Stocking Consumables

[WarnerConstCo.]

I guess I don't understand why it is so hard for my local woodcraft to actually stock normal consumables.

Things I needed and they did not have.

CT filters, filter bags, splinter strips, ro125 pad, and a couple other things that just need replaced every so often.
They get mad at me when I refuse to pay for the items before they are ordered or before they arrive.
The last time I did that, I didn't see what I paid for, for almost 2 months.

I guess this is a bit of a complaint and a bit of frustration.

I look at those items as things a dealers should have multiples of.
Those are things normal people will have to buy at least once a year, if not more.

I know I could order them from somewhere but, it is the thrill of the hunt that makes me happy.
Going out, slaying your prey and then throwing it in the truck and taking it home to eat.

 

[Wood_Junkie]

ROFL, I've reorganized your post:

> I know I could order them from somewhere but, it is the thrill of the hunt that makes me happy.    [big grin]
> I guess this is a bit of a complaint and a bit of frustration.  [sad]
> The last time I did that, I didn't see what I paid for, for almost 2 months.    [blink]

Order from any of our fabulous dealers.  I placed an order with Bob last week for a bunch of random sandpapers and LR32 kit... arrived less than 36 hours later at my doorstep.

 

[chrisrosenb]

Darcy,
The  Woodcraft in your area stocks a lot more than the one in my area & you only have to drive about 20 miles to find out they do not have what you want.
I have to drive about 55 miles to find out the same thing.

 

[peter halle]

Darcy,

I think that you said this: 

it is the thrill of the hunt that makes me happy

It's apparent that your local Woodcraft is doing everything that they can do to make you hunting experience las as long as it can so that you can garner as much happiness as possible.  My bet is that they won't even charge extra for your  [big grin] [big grin] [big grin].

Peter

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Chris-  The woodcraft in toledo has like at least one of everything festool.
I am tempted to drive there when I really need something.

Peter- They only carry a couple other things that interest me, so they can't trap me too long! [big grin]

Although recently, they started carrying Wera.  Great, looks all we are going to be eating around here is hot dogs and ramen noodles. [big grin]

 

[score0matic]

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

What is Rockler and WoodCraft??????

out here in nowhere land  OMAHA NE  We have no such thing.

but 15 min away Midwest Woodworks  Gerry and his Crew  [thumbs up] [thumbs up].
oh and 50 min away is  Timmy C and Festool Junkie 

Gotta love Local dealers Who STOCK it ALL!!!!

 

[stvrowe]

Waaah [crying]

I didn't realize that Woodcraft stocking levels was so appalling.  I am glad I don't have to put up with that.  The nearest Woodcraft is a 3-1/2 hr drive and in another state.  The only Festool dealer in the state is (or at least was) non-stocking.

 

[PaulMarcel]

I know I've lamented about my local Woodcraft many times here and on tF.  Last 2 times I needed Dominos, he only had the 1000 count box of 6mm.  Not a single bag of any other size.  Never seems to have the sandpaper I need through there are a thousand apparently useless grits there (lots of boxes, but when I ask, never have it... guess P80 and P120 aren't that used...)  Now when I go there, the annoying manager/owner always says I really need a Festool stein.  Dude, I needed the jigsaw trammel last week, Dominos the month before (_all_ sizes), and various 125mm Rotex papers the months before... can't see a use for the stein to drink the proverbial "I just finished the project" beer when I can't finish the $&#^ project!!

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I know it sucks some times. I would think they could pay attention to what they sold. That way they could try and have things people will need no matter what.  They always use the minimum order excuse every time. They have been pretty good with customer service though, helping me take care of tool problems. 

I really don't like ordering things. I am not sure why but, I don't. 

 

[wnagle]

I'm with you Darcy.  If I go to a store and then they want me to order something, I tell them I can order from home on the internet and get it delivered to my house for less and quicker than them ordering to the store for me to come pick up.  If they want my business, I'll buy the things they stock assuming they have good customer service.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

I don't know if this is widespread, but both the woodworking stores (Woodcraft and Woodworker's Supply) here seem to be cutting way back on inventory, especially Woodcraft.  Lots of empty space on the shelves.  I guess its in response to the hard economic times, new construction is at a standstill here.

