Festool owes me money

[Michael Kellough]

[member=4687]glass1[/member] you’ve no cause to make such an accusation against the moderators. I challenge you to copy a single post that demonstrates what you say. Trying to maintain neutrality is not the same thing as “blindly” defending Festool. The mods (Peter for sure) have expressed concern that Festool hasn’t addressed our concerns about the Kapex. Other than weeding out content that violates the guidelines of the forum or espouses dangerous procedures they’re pretty hands off.

I appreciate your honest appraisals of tools but you’re way off base attacking the mods.

 

[Bob Marino]

[member=4687]glass1[/member] you’ve no cause to make such an accusation against the moderators. I challenge you to copy a single post that demonstrates what you say. Trying to maintain neutrality is not the same thing as “blindly” defending Festool. The mods (Peter for sure) have expressed concern that Festool hasn’t addressed our concerns about the Kapex. Other than weeding out content that violates the guidelines of the forum or espouses dangerous procedures they’re pretty hands off.

I appreciate your honest appraisals of tools but you’re way off base attacking the mods.

Agree 100% Michael.

I also wish Festool was a little more responsive here no doubt. And I agree that something as simple as using the correct adhesive for the splinter-guards this is a problem that should’ve been fixed long ago.

  But the moderators are extremely fair and honest and darn nice guys to boot.  They work  tirelessly to keep this forum friendly and open. I know both Peter and Seth for years and they’re a good people - good down to their bones.
As imperfect as this forum may be its through their efforts this is still a viable place for Festool information and more.

 

[semenza]

Is this a place to communicate with festool?  Not to be rude but thats pretty funny. This is a place to communicate with the festool secretly paid off apologists pretending to be moderators. This maybe harsh and may get me banned but if y'all are not paid off why blindly defend festool? If it quacks like a duck its a duck, and the kapex is crap, the track saws are under powered, and the jig saws are average. But, the vacuums are good, the routers are awesome and their are some other winners. I post in the hope that festool will see the light and make all their tools kick butt !

Well there are only two moderators so I guess you are talking about me and Peter. 

The amount of restraint I am exercising right now might give me an aneurysm. This isn't the first time you have attacked, baited, and trolled members of this forum. And the only reason you are still a member right now, at this moment is because you are attacking the moderators. Just wouldn't look good to ban you on this one. 

I am not blindly defending Festool. Pointing out the  possible  price difference comparison discrepancy in the post above is not defending Festool. It is attempting to gain some accuracy.  I have noticed though that many,  not all but many, times when someone holds a different opinion than yours , or has legitimately achieved different results with a Festool tool than what you have obtained, that leads you to label them an apologist. Just because their opinion and results don't match yours.

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I apologize to the rest of the forum members for this post. It is not very moderator like of me.  Every once in a while my typing takes over and I just can't get control of myself.  Please do not read this post of mine as being an acceptable way to post on the forum. I should tell myself to take it private. Peter, could you please come moderate me here?  I am not doing a very good job of it.  [tongue]

Seth

 

[semenza]

duburban,

    Sorry your splinter strips are falling off. I too wish Festool would start using a better adhesive. Some of mine seem to stay on well and others not so well. It used to be that people complained that the strips were too hard to remove. Need a formulation in between the old and the current.

Seth

 

[glass1]

Than be honest. The track saws are underpowered and the kapex has a host of issues and the jig saw is average. Put your mouth where the money is. Yes I agree everybody is a nice guy. Never said otherwise. Just stop the bs. Reminds me of an old fable “ The emperors new clothes”. It’s just about honesty and reality for me it’s not personal. I am sure most on this forum are nice folks. That has nothing to do with Festool charging a premium price and claiming to make the best tools. If you boast, no problem if you can back it up.

 

[semenza]

Bob M.

  I agree. I wish Festool was a bit more involved with the forum.

  But times change. Regardless I still think that the forum has some advantages over other internet formats when it comes to the type of information  in play here. Other formats also have strengths.

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  [member=12487]duburban[/member],  sorry to take your topic off track.

Seth

 

[duburban]

Bob M.

  I agree. I wish Festool was a bit more involved with the forum.

  But times change. Regardless I still think that the forum has some advantages over other internet formats when it comes to the type of information  in play here. Other formats also have strengths.

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  [member=12487]duburban[/member],  sorry to take your topic off track.

Seth

All relevant. Understanding the distance between this forum and Festool does help. I cannot recall how many years I've been here but things have changed.

 

[semenza]

Bob M.

  I agree. I wish Festool was a bit more involved with the forum.

  But times change. Regardless I still think that the forum has some advantages over other internet formats when it comes to the type of information  in play here. Other formats also have strengths.

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  [member=12487]duburban[/member],  sorry to take your topic off track.

Seth

All relevant. Understanding the distance between this forum and Festool does help. I cannot recall how many years I've been here but things have changed.

Looks like this is your seventh anniversary on FOG. Right there under your screen name.  [wink]

Seth

 

[Bob Marino]

Than be honest. The track saws are underpowered and the kapex has a host of issues and the jig saw is average. Put your mouth where the money is. Yes I agree everybody is a nice guy. Never said otherwise. Just stop the bs. Reminds me of an old fable “ The emperors new clothes”. It’s just about honesty and reality for me it’s not personal. I am sure most on this forum are nice folks. That has nothing to do with Festool charging a premium price and claiming to make the best tools. If you boast, no problem if you can back it up.

