my Festool purchases (including consumables) are through Bob.  I get them shipped to various friends in the USA and pick them up myself or have them deliver them on visits.  Most of the time, I can claim the stuff on my duty-free allowance.  But, when I have not been able to do so, I have never been asked to pay duty.

 

[gjfunk]

Festool doesn't have a branch in Canada. They have one reseller, Hafele which provides poor service relative to US based resellers. I'm sure Festool represents a very small part of their business and doesn't get much share of mind within their organization.

I can't really see any value in a separate forum beyond what they could gain from looking at the existing forums.

The problem in Canada is likely a volume related issue. There likely isn't enough business to justify having dedicated Festool employees up here.

 

[Matthew Schenker]

Festool doesn't have a branch in Canada. They have one reseller, Hafele which provides poor service relative to US based resellers. I'm sure Festool represents a very small part of their business and doesn't get much share of mind within their organization.

I can't really see any value in a separate forum beyond what they could gain from looking at the existing forums.

The problem in Canada is likely a volume related issue. There likely isn't enough business to justify having dedicated Festool employees up here.

I wouldn't create a new forum for this, just a small board somewhere in the existing forum for Canada, and perhaps other Festool branches.

Even though Festool does not have a branch in Canada, we have a good number of members from Canada.  I'm thinking it might be good to give more visibility, through the forum, for Canadian customers.

Just an idea.

Matthew

 

[artacoma]

So if you buy Festools in Canada they are not returnable ( not that I was planning to anyways) it would have been nice of them to say so when I put in the order. So I proudly post the last invoice I will ever get from Hafele Canada

 

[Matthew Schenker]

artacoma,
Sorry to hear about your experiences.  My hope would be that this forum could be a motivator for better Canadian service.  I don't know.
One question.  Is the address on that invoice really "John Lucas Drive"?
No connection, I'm sure!!!
Matthew

 

[Dan Clermont]

LOL !!!

Actually the Hafele address is John Lucas drive!!!

Dan Clermont

 

[Matthew Schenker]

I hear that old theme from The Twilight Zone...

 

[woodshopdemos]

and no connection, but the wierd thing is that Mother's maiden name was Hafele

... not really.

 

[Dan Clermont]

and no connection, but the wierd thing is that Mother's maiden name was Hafele

... not really.

John

They name streets after guys like you up here in Canada!!! You prety much have to be in the Hockey Hall of Fame to have a street in your name!!!

Dan Clermont

 

[woodshopdemos]

Dan,
  For sure that's not me then. As an ice skater, I don't think I have ever stayed upright for more than 13 seconds. I would love to drive the Zamboni machine though, or the Festool equivalent.

 

[greg mann]

and no connection, but the wierd thing is that Mother's maiden name was Hafele

... not really.

John

They name streets after guys like you up here in Canada!!! You prety much have to be in the Hockey Hall of Fame to have a street in your name!!!

Dan Clermont

Based on this year's Stanley Cup results it looks like there's going to be some Swedish street names popping up soon.  ;D ;D ;D Go Wings!!!!