Puerto Rico has Festool users too!

[pugilato]

I am looking for a festool, a sander this time. Before, it has been sandpaper, or bits or any of the many cool things Festool sells. And yet I cannot get them. Any of it. Well, the odd item now and then, but mostly nothing.

For some reason, everyone that sells Festool seems to not ship to where I live, the island of Puerto Rico. Some say we’re “international”, others just don’t. I usually find out at the end of the ordering process, when I find Puerto Rico is not on the list.

Festool themselves were setting something up, but backed down.

I have asked before, and with a great deal of hope I put before you… Does anyone know of a web site that sells to Puerto Rico? We are really nice people, our dollars are still green, and all the delivery systems work here.

I have done this before and got some, but today they have moved on. Many thanks.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Please excuse my ignorance, but what do you have for power there? 110v-120v like in the US, or 220v-240v  like most of the rest of the world?

I suppose it just depends on what specifically you are trying to buy. There are quite a few things not available in North America either. Either way, you may have to do a work-around. Have your item shipped to someone else, then get them to send it to you.

 

[rmhinden]

Please excuse my ignorance, but what do you have for power there? 110v-120v like in the US, or 220v-240v  like most of the rest of the world?

Puerto Rico has 110-120v 60 cycle, like everywhere else in the US.

This purchasing/shipping problem is probably related to some people not understanding the Puerto Rico is part of the US.    Reminds me a while back when trying to book a trip to New Mexico, the travel person asked me if I had a passport.  Similarly, some don't know that New Mexico is a US State.

Bob

 

[Ron B]

These same people would probably ask for the passport if you went to New England.

I believe there is some type of law (Maybe from the Woodrow Wilson days) that any international shipment must go through a Continental US shipping port first.  So a shipment from China to Hawaii would have to go to the West Coast first, say San Diego, and then sent to Hawaii.  I am sure that applies to territories too, so assume buying from Europe would be more complicated.  If I were you I would start with US dealers. 

On the plus side, Puerto Rico does have some tax advantages. 

 

[Ron B]

I see in the fine print Rockler states they ship to Puerto Rico for an extra fee.  So it can be done. 

Give Nirvana Tools in Chicago a call or send them an e-mail.  From my experience they have excellent service, and it is a small company so you will not get lost.  I sent an e-mail once late at night and got an instant response from Chip. 

 

[pugilato]

Wow! Thanks for responding.

Everything on the Island is the same as in any typical state (except for road distances, which are in Km). You could move here with all your stuff and it would work the same.

Shipping to the Island can be direct from international locations, but not direct and then on to Jacksonville. Jacksonville longshoremen transfer the load from one ship to an american-flagged, american-crewed, etc ship. Same goes for Hi and AK. Makes everything more expensive because the american merchant marine is most expensive, but the unions will not have it any other way.

Extra fees for festools is a bit much. It's already expensive enough, and banggood is making adequate copies of festools. I just want to be able to do what you all are able to do if you get the green juice jitters... order what strikes your fancy and the devil will pay the bill. bangood does not give any kind of jitter. I am too invested in Festool to give up my quest.

Festool executives, you need to quit this negativity and look up your laws about what is international or not. FedEx used to make a big deal about this and you had to declare everything sent, but that is long gone. Your internal rules can certainly be changed. I'm pretty sure no one in Europe has this kind of trouble getting their festool fix. Plenty of vendors send things to the Island, sometimes even with free shipping. I must add that people here consider Black and Decker and Dewalt top brands. Ridgid is better because you have a "warranty". You should see the size of the table saws some people use to cut panels down. Come on guys, get on with it!