Ordering on EKAT USA?

[jwvosburg]

Hi,

I'd like to order a couple of small parts for my Domino 500. I can see them in EKAT USA, but can't figure out how to get them in the Shopping Cart. I also don't see the Shopping Cart icon/button where the "HELP" documentation shows it. I've tried Chrome, Firefox, and IE. Is there a way to create an account or enable the Shopping function?

Thanks.
Jeff

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Jeff,

We presently do not offer the option to purchase spare parts online. Please contact our service department at the number below in my signature for assistance ordering. Welcome to the forum.

Shane Holland
Festool USA

 

[Theshipstore]

Jeff  at this point in time we can only order by phone on EKat. I had heard a while back that this will become something available to us in the future. Possibly Shane could chime in and let us know the progress of this method. I too look forward to a shopping cart in the  Ekat system for us here in the US

By the way Welcome to FOG

Sal

 

[Theshipstore]

Shane you do move fast

 

[Slartibartfass]

Just ordered an additional fence clamp and this was pretty painless. Very nice people on the phone. Spoke to the service guy and he transferred me to sales. Left a voicemail and got called back within 5 minutes. Wow!

 

[AlexThePalex]

Ok, some criticism here. I think a shopping cart on the Ekat would be a great idea, so many webshops have it, should be easy to do, wouldn't it?

BUT, I find the Ekat hopelessly flawed, been using it for like 5 years now and even though you see they're constantly working on it, it does not improve. It remains very glitchy, is not user friendly and lacks even the basic functions you'd expect in proper User Interface programming.

I'd really hate for these programmers to incorparate a shopping cart into it. The Ekat is now merely a collection of pictures, and they can't seem to get it done properly. Keeping in mind that the Ekat for the ENTIRE world is run centrally from Germany, I really don't see how they could manage to attach it to all different sales and logistical systems from all different countries where Festool is active.

 

[Slartibartfass]

It certainly is awkward to navigate. I agree. A shopping cart/online order function would be nice. Usually I prefer it that way as I don't want to deal with the hassle of calling, automatic phone systems, waiting on the phone and unfriendly and hard to understand people on the other side. That being said non of the negatives applied to my call experience.

 

[BUTTER]

Yes, I agree that a Shopping Cart function _could_ be nice, but I also understand how that could be difficult.

On the other hand, I am BLOWN AWAY by how great it is to be able to easily reference all the available parts AND that Festool STOCKS THEM AND MAKES THEM AVAILABLE!
It's yet another way that I find them a class apart.  [thumbs up]

The change that I would like to see is to not have to confirm parts over the phone, and use email instead.

I find written emails less prone to error (mine, not Festool's) keeping all those part numbers intact and significantly more convenient.

 

[Bob D.]

Is it still the case that parts can not be ordered from the USA EKAT site ?

 

[threesixright]

Dont wanna hijack this thread, but how does it work in Europe? Can you order direct?

I thought you ordered via the dealers, but already found out the dealers often have prices more expensive then listed in EKAT  [scared]

[member=5277]Alex[/member]
EKAT looks old, feels old (java [blink]). So if it quacks like a duck ....  However it's also  interactive. Its not just a exploded view of the tool. It crashes indeed, especially when you start pressing the back button. Not truly HTML5 / responsive design  :

 

[Bob D.]

I didn't have any problems with it crashing, just no shopping cart to add parts to. I can see prices and everything just can't buy. Same problem as 6 years ago when this thread started. Given it's been so long and nothing has changed that I will guess it will not be enabled/fixed, same as the tool registration system. You can check your tools in (register) but you can't check out later what you have (review your list of tools).  [sad]

I truly don't understand the logic of that, or EKAT ordering not enabled here in the USA either. If they don't want people replacing internal parts then put a disclaimer on the site when you place your order advising that your warranty could be voided if you replace some parts.

Either that or enable for shopping cart/ordering for accessories like dust shields, knobs, and so on but lock parts ordering of motor bearings, gears, switches, etc.

I've bought from DeWalt, Craftsman, Ford, GM, Bobcat, John Deere, Porter-Cable, Delta and many others online. Some of them are VERY protective of their dealers, but they still sell parts online.

Why can't Festool figure it out.

