My visit to the festool uk road show today

[ajones]

I went to the road show at fixings and powertool centre in redhill today. and very impressed by the all festool staff some who had travelled all the way from newcastle?

everyone was in  good spirits and there was a pleasant atmosphere I looked at all the tools and had a quick go of the kapex (need to get rid of my glider)and then went into the shop to buy some festools

I was somewhat surprised to see there were no prices on any of the tools or accessories at all, so you had to ask the price of everything you were interested in..

this strikes me as being quite an odd way to run a shop.

The guy who was dealing with the festool sales was also dealing with other matters on the phone,so you were stood their like a lemon waiting to get a price

blooming bonkers..

I decided to buy a csx and got a price which was quite a bit dearer than ffx. When I mention ffx's price  the guy went into meltdown

saying that every ******* who came into the shop brings up ******* fxx and their ****** prices and how they cheated somehow to be able to sell at the prices they do.

and that was just a part of his rant. I felt quite uncomfortable at this point, I paid more than I would have done buying at ffx and was treated to the sales guy's tirade

So it turned out to be a funny old day, I doubt very much if I will ever buy anything else of this company.

So much easier to buy online no abuse...

I have used my little csx this afternoon and I love it already...

 

[joiner1970]

Shame I bet that put a dampener on your day.

I wouldn't use them again either, I bought my multimaster in there a few years ago. I dropped in there with a guy I was working with who sort of knew them. Anyway I hadn't done any research on prices but the guy said he'd look after me as he knew my mate. When I got home I found he'd charged me about £40 more than I could have got it anywhere else.

 

[sancho57]

hey he looked after ya alright  [scared]

 

[GarryMartin]

I honestly don't know what is wrong with some dealers; I have an order to place that is a shade over £10000 at Festool web prices.

Two of the four dealers I sent a request for a quote to haven't even replied...  [mad]

One of them replied with a quote £1400 more than I could get by just punching the Festool numbers into a website.

I don't want to get into an argument about bricks and mortar versus Internet shopping, but the cost of acquisition and servicing *my* business is about the same for either, but the effort put in by the people that should be striving to keep their overheads as small as possible (Internet) seems significantly more than the other camp for some reason.

Strange world.

PS For obvious reasons, still looking for UK £50 Festool vouchers if anyone has any spare! [big grin] PM me

 

[ajones]

Gary you could give peter at slingers a ring I'm sure he would look after you.Good luck with your voucher hunt

 

[Rob-GB]

Festoolfootstool, I would not have bought the CXS off that guy after a tirade like that, in fact I might have quoted Bruce Banner to him!  [eek]

+1 on Peter at slingers he was very helpful on some large orders I placed with him and delivery service was great.

Garry, sometimes large value order quotes are just not believed to be real or seen as someone tyre kicking. It does seem strange that in the current climate
your requests have been ignored.

Rob.

 

[3PedalMINI]

Wow what a Shame! Sorry you had to deal with his rant  [sad]

In the states all the festools are price locked so online sales are the same as brick and Mortar.I used to exclusively deal with my local woodcraft dealer but over the past six months its been a ever decreasing attitude and to the point where I don't even want to step In there anymore. I'm a small business owner and try to buy local as much as I can but there comes a point where it's just not worth it if I have to deal with a business that doesn't appreciate or care about the customer.

When I found out tool nut "festool products.com" was a small business I haven't hesitated to give them my festool business now. Great operation they have there and even though they are not local to me they are still a small operation and truly do appreciate any sale no matter how big or small it is. Plus it is too convenient to sit at my desk and whip my card out and place an order In a matter of minutes!  [smile]

 

[ajones]

Rob you are right I should have told the guy to poke it.. he was so rude, I asked if he had got out of bed on the wrong side..

I will never use that company again, I am a a loss trying to understand what was going on, when there are company's like toofest who would have leapt at the

oportinity to have had the road show at their premises and this guy just seemed intent in hissing people off and wasting the oportinity that festool has floped

in his lap,. I do most of my shoping online so rarely get the oportinity to get my  hands on the tools before I buy, and was only there as it was a festool event

And although the festool staff were great the day left a bad taste..

