NEW! Festool STM 1800 Mobile Sawing Table (US)

[batmanrobin]

I believe this would definitely be a plus for myself due to the fact that throwing around 3/4” plywood is a thing of the past. My question was the same that when is pymt made , but I see it’s been answered by Shane.
  Pricing is a little high but I prefer saving my body so I can work instead of sitting out a few days to recover from strains. I’m looking to place my order shortly. Oct 1st uggg.

 

[Shane Holland]

Guys, I completely understand the agony of the long wait for October for delivery. Like I said, we don't bill until it ships, so it costs you nothing until it's on its way out the door.

I could easily see these becoming sought after by those who missed the opportunity to order during this short pre-order window.

I get where Festool USA is coming from with these being made-to-order. It brings a product that may otherwise not be available in the US into the hands of those who need this solution, as Peter pointed out. In the past, these would not have been available at all. I commend Festool USA for finding a way to make these a viable option to the U.S. market, if even in a limited way.

 

[Cheese]

This is hilarious ...brutalizing the messenger in imaginable ways.

 

[tjbnwi]

This is hilarious ...brutalizing the messenger in imaginable ways.

It's Shane, we all know he deserves it. [big grin]

Tom

 

[DeformedTree]

Is there anything unique about this N.A. model verses the Global model?  Trying to understand why it implies these are custom/special made for the N.A. market? Had to get covered in US mandated safety stickers?

I don't think it was clear either way when information on the STM 1800 came out that it wouldn't be offered in the US, so in a way it makes these offer a bit confusing, I think most folks expected it to come in time so in some ways this is anti-good news.

The price is definitely making this something to consider. 

If this wasn't going to be offered in the N.A. market, then it's nice to have a chance to get it, but it does bring up a lot of questions like why not just offer other things (especially non power tools) in the N.A. market?  I assume shipping containers of Festool stuff regularly are on ships bringing stuff, so it's hard to see there being a need to just make a shipment of them once. Which is in part why I ask if there is something altered about it for the US market.

It's not like they have to create anything other than maybe some import paperwork, thus why its odd/frustrating Festool doesn't offer up more things here. I can understand the concept that if you never offer something in a market, you don't have to set up support for it there, but once you offer it like this, why not just bring it out indefinitely?

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to see a new offering here, it's just the questions it raises.  Lets face it there are lots of things I think folks would like to see such offerings for, like try offering 230V tools and see how many go for them (make life easier than trying to get them from Europe). Of course there are other things folks would like to see, or see return here.

I don't know if these are on sale in the EU market.  Is this possibly a path Festool is looking at to reduce the delay of products coming to the N.A. market?  Get them here in one big batch to launch instead of trickle in thru dealers.

 

[Shane Holland]

Is there anything unique about this N.A. model verses the Global model?  Trying to understand why it implies these are custom/special made for the N.A. market? Had to get covered in US mandated safety stickers?

[member=68063]DeformedTree[/member] to my knowledge, nothing is specific to the North American market. It's the exact same model as Europe. At least nothing to was communicated by Festool USA. They would need to explain why they are offering this for a limited time versus making it a regular catalog item.

 

[mcooley]

I agree. Some decisions this company makes about promotions often fall short. How does this one time limited release at a lower price actually make any sense? Doesn't the reduced price and one time offer cancel each other out in terms of popular opinion? It also feels contrived which obviously it is so from the customer perspective one is not sure to trust the truly limited offering given the fact there is no reason for it. They may in fact offer it in the US albeit for a higher price. If they offered the table for a limited time at a lower promotional price with the intention of making it available in the US, then, yeah, that seems legitimate. But this just feels like a consumer manipulation.

 

[DynaGlide]

I don't understand all the backlash. It makes perfect sense for them to do what they're doing. On the surface it appears they are seeing if there is enough demand in the U.S. market to support sales of an item that they otherwise would have kept NAINA. We're talking about a 75lb item that with packaging would take up a considerable amount of space on a shipping container if sent in bulk overseas. It doesn't make financial sense to send a bulk supply to the U.S. of such an item if they don't even know if it will sell here only to be forced to sell it at a steep discontinued discount 2 years from now or to ship it back to Europe.

Any speculation on the price and price 'discount' are just that - speculation. Not every tool sold in Europe directly translates to US pricing with current currency conversion rates. In fact they're usually vastly different. And take into consideration Europe is no longer allowed to price fix. There may be a buffer in the pricing scheme over there to allow dealers some wiggle room on providing discounts.

