Rockler is DROPPING Festool

[sancho57]

Sorry for taking so long to respond.
Rocklers was no loss for me. The place I ended giving 90% of my business to Austins deals with contractors , professional/ advance wood workers, they not only welcome Mia but give her biscuits to.
They tell me a lot of their customers bring their dogs with them.

Contractors where I live bring them right to the site leave them by the truck with the tools to prevent theft.

 

[jeep jake]

Festool dropped rockler due to a pricing issue

 

[jbasen]

I found a Rockler email in my inbox this morning.  I clicked on the "new products" link and was surprised that Festool products were advertised for sale.  I guess Festool and Rockler have worked though their issues and Rockler is now a dealer again.

Jay

 

[copcarcollector]

I found a Rockler email in my inbox this morning.  I clicked on the "new products" link and was surprised that Festool products were advertised for sale.  I guess Festool and Rockler have worked though their issues and Rockler is now a dealer again.

Jay

I don't know--- looking at the Rockler site there are a lot of tools that come up as "no longer available" when you click on them, such as the Kapex, 1400 router, TS55 track saw... Other products say "online only", I would guess that Rockler is selling through the inventory they have at their warehouse. It is too bad they don't just remove the "no longer available" stuff from their site, someone searching may think that Festool no longer makes / offers the tool, instead of it just being Rockler...

 

[Hiersekorn]

For what it's worth, I just registered several of my tools on the Festool site. It automatically filled in the store information based on my serial number.

And, the store name was "Rockler Orange 20 - TERMINATED."

I think that's pretty straightforward.

 

[copcarcollector]

Perhaps "They'll be baack--"..?

Sorry

 

[jbasen]

I found a Rockler email in my inbox this morning.  I clicked on the "new products" link and was surprised that Festool products were advertised for sale.  I guess Festool and Rockler have worked though their issues and Rockler is now a dealer again.

Jay

I don't know--- looking at the Rockler site there are a lot of tools that come up as "no longer available" when you click on them, such as the Kapex, 1400 router, TS55 track saw... Other products say "online only", I would guess that Rockler is selling through the inventory they have at their warehouse. It is too bad they don't just remove the "no longer available" stuff from their site, someone searching may think that Festool no longer makes / offers the tool, instead of it just being Rockler...

I stand corrected.  It is very confusing the way Rockler presents a large variety of Festool products on their site but only when you dig in to view the product details do you find that it isn't available.  If you were just looking at one or two products you would have no idea there was anything amiss and they weren't a dealer

Jay

 

[Caddis]

When ever I am at any store that sells Festool, usually I do not get any help, It seems as if people don't know how to sell anything any more. That being said, any place that has a good dealer be thankful that you got a good one. For me I get to read reviews and see what is coming from FOG and other reading.

Retail sales is apparently a hard business to be in these days. At Sears I no longer expect to find anyone that's actually interested in their job. Regardless of what department I am in.  I went into my local Rockler twice and never again. Although Rockler is right down the road, I'd rather drive 20 minutes to Woodcraft or even further to Woodworkerssource to get someone that isn't a complete jerk.

This is kind of silly but the gold standard in retail customer service and product knowledge for me is actually the Lego store. I take my 4 year old every month for a special event and every employee is expert in their product knowledge, advice, and genuine friendliness in helping me as a consumer. When I started taking my son to these free events last year the last thing I was expecting to learn was how screwed up retail sales has become.

 

[gkaiseril]

K Mart bought Sears and kept the stores and brands . They replaced the employees and products

 

[Birdhunter]

The Atlanta Rockler store moved about a mile north and is in about 3 times a larger space. The staff is excellent. Atlanta is fortunate to have Highland Woodworking, Woodcraft, and Rockler. Highland and Woodcraft carry Festool. Also, a top level lumber yard on the west side of town carries Festool. The Rockler store owner declined comment on the Festool decision.

 

[brentmorris]

I agree the new Rockler in Sandy Springs is fantastic. If I need a Festool product we're fortunate enough to have other great locations nearby.

