Don't get me wrong. I love my Festool tools. However, as an engineer who has taken quite a few business classes, including graduate level marketing courses, this is something about Festool that drives me crazy. My complaint is not with a specific tool but how marketing strategy at Festool impacts tool design of their top of the line tools (at least those available in NA). Let me explain.
What I have observed is that when you buy the top-of-the-line tool from Festool in a particular tool category, there are design limitations compared to buying a lower priced Festool product in that same category. These design limitations aren't technical limitations but ones specified by marketing. Here are 3 examples
TS-75 - I had a TS-55 but was cutting a bunch of 1 1/2" butcher block counter-top and the saw was struggling. It seemed an obvious decision to upgrade to the TS-75. Being just a hobbyist woodworker, having 2 track saws wasn't in the cards so I sold the TS-55 to offset the cost of the new saw. What I didn't realize, at the time, was that there were 2 marketing decisions that limited the TS-75. First there is no cover plate for the TS-75. So, unless you cover your saw with duct tape, or Macgyver your own your cover plate, the dust collection is not nearly as effective as the lower priced saw. Second, the splinter guard is the same as the one for the TS-55 and it is only effective on the TS-75 when cutting thick stock. If you want splinter free cuts on 3/4" plywood using the TS-75 you need to, again, Macgyver a modification designed by half-inch-shy. To me, the marketing decision not to have a cover plate or a properly designed splinter guard make Festools top of the line track saw inferior to the lower priced model.
Domino XL - Why does it require Seneca adapters to use the Domino XL to cut mortises in thinner stock? Since Seneca was able to make a great set of adapters there is obviously no technical reason that the XL can't be used for thinner stock. But, out of the box from Festool it was designed to only work with thicker stock. Again a marketing decision to segment the original domino for thin stock and the XL for thicker stock vs. the bigger tool can do it all. Unlike routers where using a bigger tool for smaller stock isn't a good idea, personally I find the balance of the XL to be better than the original Domino so it feels better no matter what sized wood you are cutting mortises in.
I feel this is like a table saw manufacturer not letting you lower the blade enough on their high end, 5 hp saw to optimally cut thinner boards and expecting everyone to purchase an additional, smaller, 1.75 hp saw for cutting 3/4" wood and smaller. How many people would ever buy 2 table saws just to cut different size stock.
T-18 and TI-15 - If you purchased Festools less expensive drills and you want to get a Festool impact driver then the batteries are compatible and you are good to go. However, if you purchased a top of the line T-18 and you want to also purchase a Festool impact driver you are penalized and have to purchase an entire additional set of 15v batteries. There is no technical reason that Festool couldn't have sold a TI-18 that would have been compatible. It is simply a marketing decision that again, makes the decision to buy their top of the line, 18 volt drill questionable.
Most companies reward the people who buy their best tools. They typically have added features that entice you to spend the extra money. To me, Festool just seems to take a backwards approach.
Hopefully putting this out there will raise awareness and get Festool to make their top of the line tools truly rewarding to their owners.
What I have observed is that when you buy the top-of-the-line tool from Festool in a particular tool category, there are design limitations compared to buying a lower priced Festool product in that same category. These design limitations aren't technical limitations but ones specified by marketing. Here are 3 examples
TS-75 - I had a TS-55 but was cutting a bunch of 1 1/2" butcher block counter-top and the saw was struggling. It seemed an obvious decision to upgrade to the TS-75. Being just a hobbyist woodworker, having 2 track saws wasn't in the cards so I sold the TS-55 to offset the cost of the new saw. What I didn't realize, at the time, was that there were 2 marketing decisions that limited the TS-75. First there is no cover plate for the TS-75. So, unless you cover your saw with duct tape, or Macgyver your own your cover plate, the dust collection is not nearly as effective as the lower priced saw. Second, the splinter guard is the same as the one for the TS-55 and it is only effective on the TS-75 when cutting thick stock. If you want splinter free cuts on 3/4" plywood using the TS-75 you need to, again, Macgyver a modification designed by half-inch-shy. To me, the marketing decision not to have a cover plate or a properly designed splinter guard make Festools top of the line track saw inferior to the lower priced model.
Domino XL - Why does it require Seneca adapters to use the Domino XL to cut mortises in thinner stock? Since Seneca was able to make a great set of adapters there is obviously no technical reason that the XL can't be used for thinner stock. But, out of the box from Festool it was designed to only work with thicker stock. Again a marketing decision to segment the original domino for thin stock and the XL for thicker stock vs. the bigger tool can do it all. Unlike routers where using a bigger tool for smaller stock isn't a good idea, personally I find the balance of the XL to be better than the original Domino so it feels better no matter what sized wood you are cutting mortises in.
I feel this is like a table saw manufacturer not letting you lower the blade enough on their high end, 5 hp saw to optimally cut thinner boards and expecting everyone to purchase an additional, smaller, 1.75 hp saw for cutting 3/4" wood and smaller. How many people would ever buy 2 table saws just to cut different size stock.
T-18 and TI-15 - If you purchased Festools less expensive drills and you want to get a Festool impact driver then the batteries are compatible and you are good to go. However, if you purchased a top of the line T-18 and you want to also purchase a Festool impact driver you are penalized and have to purchase an entire additional set of 15v batteries. There is no technical reason that Festool couldn't have sold a TI-18 that would have been compatible. It is simply a marketing decision that again, makes the decision to buy their top of the line, 18 volt drill questionable.
Most companies reward the people who buy their best tools. They typically have added features that entice you to spend the extra money. To me, Festool just seems to take a backwards approach.
Hopefully putting this out there will raise awareness and get Festool to make their top of the line tools truly rewarding to their owners.