If the "nice guy" comment was in reference to my post, I went further - knowing both moderators over many years - way before they were moderators here (actually were customers of mine) and said they were "good down to their bones." I'll stand by that. They are excellent and moderators. They help keep this place going and shill for no one. Critiques on the tools - understood, let's have that discussion, but your personal attacks on their integrity are both incorrect and unwarranted.

 

[jonathan-m]

I have not had any direct dealing with Festool myself, but I have heard from other people who have that Festool in Germany is kind of a "we know best" company. A bit snobby like Apple in that they're not really open to suggestions from their customer base but rather tell you how to use their products and have the "you're using it wrong" mentality when something is reported...

Take it for what it's worth and with a grain of salt… but it does seem to conform to what we see here on the forum regarding to feedback... And if it's true, well then all this doesn't really matter does it...

 

[jacko9]

I've contacted Festool here in the USA and the have been completely helpful.  This forum used to have a more onsite connection to Festool but, I haven't been around for a while so I can't comment on their presence.

 

[James Biddle]

I've been as critical of Festool as any lately, but I do think the mods here do an outstanding job. Its not their fault I just had to order a replacement receptacle for my Midi to fix the same problem that my CT33 had 10 years ago. Or that my...

 

[peter halle]

I've been as critical of Festool as any lately, but I do think the mods here do an outstanding job. Its not their fault I just had to order a replacement receptacle for my Midi to fix the same problem that my CT33 had 10 years ago. Or that my...

Just as a heads up, don’t throw your old one away.  If the issue is the looseness of the contacts (called wipes I believe) they are easily repairable.

Peter

 

[Rick Christopherson]

I miss [member=15]Christian Oltzscher[/member]. The whole company has gone to      since he left the U.S. Market. That's why you don't see me posting here anymore.

 

[Brice Burrell]

I miss [member=15]Christian Oltzscher[/member]. The whole company has gone to      since he left the U.S. Market. That's why you don't see me posting here anymore.

Yes, when Christian was here he made Festool USA seem like a small family owned business.  With his moving up it feels far more corporate, in many ways disconnected from the customers. 

 

[DynaGlide]

Festool bent over backwards with their customer service when I needed help. Maybe their forum presence isn't strong but their people on the phone are fantastic.

 

[Bob Marino]

I miss [member=15]Christian Oltzscher[/member]. The whole company has gone to      since he left the U.S. Market. That's why you don't see me posting here anymore.

Yes, when Christian was here he made Festool USA seem like a small family owned business.  With his moving up it feels far more corporate, in many ways disconnected from the customers.

  Brice,

I agree. In those days, Christian O and Brian G (CEO and CFO) shared a desk at Festool's office. Many times, when there wasn't enough staff, he's pick up the phone and field the calls. Actually I got to "know" him when I had to call the office asking about my recently purchased PS2E jigsaw. Further phone conversations led to asking me if I wanted to sell the tools. Talk about being in the right place at the right time!

Christian also attended the larger WW shows and sometimes demonstrated the tools. There were no "dealers" - we were  Independent Sales Agents (ISA's). Shortly before I signed up, Festool would send out a small newsletter to each ISA with info about the tools and the list - with names of the sales amounts of the top 10 ISA's. That was deemed a sales motivator I guess. For a few years, Festool would offer a fully all expense paid trip to Festool's Headquarters in Germany for a select group ISA's. All that is ancient history in the days of Festool USA's very early years here. Christian has been "bumped up" to one of Festool's top positions - not sure what his title is but it is our loss and their gain. I had the pleasure of meeting him again at Festool's Indiana CONNECT a couple of years ago and he still has that warmth and charm (and of course intelligence) that made his office staff jump through hoops for him.

Yes, those days are long gone as Festool becomes more "corporate." But as they continue to expand, I do hope they start to be more "involved/attentive/communicative."

 

[Bob Marino]

Festool bent over backwards with their customer service when I needed help. Maybe their forum presence isn't strong but their people on the phone are fantastic.

  I also agree with you - being a dealer that calls the office quite often. Extremely helpful and friendly.

 

[Michael Kellough]

Sure it's frustrating that Festool corporate doesn't check in much now but even when he was here Christian O. only posted 157 times in the 5 years or so that he was active.

The Festool employee that did the most to provide a friendly and helpful Festool presence in the FOG was Shane Holland (10,458 posts) while he worked directly for Festool. Before that he worked for McFeely's doing a lot to help forum members from the dealer's perspective, as he does now. While working for Festool Shane helped facilitate the transition from Mathew's ownership of FOG to Festool corporate ownership which included persuading Seth and Peter to accept the responsibility (for no compensation) of moderating the forum.

No, we don't hear much from Festool these days but if you just call Festool chances are better than good that you'll get a satisfactory response, from a real person.

 

[Bob Marino]

 
  Right on Michael.
Major kudos to Shane - well deserved - for many moons in many capacities.