To me this is a welcome change from a company that has historically flat out refused to sell some items in the U.S. If it goes well for them maybe they will consider to offer more items in the future that we wouldn't otherwise be able to purchase without going through 3rd party outlets.

[member=48572]Shane Holland[/member] Thank you for answering everyone's questions - even those that shouldn't have to be answered by you as you are no longer associated with corporate. It's a shame Festool's own appointed forum presence isn't more active.

 

[Cheese]

I'm with you DynaGlide...I applaud Festool for trying a different marketing approach. In the past this would have simply been a NAINA item and all we would be able to do is to carp about it.

This in some ways reminds me of the old Festool refurb program that everyone complained about (myself included) and then eventually Festool tried a different venue and the issues pretty much went away.

I consider it a positive and welcome step forward. Now if Festool would only make the same offer on a BS 75 or BS 105... [dead horse]

 

[jeh]

I agree. Some decisions this company makes about promotions often fall short. How does this one time limited release at a lower price actually make any sense? Doesn't the reduced price and one time offer cancel each other out in terms of popular opinion? It also feels contrived which obviously it is so from the customer perspective one is not sure to trust the truly limited offering given the fact there is no reason for it. They may in fact offer it in the US albeit for a higher price. If they offered the table for a limited time at a lower promotional price with the intention of making it available in the US, then, yeah, that seems legitimate. But this just feels like a consumer manipulation.

I'd imagine the margin on metal square stock, scrap wood, folding mechanism, (4) wheels and a few plastic pieces the margin is quite high. It's not returnable so they have to stock a few parts. It is great deal for anyone who wants one, but had no way to get one other than finding a retailer who would ship it to the US. The shipping cost would be brutal given the weight, maybe $150 or so.

I'm in and am glad they are offering it up.

 

[Michael Kellough]

This one time contracted batch order offering makes sense to me.

Festool designs and makes machines and tools.
This is neither and I’m pretty sure Festool is not making this welded steel thing.
I wonder if they even designed it?

 

[sancho57]

I ordered one from from Anderson Ply. Talking to Don about pricing I told him it was cheaper here than in Europe. He said it could be they are making them here and shipping to Europe.

Dont know fer sure but it makes sense

 

[Shane Holland]

I doubt this would be a limited time offering if they were being manufactured in the U.S. and shipped abroad.

This product isn't on the Festool dealer website currently which lists the country of manufacturer, so I can't confirm where it's made.

 

[batmanrobin]

Just placed my order but really could be using it now!
Maybe it will be ready before Oct 1st

 

[sancho57]

I doubt this would be a limited time offering if they were being manufactured in the U.S. and shipped abroad.

This product isn't on the Festool dealer website currently which lists the country of manufacturer, so I can't confirm where it's made.

[member=48572]Shane Holland[/member]

Another thing Don said was Festool might be using the preorders to help fund the production run.

Im thinking it could be also to determine interest in the US market. We are  very very large market

 

[Shane Holland]

[member=71429]DerickC[/member] can you tell us the country of origin for the STM 1800 being sold in the U.S. market? Thanks!

 

[DerickC]

[member=71429]DerickC[/member] can you tell us the country of origin for the STM 1800 being sold in the U.S. market? Thanks!

[member=48572]Shane Holland[/member] I was able to confirm that the STM-1800 is made in Germany.

 

[elfick]

[member=48572]Shane Holland[/member] out of curiosity, is this being dropped shipped directly from Festool?

The reason I ask is because I think the strategy of the preorder and limited order window probably have more to do with what happens once they arrive in the US rather than getting them to the US.

If they are drop shipping, it means they don't have to maintain significant stock, ship to resellers, guestimate demand, or be concerned about stock sitting at one reseller while all the others have none. (some of these apply to any preorder, but you get my point)

 

[Shane Holland]

[member=48572]Shane Holland[/member] out of curiosity, is this being dropped shipped directly from Festool?

[member=20971]elfick[/member] Festool will not drop ship these.

 

[gsdvorak]

I ended up pulling the trigger on one today after much trepidation.  Paying $1K for a cutting table didn’t make sense at first (still doesn’t) but what pushed me over the edge is how it can lift the sheet of material easily.  I’m a one man shop and the wife doesn’t like helping me with plywood, so I end up doing it myself most of the time.  I have two bad discs in my lower back and decided it justified the price. 

Unlike most folks here, I’m OK with waiting until October, as I won’t be doing any plywood work until then, so glad to pre-order now since my cc won’t be charged until delivery.

Thanks Shane!

Regards,
Gerald