Where did the TS75 go?

[OzarkNerd]

Hi Folks,

Just so I understand...the lack of TS75 inventory is due to supply chain issues brought on by 1+ year of covid?  Even though the TS55REQ is supposedly being/has been redesigned, the TS75 will not undergo the same redesign.  I this correct?

Thanks

Adam

A large dealer told me that Festool told them that they had to scale back production based on various covid factors.  Because the 55 outsells the 75 significantly, they decided to devote all available resources towards the 55 until the end of the year so the 75 is temporarily out of production.  Not in any way linked to being "discontinued" or redesigned or anything like that.  If you really need one, like I did, keep your eye on festoolrecon.com: I just snagged a 75 for $505 10 minutes ago.  Been watching for about 3 weeks and this was the first one that has come up there but I'm sure there will be more.  That same dealer told me that the earliest they expect to get new 75s is Dec 2021 or Jan 2022 and I didn't want to wait that long!

 

[AlexThePalex]

A large dealer told me that Festool told them that they had to scale back production based on various covid factors.  Because the 55 outsells the 75 significantly, they decided to devote all available resources towards the 55 until the end of the year so the 75 is temporarily out of production.  Not in any way linked to being "discontinued" or redesigned or anything like that.

What I don't understand is why they can't communicate about that.

This is a global crisis, everybody is insecure or plain scared about what's happening. When it comes to buying stuff, we just wonder what's going on when something's not available.

Festool, why can't you just communicate if something's not available? No, you pull the page from the website and leave everybody wondering. Is it realy too difficult to add a little banner on the product page like "tempororaily unavailable due to covid measures, will be back soon".

We're in a global crisis. They keep telling us we're all in this together, and that we should pull together.

Communication on all levels is essential.

 

[FestitaMakool]

Very true, and seconded Alex

 

[OzarkNerd]

Communication on all levels is essential.

We definitely had "all levels" involved here.  Festool told the dealer.  The dealer told me.  I told the web.  The web told you.  [big grin]  I'm kidding of course, obviously it would be nice to have a blurb about it on the main Festool site.  But I can also see how competitive businesses wouldn't want to show their full hand and give away potentially a year's worth of sales to the other guy, etc.

 

[Cypren]

Festool, like a lot of tool companies, seems to strongly prefer the model where they communicate with dealers and dealers communicate with customers. If I had to guess, this is especially true for bad news, because getting it from a human rather than a web page means that they have an opportunity to upsell or cross-sell you to another product if the one you're looking for isn't an option.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Ah, so psychological tricks to sell one tool more or less are more important than imbuing trust in your customers? Hmm.

I hope Festool doesn't think in such a way and that their method to handle this is mostly the result of laziness and negligence.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Every time some big problem/mistake comes up at work, because of something that someone knew, but others didn't, out comes my comment. "The most important thing we have is free....Information, How about we share it?"

It always seems to me, that even bad news is better than what the imagination can come up with or worry about. At least you can work with or plan around the truth.

I got a TS75 from US Tool & Fastener a few weeks ago. I have no idea how many they got ahold of, or if they still have them? but there apparently are a few still around.

 

[Coen]

Well, the TS 55 is the gateway drug into Festool. I guess most TS75 owners already owned a TS55. So it kinda makes sense to prioritize the TS55 if confronted with a parts shortage.

 

[mino]

I believe the biggest issue is that Festool themselves do not really know how the situation will develop.

As a result, they do not want to commit to "will be available at" whatever the date as it may not come to pass.

It is annoying for a brand fan, but I can understand such a position. Been there, done that, got burned, not gonna do again ...

Festool is essentially saying "if you need it, look elsewhere". I think that is a fair message.