One for the Aussies...

[Stephen B]

[size=13pt]As a consequence of Festool Aust providing Internet sales, and now fixed retail prices, some dealers are now offering free freight with many purchases -

[attachimg=1]

I prefer the dealer experience and the interface with a salesperson. Moreover, the delivery of Festool items at the front door would only lead to domestic grief!  [eek] [smile]

[size=8pt][member=13058]Kev[/member]. [member=14084]Michael1960[/member] [member=42735]DB10[/member] [member=42840]doctr-dan[/member]  [member=59890]Grakat[/member]

 

[Bohdan]

If you buy online directly from Festool Australia and you need warranty service will Festool organise pick up from your home / place of business?  I would not want to take it to a retailer when I bought on line.  Why should a dealer support me when they are not involved in the transaction.  In any case my nearest dealer is a pretty ordinary outfit....

My info is that the dealer that you nominated gets a slice and is therefor the one required to handle the warranty claim.

 

[Holmz]

If you buy online directly from Festool Australia and you need warranty service will Festool organise pick up from your home / place of business?  I would not want to take it to a retailer when I bought on line.  Why should a dealer support me when they are not involved in the transaction.  In any case my nearest dealer is a pretty ordinary outfit....

My info is that the dealer that you nominated gets a slice and is therefor the one required to handle the warranty claim.

Are you an optimist or a realist?

 

[Bohdan]

If you buy online directly from Festool Australia and you need warranty service will Festool organise pick up from your home / place of business?  I would not want to take it to a retailer when I bought on line.  Why should a dealer support me when they are not involved in the transaction.  In any case my nearest dealer is a pretty ordinary outfit....

My info is that the dealer that you nominated gets a slice and is therefor the one required to handle the warranty claim.

Are you an optimist or a realist?

Info supplied by a dealer.

 

[DB10]

If you buy online directly from Festool Australia and you need warranty service will Festool organise pick up from your home / place of business?  I would not want to take it to a retailer when I bought on line.  Why should a dealer support me when they are not involved in the transaction.  In any case my nearest dealer is a pretty ordinary outfit....

  My understanding is the same as Bohdan's, so that means if you buy lets say an RO 150 on line and your tool needs to go back to service for repair,  it will be down to you to get the RO 150 back to your nominated store. They then contact Festool, who send  a courier out to collect your tool from the store, well that's how it works in theory in reality there is a lot that can go wrong.

 

[Holmz]

Yeah - my point was looking forward to the repair...

When I sent the Ct26 in they shipped it well south of Perth.
That added yet another week to get it back.

 

[DB10]

[member=40772]Holmz[/member] sounds like your experience has been on par with mine, that's why I mentioned in theory this is how it should work.
  The reality can be completely different as I found out the hard way.
I dropped my TSC 55 off at my not so local dealer for repair. After nearly three weeks had passed and there was no word on how things were going I phoned Festool service to find out the latest news, they informed me that they had not received my saw into their service Centre for repair. Apparently the courier company had not picked my saw up from the dealer and my saw got put out into the back of the shop and covered with other boxes and forgotten about. Anyway after my saw eventually got picked up and was repaired another couple of weeks had passed and I received my saw back to me.
In fairness once the mistake was discovered my saw when it was repaired was sent back to my home address via over night post and not back to the dealership thank goodness.

 

[Holmz]

In theory the repair on my Mafell tools would problematic, but I doubt I need to progress past a theoretical chin scratching.

People talk about the great repair and warranty on Festool gear.
That should be more theoretical than experiential, and not an expectation that it will certainly be required in due time.

"Up to me to get it back to my nearest store", is 1600+km in any direction.
At that point I might as well order a new one right from Germany, as I can get stuff couriered around the world faster than from the Eastern suburbs to most other states.

Luckily the courier picked up my CT26 and returned it, and I did not need to drive interstate.

 

[Stephen B]

[size=13pt]Ah, the 'tyranny of distance'!
A problem throughout both black and white Australian History!  [smile]

Even my dealer is an hour and half drive away.

[size=8pt][member=40772]Holmz[/member] [member=42735]DB10[/member]

In theory the repair on my Mafell tools would problematic, but I doubt I need to progress past a theoretical chin scratching.

People talk about the great repair and warranty on Festool gear.
That should be more theoretical than experiential, and not an expectation that it will certainly be required in due time.

"Up to me to get it back to my nearest store", is 1600+km in any direction.
At that point I might as well order a new one right from Germany, as I can get stuff couriered around the world faster than from the Eastern suburbs to most other states.

Luckily the courier picked up my CT26 and returned it, and I did not need to drive interstate.

 

[Kev]

[member=19746]Untidy Shop[/member]

I wish mine was further away [embarassed] [sad]

 

[Stephen B]

[member=19746]Untidy Shop[/member]
I wish mine was further away [embarassed] [sad]

[size=24pt]Oh, Really !!? [big grin][size=8pt]

[member=13058]Kev[/member]
[member=44099]Cheese[/member]  [smile]

 

[Holmz]

[member=19746]Untidy Shop[/member]

I wish mine was further away [embarassed] [sad]

I like it Kev.

Talked the Mrs and Daughter into stopping at a shop 2 days ago.
The Mrs said, "That looks nice" (eyeing the Kapex with table and out feed).

 

[Grakat]

Hi everybody,

Just had a look online at the new price for the RO150 in a Systainer. It's a dollar shy of $1000.00

This is the tool I have always wanted, it's a bugged that TTS have allowed their price fixing arrangement to gouge us more. I previously wrote to the ACCC and said that TTS were not in essence offering the superior sales experience that they have promised in their submission. I have not heard of any Festool clinics in Sydney, and I have never had a Festool product demo'd to me prior to purchase.

