Festool is (partially) moving to imperial in North America

The outcry either for or against the change is somewhat surprising to me.  I did not buy Festool because of the metric system.  I actually converted to metric long after my first Festool purchases and my change was driven by using the 32mm system for cabinets.  After several years of just using it for cabinets, I switched everything to metric.  Changing these tools to US customary units will not drive away but the dual scale option does make a lot more sense.  It is clear to me that Festool is making this change to have more appeal to the general US market.

This is a bit tongue in cheek but; what's next? - public demand to change the model numbers from TS55 to TS2-3/16 and the TS75 to TS3?

 
SoonerFan said:
This thread has mentioned the New Coke analogy a couple of times.  I for for one hope Festool Leadership read that case study in business school and like Coke reverses a decision which angered the faithful.

Imagine the joy among the loyal FOG users if Festool said:

1.  We heard you loud and clear --- metric will continue to be an option in NA
2.  We are sorry and did not realize the move would solicit this much concern
3.  In additional to all current tools being available in metric we will begin providing NA access to all tools currently available in the UK

I can dream can't I?  Seriously even If I had to special order and wait longer so Festool USA does not have to inventory both tools that would be fine with me.  Like many others I now have lots invested in metric tools, tape measures, rules and squares.  My forthcoming Incra table is also going to be metric.  With the exception of a TS75 which I want cannot justify at this time I will have what I need.  However when something new and game changing like the Domino comes along I am sure I will want metric with the warranty.
Click to expand...

I currently have an incra fence in imperial and recently found out it can be converted to metric.

I will be converting it to metric so it works in compliment to the parallel guides and everything else I'm doing.

Imagine that,  incra and woodpeckers and other USA manufacturers make imperial and metric tools while FESTOOL makes metric tools but won't let us have them because they know we really only wanted imperial scales on metric tools.
 
SRSemenza said:
Lets not make this into a Brexit topic.

Thanks,

Seth
Click to expand...

Your right.  It's a Metrainer thread, unless your Festool and then it's a Metrexit thread.

P.S.  In another thread, long long ago, you recommended Jen Brand foam brushes.  I tried them and they were great.  Thanks.  The cheap ones are floppy and come off the handle.  The Jen brand have better quality foam, a better interior support and better attachment to the handle.
 
Hurricane Whisperer said:
SRSemenza said:
Lets not make this into a Brexit topic.

Thanks,

Seth
Click to expand...

Your right.  It's a Metrainer thread, unless your Festool and then it's a Metrexit thread.
Click to expand...

Metrexit...now that there is funny  [thumbs up]
 
Methinks someone at Festool has "gone tappy", as my dear, sweet, bald-headed dad used to say (as in "got tapioca for brains").  I, for one, went metric with no regrets, and now Festool has taken a step into the dark ages.  I'm delighted that I already own all the requisite metric Festool goodies, but sympathize with those remaining to conquer the divide. 
 
Sparktrician said:
Methinks someone at Festool has "gone tappy", as my dear, sweet, bald-headed dad used to say (as in "got tapioca for brains").  I, for one, went metric with no regrets, and now Festool has taken a step into the dark ages.  I'm delighted that I already own all the requisite metric Festool goodies, but sympathize with those remaining to conquer the divide.
Click to expand...

It is hard to believe Germans would think it's okay to slap an Imperial scale on a metric tool, so maybe they did go tappy.

I'll just go ahead and apologize for stereotyping Germans.
 
I was impressed with Festool's  uphill marketing strategy challenge when I looked over the latest WOOD magazine supplement on shops. There was virtually no evidence of track saws, or MFT items. Festool is for the elite and there is little evidence this will change. I acknowledge the use of Festool on This Old House but this is a rarified level of exposure that is not seeping into the shops of Mr. and Mrs America.

In the latest Wood Magazine, there is an article on sanders. Festool took "Top TooL" honors with the ETS EC 125/3EQ, However, reading left to right the prices tell the story: Craftsman $80, DeWalt $80, Festool=$385,Hitachi $80, Makita, $85, Makita $100.

