Returning Unused vs Used Festool

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GoingMyWay

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Oct 11, 2017
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I finally made up my mind that the RO150 was the sander that I wanted to help me make my end grain cutting boards.  I had tried to buy it with an online dealer, but that ended up being a bit of a headache (pretty much all my own fault).  After a few weeks of delays waiting for a sander I finally decided this morning to buy it so I went to my local Woodcraft and picked up the RO150 and a whole bunch of sanding accessories.

Shortly after I got home I received an email from www.festoolrecon.com offered a reconditioned RO150.  I debated about buying it for a bit, but then I realized that after tax discount is about $150.  That's too good of a discount to pass up.  I quickly placed my order before it sold out.

I assume if I return the RO150 to Woodcraft in its brand new and unused condition they could just put it back on the shelf for resale.  If I use the sander and then return it, then they'd have to send the sander back to Festool USA?  Are my assumptions correct?
 
Per the FAQ page on festool recon

What is the return policy for tools bought on festoolrecon.com?

All sales on festoolrecon.com are final.

 
I knew all festoolrecon.com sales were final - I sure hope I like it.

I was inquiring about the new RO150 that I bought from Woodcraft.
 
The normal policy applies, return it within the 15/30 days (depending on country) for a full refund (in cash) with no questions asked.
 
Once you return the sander that you purchased from Woodcraft back to Woodcraft I believe that they have to send that sander back to Festool anyway (used or unused).  That is what the policy used to be and I don't remember that  it changed.  That is why are are some reconditioned sanders and other tools that look brand new - they basically are!

Good thing that you decided to stay with the Rotex 150 platform.  Accessories and consumables are not automatically returnable under the 30 day policy here in the US.

Hope you enjoy your new-to-you sander!

Peter
 
Oh it's going to need to go back to Festool anyway??  That's not quite what I was expecting/hoping to hear.  I really like the local Woodcraft store and the people there are very nice and helpful.  I thought if I brought it right back unused they could just put it right back out for sale.  I really don't want to cause them a lot of trouble and inconvenience just because of me.  That being said, if they're gonna have to send it back anyway, it doesn't seem like it would make much difference if I used the sander before returning then.   

I had always been decided on the 150mm size.  I just learned today that the ETS 150 hard pad is not the same as the RO150 hard pad.  I had assumed since they're both 150 they'd be interchangeable, but I guess the gears are different.
 
GoingMyWay said:
Oh it's going to need to go back to Festool anyway??  That's not quite what I was expecting/hoping to hear.  I really like the local Woodcraft store and the people there are very nice and helpful.  I thought if I brought it right back unused they could just put it right back out for sale.  I really don't want to cause them a lot of trouble and inconvenience just because of me.  That being said, if they're gonna have to send it back anyway, it doesn't seem like it would make much difference if I used the sander before returning then.   

I had always been decided on the 150mm size.  I just learned today that the ETS 150 hard pad is not the same as the RO150 hard pad.  I had assumed since they're both 150 they'd be interchangeable, but I guess the gears are different.
Click to expand...

The 30-day warrenty/return is paid for in the machine cost.

If you do not like the reconditioned one then at least you've saved the 150$.
 
If the sander has not been used Woodcraft will return it to their shelves.  If it’s used they will send it back to Festool. If it’s unused I would return it and get your money back.  If it’s used you can return it within the 30 day trial area under Festool.  Your decision, 
 
Which woodcraft are you using? I'm in NoVA as well. Also not sure how you're coming up with $150 savings. The recon tool was 470 or so I believe. The new one is 570? Add on you have to pay tax on the recon in Virginia whereas you could skip tax with an online dealer in the new one. $70 savings is what I figure.
 
I go to the Woodcraft in Springfield, VA.

The reconditioned RO150 was $477.49 including State and Williamsburg City County Tax (I have no idea why this tax is being added on - is the sander shipping out of Williamsburg, VA??).  I initially thought the reconditioned RO150 was ~$470 plus tax, but then realized tax was already included which made it a really good deal.  The brand new RO150 is $595, with tax that comes out to $630.70.  That means a savings of $153.21.  Even if I bought the RO150 online and saved the sales tax - the reconditioned tool is still $117.51 cheaper.  That's a significant savings in my opinion.  If it was only like $20-40 cheaper I probably wouldn't have bought the reconditioned tool, but a $100++ discount is definitely worth it to me.
 
