The best place to buy Festool.

[CumminsDiesel]

Hey guys!

What is the best way to buy a Festool product?

Buy it at local Woodcraft store or online (Festool Dealer) ?

Thanks.

 

[RONWEN]

Hey guys!

What is the best way to buy a Festool product?

Buy it at local Woodcraft store or online (Festool Dealer) ?

Thanks.

The best place for the complete Festool line seems to be Germany...  [smile]  There are several NAINA items in the U.S. although our prices may be a little better.

 

[CharlesWilson]

The best place for the complete Festool line seems to be Germany...  [smile]  There are several NAINA items in the U.S. although our prices may be a little better.

Ron, I think you may find that our prices are more than a little better (i.e. lower). Not that I have a problem with lower prices.

 

[RONWEN]

The best place for the complete Festool line seems to be Germany...  [smile]  There are several NAINA items in the U.S. although our prices may be a little better.

Ron, I think you may find that our prices are more than a little better (i.e. lower). Not that I have a problem with lower prices.

I know the prices are much better however if the items are NAINA the price doesn't really matter.  [wink]

 

[MrToolJunkie]

There are several great dealers to do business with and several of them are regular contributors here on the FOG.  You can go to Festool's website to get a list of authorized dealers as well.  I have had good luck buying online as well as from traditional Brick & Mortar stores.

Scot

 

[Steve R]

Hey guys!

What is the best way to buy a Festool product?

Buy it at local Woodcraft store or online (Festool Dealer) ?

Thanks.

That is personal choice.  I choose to buy everything I can from my local dealer... that means I pay State Tax, time and transport to get it. I do that because when when the crap hits the fan and I need it NOW only my local dealer can get me back going same day. I have luxury of a few local dealers to pick from some... do have to say some are worthless.  PM me to know the Chains that don't work for me.

Woodcraft is a good dealer (at least my local one is .... Okay I wish they carried more accessories) ...but Woodcraft can very by location as they are a buy in franchise.

My Woodcraft dealer has let me take demos out real world trails and if my tool goes down (never happened...(yet... fingers crossed.
) I can use the demo while mine is fixed. As a professional that means a lot! If I did it as a hobby.... I can wait...

Another point is this... What supports you, your community, your local economy and the continued existence of them?

I also use this rule, if I touch it and demo at local dealer and that experience confirms to me it fits my needs....then I buy it from them... if I didn't... well how to say this I would like marring a woman and enjoying the wedding night... and going to "Ladies of the Night" after that... The spouse is going to leave you and hate you for... an infinite amount of time.

A call out to that would be if I demo it and the dealer can't answer my questions (within reason) or if they give me miss information ....then... I don't feel bound to buy.

Not sure this will help, just hope it does.

Cheers,
Steve

 

[CumminsDiesel]

Thank you all!

Well I think buying at local store (Woodcraft and etc.) is a good idea in case if something is wrong with the tool,because I can always return it,instead of spending my money for shipping,to return defective tool (if buy online).

 

[Corwin]

Thank you all!

Well I think buying at local store (Woodcraft and etc.) is a good idea in case if something is wrong with the tool,because I can always return it,instead of spending my money for shipping,to return defective tool (if buy online).

I don't think an online dealer will ever charge you for the return shipping of a defective tool.

 

[Timtool]

i think the best place is a shop where you can physically see and touch what you buy, always going to the same shop helps build a relation of confidence. My dealer now knows my name and comes to shake my hand every time i'm entering the shop  [scared] They know i'm there to buy more festool and that i'm gonna ask for a reasonable amount of free accessories, and so we are both happy!

Online dealers occasionally give you interesting deals with free accessories, but i get that every time at my local shop.

 

[NoBreyner]

I'd like to get a brand new Festool on the spot, but that's not quite that simple.  I plan on buying the MFT/3 and TS55 combo soon to save the $50+ on the combo price.  I also plan on buying online to avoid paying $87 on sales tax as well as get free shipping however I can get it.  I'd personally feed my Festool fix from Tom at Tool-home (next day delivery), but there's the whole blasted charging sales tax from Texas retailers to Texas residents thing.  The combo's sales tax is $87 and shipping on a 70 pound table (give or take) will cost a lot keeping in mind that it may or may not be able to ship UPS so shipping will cost A LOT.  With an asking price of over $1,000 on just two items tax and shipping may be a deal breaker.

I went to Woodcraft and got the Ro90 on the first day of the 10% sale and only just now considered that the 10% saved plus the value of the taxes I could've just come short of covering Tom's abrasives assortment pack for the Ro90.

 

[Jason Kehl]

A question for the folks who get free accessories as a perk from buying from their local dealer; what sort of items are you referring to? I was under the impression that Festool regulates "everything" that the dealers do. My local dealer (5 hr round trip drive away) has only given me 1 pair of Festool safety glasses over the past couple years and I have spent about 20k total in his store, about 12k was Festool.

With Lee Valley now offering Festool it is actually more convienient for me to order from them, they have a first class website and excellent service.  I want to support my "local" dealer and I do enjoy the more personalized service, but I am starting to wonder if I have been somewhat mislead as to what flexibility Festool Canada actually allows him in regards to customer perks. Even a free hat or T-shirt would be a nice gesture!

