I've got about 2k to spend and I'm buying the ts55, ct22 and MFT/3 with a bunch of accessories...so many places to shop. Just spoke to a salesman at CPO and he did not even know the standard dimentions of plywood--I'm serious! I was plannning on buying there, but I hate the thought of rewarding a store for hiring such unqualified people---I just imagine if I had to call back in to deal with a real problem...any [mad]
Where to buy 3 tools
- Thread starter Shon
- Start date
Shon,
[welcome] to the forum. You can search for dealers in your zip code by visiting this address.. I've taken the liberty of inserting information for you, but if I did it wrong, you can go to the bottom of the page. If you want to order from an on line dealer instead, at the bottom of that page in lime green is a link to on line dealers.
As a moderator I can't give any recommendations of dealers, but maybe others can share their experiences.
Good luck and have fun!
Peter
[welcome] to the forum. You can search for dealers in your zip code by visiting this address.. I've taken the liberty of inserting information for you, but if I did it wrong, you can go to the bottom of the page. If you want to order from an on line dealer instead, at the bottom of that page in lime green is a link to on line dealers.
As a moderator I can't give any recommendations of dealers, but maybe others can share their experiences.
Good luck and have fun!
Peter
Wood_Junkie
Member
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2009
- Messages
- 1,311
Brick and Mortar stores: You didn't list your location, but likely there is a Woodcraft and/or Rockler near you. YMMV, but the staff usually knows the Festool stuff fairly well.
However, you can save a lot by avoiding sales tax (and also shipping costs) through a number of online vendors. ..
If you want good information and a helpful dealer, Bob Marino is also a user on this site. Nothing but positive things posted by many other uses, and I agree. He found me an answer to a very specific technical question, and provided the part I would need to accomplish what I wanted to do, all within the same day.
His website is: http://www.bobmarinosbesttools.com/
I've also purchased a number of Festool items and tools from AceTool. They're based in New York, and provide free shipping , and no tax outside of NY. I found them originally because I wanted to get the Festool apron (with mini-Systainer) and they are the only ones I could find that currently carry it (love the apron btw.. got two!).
www.acetoolonline.com
And finally, I got my first Festool from Tools-Plus, no really good reason, but I have had excellent service from them, including phone calls back, and immediate responses to emails (just yesterday, in fact). Through them I ordered the first-gen Domino, at the Festool discounted price (but you can do this through just about any dealer)
www.tools-plus.com
Now as far as your listed tools, are you a heavy duty user such that you'd need the CT22 and its capabilities? I'm a fairly serious hobbyist, and I have found the Midi is more than adequate for all my Festool'ing usage. Note that I do not use it as my primary dust collection system for other tools. My point is, the combo's are available with all the CT vacuums, and you could stretch your budget a bit more by evaluating the various CT units.
The TS55 is fantastic. Between that and the Domino, it feels like the glory of tool designer heaven opened up and welcomed me to enlightenment [big grin] .
Dunno if you have researched the big differences between the MFT3 and MFT 1080, but you can get the latter via Festool's closeout pricing, and save about $160... to put towards another tool, of course! or accessories. For right about that much you can get one of the very nice sanding units... or a set or two of MFT clamps.
Make sure you evalute the package deal approaches... For example,
A TS55 + Midi ($855) + MFT3 ($575) comes to $1430
But a TS55 + MFT3 ($1017) + Midi ($395) = $1412.
A TS55 + CT22 ($954) + MFT3 ($575) = $1529
But a TS55 + MFT3 ($1017) + CT22 ($505) = $1522.
If you were to get a closeout MFT 1080 set:
A TS55 + Midi ($855) + MFT1080 ($414) comes to $1269
A TS55 + CT22 ($954) + MFT1080 ($414) = $1368
Ride the lime wave!
However, you can save a lot by avoiding sales tax (and also shipping costs) through a number of online vendors. ..
If you want good information and a helpful dealer, Bob Marino is also a user on this site. Nothing but positive things posted by many other uses, and I agree. He found me an answer to a very specific technical question, and provided the part I would need to accomplish what I wanted to do, all within the same day.
