My Local Woodcraft is Clearing Out all the Festool Merchandise in Stock

[Woodenfish]

I always found the guys at my local WoodCraft to be quite ambitious about demonstrating Festool products, more so than anything else in the store. In fact, some of the guys working there I know from the old corporate owned store years ago before the new franchisor took over the area. I imagine that their clientele is more hobbyist than professional and that may have had an influence until they get to know you and your needs. Anyway, they seem to be continually adding to their Festool inventory which must be a measurement of success with the product line? At another local source of Festools, a major area tool house, the sales inventory has been shrinking rapidly as the building trades have slowed to a crawl.

 

[Toller]

Our local Woodcraft decided that they couldn't make any money selling Festools, so they decided to clear out their inventory.

Are they closing it out at a DISCOUNT?

 

[thender]

I am not sure what prompted it, but my local Woodcraft just sent several of their employees through the Festool University a few weeks ago.  I think it depends on the franchise owner. 

Ditto at the new Woodcraft that recently opened in Ventura, CA.  The store has only been open for a month, but the staff is surprisingly well-versed on the Festool products and several of the sales folks own them and have used them for a while.

At least a couple on the staff have been to the Festool school. 

Until the Woodcraft opened, we had nothing but the big box stores nearby.  So having Woodcraft open up has been a wonderful thing.

_TH

 

[Toller]

I am a Woodcraft Store owner and would like to respond to this interesting thread.  It is true that Festool is going to a different pricing structure and it will affect all dealers.  The Festool model, as I look at it, is set up to encourage all dealers to train their employees, have a solid inventory of products to support the Festool Line and customers.
For a majority of Festool customers this means the ability to see, feel and touch the tools.

Woodcraft is indeed a franchise organization and has transitioned most of its stores to a franchise vs. corporate owned model.  This is not done to mitigate risk or any other accounting reason.  It is done to get a local guy in the store who will act like a small business owner, but have the buying power of a larger group.  Almost all Woodcraft stores are locally owned by people like me who have invested their savings in a store and woodworking career that they are very passionate about.  The local store does not act like a big box store and in most cases you will find the local store going out of their way to provide superior customer service and high quality products, like Festool.  Woodcraft is very committed to the Festool line of products.  It is true that on a rare occasion someone could find a situation where this may not be true, but in general everyone at Woodcraft (Corporate or Store) is committed to providing a service to the local woodworking community.   We go out of our way to help and appreciate your support.

That is NOT my experience in the IL stores at all.

I have only been in one store, but they are out of stock as often as not, and totally uncooperative.
I have never used my "birthday" discount; it would have to be much more than 10% to get me in there.

Please note, I have never had any problems internet ordering; it is just the local store I have issues with.

 

[wnagle]

My local woodcraft could use some improvement as well.  I've spent thousands there on several occasions...

When I bought my leigh jigs for example, both D4R and mortise and tennon, with a full set of whiteside bits for both, lots of templates and add ons... they had classes for instructing the D4R given by the owner for $50.00.  I suggested  maybe he ought to spring for the class after 4000.00 worth of tools.  The classes ony have a couple people at a time, but he wouldn't throw that in.  It wouldn't have cost him anything to have one more in the class, I thought it wasn't too unreasonable of a request. 

Other times sales staff are owners wives who aren't woodworkers or a couple guys who won't help you find anything when asked...  Don't get me wrong, they are mostly freindly but not overly helpful unless you get the right person.  Festool is minimal... but they can order anything.... (So can I, and save tax and a 50 mile drive) 

When I bought my tormak with all the jigs,  the saleslady assure me I could sharpen carbide... I ordered it online after getting better info direct form tormak.

I've asked for a return call from the owner a couple times and never received it... Not sure if he didn't get the message or just forgot but I ended up going to Rockler for the advice and merchandise. 

I like there wood selection and I want to give them my business... but for as much as I have spent there, they have pushed me somewhere else for the same amount. 

Another salesman told me I made a bad decision to buy steel city when I bought my table saw... was upset that I didn't buy from them...he told me ther stuff was junk... Now they carry steel city and suddenly its good stuff...  I know every wood craft store has its own personality... but they would do a lot more business with a few changes that wouldn't cost a penny.  I wrote woodcraft with my concerns at corporate but never received a response.

Just recently Rockler in Cleveland went out of busness...I really want my local woodworking stores to stay around but sometime they just won't let you do business with them...

Just my thoughts....

