Festool USA is an interesting company

[awil66]

So I got a call out of the blue today, as to why I have not cashed my $50 rebate check from the pro5 sander, which I claimed when I purchased an mft/3. They sent it to me a while back, I took it out and detached it from the page it was printed on, threw out the envelope and remaining paper, and tried to deposit it. No go at the bank, since the account number and the routing number were left behind on the paper I discarded. I guess the fold was a little high.

Being very busy, and blaming myself since no one else was around, I just forgot about it. Until today. The nice lady on the phone explained they were investigating why some checks were not cashed, and upon hearing my story, told me they will issue me a new one. What the hell is happening around here!
[big grin]

 

[antss]

German efficiency. 

Their books are out of balance and they're just nudging you along.

 

[leakyroof]

German efficiency. 

Their books are out of balance and they're just nudging you along.

  VE VILL Have Order....... [wink]

 

[ben_r_]

Thats awesome that they followed up! Imagine those that are still waiting for their checks when they really got lost in the mail. How would either side know unless someone at Festool was looking into and contacting those that havent cashed their checks. Ive never heard of any other company doing that with rebate checks.

 

[Brice Burrell]

Thats awesome that they followed up! Imagine those that are still waiting for their checks when they really got lost in the mail. How would either side know unless someone at Festool was looking into and contacting those that havent cashed their checks. Ive never heard of any other company doing that with rebate checks.

It makes my wonder how many checks haven't been cashed before Festool decided to spend time to look into it.  I'd guess a fair number...

 

[NHSP759]

Still waiting for mine

That's pretty cool they called though!

 

[overanalyze]

Crap...I need to submit mine...I forgot all about it.

 

[nickao]

I never received a call.

 

[ben_r_]

I never received a call.

Contact them.

 

[GravyBones]

Awesome German tool makers.

EDIT> For continuity 

 

[Gregor]

Awesome German tool makers.

Saying this as someone who lives there: some do, but sadly neither all nor enough of them.
It seems to deteriorate with time and the let's make money mindset slowly but surely replaces let's be as excellent as possible as old leaders (which often have been the owners, so they had a long-term interest in both their customers and suppliers) retire and are replaced with MBA beancounters...

Edit> for continuity

 

[#Tee]

festool owner is like can you cash it at the end of this week pls?

 

[LooseSox]

Basically comes down to the company having unsecured liabilities out in the trade. For arguments sake, say your company mails out $50k in redemption cheques next week. Everyone sits on them and 2 years later they all get cashed. Can you imagine the accountants? They'd all be having heart attacks!

It's in a companies best interests to ensure cash back/redemption/incentive/etc offers are redeemed in a timely fashion.

 

[antss]

festool owner is like can you cash it at the end of this week pls?

What does this mean ?  [unsure]

Sox , two years out the checks have long been expired.  Most are good only for 90 days, and the bank will not cash them. 

I guessing the number of checks issued vs. not cashed is very small.  Small enough that those that haven't can get a personalized call to tickle them. 

 

[aloysius]

Such cynicism!  I find it refreshing (& confidence-inspiring) that the company is so on top of things that somebody is instructed to chase up recalcitrant customers, & rather endearing that they should altruistically show a measure of concern over customers' financial welfare.

 

[peter halle]

Hey guys, don't jump to conclusions on what Tee meant.  When I first read that post very early this morning I came to the conclusion as some have.  But then I went back and re read some of the thread which was about someone from FESTOOL contacting holders of the rebates and making sure that they had them...  So perhaps a translation was the FESTOOL was calling and reminding recipients to use them versus lose them.

Calling and encouraging the public to use rebates / coupons / discounts is pretty unheard of in the industry and also the retail industry.  It actually works out better for the issuers in some ways if all these types of things expire unused - UNLESS the marketing reason behind the offer was to expand their market and sell another product.

So, let's not get un-forum-like here please.

Thanks in advance.

Peter

 

[Cheese]

What Peter said...  [big grin]

I got a friendly e-mail from Festool reminding me to cash mine but also offering that if I had not received it yet, they'd resend it.  [cool] [cool] [cool]

 

[bobfog]

Isn't this just blatantly transparent? They want orders so that they can give customers a $50 discount but still sell a $$$ tool and make a shed load of profit. Are people really that naive that they think this is some sort of heartfelt gesture!?!?

PS I know this guy who lives in Nigeria who wants to send $1million to your account, just needs you to send $10,000 first to prove your account exists! Any takers PM me! [big grin]

 

[Svar]

Isn't this just blatantly transparent? They want orders so that they can give customers a $50 discount but still sell a $$$ tool and make a shed load of profit. Are people really that naive that they think this is some sort of heartfelt gesture!?!?

You are mistaken. Festool sent a reminder about a rebate check, which was not cashed. It was after the order has been made. It wasn't about an unused voucher or discount coupon.

 

[bobfog]

Isn't this just blatantly transparent? They want orders so that they can give customers a $50 discount but still sell a $$$ tool and make a shed load of profit. Are people really that naive that they think this is some sort of heartfelt gesture!?!?

You are mistaken. Festool sent a reminder about a rebate check, which was not cashed. It was after the order has been made. It wasn't about an unused voucher or discount coupon.

Ah yes, I am indeed mistaken. Must have been the b@stardising of the English language with the word "check" instead of "cheque" that threw me [big grin] [big grin].

Though the underlying premise remains, Festool want to promote and create goodwill around the whole voucher/rebate scheme in order that when they run it in the future people will place orders and make them richer.