Frustrated

[Ken Nagrod]

Howard,

Some Woodcraft stores are corporately owned.  Also, the training these employees get is from the area Festool reps, for example, the Delaware store I buy from has Jordan Haire as their trainer.  He's told me that he goes in on surprise visits to test the employees knowledge and skill with Festool.  Maybe other reps in those areas where members have been experiencing problems, aren't doing their job well or the store employees just don't care.

Another thing, I don't consider Woodcraft or Rockler "big box" stores like Home Depot, Lowes, Menards, OSH, etc.

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Some Woodcraft stores are corporately owned.  Also, the training these employees get is from the area Festool reps, for example, the Delaware store I buy from has Jordan Haire as their trainer.  He's told me that he goes in on surprise visits to test the employees knowledge and skill with Festool.  Maybe other reps in those areas where members have been experiencing problems, aren't doing their job well or the store employees just don't care.

There are three corporate Woodcraft stores: Roanoke VA, Parkersburg WV, and Woburn MA.

Festool reps do not train dealers. Our trainers do. Trainers sometimes travel to a dealer's location for training, but generally dealers come to our two training facilities. Dealers get the best training by attending our training program. There are four class types dealers can attend ranging from basic to advanced.

I don't think Jordan has done any in-depth training but I could be wrong.

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Shane, I'm only repeating what info the Delaware Woodcraft manager and Jordan told me.  I obviously don't have first-hand info on this since I don't work for the chain or Festool, but obviously you would know better than I.  I do think Jordan is doing an excellent job with them from my personal observations.  I thought it was just the store manager or an employee specializing in Festool sales that went to you for training, then came back to the store to teach the others with the aid of the area rep.

 

[5280]

Shane. the rep for Colorado does come around and provide update training. Also trains us on new products when they come out.

 

[Gene Howerton]

We have a good Woodcraft store here in Jacksonville and all of the folks there know Festool quite well.  I bought my first round with them.  It was the package that included the C-12 drill, the jigsaw and the ETS 150/5.  That got me a good start to Festool.  They also carry almost all of the sandpaper as well. 

Nice folks and have sold me quite a bit of stuff.  Since that time I have bought some from them and some from Bob M.  I still remember reading about Festool on John Lucas's site.  John had a post on Uncle Bob coming to visit him with his Festool goodies.  After that John did more Festool reviews, then I found Jerry Work's Site and down the slope I went.  But I still purchase from Woodcraft, since we need to help support the only woodworking store here in Jacksonville, FL.

 

[roundguy]

I've had trouble with my local Woodcraft. The owner is great; everyone else there is useless. I ordered a dust collector there, it took ~ 5 months to get. I called a few times to see if they had a Domino, and each time they said no. I then asked if they planned on getting any. "Probably not".

I ordered online from Bob Marino. He shipped it within 3 hours of me placing the order. Excellent service.

I've since pressed my luck and ordered a Delta drill press last week while it was on sale. I called to see if they had any idea when it might arrive. I could have gotten better service if I had dialed a wrong number.

P.S. Shirt size - 2XL 

 

[PeterK]

"I could have gotten better service if I had dialed a wrong number."

Now that is funny!!

 

[kfitzsimons]

Don't assume you'll save on the tax by mail ordering. I ASSUMED I was going to save the tax when I ordered a Domino from Bob Marino who is in New Jersey (I think). The Domino was one of the left over ones with the pins. When I got the bill, it included tax. I checked with Bob and he said it was shipped from Ohio, which is where I live and he had to charge tax. I'm not sure why it was shipped from Ohio, but lesson learned. Be sure to ask about all charges. I order from whoever has it in stock - local or mail order. My Woodcraft and Woodwerks stores are great as is Bob and other on-line dealers who participate on the FOG.

 

[jonny round boy]

But I'm sure the tax issue isn't really an issue at all, since you all pay your taxes at the end of the year, like you're supposed to.  [wink]

It is (perversely) kind of reasuring to know that the UK isn't the only country with some really bad Festool dealers though!

 

[Ted Miller]

One of the main reasons I buy most of my smaller tool purchases from Amazon is having the Prime Membership. Its $79.00 a year and items sold on the Prime have free second day shipping and no sales tax.

If I need a tool for a job and don't want to waste time driving around trying to find it. I look on Amazon, place the prime order, most products ship from AZ so I have had them the very next day in some cases.

Plus if I see an item I need but not right away, I save it in my wish list and check the price often. I think Amazon have people sitting around changing prices by the hour just to mess with our heads...

 

[Bob Marino]

Don't assume you'll save on the tax by mail ordering. I ASSUMED I was going to save the tax when I ordered a Domino from Bob Marino who is in New Jersey (I think). The Domino was one of the left over ones with the pins. When I got the bill, it included tax. I checked with Bob and he said it was shipped from Ohio, which is where I live and he had to charge tax. I'm not sure why it was shipped from Ohio, but lesson learned. Be sure to ask about all charges. I order from whoever has it in stock - local or mail order. My Woodcraft and Woodwerks stores are great as is Bob and other on-line dealers who participate on the FOG.

0

Kevin,

The reason why I must charge sales tax in Ohio is because that is where my warehouse is located. That is considered having a business "nexus" in that state;  so I am required to charge/collect/remit sales tax on items sold in Ohio (as well as in NJ).

Bob

 

[TJ Cornish]

Here in Minnesota anyway, I'm required to pay sales tax on any out of state purchases that tax wasn't charged on.  Enforcement isn't very common, but none the less, paying sales tax is the law.  I expect many, if not most states are similar.

