Response Time

D

dechutes

Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2017
Messages
9
Hello,
First time posting here.  I have been using Festools for a few years now and had my first problem last week.  I called the 888 number yesterday for service and got the voicemail.  Left a message and didn't hear back.  Called again this morning and got voicemail.  How long does it normally take to get to speak with someone? 

Thanks!
 
The service department is usually very responsive. However, in January we made some major changes to our internal technology and processes, and this has slowed the service department down quite a bit. They are returning voicemails and emails as quickly as they can, but their response time is currently slower than usual.
 
ok, my concern is the tool is out of warranty in a few days.  If I don't hear back by then will it still be covered?
 
dechutes said:
ok, my concern is the tool is out of warranty in a few days.  If I don't hear back by then will it still be covered?
Click to expand...

That won't be an issue. However, starting an online repair request will give you additional documentation in case it becomes an issue. Let me know if you run into any trouble.
 
TylerC said:
The service department is usually very responsive. However, in January we made some major changes to our internal technology and processes, and this has slowed the service department down quite a bit. They are returning voicemails and emails as quickly as they can, but their response time is currently slower than usual.
Click to expand...

I agree with both the OP and Tyler... Last week or so I called and got a voicemail.

No big deal, except the voicemail "robot" would not accept my voice commands or message. It would think there was nobody on the line and hang up. Quite frustrating. After 3 times, I finally got it to 'acknowledge' the message and send it when I hit the # key. Maybe it was because I was on a jobsite and it was noisy, but still.

Maybe someone from Festool IT should test the actual voicemail program with a cell to see if they have similar issues.

EDIT: I will say, after I got the voicemail to go through I got a callback within 30 minutes or so and they answered my question, so the service from a human was fine.
 
dechutes said:
Hello,
First time posting here.  I have been using Festools for a few years now and had my first problem last week.  I called the 888 number yesterday for service and got the voicemail.  Left a message and didn't hear back.  Called again this morning and got voicemail.  How long does it normally take to get to speak with someone? 

Thanks!
Click to expand...

This reminds me of a Kierkegaard's quote.  [wink]
 
Well, I had hopped to have a good report when I was done, but this has been a horrible experience.  After 4 days I finally heard back from someone and they agreed that I should send my tools in.  So I did the online thing and sent my tools in.  A week later I had heard nothing so I called back in and left a voicemail, again, and the next day I got a call.  They looked up and verified that they had received my tools, but didn't know where they were.  I stayed on the phone while the guy checked and finally found them.  The saw had been mailed back to me already and the Domino was waiting on parts.  I never got any kind of notification on the saw coming back or info on what they repaired.  The guy promised to call me when the parts arrived for the domino, but, shockingly, I never got a call.  I finally got the domino back and the issue is better, but I wouldn't call it fixed, so I called back.  It's been over a week now and I have left multiple voicemail and have no response.  Today I needed to use my saw (have been traveling for a few weeks) and opened the box for the first time.  The systanier is broken, the saw was not even in the systanier correctly so the foam on the top is ruined and the top of the systainer is messed up.  The saw has systainer plastic on it from where they forced it in, and I don't even know what to do at this point.  I can't get any response from Festool and so far my first experience with them is a disaster.  Why did I spend $$$$ on these tools and they can't even answer the phone.  At least Home Depot answers the phone.

Here is a video of my saw:

I'm hoping an employee here sees this and can actually help me. 
 
Well,
Looks like the response time here is about as good as phone calls.  I called back again, actually got a human this time, never have received a return call from any of my other voicemail's.  He told me the problem was that the systainer isn't a safe way to pack your saw...  [eek] Really?!?!  It came shipped to me that way and was fine, and the saw is held firmly in place when inserted correctly, but whatever.  He told me to ship it back and they would fix it. 

We shall see.

Does festool service just suck this bad always?  Can anyone chime in on what my expectations should be?  I feel like I get much better service from cheaper brands.  I just always assumed that if I had an issue with festool they would be the best service ever with the price and they way they set themselves up as the best warranty etc. 

Would love to hear people's thoughts.

Thanks.
 
[member=64347]dechutes[/member] I'm sorry that you've had a disappointing and frustrating experience with your service from Festool. I'm making sure that the team sees your video, and I'm working to get an update on your specific case. (I'm not a member of the service team, so I don't have direct info about individual service claims.)

