re: Buying stolen Festool?

[ShawnRussell]

I was recently visiting Fort Wayne. I normally check Craigslist for any deals when I am traveling. Anyhow, I saw a 3 piece Festool combo of drill, saw, and vacuum for 650: It was the new T3, TS55, and CT36. The seller did want cash. At first glance I really just thought it was a scam or someone trying to set people up to be robbed. But, now I am wondering.. what if someone has there tools stolen and a thief uses the internet to sell the tools vs going to a pawn shop and having to show id? I also wonder about some of the tools on Ebay? I also wonder what happens if you inadvertently do buy stolen gear and then it breaks within a three year period? I have bought a few tools(festool and other brands) and never asked for the sales receipt. Is this something I should do going forward? What actions do you take to protect yourself?

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Shawn,

My advice:  When in doubt, buy from a reputable source you know and trust, whether a dealer or private individual.  You're pretty well assured of not getting burned that way.  Buying from someone like you talked about may turn out to be more costly.

 

[BUTTER]

Usually folks on Craigslist expect cash, of course.

I bought my TS75 and a few other things via CL - the guys I bought them from were real tradesmen and knew the products well, so I trusted them.

I sold my old ATF55 via CL as well.

The key is to trust your gut.

 

[Kev]

Generally - if something looks to good to be true, it isn't legitimate.

If you'll looking to buy Festool tools second hand, request serial numbers beforehand (best have them send you an image via email).

The world isn't a perfect place ... and for some strange reason, you're not allowed to shoot people for petty theft.

 

[spikfot]

First question:
Where did you buy it?
2nd:
Do you have the receipt?

 

[Rob Lee]

Hi -

Having just lost a couple of new display tools to "shrinkage", I enquired if Festool USA maintained a registry of serial numbers for stolen tools - turns out they do --- perhaps someone from Festool USA could comment on how to use it.

I aslo noted that while tools have gone missing - chargers haven't...

It may be worth considering if dealers should ask for a tool serial number when selling a charger only .... of course that won't help if someone buys a full kit, and uses two tools with one charger...still, anything that makes theft less attractive is worth a look.

Cheers -

Rob

 

[Vindingo]

I aslo noted that while tools have gone missing - chargers haven't...

That always sends up a red flag in my opinion.  If a person is selling a perfectly good drill on craigslist or ebay with no charger, the first thing that pops into my head is STOLEN! 

I came across a crack head in a bar once who had a Bosch circular saw in a garbage bag with a 50' power cord still attached.  He wanted $8 for it.    :-\

 

[ajones]

I aslo noted that while tools have gone missing - chargers haven't...

That always sends up a red flag in my opinion.  If a person is selling a perfectly good drill on craigslist or ebay with no charger, the first thing that pops into my head is STOLEN! 

I came across a crack head in a bar once who had a Bosch circular saw in a garbage bag with a 50' power cord still attached.  He wanted $8 for it.     :-\

did you knock him down to $5 [poke]

 

[Kevin D.]

Hi -

Having just lost a couple of new display tools to "shrinkage", I enquired if Festool USA maintained a registry of serial numbers for stolen tools - turns out they do --- perhaps someone from Festool USA could comment on how to use it.

I aslo noted that while tools have gone missing - chargers haven't...

It may be worth considering if dealers should ask for a tool serial number when selling a charger only .... of course that won't help if someone buys a full kit, and uses two tools with one charger...still, anything that makes theft less attractive is worth a look.

Cheers -

Rob

Maybe aside from having the "30 day returns on Festool" signs, you may want to add, in a smaller scale lettering, "This area under video surveillance", as it would be hard to "tether" much of the items on the Festool display.  At least this would deter people who are buying in the store and as such you could connect the dots with what their customer number is when they go to the counter.  Then again, anybody doing this, could somewhat negate that by simply not buy anything on that visit. 

Mind you, I never joined Blockbuster because they had too many in your face "You are under video surveillance" signs.  Not sure if all their stores were like this, but that was the first and last one I ever went into, and that was over 20 years ago.  It was a little overboard having them every 6 feet along above the racks I thought, and simply made me feel unconfortable even though I've never stolen anything in a store in my adult life  :-[. 

There's a balance in implementing theft deterence imo.  You can't do it to such a degree that the honest folks feel they are in the midts of a place where they will deem it a place where thieves prey heavily, and as such make them feel that the retailer probably deems all of his customer are probably thieves.  (Does that make sense, not sure if I'm expressing this right.)

 

[ShawnRussell]

I would much rather walk into a store with surveillance. There have been so many assaults and other crimes in Atlanta... the cameras don't make me feel any safer, but it makes me feel if something does happen, there might be a greater percentage the little #$%%@ gets caught and I have a name for future reference.

I get the reasoning why people steal.. but I still don't get the mentality that you could not just work a little longer/harder and buy the item yourself. But, on the upswing, I found woodworkers to be some of the most honorable and just down right nice folks I have ever met.

 

[durango]

Wondering if we are going to get an official weigh in on the "stolen tool registry?"  Can the consumer check to see if an an anticipated purchase has been reported as stolen?  Should we be advising Festool as well as the local Police when we are the victim of a theft? Who gets notified if a stolen tool is identified via the Festool registry?  Very interesting indeed...

 

[ART at WORK]

I would much rather walk into a store with surveillance. There have been so many assaults and other crimes in Atlanta... the cameras don't make me feel any safer, but it makes me feel if something does happen, there might be a greater percentage the little #$%%@ gets caught and I have a name for future reference.

I get the reasoning why people steal.. but I still don't get the mentality that you could not just work a little longer/harder and buy the item yourself. But, on the upswing, I found woodworkers to be some of the most honorable and just down right nice folks I have ever met.

I would agree with you on that. I think it has something to do ith working with a living material  (I know its chopped down) but you know what I meen.

 

[sancho57]

Like someone said when its to good to be true, It usually is. IMO there is no such thing as a "good deal" there is a fair price. I dont have a problem buying used tools. But Its got to be at a fair price or all aient right in River City