 

[ccarrolladams]

Cornish,
Here in California the term is "Sales and Use Tax"  Use tax covers purchases for which sales tax applies yet those were not paid at time of purchase.

There is no evidence the California Board of Equalization (our sales tax agency) investigates individual people about use tax.

My business is incorporated. Purchases are either capitalized or expensed. With respect to tools, things such as bits and blades usually can be deducted in total as an expense since they might only have a useful life of a single year. Most actual tools, especially Festools, have a life well over a year, so they must be capitalized. Only a portion of the cost can be deducted each tax year. The length of the capitalization varies depending on several factors, which makes business tax preparation so difficult.

The catch is that the California Franchise Tax Board (The California version of the IRS) communicates with the Board of Equalization. In order to claim an item as an expense of capitalization, you need to show sales or use tax was paid. In Burbank and most of Los Angeles County the sales tax is 9.75%, but sales tax is also a deductible business expense.

As a business we have a Sales Tax Exemption Certificate. This way we do not pay sales tax when we purchase supplies and material that will be used on jobs and charged to customers. Since we are wholesale only our customers will mark-up what we charge them and collect sales tax from the end user based on the total cost of the job. Every quarter we file a sales tax return. This is where we must report use tax and also tax on material we purchased for resale but used ourselves. An example is the plywood we considered blemished and not usable on a job that we did use as sacrificial surfaces. Another example is material we use to make samples for display. Each month we donate off-cuts we do not consider worth storing. Those are given to schools and rehabilitation centers for career training. We need to keep records and report this, although we do not actually pay sales tax, because these are tax-exempt transactions.

You see why we spend so much on accountants and lawyers.

Here in Minnesota anyway, I'm required to pay sales tax on any out of state purchases that tax wasn't charged on.  Enforcement isn't very common, but none the less, paying sales tax is the law.  I expect many, if not most states are similar.

 

[Kodi Crescent]

North Carolina recently went after Amazon for the "use tax" thing.  I'm not sure what the conclusion was.  I think it was that Amazon could send the state a total for purchases, but not an itemized list.  As my dad used to say "bend over and grab your ankles".

 

[USPcompact]

The court told NC to go pee up a rope.  ;D

Not those exact words, but close enough. 

 

[CDM]

I have some sympathy for Woodcraft.  Here in Chicagoland we're still in the worst recession in my lifetime, so people have less discretionary income and sales are down.  However, costs for rent, insurance, utilities, maintenance, labor, etc. are not down.  Also - and this is direct from the owner of my local Woodcraft - shoplifting is up.  People come in to the store, see something they want but can't afford, and just take it.  All these factors put the owner's livelihood and those of his employees under pressure.

In Illinois there is also a Use Tax on out-of-state purchases, though I'd guess almost no one knows about it and collection is mainly on items like boats and cars that also require owner licensing and registration.

If I do buy Festool products from an out-of-state seller who doesn't collect Illinois sales tax, I will make the effort to find out how much Illinois Use Tax I owe and pay it.  Then I'll have a clean conscience when I complain about how the politicians and bureaucrats spend it.

 

[NuggyBuggy]

I feel sad for the small businessmen running these Woodcraft stores, trying to save maybe $10 or $20 or whatever it is in shipping per order by having to hope and wait for enough orders to get free shipping and make it worth their while, and not being able to tell their customers why their orders are being delayed.  Faced with realities like having to place large orders to get free shipping, it's no wonder bricks-and-mortar stores are getting squeezed out by online and big-box stores, but I still feel bad for them. 

 

[ghostofhoward]

I bought my first Festool product (domino jointer) a few years ago from the Greenville, SC Woodcraft.They were awesome,had it in stock and even sent me a card and the owner called me to thank me for my purchase a few weeks later  ;D.Now that is what I call good customer service.I still end up buying most everything online though because the Woodcraft is an hour away.

 

[Joe Smith]

I have some sympathy for Woodcraft.  Here in Chicagoland we're still in the worst recession in my lifetime, so people have less discretionary income and sales are down.  However, costs for rent, insurance, utilities, maintenance, labor, etc. are not down.  Also - and this is direct from the owner of my local Woodcraft - shoplifting is up.  People come in to the store, see something they want but can't afford, and just take it.  All these factors put the owner's livelihood and those of his employees under pressure.

In Illinois there is also a Use Tax on out-of-state purchases, though I'd guess almost no one knows about it and collection is mainly on items like boats and cars that also require owner licensing and registration.

If I do buy Festool products from an out-of-state seller who doesn't collect Illinois sales tax, I will make the effort to find out how much Illinois Use Tax I owe and pay it.  Then I'll have a clean conscience when I complain about how the politicians and bureaucrats spend it.

10 years ago I use to live in the Chicago area.  I hated that Woodcraft due to their horrible customer service. They ignored me too many times.  If they are still like that, I wonder why they have not gone out of business yet. 

 

[Sparktrician]

There are two Woodcraft stores near me that are under common ownership.  The folks that work there are quite nice and always ask if they can help me when I go in there.  Very few of them have more than a clue regarding the Festool goods.  I visited one over a week ago, and encountered one of the employees that was trying to help a customer that was asking about Festool goods.  This person didn't understand the system and was embarrassed by his lack of knowledge, but gave the customer some erroneous info that I wound up correcting.  Sadly, their display MFT/3 was missing a couple of parts, and they didn't know how to set it up right.  I would almost want the area rep to visit the place and help them understand the system and show them how to demo the tools as they should be demo'ed. 

The two stores are pleasant places to visit, but they lack the best knowledge of the Festool system.  That and the Woodcraft organization as a whole is stocking too much junk made in China. 

[sad]