Yeah I had the numbers wrong. That's a good deal. I'm surprised you like the Springfield location. That's the nearest to me as well and I was disappointed so many times my wife told me to stop going there expecting them to change. I was looking into buying some tools and they couldn't have cared less. 3 or 4 guys standing around nothing to do, I'm over at the Festool area. .no one comes over. Their MFT/3 is poorly setup and the whole section is just not well maintained. I don't know if they don't care about Festool or just pegged me as a looker or what. I'll buy some niche things there but I won't be buying any tools there.
 
I guess this is the only Festool dealer that I've really been to.  I have also been to the Leesburg Woodcraft, which I believe is owned by the same owner as the Springfield location.  I agree that the employees don't really come over and ask if I need help.  I had to go to the counter on 2 different occasions to ask for assistance or ask a question.  But they did help me and answer my questions once I did ask.
 
I returned the brand new and unused RO150 to Woodcraft today.  There was no problem at all.  Since it was unused there's no need for it be sent back to Festool.
 
What is the point? It goes to the same place when returned.

Using it and trying it out would have made some sense.
 
I think you misunderstood what I said.  It's going back to the Woodcraft shelf to be sold as new since I didn't use it.  If I had used it, it would have been returned to Festool.

The reason I didn't try it out is because I bought the refurbished RO150 from www.festoolrecon.com on Monday right after I bought the new RO150 at Woodcraft.  So since the used sander was coming in a few days (I just received it today) I didn't want to use the RO150 that I knew was going to be returned to Woodcraft.
 
I thought it sounded familiar...
How is the refurbed unit working out?
 
Sorry I'm probably clogging up the boards with a bunch of my posts in my seemingly never ending quest to make this end grain cutting board without the traditional tools one would use to make a cutting board.

The refurbished sander had definitely been used before. I wonder what this green dust is from:
View attachment 1?

I found it quite hard to change from the soft pad to the hard pad. I was actually winded afterwards. I guess that shows how out of shape I am.

I noticed 2 major things:

It's incredibly powerful. I probably should have listened to others and tried it out in person before buying.  I didn't know how tiring it would be to try to hold on.

It made very quick work smoothing out the side of the cutting board that I had planed with the router using 60 grit paper and the hard pad.  Unfortunately,  the cutting board still rocks.

Oh yeah there's basically no dust, which is amazing. I know everyone always talks about how good the dust collection is, but it's really different when you experience it first hand in person.

 

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Here are my suggestions:

Go a Woodcraft store in your area and get a piece of 3/4" Baltic birch plywood.  Your foundation for your work is vital.  Then go to Home Depot or Lowes.  Go to the tool department and pick up a tape measure.  Then go to the electrical department.  Ask someone to show you what uni-strut is.  Measure to make sure the uni-strut is 1.25 to 1.5 inches tall.  If so, put one piece in your cart.  Stop by the screw aisle and get some fender washers to fit some screws you have at home that are 1 inch long.  On the way to the checkout counter, if you don't have a way to cut the unistrut into two pieces - get a hacksaw.

When you get home cut the unistrut in two and screw it to the Baltic birch using the washers to bridge the elongated holes.  You now have straight rails and straight plywood.

Now secure your cutting board so that it doesn't rock and shave a new top surface.  Then flip and do again.  Then cut the sides.

I hope that this doesn't come across wrong.  Chasing your tail to cure an issue can be so irritating - especially when you are planning for the future.  I am speaking from my experiences.

Peter
 
Yes that is the stuff.  Uni-strut for the rails.  Baltic birch below the rails.  Then use your existing sled.  If you buy a large enough piece of baltic birch and if you suspect that you sled is warped (place it on the baltic birch and see if it wobbles) use scrap pieces for the bottom of your sled.

Peter
 
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