To paraphrase from the political olden days, it is not the unit of measure.... metric or imperial...

It's the pricing, stupid!

 
[member=49013]clark_fork[/member] as have some others, correctly states that the real issue is market penetration and price.

Price is an international issue that Festool just does not get. In Australia where fixed pricing/retail price maintenance is generally illegal, Festool is the ONLY company, yes only company (not just tool company)  to have been granted permission to fix its prices. This caused much angst down here as readers of the 'One for the Aussies' may recall. And we do not enjoy the same level and amount of after sales services and features enjoyed in NA, the UK and Europe.

However, if you in NA wish Festool USA to continue offering its current level of after sales service and generally higher manufacturing standards how much can the price be reduced before there needs to be a reduced after sales service? How far does the price have to fall before German/European manufacture is considerably replaced by more from Asia or South America?

Apart from not proceeding with this decision, Festool should tighten its margins a little. Perhaps an advertising campaign around no price increases next year. And does Festool US have reps actually visiting work sites like some other companies and dealers do. A big truck outside a dealership is well and good, but reps need to get in amongst the wood dust and chips and show how it does not have to be there on site. Park that truck on some new housing estates, or within industrial estates with high concentrations of joinery and kitchen shops.

Advertise and promote Metric tools as a feature, not a problem.

 
If I remember correctly, I bought by TS55 REQ about 2 1/2 years ago.  It came with an Imperial sticker which was easily applied over the the metric depth of cut scale.  So effectively, I had the choice of metric or imperial way back then.  Moving to Imperial for the track saws seems like a non-event to me as that option was always there.
 
Hi, just joined the forum.

I have been deciding what tools to buy as looking to get into woodworking. And a couple friends/coworkers highly recommend Festool.
I have done a fair amount of research and watched a lot of reviews. When I first thought about the tools I was worried about everything being metric. Then i worked on building a fence for the yard and realized how metric was just simpler to work with.

So I was working on a list of metric measuring tools and of course a bunch of the Festool equipment. (was looking at a CT 36, TS 55, parallel guides, 1400 Router, domino 500 to start. Then a couple tables, sanders and the list never ends.)

So I am on the verge of making a rather substantial purchase. Especially with the Canada dollar.
Then I read about the tools changing to imperial measurement. I can see why and can appreciate the change.

But I wish they would still give us the option to order tools and accessories in both metric and imperial.

For everyone who has metric tools and has adjusted to the metric measurement kinda ends in a poor situation that any new tools or accessories they purchase will not be in the same measurement and will cause difficulties.

I am now on the fence weather I should wait till the imperial tools roll out or buy what I think I'll need now and hope there is a future metric option. I would have been very disappointed if I had purchased a bunch of metric tools and then go to add more tools and the measurement system was changed.

Just adding my opinion and thoughts in hope of retaining metric tools in Canada at least.

Thanks
Daryl
 
petersd said:
Hi, just joined the forum.

I have been deciding what tools to buy as looking to get into woodworking. And a couple friends/coworkers highly recommend Festool.
I have done a fair amount of research and watched a lot of reviews. When I first thought about the tools I was worried about everything being metric. Then i worked on building a fence for the yard and realized how metric was just simpler to work with.

So I was working on a list of metric measuring tools and of course a bunch of the Festool equipment. (was looking at a CT 36, TS 55, parallel guides, 1400 Router, domino 500 to start. Then a couple tables, sanders and the list never ends.)

So I am on the verge of making a rather substantial purchase. Especially with the Canada dollar.
Then I read about the tools changing to imperial measurement. I can see why and can appreciate the change.

But I wish they would still give us the option to order tools and accessories in both metric and imperial.

For everyone who has metric tools and has adjusted to the metric measurement kinda ends in a poor situation that any new tools or accessories they purchase will not be in the same measurement and will cause difficulties.

I am now on the fence weather I should wait till the imperial tools roll out or buy what I think I'll need now and hope there is a future metric option. I would have been very disappointed if I had purchased a bunch of metric tools and then go to add more tools and the measurement system was changed.

Just adding my opinion and thoughts in hope of retaining metric tools in Canada at least.

