Recall On 55REQ...

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Hi,

In order to consolidate , all the TS55REQ plunge topics are being combined in this thread.

Seth
 
Just a suggestion to the folks at Festool.  A small percentage of the affected customers might not be enticed by any of the three options being offered and may instead choose to wait it out.  Collect a list of customers and contact information so you can follow up when you have more concrete information about the fix and can provide estimates on turn around times.  I got off the phone with a nice young woman in Indiana this morning and suggested this.  I understand you would rather get these saws out of the wild until you get this resolved, but unfortunately you're going to have people like me (one difficult SOB) that refuse to give them up if they are presently working, so this might be a good alternative. 
 
Question... when we send the saw to them for repair under the recall... do we send just the saw itself or the entire systainer with the saw inside?  Guessing just the saw with the blade. 
 
Debug said:
Question... when we send the saw to them for repair under the recall... do we send just the saw itself or the entire systainer with the saw inside? Guessing just the saw with the blade.

I was asked to send the saw in the systainer.
 
RKA said:
Just a suggestion to the folks at Festool.  A small percentage of the affected customers might not be enticed by any of the three options being offered and may instead choose to wait it out.  Collect a list of customers and contact information so you can follow up when you have more concrete information about the fix and can provide estimates on turn around times.  I got off the phone with a nice young woman in Indiana this morning and suggested this.  I understand you would rather get these saws out of the wild until you get this resolved, but unfortunately you're going to have people like me (one difficult SOB) that refuse to give them up if they are presently working, so this might be a good alternative.

Good proposal because I have an UPS label from festool but have decided to wait until we know more. Like Peter P.
I use mine upside down in the CMS table.

Cheers
Luis
 
RKA said:
Just a suggestion to the folks at Festool.  A small percentage of the affected customers might not be enticed by any of the three options being offered and may instead choose to wait it out.  Collect a list of customers and contact information so you can follow up when you have more concrete information about the fix and can provide estimates on turn around times.  I got off the phone with a nice young woman in Indiana this morning and suggested this.  I understand you would rather get these saws out of the wild until you get this resolved, but unfortunately you're going to have people like me (one difficult SOB) that refuse to give them up if they are presently working, so this might be a good alternative. 

I couldn't agree with this statement more...Right now the message from Festool is hazy and quite honestly I just assume return it. But then how would I know once it was resolved? Not that anyone asked but I think Festool should have known the exact issue BEFORE issuing a full recall. Right now the message to the consumer sounds like this:

Please return your saw, we have no idea what's wrong with it and no idea when we will know.

Thank you ;)

Anyway, I just assume wait until you folks do know more. But would like someone to contact me to tell me when you have a fix. I am in the middle of a project and although I think I am done with the TS for now, you never know when you need that thing.
 
Just a quick follow up.  I received a PM from Shane and they are doing exactly as I suggested and always intended to.  That didn't come across in my conversation with the customer service rep this AM and there could be a number of reasons for that.  The point is, call them and ask to be put on a list and if you're getting mixed signals (as I was) about the existence of any list, Shane can make sure it happens.  Done.

As for the lack of information being distributed, I wouldn't beat them up about it.  First it's a safety issue and they have to deal with that.  Second is the fix.  If they don't know, I'm sure they are taking it seriously and will sort it out as quickly as possible, but sometimes circumstances prevent it from happening in tandem with the first issue.
 
Hello All,THANKS SETH FOR THE CLEAN-UP (recall on ts55req) nice work! 
Heres the skinny,send complete ts55  saw back w/ systainer (call for email ups ship sticker)minus 55guide    and............they will send you a ts75 saw to replace it, NO 75 GUIDE/just saw you keep the 55 guide!
OR you can get money back
* there is no list.... consumer protection agency is controling litigtion on the fix. yipes!
  Personally...I took the TS75 saw...before they are gone, plus you can use it!
If you use the ts55 and get hurt, especially after recall, you will have a limited legal response.
 
Actually, the recall involves only the TS55REQ recently available in North America.

It does not involve any of the thousands of TS55 saws which were recently discontinued but sold well in North America from late 2005 until recently.
 
A sincere "thank you" to this forum.  I would not have known about the issue and assortment of remedies.  I chose the TS 75 swap as I am working on a large built in project making what seems like a bazillion cuts in 4x8 MDF sheets and was wondering why the TS 55 I just bought seemed a little awkward and sticky...I have a small window to get this done and can't be without a saw for unknown period of time.

For all things Festool this site rocks!  [thumbs up]
 
Today I had another conversation with Festool USA about both of my brand-new TS55REQ. One of them I only opened the Systainer to make sure everything was included. Its 1400mm Guide Rail is still in the sealed factory carton.

The other new TS55REQ I did unpack and adjust to my shop standard toe-in so it matches all my other TS55 and TS75. The factory setting for the TS55REQ is virtually the same as my shop standard. Or at least it was on that saw.

All of us in my firm had a decent chance to use that TS55REQ. It caused no problems. However, for the tasks we perform using a track saw, our current fleet of TS55 can handle the work. I bought the TS55REQs so if we had found an advantage we would be ready.

The retraction was never an issue. During my original conversation with Festool in re the recall, I offered to wait so as to not over load them.