His website is: http://www.bobmarinosbesttools.com/
I've also purchased a number of Festool items and tools from AceTool. They're based in New York, and provide free shipping , and no tax outside of NY. I found them originally because I wanted to get the Festool apron (with mini-Systainer) and they are the only ones I could find that currently carry it (love the apron btw.. got two!).
www.acetoolonline.com
And finally, I got my first Festool from Tools-Plus, no really good reason, but I have had excellent service from them, including phone calls back, and immediate responses to emails (just yesterday, in fact). Through them I ordered the first-gen Domino, at the Festool discounted price (but you can do this through just about any dealer)
www.tools-plus.com
Now as far as your listed tools, are you a heavy duty user such that you'd need the CT22 and its capabilities? I'm a fairly serious hobbyist, and I have found the Midi is more than adequate for all my Festool'ing usage. Note that I do not use it as my primary dust collection system for other tools. My point is, the combo's are available with all the CT vacuums, and you could stretch your budget a bit more by evaluating the various CT units.
The TS55 is fantastic. Between that and the Domino, it feels like the glory of tool designer heaven opened up and welcomed me to enlightenment [big grin] .
Dunno if you have researched the big differences between the MFT3 and MFT 1080, but you can get the latter via Festool's closeout pricing, and save about $160... to put towards another tool, of course! or accessories. For right about that much you can get one of the very nice sanding units... or a set or two of MFT clamps.
Make sure you evalute the package deal approaches... For example,
A TS55 + Midi ($855) + MFT3 ($575) comes to $1430
But a TS55 + MFT3 ($1017) + Midi ($395) = $1412.
A TS55 + CT22 ($954) + MFT3 ($575) = $1529
But a TS55 + MFT3 ($1017) + CT22 ($505) = $1522.
If you were to get a closeout MFT 1080 set:
A TS55 + Midi ($855) + MFT1080 ($414) comes to $1269
A TS55 + CT22 ($954) + MFT1080 ($414) = $1368
Ride the lime wave!
William and Wood Junkie,
I looked up his IP Address and he appears to be in Washington state. The link I posted was for his area showing the local dealers to him.
Thanks for your help and advice.
Peter
I looked up his IP Address and he appears to be in Washington state. The link I posted was for his area showing the local dealers to him.
Thanks for your help and advice.
Peter
WarnerConstCo.
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- Apr 14, 2008
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- 4,205
I don't get the whole trying to avoid the state sales tax thing.
Wood_Junkie
Member
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2009
- Messages
- 1,311
WarnerConstCo. said:
Really? Our local tax rate in Madison, WI is 5.5%. We all know, Festool ain't cheap. Drop $800 on a Domino, for example, and that's $44 just in taxes.
With that $44 I could buy a pair of clamps, or a box of sandpaper.. or be halfway to a number of other accessories. With all that I've purchased in the last 6 months or so, putting the money towards sales tax would've cost me an entire tool (the DTS400, to be precise).
For the OP's budget, WA's minimum sale tax rate is 6.5%, which would reduce his 'purchasing power' by $130. That's a lotta cabbage with nothing in hand.
Thank you--everyone for the helpful posts...I will be purchasing today! I'll be looking at all package deals, but I feel pretty good about this initial order...my new project of 3 dozen vanities will allow me to get a couple more tools in about 6-8 weeks. I've been viewing many online videos and am finally making the leap from Bosch, Makita, Dewalt, Milwaukee...etc. I will take a picture of my stuff when it arrives--I also just purchased a Kreg DB110 Forman pocket hole machine!
In an effort to keep this discussion from possibly going way off topic, the whole issue of taxes has been discussed numerous times here - often heatedly.
The facts are that buying items from outside your state usually results in the seller not collecting sales taxes unless they are required to do so. Most do not because they don't want to get licensed to do so in all states and sometimes localities also.
Many states require that the individual who buys in this manner declare and pay taxes on their purchases as part of their filing of state and / or local tax returns.
Some individuals do. Some don't. States and localities are usually very lax on their enforcement of these laws due to the difficulty of enforcing.
The risk is on the individual. Only they can decide what they wish to do, and although we all have opinions, they are just that.
Peter
The facts are that buying items from outside your state usually results in the seller not collecting sales taxes unless they are required to do so. Most do not because they don't want to get licensed to do so in all states and sometimes localities also.
Many states require that the individual who buys in this manner declare and pay taxes on their purchases as part of their filing of state and / or local tax returns.
Some individuals do. Some don't. States and localities are usually very lax on their enforcement of these laws due to the difficulty of enforcing.
The risk is on the individual. Only they can decide what they wish to do, and although we all have opinions, they are just that.
Peter
Wood_Junkie said:
Technically, I believe that you would still owe your state the $44. There's a reason why the technical term is "sales and use tax". If you buy a product online (or in another state that has a lower tax), and then use the product in a different state, you owe the difference between the tax you paid (which on mail order purchases may be nothing), and the tax in the state where you use the item. As to whether the state is going to bother to go after you for the small amount is a different story, but most people do not understand that they are technically violating the law.