Jason

 

[Brice Burrell]

Jason, the freebies are only overseas, not here in N. America.  Festool USA controls the price here and only they set any promotional freebies or discounts.  The only thing dealers here can do is throw in the occasional free T shirt or small item like your safety glasses, free tools or accessories are out of the question. 

 

[Jason Kehl]

Thanks for the info Brice. It's too bad that free stuff is out of the question, but good to know my dealer has been straight up with me. I had not been doubting him, until this thread brought the question to my mind. He has been very good to deal with.

Jason

 

[Neill]

Vadim,

I have purchased most of my Festools from local dealers although I have purchased some from the on line retailers as well.  The biggest problem with the local guys is when you need accessories, abrasives, etc.  Their inventory is usually very limited.  Either way, they are both great to deal with.  Have never had a problem.

I do like the fact that I have established relationships with Rockler, Woodcraft and Austin Hardwoods (a local lumberyard) because they do little things for you when you need it.  They will provide lots of advice, help in loading your vehicle, candid information on upcoming sales and even minor repairs.  Even your fellow shoppers will provide some advice about a product they have experience with.  I remember when I bought my TS55 another customer gave me some valuable tips and highly recommended the saw.

I also just like the experience of walking into a store, browsing the shelves and b/s ing with the locals.

Neill

 

[RONWEN]

Jason, the freebies are only overseas, not here in N. America.  Festool USA controls the price here and only they set any promotional freebies or discounts.  The only thing dealers here can do is throw in the occasional free T shirt or small item like your safety glasses, free tools or accessories are out of the question. 

I wonder if dealers would be free to throw in non-Festool items?  In other words if a customer buys "X$$" amount of any products (including Festools) they can throw in an "X".

 

[joraft]

... I also use this rule, if I touch it and demo at local dealer and that experience confirms to me it fits my needs....then I buy it from them ...

That's a good rule, and one that I always follow.

However, I'll admit that the majority of my Festool purchases have been made without touching or a demo, and ordered online from Mr. Marino. (and none have ever been returned due to disappointment)

 

[spikfot]

This Idea going around that Festool products are cheaper in N.A. is not entirely accurate in my experience, anyway.
One needs to consider the weakness of the USD right now. More importantly, the fact that retailers in Euro countries, at least the ones I'm aware of, aren't bound to the price fixing situation in the U.S.

THE ONLY time I've paid list prices is when I've dropped into a store where i'm not "known" (a handfull of times) -and in the U.S., last October.
98% of my purchases have been at one brick and mortar, where I'm very well known.
The lowest standard discount off list prices I receive is 20% on new tools -Everything. Consumables range, depending on amount purchased, get me 25-30% off.
I don't go groveling for freebies, as the discount is far more important to me. The single greatest "bonus" I get is the customer service, I've simply nothing to compare it to. Something breaks on a tool- I get a replacement, same tool, until the repair is completed. My last breakdown/repair, a CT, took about 6 hours and I dropped off the loaner I'd been given on the way home and picked up mine as good as new)  Same Day Service- try that with purchasing over the internet...

In July of this year, I had a Milwaukee 28v charger die on me- the 5 pc. tool set w/ 4 batteries was purchased at ANOTHER local retailer, 5 years prior, warranty was out after 3. After a brief phone call and a 35 minute drive , brand spanking new charger, on the house...

Brick and mortar all the way!

 

[joraft]

Same Day Service- try that with purchasing over the internet ...

Brick and mortar all the way!

I can see why you feel that way, William. It sounds like you're being well taken care of. I would think that such fast service would be more critical to a professional than a hobbyist, but we all like to get things fixed as quickly as possible.

I've had only two problems since buying my first Festool product, and in both cases a phone call got what I needed over-nighted to me, no questions asked. I've never had to send in a whole machine for repair, but I hear that's pretty fast as well.

Obviously, "the best place to buy Festool" does vary with our individual circumstances.

 

[andvari]

This Idea going around that Festool products are cheaper in N.A. is not entirely accurate in my experience, anyway.
One needs to consider the weakness of the USD right now. More importantly, the fact that retailers in Euro countries, at least the ones I'm aware of, aren't bound to the price fixing situation in the U.S.

Well I think you might have it a bit mixed up. Actually the USD is quite strong relative to the Euro right now. It has gone from 1.43 to 1.29 dollar/EU since August. Because of the fixed price in the US this relatively stronger dollar makes the US price relative to the EU price increase. If the dollar were going down the relative US price would also be going down.

As far as retailers in the EU, there is also the matter of VAT to figure into the equation which might counter the discounts.

I wish there were a brick and mortar near where I live - there are some tools I'd like to see before making a decision - but the only ones around me are not general public retail. When the drive gets to an hour I just go internet. There are some good internet sources that are within a day of me by UPS ground.

Maybe if the dollar continues to do well vs the Euro over the next 6 months I'll visit Sweden in the summer. My great grandfather was from Oland. Some day I'd like to see it.

 

[denovich]

Andvari

Sweden is indeed worth visiting.  It can be lovely even in February.  But they use the Swedish Krona not the Euro.  (That said, the dollar has risen against the SEK as well.)