 

[Sappoman]

I keep seeing references to ordering online as a way to avoid paying sales taxes.  Are you aware that in many states it is a law that if you purchase something over the internet, through a catalog or over the phone and don't pay the sales tax to the vendor, then you must pay the equivalent tax in the form of a use tax?

Here is a quote from the State of Tennessee's Web Site:

"Tennessee, like other states that impose a sales tax, also taxes the use of property brought into the state untaxed when purchased. This
?use? tax was enacted in 1947, the same year as the sales tax, to complement the sales tax by taxing merchandise purchased from outof-
state sources that do not collect the state?s sales tax. The use tax is designed to raise revenue and to protect local merchants who
must collect sales tax from unfair competition from out-of-state sellers who do not collect Tennessee?s sales tax."

You should check your local State's Department of Revenue to make sure you are not breaking the law.

 

[tbellemare]

I just noticed this thread and as a Festool dealer, was not surprised to see the company's movement to a tiered sales structure. It appears to be a pretty well thought out plan, which is designed to serve the customer and encourage the dealers to continue, or start, to deliver service to their Festool customers commensurate with the quality of the tools and the organization they represent.

It is a new development and is Festool USA's version of (Dealer) Management by Objective, MBO or DMBO. I know that last acronym could lead to a lot of comments...

I personally hope that it has the result I suspect they are hoping for, which is greater customer satisfaction.

Happy customers float all good dealer boats.

Our goal has always been to serve our customers as best we can and it seems that most dealers feel the same, though not all. If the dealers that don't want to make Festool customers a priority are weeded out, so be it.

Tom

 

[Craftsman]

Look, I'm not for breaking laws, but do you think that most people are concerned about reporting an internet purchase on their taxes when the government is spendigf a billion dollars a week for a war that next to nobody supports and is giving your tax dollars to investment bankers and the car companies. Get real.

quote author=Sappoman link=topic=5529.msg57718#msg57718 date=1226070717]
I am a Woodcraft Store owner and would like to respond to this interesting thread.  It is true that Festool is going to a different pricing structure and it will affect all dealers.  The Festool model, as I look at it, is set up to encourage all dealers to train their employees, have a solid inventory of products to support the Festool Line and customers.
For a majority of Festool customers this means the ability to see, feel and touch the tools.

Woodcraft is indeed a franchise organization and has transitioned most of its stores to a franchise vs. corporate owned model.  This is not done to mitigate risk or any other accounting reason.  It is done to get a local guy in the store who will act like a small business owner, but have the buying power of a larger group.  Almost all Woodcraft stores are locally owned by people like me who have invested their savings in a store and woodworking career that they are very passionate about.  The local store does not act like a big box store and in most cases you will find the local store going out of their way to provide superior customer service and high quality products, like Festool.  Woodcraft is very committed to the Festool line of products.  It is true that on a rare occasion someone could find a situation where this may not be true, but in general everyone at Woodcraft (Corporate or Store) is committed to providing a service to the local woodworking community.   We go out of our way to help and appreciate your support.

[/quote]

 

[mwhafner]

"Look, I'm not for breaking laws, but do you think that most people are concerned about reporting an internet purchase on their taxes when the government is spendigf a billion dollars a week for a war that next to nobody supports and is giving your tax dollars to investment bankers and the car companies. Get real."

I find your comments interesting.  You are trying to justify not paying taxes, but appear to support an "Administration-elect" whose only clear plan is to raise the taxes of those of us who already shoulder the vast majority of the load.

 

[thender]

I personally hope that it has the result I suspect they are hoping for, which is greater customer satisfaction.

Hi Tom-

The problem is that while the customers may be happy there are likely to be a lot fewer of them.  let me explain.

The professional woodworkers, that can visit a dealer during normal working  hours, are likely to get good service from them.  That is good.

If there is a dealer nearby.  The fewer dealers, the less likely it is they will visit the dealer.  So it is mailorder or buy something else.

This is even more true for many of us hobbiests -- who are tied to a desk or other job during the day and can't do much tool shopping.  And again, the further we have to go to find a Festool dealer, the less likely we visit.

So for many of us, the Woodcraft/Rockler stores are our only opportunity to see and touch Festools.  And with few exceptions many of us are unlikely to buy upper-end (read higher priced) tools unless we can see what they feel like in OUR hands.  Talking on the phone is great, but it doesn't replace putting my hands on the tools.

Ditto when I need supplies on Sunday afternoon.  The "pro shops" that cater to the professionals are closed.  But the Woodcraft store is open.