 

[rljatl]

The Atlanta Rockler store moved about a mile north and is in about 3 times a larger space. The staff is excellent. Atlanta is fortunate to have Highland Woodworking, Woodcraft, and Rockler. Highland and Woodcraft carry Festool. Also, a top level lumber yard on the west side of town carries Festool. The Rockler store owner declined comment on the Festool decision.

The Sandy Springs Rockler is a company store.  John Carignan is the store manager.  Steve Quehl was the owner of the Woodcraft store, but recently retired and sold back to corporate.

Then there is the often overlooked Peachtree Woodworking Supply, off of Peachtree Industrial.

 

[JoDo]

Salem, NH Rockler is running a 25% off Power Tools (no warranty) and 50% off accessories. They have a ton of power tools in stock, but the accessories are going quickly.

I'll pour gossip/hearsay into the mix as well....one of the staff members there said the brass @ Rockler and (someone?) at Festool got into a disagreement and Festool is dropping Rockler. Regardless, now I'll have to pay sales tax when I order stuff online, so that sucks (NH has no sales tax...MA has plenty...).

 

[gkaiseril]

Regardless, now I'll have to pay sales tax when I order stuff online, so that sucks (NH has no sales tax...MA has plenty...).

Many other states do not charge sales tax or use tax for purchases by non-residents and shipped outside the sate of purchase. I would look at shopping from a supplier located in a state other than Massachusetts. I would look at Vermont, Connecticut,  or Maine.

 

[sae]

Salem, NH Rockler is running a 25% off Power Tools (no warranty) and 50% off accessories. They have a ton of power tools in stock, but the accessories are going quickly.

I'll pour gossip/hearsay into the mix as well....one of the staff members there said the brass @ Rockler and (someone?) at Festool got into a disagreement and Festool is dropping Rockler. Regardless, now I'll have to pay sales tax when I order stuff online, so that sucks (NH has no sales tax...MA has plenty...).

I'll have to check out my local store for accessories, but no warranty for tools is kinda a dealbreaker, especially when recon tools come w/ a 1-year warranty. I'd need to see a deeper discount before taking that dive.

 

[jgelman]

I just went to my local Rockler store this evening.  Woodcraft is far away.  I have a Festool Random Orbit sander along with other Festool products and wanted to replace the sanding pad.  That is when I found out Rockler stopped carrying Festool.  I remember the sales guy, older, and had been there awhile, and I have purchased from the store a number of times in the past.  He told me that Festool dropped Rockler because Rockler advertised a sales price 5 days in advance of a sale in violation of policy.  It seems like a lose-lose as my understanding was that prior to that, the relationship was very mutually beneficial. 

Oh, since I was there, I was just curious if he happened to have any experience with the Lamello products as I have an old DeWalt biscuit jointer and wondered if there would be any benefit to keeping it if I have a top end Lamello.  He never heard of Lamello.  I was asking him a few other questions, and started to get the feeling he was not all that knowledgeable, but on the recent Festool issue, I have the feeling that was something he knew  about.

 

[Drich]

When I was there it sounded like they were going to be getting Festool back after the first of the year. Which will be nice as it is closer to me than woodcraft.

 

[WoodWhisperer]

I agree with a lot of what's being said here.  I think rockler is geared more towards the DIY'er or wkend woodworkers. Last time I was in there it looked like if u weren't there to buy something for making pens u were in the wrong place!!  An employee said there are a lot of retirees that are looking for something to do. So I guess pens are fun to make?  Sucks for people like me an area that only has a couple of places that carry festool.  Here in Indy we are down to woodcraft I guess. Which always had a better selection of festool anyway.

Sean

 

[SoonerFan]

I bought the majority of my Festool kit at the local Woodcraft store and have never been in Rockler.  Woodcraft was helpful and one of the sales people actually started me on the Green Path.  I mostly pay the sales tax because they are very helpful and if I have an issue they are on it straight away.  Now if I could just get Festool classes at that store.....

 

[grainhaus]

My Rockler (Orange County, CA) I guess got the entire Festool stock since they do the most Festool, Manager told me. All tools are 15-40%(used) off & all accessories/abrasives are 50% off. Picked up a carvex (30% Off)  & I scored pads, abrasives and a bunch of accessories for a crazy 50% off.

The tools went super fast, only some random accessories left now.