Recon Tool Sale - further thoughts and a decison.

[Bob Marino]

How about just sending them to dealers to sell as reconditioned in their stores? I know not all would participate, but it would sure make more sense. For the stores that people walk into, you could see what's available and not just guess as to condition of the tool. For internet based stores, the dealers would have a firm idea of what's available to them and, when that's gone, it's gone. Distribute the reconditioned tools amongst those dealers who want them according to some formula like percent of sales volume. The game of trying to get on the phone when you see something you want and hope you get it doesn't appeal to me and I won't do it anymore. With the sander and light I bought, it was a good discount for tools that aren't my heaviest use tools, but a gamble because of the 1-year warranty. For the MK700 I wish I had not bought it reconditioned. Got a Classic Systainer which I didn't realize was not that useful for stacking and, while the tool was in great condition, I'm not really sure it was worth the warranty gamble. All future purchases will likely be new. It doesn't make sense to buy reconditioned for the 10% or 20% off tools.

The recon tools are almost entirely tools that have been returned under the 30 day warranty. Selling the recons to dealers simply would create more headaches than not as the list gets updated in real time and new tools get added once a day. How would the dealer know what tools to buy? And in what quantities? And what would stop a dealer from buying some of these tools and hording them until the sale was over and only offering a 25% markup for these same tools? And cherry picking the slightly used tools to sell to his favorite customer and the more used/better conditioned tool to be given to "the other guy?" And how will the stores offer real time inventory to those customers? Nah, there are another half dozen reasons why this would be an untenable way of selling the tools.
B

Whatever . .. I won't likely ever buy any again anyway. The extra effort and loss of 2 years warranty really don't make them a great deal. At 30% or above, maybe, but even then, I think the risk is greater and the effort required isn't worth it.

Well, I agree,  giving up the 3 year warranty and all sales final, is an individual decision that customers need to make, but as you mention at 30 and now 40% off, many would decide to jump on it.

B

 

[NHSP759]

Well I'm just glad I can still try to do business with recon sales with you Bob when your available!

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Why do you blame the customers? I did not see much that would support your statement. Bob himself did not blame the customers.

They are the ones complaining about not getting what they want, yet they expect a dealer to jump at any given time of the day so they can get their 40% off tool.  People have lives, there are other things more important then working all the time.  I don't blame anyone for not wanting to deal with trying to order tools when they should be spending their personal time enjoying themselves. 

That is one problem with email and cell phones, people expect you to answer or reply at any hour or anytime.

 

[crsowa]

Have I missed a few of these deals because the phone lines were tied up?  Sure.  Am I distraught about it?  Nope, life goes on.  I missed out on the CT 26 two times today... c'est la vie.  I'll keep checking periodically, I'll get one eventually.  However, I have been on the ball and been able to get 4 tools so far (TI 15, C15, T15 set and a cordless Carvex) for right around $1000... so I can't complain.  I would like to thank all of the dealers for being patient, and "on the ball also". Shout out to US Tool and Fastener, WoodCraft, and Tools for Working Wood.

-Chris

 

[grbmds]

Why do you blame the customers? I did not see much that would support your statement. Bob himself did not blame the customers.

They are the ones complaining about not getting what they want, yet they expect a dealer to jump at any given time of the day so they can get their 40% off tool.  People have lives, there are other things more important then working all the time.  I don't blame anyone for not wanting to deal with trying to order tools when they should be spending their personal time enjoying themselves. 

That is one problem with email and cell phones, people expect you to answer or reply at any hour or anytime.

Interesting point of view, if you're serious (can't ever tell). The reconditioned tool sale is a nightmare to interface with for both retailers and customers. Tools are, more or less, randomly put on the site (maybe not random from Festool's view, but certainly from the customer's).

The purchaser's only option is to compete for a product they don't even know is there anymore once they see it on the list.

The retailer is really in a bad situation because he is attempting to satisfy a customer's request for a product which may not even be available anymore through no fault of his own. Retailer's generally don't advertise products for which they cannot satisfy demand. A lot of frustration. A lot of effort on both sides.

Then, to top it off, many tools that customers already bought at 10%, 20%, and 30% suddenly appear in varying quantities at 40% off. The only thing that creates is a frenzy, especially for those who either didn't get one at the lower discount or decided it wasn't enough off the price to lose 2/3 of the warranty.

It's a flawed system. I won't participate in the future, regardless. I will just go with my gut and buy new if I need additional tools (or want them without needing them). The whole reconditioned tool process is designed to generate demand for limited quantities of tools and to reduce Festool's inventory of tools which are generally back there because they were returned within the 30 day period. There is no easy interface for the retailer or customer. Talk about Woodpecker's trying to generate demand with "one-time tools". Festool equipment is great. I love it. I find the tools easy to use and extremely accurate; more than any other tools I've ever owned. However, this part of the retail process needs some examination. It seems to generate as much dissatisfaction as it does satisfaction, if the FOG posts are any indication.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Like I said a couple weeks ago, this has to be only place where people will complain about getting 40% off a festool. 

Am I serious?? :

 

[grbmds]

Like I said a couple weeks ago, this has to be only place where people will complain about getting 40% off a festool. 

Am I serious?? :

Hard to ever tell on the internet! 40% off is a great deal, 10% or 20% not so much when compared to new with the warranty.

 

[erock]

LOL !

Warner I love reading your post!    Truth and humor all wrapped up in just a couple words!    LOVE IT!

Eric

 

[duburban]

the complaints are definitely from missing the deals…

 

[lawhoo]

I am grateful to Festool for its recent practice of running these recon sales, and this one in particular.  While I posted what some might describe as a complaint, it certainly wasn't based on my own frustration or lack of success, since I got 5 of 6 items I wanted---all at 30% or 40% off.  And I've had similar success in previous sales.

In my earlier posts, I was primarily standing up for dealers like Bob Marino, who were being deluged with calls at all hours from customers who all wanted quick (if not immediate) service.  I don't doubt that most customers were very gracious and understanding if their "orders" weren't successful, but the problem is with an inefficient approach of posting available items at seemingly random and late hours (which improved a bit recently) and requiring customers to place orders through dealers, who must be on call at all hours or lose sales and seem unresponsive. In this day and age, it just doesn't have to be this way, and it runs counter to Festool's usual system.  Again, I love Festool and appreciate the opportunity to buy tools that I otherwise wouldn't have been in a position to buy.  I hope Shane and the other great people at Festool will see comments like these not so much as complaints (though some certainly are born out of frustration), but as constructive criticism to help make the next sale even better.