Wood_Junkie
Member
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- Dec 2, 2009
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- 1,311
Thanks Peter and dustypuppy, I actually was unaware of that. So put me in that category of people! [eek]
Jesus Aleman
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- Nov 12, 2008
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- 206
Typically when an on-line purchase says no tax. It means that the vendor is not required to collect the sales tax for out of state purchasers. It doesn't mean that there is no tax to be paid in the purchaser's state.
JohnDistai
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- Jan 2, 2010
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- 216
Hey, I see that Bob Marino is mentioned very positively very often, but what about Festool Junkie? I never see them mentioned. Are they any good as a dealer? I would consider ordering from Bob, but FJ offers to trade the hoses on the vacs for the upcharge. Perhaps Bob would do that, but I didn't get the impression that he would. Am I incorrect?
As several have stated, states have a "Use Tax" to make up for the sales tax. It always puzzles me why government feels entitled to take a piece of the action for every interaction. Maddening.
As several have stated, states have a "Use Tax" to make up for the sales tax. It always puzzles me why government feels entitled to take a piece of the action for every interaction. Maddening.
John,
Bob Marino might be mentioned more often because the Festool Junkie doesn't post here often. Bob is one of the dealers who has been around since the beginning and has earned his reputation thru working hard to satisfy the customer. I admit I am a customer of Bob Marino and will happily buy again. I have also bought from other dealers via the internet and also locally. So has my wife. I think that if you look thru the posts on the Forum the ones that will stand out will do so because of their customer service. If you want to see if another dealer, Bob, or anyone else, internet or local, will trade hoses - contact them and ask.
Peter
Bob Marino might be mentioned more often because the Festool Junkie doesn't post here often. Bob is one of the dealers who has been around since the beginning and has earned his reputation thru working hard to satisfy the customer. I admit I am a customer of Bob Marino and will happily buy again. I have also bought from other dealers via the internet and also locally. So has my wife. I think that if you look thru the posts on the Forum the ones that will stand out will do so because of their customer service. If you want to see if another dealer, Bob, or anyone else, internet or local, will trade hoses - contact them and ask.
Peter
I think you will find that most of the Festool dealers who are not part of the "chain stores" know the product well, and are very easy to work with. I have never purchased from Festool Junkie, so I can't comment on his level of service. I have worked with Bob Marino and Tom Bellemare, and they are offer excellent service. I am also lucky to have a local Woodcraft who takes the Festool product line seriously, but not all do. There are several dealers who frequently contribute to this forum, so they are the first that I think of when I make an online purchase. I buy locally when I need something immediately, or when I really want to get a better idea of the feel or functionality. In the case of the later, the dealers investment in demo stock is rewarded with my business. Even if it is a little more expensive.
It has been my experience that Bob will make just about any substitution or special packaging allowed by his resell agreement.
I would recommand without any doubts John at www.Beavertools.com
He's not only a Festool retailer so I've bought Freud blades, mirka sandpaper all from him.
Top notch service !
Cheers
Alex
He's not only a Festool retailer so I've bought Freud blades, mirka sandpaper all from him.
Top notch service !
Cheers
Alex
Now just a quick note about the tax thing.
Since i drive south sometimes to get my Festools (I'm canadian) I can tell you that I always order from the same dealer who is out of state (not in NY state).
Otherwise I would have to pay :
retail price
+ NY sales tax
+ 5% canadian GST
+7.5% provincial sales tax only if it's a personal import (not my case)
.... in the end that's a lot in taxes for the same product.
So what I do is I order from Beavertools who is out of NY state, then pay 5% GST for commercial import... huge difference !
Cheers
Alex
Since i drive south sometimes to get my Festools (I'm canadian) I can tell you that I always order from the same dealer who is out of state (not in NY state).
Otherwise I would have to pay :
retail price
+ NY sales tax
+ 5% canadian GST
+7.5% provincial sales tax only if it's a personal import (not my case)
.... in the end that's a lot in taxes for the same product.
So what I do is I order from Beavertools who is out of NY state, then pay 5% GST for commercial import... huge difference !
Cheers
Alex
Bob Marino
Member
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- Jan 16, 2007
- Messages
- 3,263
To answer the question of swappin' out the hoses, yep I can do it (and have done it); just charge the difference in price.
PS - to my customers - thanks for the kind words!
Bob
PS - to my customers - thanks for the kind words!
Bob
Shon said:
I hope that your purchase turned out. I also hope that you found a dealer who was able to give the the personal touch. Please let us know how it turned out.
Peter
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