First and favourite?

[bruegf]

First tool was the RO125 and CT22 used to repair peeling/cracks paint in the bathroom ceiling. 

Most used is the TS55 and MFT. 

Fred

 

[Hoover]

Well, as a newbie with a definite interest in 'heading down the Festool trail', it looks like my first move should be towards the TS55 if you guys are anything to go by. I am rather pleased that a good majority of you seem more than well pleased with this particular tool as it's the one I've been eyeing up!

OK, next question is, where do I buy from? Is mail order the best bet? Who does the discounts? I've heard it said that discounts don't happen.....believe that and you'll believe anything. So, guys, where's the best outlet in the UK?

You might have discounts in the UK, there are none in the US.  But from what I've heard, you pay higher prices (with the exchange factored in) for festool over there than we do

 

[Forrest Anderson]

Well, as a newbie with a definite interest in 'heading down the Festool trail', it looks like my first move should be towards the TS55 if you guys are anything to go by...
OK, next question is, where do I buy from? Is mail order the best bet? Who does the discounts? I've heard it said that discounts don't happen.....believe that and you'll believe anything. So, guys, where's the best outlet in the UK?

UK dealers apparently get into trouble if they sell below a "standard selling price" (my term), so the cost is usually very similar for whichever dealer you go to. The standard selling price is about 20% less than the one listed on the pages at www.festool.uk. To get a good idea of the standard selling price, check out the websites of various Festool dealers - seehttp://www.festool.co.uk/haendlersuche/haendlersuche.cfm for a list of them.

For example:

TS 55 EBQ-Plus-FS GB 240V (Order No 561192)	www.festool.co.uk	477.05 GBP incl VAT
	www.mtmc.co.uk	381.87 GBP incl VAT	20.0% discount
	www.axminster.co.uk	381.88 GBP incl VAT	19.9% discount
	www.healystool.co.uk	381.87 GBP incl VAT	20.0% discount
RO 150 FEQ-Plus GB 240V (Order No 571592)	www.festool.co.uk	441.80 GBP
	www.mtmc.co.uk	351.00 GBP incl VAT	20.6% discount
	www.axminster.co.uk	351.33 GBP incl VAT	20.5% discount
	www.healystool.co.uk	351.00 GBP incl VAT	20.6% discount

As you can see, the three dealers all sell for around the same price, but that price is less than the one which appears on the Festool UK website. The amount of discount is about 20%, but is not quite the same for each tool.

If you do find a dealer who is willing to sell for less than the standard selling price, then I reckon he's going to be pretty wary of revealing that, in case you report him. He might only start to trust you, and give you an extra discount, after you've done a bit of business together.

There are two things you might like to try, which might be easier...

If the dealer sells items from other manufacturers, then you might be able to get him to do a deal on a bundle of items. Since he could claim that he's only (heavily) discounting the other manufacturer's item, then he might reckon that he's reasonably safe from incurring the wrath of Festool.

For example, say he normally sells the Rotex 150 at 351 GBP and a Makita/Bosch/DeWalt jigsaw at 130 GBP. You might get him to offer you both for 421 GBP, which is an overall saving of 60 GBP. If challenged, he could claim that he's simply discounting the jigsaw by 60 GPB, rather than a 40 GBP discount on the Rotex and a 20 GBP discount on the jigsaw.

Another thing to try is to see if the dealer is offering freebies as part of a Festool promotion. Every so often Festool UK comes up with promotions which give free gifts away with certain purchases. These promotions are only meant to run for a certain time, but you may find a dealer who is happy to extend the promotion a bit. For example, from 1 Oct 2006 to 31 Dec 2006 Festool was offering a pair of Fast Clamps (Order No 491594) free with every purchase of a TS55, and then from 1 Apr 2007 to 30 Jun 2007 they were offering a free blade (Order No 487377) with every purchase of the same saw. Even though you are now outwith the time period, you may find a dealer who can still throw in a pair of clamps or a saw blade with your saw.

If you do find a dealer who can bend the rules a bit, it probably isn't a good idea to mention his name here!

Forrest

[Edited to mainly change the official Festool UK price to include VAT, to match that of the retailers]

 

[The Woodentop]

Thanks for the very comprehensive reply/information. I will keep it in mind when I go in for the kill!

Any other tips will be appreciated.

Thanks again.

 

[Llap Goch]

Forrest

The Festool UK prices you have shown are subject to VAT at 17.5% while the dealers prices shown are VAT inclusive. The actual discount at (most) UK Festool dealers is around 20% off the VAT inclusive price and if they do not offer it then head for the exit door. Works every time!

I find it very annoying that Festool UK operate this nod and a wink system. Festool Germany prices are roughly equivalent to UK prices with the 20% discount applied and most German dealers will give an additional 3% cash discount

As you rightly say, there is room for manouevre on accessories and it is worthwile checking out the Festool UK website for special offers.

Pat

 

[Forrest Anderson]

The Festool UK prices you have shown are subject to VAT at 17.5% while the dealers prices shown are VAT inclusive. The actual discount at (most) UK Festool dealers is around 20% off the VAT inclusive price and if they do not offer it then head for the exit door. Works every time!

Aargh - you are quite right. I have now amended my table to show all prices to include VAT. This changes the standard discount to around 20%, like you say.

Forrest

 

[The Woodentop]

Thanks a lot. Seems like good advice. I am preparing to go looking now for the TS55.