 

[peter halle]

I didn't have any problems with it crashing, just no shopping cart to add parts to. I can see prices and everything just can't buy. Same problem as 6 years ago when this thread started. Given it's been so long and nothing has changed that I will guess it will not be enabled/fixed, same as the tool registration system. You can check your tools in (register) but you can't check out later what you have (review your list of tools).  [sad]

I truly don't understand the logic of that, or EKAT ordering not enabled here in the USA either. If they don't want people replacing internal parts then put a disclaimer on the site when you place your order advising that your warranty could be voided if you replace some parts.
[member=60461]Bob D.[/member]

Either that or enable for shopping cart/ordering for accessories like dust shields, knobs, and so on but lock parts ordering of motor bearings, gears, switches, etc.

I've bought from DeWalt, Craftsman, Ford, GM, Bobcat, John Deere, Porter-Cable, Delta and many others online. Some of them are VERY protective of their dealers, but they still sell parts online.

Why can't Festool figure it out.

Pick up your phone and call them to order parts from ekat.

Peter

 

[rst]

I've ordered parts direct from Festool service numerous times and the techs were always helpful and shipped out quickly.

 

[Bob D.]

Yes, I understand I can pick up the phone and call someone to order.
That's not in question.

Can I call and order late Saturday night (after 9PM) or other off hours?

Not an issue for me (not yet anyway but I do have a 10% loss in one
ear due to an incident at work many years ago) but how many people
who may be hard of hearing prefer to use online ordering vice trying to
understand a person on the other end of the line.

Is ordering online using EKAT available in other countries? If yes why
not here in the USA.

That's the question.

 

[DeformedTree]

Yeah there is definitely the disconnect here with the ordering on phone.  It doesn't matter how nice, helpful, friendly, etc the people on the phone are.  Ordering stuff that way simply is not how a lot of us ever want to do business/order stuff.  I don't want to talk to a person, I want to see numbers infront of me, select said number and place orders.  People/phones means errors, frustration, plus phones also mean giving a person over a phone credit card info which is not acceptable.

I think everyone understands it can be a pain to get an online setup going, but if tiny mom and pops businesses do it, it's hard to understand how Festool can't. While ordering via phone was normal for a long time, it's a method that's been obsolete for almost 20 years now. You have a generation or more of people who have never ordered something via phone. Saying "call them" becomes the same as saying "you can't purchase parts".  Additionally as was mentioned, how does one order parts in the evening or weekend?  Now it means the person has to do something like go out to their car during work hours with their notes on what they need, call, wait and order, and get back into work before their break ends or the next meeting starts.

 

[Svar]

Saying "call them" becomes the same as saying "you can't purchase parts".

Let's not blow it out of proportions. Communicating with fellow humans is easier than it looks. Not to mention fun and is essential skill [wink].

For those who prefer company of machines toolpartspro.com has a decent selection of festool parts with point and click approach.

 

[AlexThePalex]

[member=5277]Alex[/member]
EKAT looks old, feels old (java [blink]). So if it quacks like a duck ....  However it's also  interactive. Its not just a exploded view of the tool. It crashes indeed, especially when you start pressing the back button. Not truly HTML5 / responsive design  :

My comment is from 5 years back. They have improved it a bit but it is still clumsy the way it is entirely coded in such an old fashioned language like java. That's 20 years old by now and lacks a lot compared to modern style HTML5. But the worst are design decisions made by the coders.

What irritates me heavily is that you can't expand the parts diagram full screen, but have to look at this stamp sized area they give you, which is hardly 1/4 of the entire screen. Why oh why?

 

[Cheese]

Ya, it’s an antiquated system. If I need to enquire where the seats I’m purchasing for a baseball game are located I talk to a human. If I just need to order a danged part I just need the part number and a credit card. Why complicate the issue?

 

[threesixright]

[member=5277]Alex[/member]

I don't think its developed by them self.  They bought this fromhttps://www.docware.com.

So its actually even worse, since this could be (guessing here) reasonably easy updated. Looking at their website they even speak about selling (Digital and interactive Spare Parts Catalogue & Service Information System).

FT just reluctant?  [mad]

 

[Cheese]

They bought this fromhttps://www.docware.com.

So its actually even worse, since this could be (guessing here) reasonably easy updated. Looking at their website they even speak about selling (Digital and interactive Spare Parts Catalogue & Service Information System).

FT just reluctant?  [mad]

If this is indeed the same system, here are a couple of talking points from their website.

"Sell your spare parts in no time at all with just a few clicks directly from the catalogue."

"The current PARTS-PUBLISHER Service Update brings many new features and optimizations in the areas of author environment, publication online/offline and e-commerce. Look forward to more!"