So if the new marketing strategy of reducing the number of dealers in order to increase the volume at the remaining dealers works, it will disenfranchise many of us hobbiests. 

But perhaps Festool doesn't want to sell to us hobbiests;  we may be more trouble than we are worth to them.  Given the state of the construction industry, I would think Festool would be looking to broaden their markets and would view us hobbiests as a growth potential but perhaps not.

 

[Dan Clermont]

It is hard for people to understand how well a Festool sander can collect the dust and how a Domino can be so quick at joinery or how quick and simple a TS 55 or 75 saw can be to setup for a cut without playing with one in person.

I agree you need to see the tools to believe how well they work and why they cost so much. After you've bought the first one it is hard to stop. Slippery slope is what they call it!

Does Festool do the woodshow circuit in the US? Do many people attend the woodshows south of the border? I am not talking about AWFS but more the local shows held in cities where your local woodworking stores setup and some of the mail order companies like Felder, Laguna, MiniMax

Dan Clermont

 

[Bob Marino]

I personally hope that it has the result I suspect they are hoping for, which is greater customer satisfaction.

Hi Tom-

The problem is that while the customers may be happy there are likely to be a lot fewer of them.  let me explain.

The professional woodworkers, that can visit a dealer during normal working  hours, are likely to get good service from them.  That is good.

If there is a dealer nearby.  The fewer dealers, the less likely it is they will visit the dealer.  So it is mailorder or buy something else.

This is even more true for many of us hobbiests -- who are tied to a desk or other job during the day and can't do much tool shopping.  And again, the further we have to go to find a Festool dealer, the less likely we visit.

So for many of us, the Woodcraft/Rockler stores are our only opportunity to see and touch Festools.  And with few exceptions many of us are unlikely to buy upper-end (read higher priced) tools unless we can see what they feel like in OUR hands.   Talking on the phone is great, but it doesn't replace putting my hands on the tools.

Ditto when I need supplies on Sunday afternoon.  The "pro shops" that cater to the professionals are closed.  But the Woodcraft store is open.

So if the new marketing strategy of reducing the number of dealers in order to increase the volume at the remaining dealers works, it will disenfranchise many of us hobbiests. 

But perhaps Festool doesn't want to sell to us hobbiests;  we may be more trouble than we are worth to them.  Given the state of the construction industry, I would think Festool would be looking to broaden their markets and would view us hobbiests as a growth potential but perhaps not.

Tom in SoCa,

I Think Tom B is right on. Festool wants to encourage all dealers to offer great service, etc.

The goal is not what you have suggested (decrease  the number of dealers to increase profits for the remaining dealers).
I don't know what the pro/hobbysit percentage is for Festool, but I do know here in the USA, the hobbyist percenatge is huge and Festool wants to keep increasing all the sales; both pro and hobyist.

Bob

 

[Craftsman]

I don't need to justify not paying taxes on internet purchases and the Administration-elect plan is to get us out of the mess that the admistration of the past eight years has gotten us in to . And.... Only if you make above 250K does your taxes increase AND only by 3%... and then there are those write offs.

ote author=mwhafner link=topic=5529.msg58234#msg58234 date=1226640453]
"Look, I'm not for breaking laws, but do you think that most people are concerned about reporting an internet purchase on their taxes when the government is spendigf a billion dollars a week for a war that next to nobody supports and is giving your tax dollars to investment bankers and the car companies. Get real."

I find your comments interesting.  You are trying to justify not paying taxes, but appear to support an "Administration-elect" whose only clear plan is to raise the taxes of those of us who already shoulder the vast majority of the load.
[/quote]

 

[tbellemare]

Hi Tom in SoCal:

I personally try to make demo's and demo tools available to hpbbiests and pro's alike. I can understand that it might be difficult for many people to get to a 9:00-5:00 store so I don't create such limitations. I will go to the customer or they can come to me, pretty much any time I'm awake.

I think that is the sort of attitude that I would want if I were on the other side of the equation, so that is how I deal with customers.

I also think that Festool is trying to encourage their dealers to take the products seriously enough to learn why they are the best tools on the planet and be able to convey the differences to customers and prospective customers. It takes a certain level of intimacy with the tools and the processes to, first, recommend the right tools and accessories and, second, be able to help the customer justify them rationally. Not all store clerks are going to be able to do that very well.

I really think Festool is trying to get their dealers to take Festool products seriously and not as just an expensive extravagance.

Tom