Today we agreed that I will use the return labels they have sent me. Although I have always picked up my new TS55's from my primary Los Angeles dealer, by luck we had two new cartons which are a good fit from those Systainers with a layer of Air-Cap bubble wrap. Normally our UPS pick-up is about 4:25 PM. I left before then so I am not sure when those saws were picked-up.

I did not return the Guide Rails because I took the option of fixing or returning those saws when Festool can do so. I felt accepting a refund would create tax problems for me. I can wait for the return or replacement of those saws and this way I eventually will get them back. I resisted the temptation of swapping the factory new blades with blades in the carton waiting pick-up by the grinding service. I want to be honest, but know that all of my blades get engraved with a serial number before they are sent to be sharpened the first time.

Trust me, I am sure Festool will find a solution to the recall problem and will convince the authorities they have done so. When I get the saws back they will be put to use. Every one of my many other Festools are productive and a joy to use.
 
Carroll,

You are in the unusual position of having plenty of spare saws and the luxury of being able to send in your saw when it is convenient for you to do so. I'd guess you are one of a tiny minority of similar users.

I have a single TS55 REQ with a couple of blades. If I send in my saw now, I will be without a saw for the foreseeable future. I don't want to switch it for the TS75 as it makes my other blades redundant and I don't need the extra size. A refund is of no interest to me.

So what to do? I think I will continue to use my saw- carefully- for now until a fix is available and I can obtain a quick turnaround. I only ever use it on a guide rail and wait for it to stop completely before lifting it anyway.
 
Hi RL,

Of course I can only write about my experience. I have been building cabinets for close to 70 years so I have managed to buy more than enough spare tools. Trust me, I feel the pain of everyone who depends on a single tool of each type, be it a saw, drill or router.

My own business plan is to have enough tools that I can reduce time wasted changing a given tool from one function to another. Extra tools do not get paid overtime, nor do they get benefits.

It is not clear to me if you employ other people to use your tools. I have 6 other cabinet makers on my payroll, in addition to an office and support staff. All but me are covered by works comp laws. The investment in the 2 new TS55REQ is a drop in the bucket compared to the consequences of a loss of my workers comp insurance as a result of allowing an employee to use a tool I had been notified was subject to recall. I seriously doubt my claiming the TS55REQ worked safely as designed until it did not retract would influence a court. So I did the pragmatic thing and stopped allowing any use of the saws.

One suggestion since you have TS55-style blades would be to accept the refund for your TS55REQ and find a decent used TS55 which is not subject to a recall.

My own plan had been to buy a few more used TS55 from people I know who wanted to own a TS55REQ. The first day of the recall I sold one of those TS55 back to the pal who had owned it when he had to send his TS55REQ back to Festool. I do not want to be selfish. In the short term, the value of TS55EQ has shot through the roof at the moment. I assume none are left in dealer inventory, so those who bought recon TS55 must be overjoyed now.

I own 2 TS75 and all of the cabinet makers working for me has a personal TS75. None of us consider those a direct replacement for a TS55 on a daily basis. To us the TS75 is intended for different tasks, which do not occur all that often when we build cabinets. Of course all of us build other things in addition to the cabinets which provide our livings.

Festool will make all this right by us eventually. This recall added to the CSA situation of the Mini and Midi has got to frustrate many users. I do not own either of those CT and all of my CT22 and CT36 have UL stickers which are required for California employers.
 
Hi Carroll,

In answer to your question, woodworking is merely a hobby for me so I do not need more than one saw. As for your suggestion to accept the refund and buy an original TS55, I had to smile when I read it because I sold my TS55 to buy the new REQ!

It's frustrating but Festool will get there in the end...hopefully sooner rather than later!
 
RL said:
Hi Carroll,

In answer to your question, woodworking is merely a hobby for me so I do not need more than one saw. As for your suggestion to accept the refund and buy an original TS55, I had to smile when I read it because I sold my TS55 to buy the new REQ!

It's frustrating but Festool will get there in the end...hopefully sooner rather than later!

I also sold my ts55 ( at a decent loss) to buy the ts55r...  >:(
 
duburban said:
RL said:
Hi Carroll,

In answer to your question, woodworking is merely a hobby for me so I do not need more than one saw. As for your suggestion to accept the refund and buy an original TS55, I had to smile when I read it because I sold my TS55 to buy the new REQ!

It's frustrating but Festool will get there in the end...hopefully sooner rather than later!

I also sold my ts55 ( at a decent loss) to buy the ts55r...  >:(

same here! :-\
 
elimelech12 said:
duburban said:
RL said:
Hi Carroll,

In answer to your question, woodworking is merely a hobby for me so I do not need more than one saw. As for your suggestion to accept the refund and buy an original TS55, I had to smile when I read it because I sold my TS55 to buy the new REQ!

It's frustrating but Festool will get there in the end...hopefully sooner rather than later!

I also sold my ts55 ( at a decent loss) to buy the ts55r...  >:(

same here! :-\

Ditto.  :(
 
I didn't see enough of an advantage in the REQ to bother "upgrading" from my TS 55... looks like it was the right call for other reasons too...
 
Just make sure all the kinks are out by the middle of September when I'll be back in the USA and planned to buy my REQ! Hurry! [scared]

Glad that I had to wait, not being in the States at the moment. I would have been caught up in this recall otherwise, for sure!
 
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