The other thing that drives me crazy at Woodcraft is that they place their orders once a week, and then it takes a week to arrive.  If you are lucky, you will get a call when it arrives, but that has been hit-or-miss in my experience.

 

[Inner10]

I enjoy the thrill of the hunt too but it gets to the point where you arrive and look at all the tools and you have them all already and there is no more eye-candy.

I order more and more, the amount of time I spend driving around to different suppliers getting different parts was alot more then I'm walling to sacrifice.  I even get my loca stores 15 minutes from my house to ship to me because its hard to get ahold of them, I spend half an hour driving, half an hour making the transaction and they rarely have everything in stock!  I can send an email in 2 minutes from my phone while I drink a coffee and its all good.

Espicially with festool products and the free shipping, even more reason to order them.  Instead of driving 50 minutes to my local dealer (which I have never been too) I ordered them from accross the country for the same price and they arrive in a couple days.

Save the time and aggrivation and just order your stuff.  

 

[JohnDistai]

Trying to buy your consumables locally sort of alleviates the guilt of looking at a tool locally and buying it online.  But when they don't have the consumables you are looking for, well, you tried to give them some business but they didn't have what you need.  Then I don't feel so guilty.

I tried to buy some MFT clamping elements from the local Woodcraft.  They didn't have them and offered to order them.  No thanks.  I can order them myself.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I've got 6 dealers in my (small) city. I think there are about 50 in a 30 mile radius around me. Yet I still have to order about 50% of the stuff I need. Sure, every dealer has some stock of 150mm Brilliant 2 and Rubin paper, but try to walk away with some Saphir and Crystal for the Deltex or the RTS and you're out of luck. I hate having to order, but it seems inevitable.

But when it comes to accessories or consumables the stores do have, Festool as a brand, blows almost any other power tool brand right out of the water, except for Bosch. Except for Bosch, you have to order close to 100% of their accessories and consumables. When I go to a (good) tool store, there's a wall full of Festool and a wall full of Bosch, but all other brands have no accessories whatsoever. No wall of Hitachi, Panasonic, Metabo, Hilti, Fein, DeWalt or Makita. Hardly a drawer in a cupboard.

 

[greg mann]

My dealer, Glenn Wing, has a Rockler within 4 miles and another dealer about 8 miles in the other direction and he puts them to shame. He has the best Festool display I have seen, way better than the Woodsmith store in Iowa and pretty much as nice as the one in Festool's Lebanon, Ind. lobby. He stocks almost everything, and this, at a time when our SE Michigan economy is in the tank. When you consider how many different abrasive items there are it is pretty impressive to be able to walk in and get what you need almost every time. I feel sorry for those of you who aren't so lucky, but it has been pointed out that there are ways around the problem. Of course one of the ways you can help yourself is to plan ahead a bit more. I know, I know, you shouldn't need to do that, and coming from a guy who doesn't have the same problem it probably sounds arrogant. Sorry 'bout that.  [wink]

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I try and plan ahead, I keep asking woodcraft when they were getting in clear splinter strips, they never heard of it.
That was 3 months ago.  They have no problem with the big ticket items.  I had a kapex and table the next day, mft/3 the next day.

Just stock some darn sanding pads and normal wear and tear items.

I still don't like ordering things on-line.

 

[Daviddubya]

...I still don't like ordering things on-line.

OK - don't order on-line.  Pick up the phone, tell one of the good-guy dealers what you need, and relax.  You don't even have to look up the stocking numbers.  You don't have to leave your home or office.  In less than the time it took to write one of the posts in this thread, the stuff would be on its way.  Most of the time you will have exactly what you need in your hands faster than if you keep messing around with the local Woodcraft.  And you won't waste your time making two trips to Woodcraft to get your stuff - late.  I think it was my Mother that said, "Fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me twice, shame on me".  Yikes!

 

[score0matic]

OK......
Right here is why i want the THANK YOU Button for the FOG
David W  has nailed it to the wall.
[thumbs up]

Craig

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I don't like to order anything.
I don't like calling and ordering something over the phone.
I do not use my cc on line or over the phone.

I want to write a check in person.

I don't even order pizza.

 

[wnagle]

who needs pizza when you got Ramon Noodles and Hot Dogs...    [poke]