Thanks
Daryl
Click to expand...

I am fairly certain that if Festool does not provide stickers, they would be available from either your favourite retailer, the ekat either in NA, Europe or from a third party accessory provider. I am fairly certain the packaging in Canada will have to be in metric so including a metric sticker shouldn't be that much more of a problem. My understanding is our tools are distributed from Festool US so we will be shipped tools from the US that as of this announcement will be marked in imperial units.
I believe the answer for the end users and for retailers managing currency fluctuations etc. is for Festool Group GmbH & Co. KG to export tools directly from Germany to Canada. This is unlikely to happen as our market is not large enough.
I wonder if this would affect CSA approval, but most tools available here are available in imperial only or metric etc. it's probably not an issue.
At the end of the day for me this decision signals the movement of Festool from an engineering (innovation) driven company to a marketing driven company. Unfortunate, but inevitable. Marketing via research and finance depts (ROI) is now dictating what features products should have. As they grow, this is the curve of most manufacturing companies, and is well documented in several well written business books.
I imagine it will be some time before Festool is managed as a cash cow (finance) and eventual decline in quality but the affects of creative destruction are compressing that time line annually.

Tim
 
petersd said:
Hi, just joined the forum.

I have been deciding what tools to buy as looking to get into woodworking. And a couple friends/coworkers highly recommend Festool.
I have done a fair amount of research and watched a lot of reviews. When I first thought about the tools I was worried about everything being metric. Then i worked on building a fence for the yard and realized how metric was just simpler to work with.

So I was working on a list of metric measuring tools and of course a bunch of the Festool equipment. (was looking at a CT 36, TS 55, parallel guides, 1400 Router, domino 500 to start. Then a couple tables, sanders and the list never ends.)

So I am on the verge of making a rather substantial purchase. Especially with the Canada dollar.
Then I read about the tools changing to imperial measurement. I can see why and can appreciate the change.

But I wish they would still give us the option to order tools and accessories in both metric and imperial.

For everyone who has metric tools and has adjusted to the metric measurement kinda ends in a poor situation that any new tools or accessories they purchase will not be in the same measurement and will cause difficulties.

I am now on the fence weather I should wait till the imperial tools roll out or buy what I think I'll need now and hope there is a future metric option. I would have been very disappointed if I had purchased a bunch of metric tools and then go to add more tools and the measurement system was changed.

Just adding my opinion and thoughts in hope of retaining metric tools in Canada at least.

Thanks
Daryl
Click to expand...

Out of those tools, only the saw, the router, and the parallel guides matter as far as the backwards imperial only march.  I would buy the saw and router now.  I would look to one of the aftermarketer's for parallel guides now or at your leasure.  Some of the aftermarketers use Incra products in their guides which are availble in imperial and metric.
 
Rarely use the scales anyway. When setting router depth, set it to some actual gauge or thickness. Only reason I use the saw gauge is to make sure I don't cut through my MFT. I've adjusted to the Domino metrics, but just know where to set it for certain jobs. So, the gauges aren't really crucial. Don't even know why they would change or why anyone get upset over the possibility of changing them.
 
SRSemenza said:
The ultimate fix ........ no scale at all, and no detents. [size=14pt]It's a zen thing  [not worthy]  [smile]

Seth
Click to expand...

[size=13pt]“The test of the machine is the satisfaction it gives you. There isn't any other test. If the machine produces tranquility it's right. If it disturbs you it's wrong until either the machine or your mind is changed.”
― Robert M. Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values


[member=1619]SRSemenza[/member]  [smile]
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Shane Holland
New Festool Imperial-Scale Tools Available for Order
Replies
4
Views
5K
Shane Holland
Shane Holland
Shane Holland
Metric or Imperial Tools - We've got both (for now)
Replies
17
Views
9K
Kodi Crescent
K
S
Canadian New Festool Pricing, buy before 1/4/14 at Atlas Machinery
Replies
9
Views
6K
Shawn
S
tbellemare
Prices Changing Tuesday!
Replies
12
Views
6K
Administrator_JSVN
Administrator_JSVN
Back
Top