Brendon

I do think the best way to go is finding a good retailer and forming a good relationship that way everyone benifits, it is harder to get that relationship

when you are dealing with people online.

second best just look for the cheapest online price and have no contact with anyone other than the delivery guy [wink]

 

[3PedalMINI]

Brendon

I do think the best way to go is finding a good retailer and forming a good relationship that way everyone benifits, it is harder to get that relationship

when you are dealing with people online.

second best just look for the cheapest online price and have no contact with anyone other than the delivery guy [wink]

Hey! me and the delivery guy have a really good relationship! especially when he brings me my new festools! [tongue]

I agree with you though, i would like to find a local dealer i can have a relationship with face to face. The problem is there are not that many dealers local to me. the woodcraft i would go to is 45 miles away from me so its not like it was around the corner. the next closest full line dealer is IIRC 60 miles away!

 

[wheelwright]

Good afternoon to all who have joined the conversation as regards Fixings and Power Tools.
I am a wheelwright/ cabinetmaker.
My range of Festool is extensive and in the last 4 years all has comes from this company.
It can be purchased fractionally cheaper online but the relationship we have built up over the years is second to none and I have many trade accounts.
I am sorry you had a bad experience in the shop, they would always welcome positive customer feedback.
All
please be assured this is a great company and I do find this subject slightly distasteful.

I hope this other point of view makes for a little clarity.
many thanks

 

[wheelwright]

Hi all it is the wheelwright again
After my previous note I have decided that I was not strong enough with my thoughts.
I am sure that the experience you had was not as one sided as you wrote.
I know all these people well and they treat people as they would wish to be treated.
Thanks

 

[Emperor Ming]

You wouldn't happen to be affiliated to the company would you ?  [wink]

 

[ajones]

You wouldn't happen to be affiliated to the company would you ?   [wink]

Ahh you spotted that Mr merciless  [big grin]

 

[3PedalMINI]

You wouldn't happen to be affiliated to the company would you ?  [wink]

Ahh you spotted that Mr merciless  [big grin]

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

While I understand the suspicions about any affiliation that the new member, wheelwright, might have with the dealer in question, I have information from a reliable source that there is none. Wheelwright is not an employee or affiliation of Fixings and Power Tool Centre.

Let's try to treat all of our members with respect. If you feel there is something questionable, please bring it to the attention of the moderators or myself and allow us to investigate.

Thank you,
Shane

 

[ajones]

Hi all it is the wheelwright again
After my previous note I have decided that I was not strong enough with my thoughts.
I am sure that the experience you had was not as one sided as you wrote.
I know all these people well and they treat people as they would wish to be treated.
Thanks

What I wrote in my first post is both true and accurate somewhat abridged account of my experience when I was buying the cxs How you are sure what I have written is incorrect I have no idea, were you in the shop during my purchase?,do you know me?
I would be happy to meet you at the shop and we could discuss it with the salesman and you would then be equipted with the information you need
to make an informed decision about what actually happened.rather than blindly leaping to defend someone when you are clearly not in possesion of the facts..
I could also return the csx at the same time and buy it in a more pleasant and relaxed environment.

 

[oldie]

Sorry to read you had that experience Festoolfootstool.
Sounds like you were pretty laid back about it in the circumstances.

Reminds (in the past, before consumer laws are what they are now) where I would return a faulty item, only to be told 'no one else has ever complained' - what's got to do with anything??  Wheelwrights comments reminded of those occasions.

Also, your comment about the prices not being on display, is something else that I would find irritating.

Richard.

 

[wheelwright]

Good evening all concerned.
Firstly i can confirm i am a customer only and have no affiliation to the company, i  think they give a very good service.
I have given my opinion on the matter so do not feel the need to meet with you to escalate this matter further, i would hope that would be sufficient.