Until recently, our service team had a reputation for being fast, responsive and thorough. Some recent process and technology changes have really diminished this, but they (and the rest of the Festool team) are committed to working through these temporary problems. Until that happens, this is understandably frustrating for you and other users, and I apologize for that.
 
If they give you a new box I call dibs on the lid off of your old one. I need some spare parts...
 
[member=57769]TylerC[/member]

" He told me the problem was that the systainer isn't a safe way to pack your saw...  "    [eek]

Is this, in fact, the official "party line" ?  Or, simply a department or an indiv. going off script ?
 
FWIW...I think Festool USA could learn how to efficiently ship product by emulating the shipping procedures that are practiced at Uncle Bob's. In over 7 years I have NEVER received a damaged item. All items received are in their original Systainers....HOWEVER, all internal components are wrapped in bubble wrap. Then the entire Systainer is again wrapped in bubble wrap and then placed in a thick walled cardboard shipping box. Everything arrives in perfect...perfect....perfect condition.

I've received several serviced tools and spare parts from Festool that look like they've been dragged behind a truck. That they were not damaged in transit, depended not upon the packaging, but rather on just the luck of the draw.

Seriously...I think a quick 2-3 hour seminar with Bob on how to properly package Festool tools and ship them in their original Systainers, would go a long way to improving Festool customer service.
 
Cheese said:
...
Seriously...I think a quick 2-3 hour seminar with Bob on how to properly package Festool tools and ship them in their original Systainers, would go a long way to improving Festool customer service.
Click to expand...

I heard he both called and emailed, but they never responded back to him...  [wink]
 
dechutes said:
Well,
Looks like the response time here is about as good as phone calls.  I called back again, actually got a human this time, never have received a return call from any of my other voicemail's.  He told me the problem was that the systainer isn't a safe way to pack your saw...  [eek] Really?!?!  It came shipped to me that way and was fine, and the saw is held firmly in place when inserted correctly, but whatever.  He told me to ship it back and they would fix it. 

We shall see.

Does festool service just suck this bad always?  Can anyone chime in on what my expectations should be?  I feel like I get much better service from cheaper brands.  I just always assumed that if I had an issue with festool they would be the best service ever with the price and they way they set themselves up as the best warranty etc. 

Would love to hear people's thoughts.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

This worries me.

I've had a few Festool tools for a couple years, the CT36, RO125, and Domino XL700, then picked up the DTS400 last year and they have all performed great. Recently I plunked down a good size chunk of cash on a MFT, TSC55, LR32 Kit, and some other knick-knacks.

If this is what I am buying into as I sell off my other brand tools and replace them with Festool maybe I better stop now before I am in too deep. Excellent service was one of the selling features for me too.

Other than the TSC 55 being cordless the cut quality of my DeWalt TS has been just fine and I had no reason to replace it other than being able to use the tracks with the LR32 system(so I don't have to have two sets of tracks for different brand tools) . There are fewer (basically none) aftermarket options or accessories for the DeWalt but it does what they designed it to do well. If I am to dump my 7 routers and replace them with a full spread of Festool routers then this story needs a happy ending for me to go forward with any more tool buys. Some of you may not agree but that is how I am seeing this issue affect me. To have your tool come back in the condition shown in the video is totally unacceptable. This man should be given a complete new saw in exchange for this mangled mess.

Don't take this wrong but we're only hearing one side of the story I know that, but at face value it does not appear to be the level of service one (at least me) would expect from Festool.
 
Holmz said:
I heard he both called and emailed, but they never responded back to him...  [wink]
Click to expand...

I was told he invited them up for hoagies and cheesesteaks and they still didn't respond... [jawdrop]
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

O
Thanks Festool!
Replies
1
Views
517
Crazyraceguy
Crazyraceguy
Crazyraceguy
Two more end grain cutting boards
Replies
1
Views
340
rvieceli
R
B
Kapex 120 EB Smoked, Slowed, Started Backup and Died
2
Replies
24
Views
2K
Cheese
Cheese
J
Warning: Woodpeckers Semble Clamps can Ruin Woodwork
Replies
5
Views
1K
leakyroof
leakyroof
B
Why is getting a spare part so difficult?
2
Replies
22
Views
9K
mino
mino
Back
Top