I might be asking a bit much......but to me a superior sales experience involves all those things. Miele, who operate on the same model, do clinics all the time.

However I am now registered with the ACCC as an interested party and will be able to make a submission if TTS seek renewal. According to the ACCC there were no dissenters to the price fixing arrangement. I would like to suggest that others make themselves known to ACCC and voice their concerns.

Rant over, off to put some vodka in the Green Kool Aid lol

Regards
Graham

 

[DB10]

I guess most of us have got used to it by now, but it doesn't mean we like it.

They (TTS) have taken the sport out of buying new Festools, who doesn't like to find what their looking for cheaper somewhere else from another dealer that you trust. I'd never just go to my local dealer if I was say buying a Dewalt, I would have a good search around first to see what's on offer, then maybe give the local guy a chance to match this price, just like I would if I was purchasing a new fridge.
Shame on the A triple C

 

[Michael1960]

I guess most of us have got used to it by now, but it doesn't mean we like it.

They (TTS) have taken the sport out of buying new Festools, who doesn't like to find what their looking for cheaper somewhere else from another dealer that you trust. I'd never just go to my local dealer if I was say buying a Dewalt, I would have a good search around first to see what's on offer, then maybe give the local guy a chance to match this price, just like I would if I was purchasing a new fridge.
Shame on the A triple C

Fully agree about price fixing taking the sport out of buying new Festools.  It's no fun any more!!!
If TTS are really trying to protect the sales efforts of hard working dealers against so called 'free riding' by other retailers why are they conducting their own on line sales.  I strongly suspect the nominated dealer does not make much out of the sales.  Also, why are accessories and consumables such as sandpaper, domino cutters, blades, dust extractor bags, spare parts etc also subjected to price fixing? How does the free riding codswallop apply here?  I am still a Festool fan - just don't like the local distribution model.

 

[Stephen B]

[size=8pt][member=59890]Grakat[/member]

[size=13pt]Graham, how did you register with the ACCC? If they could only read some elements of this thread!

I am sure that many who have contributed here  would like to give them an 'earful' either collectively or as individuals.

[size=8pt][member=42735]DB10[/member]

I guess most of us have got used to it by now, but it doesn't mean we like it.

They (TTS) have taken the sport out of buying new Festools, who doesn't like to find what their looking for cheaper somewhere else from another dealer that you trust. I'd never just go to my local dealer if I was say buying a Dewalt, I would have a good search around first to see what's on offer, then maybe give the local guy a chance to match this price, just like I would if I was purchasing a new fridge.
Shame on the A triple C

[size=13pt]
Spot on.
Although in the past my favourite dealer usually offered the best price. Even now they seem to be able to occasionally offer some discount on accessories such as sandpaper.
_______________________

 

[Grakat]

Hi there

I wrote to them and voiced my complaints about the issue, and how they had allowed a price fixing agreement to come into place. My argument was along the lines of the consumer not getting the best deal.

They replied to me with a long e mail, and the agreement attached. In that e mail they said that they would keep me on their books in order to make submissions next time around.

Personally, I think that all Aussie FOG members should write to the ACCC and give them a piece of their mind. In my opinion, in order to satisfy the argument that the higher price provides a better sales service needs to be backed up with fact. I have not seen on the TTS website any clinics for NSW, nor have I been subject to any product demonstrations at my local premium dealer. The "We will fix it for you if it breaks" is already covered in consumer law.

The ACCC in their e mail to me said that nobody had voiced objections to them when they entered into the agreement. I'm guessing its because public submissions were not requested or encouraged. If you are not happy with the status quo, I would tell them.

Regards
Graham

 

[Linbro]

"Spot on.
Although in the past my favourite dealer usually offered the best price. Even now they seem to be able to occasionally offer some discount on accessories such as sandpaper"

My understanding is that 'consumables' can be discounted, but not 'accessories'.
The retailers love the new fixed pricing - no more spending an hour with a customer, demo-ing tools, showing them/us all the ins and outs, only to have an internet price waved in their face with a 'match this, or I walk' ultimatum. It saves them a lot of time, and claim that sales haven't dropped. (At my local, at least).
I enquired about a 1010 router, and what could they throw in to sweeten the deal - was told that nothing else, from any brand, can appear on the invoice, at a reduced price, or it's considered a discount.
I haven't bought one Festool since fixed pricing. But, I have sold a few and replaced with alternatives. I'm a 20 year Festo/Festool customer, but it has to be a two way street.

 

[Grakat]

Just for giggles I have lodged a complaint with the Commonwealth Ombudsman against the ACCC for allowing such a deal to take place. I doubt it will get anywhere, but it keeps a few more government departments occupied  [big grin]

Regards
Graham

 

[Stephen B]

I am currently drafting a letter to the ACCC re price fixing and the lack of improved services from a customer perspective.

It would not be fair  to the FOG moderators or Festool USA if this action was directly pursued here on the FOG, so I will not be publishing the letter here. Consequently if you want to see, have input and/or co-sign this letter, please PM me with your email address so this direct action can be taken away from the FOG.

I am not saying that this matter should not be discussed here, just not any direct discussion regarding, or participation in, this letter to the ACCC.

[size=10pt][member=13058]Kev[/member] [member=36526]Bohdan[/member] [member=42735]DB10[/member] [member=14084]Michael1960[/member] [member=14551]Linbro[/member] [member=59890]Grakat[/member] [member=40772]Holmz[/member]
[member=19698]mike68au[/member]
[member=40271]benwheeler[/member]

For Peter and Seth to note - [member=1674]Peter Halle[/member]  [member=1619]SRSemenza[/member]