Why on earth doesn't Festool offer "mix'n'match" batteries with certain tool specials?

[luvmytoolz]

I have a number of Festool items on my list to acquire over time, I'm not in any hurry but it really annoys me that every month when I check the promotions, they're always a bit lacking.

I really want to add another couple sets of the 8ah packs, but I also want a cordless 55, a HKC, and a CXS 18 and likely the KSC 60. But all of them only come with either 4ah or 5ah batteries. Even the KSC 60 only comes with 5ah batteries as does the CT SYS 50, and if there's any Festool tool that needs 8ah batteries that's definitely one!

So I'm stuck with only being able to buy a discounted offer with batteries I don't want, or pay full price for the bare sets which are never reduced, and the 8ah set also at full price.

The CT Mini and CT midi both currently have the 8ah set option which saves around $200 or so total, but while a cordless extractor could be useful, I already have 6 extractors so it's really not a pressing need for a 7th one.

I can understand with the CSX and the HKC that the batteries are actually in the tools systainer so that might be a little harder to swap or require a different systainer lid insert, but with tools like the KSC 60, the SYS 50, etc, the battery packs are completely separate to the tools anyway so it makes absolutely no difference to bundle with a set of 5ah's or 8ah's, just adjust the price and discount accordingly.

The 55, the CT Midi and the CT Mini are all around the same price, so why isn't the 55 offered with 8ah's?

I have all the 4's and 5's I want (or don't want), so I just don't understand why Festool doesn't offer some flexibility with the tools they can certainly be flexible with.

 

[mino]

I think this is specifically an Oz issue due to the size of the market. I would suggest writing to the local Festool rep. with the ask/demand and include a good reasoning why THEY should do it.

IMO what they could do is like the European specials when you get free battery with a tool. Instead offer a discount for a battery purchased with a tool, irrespective the battery type. That should not cause stocking issues while making both parties happy.

Especially for the HKC and the KSC 60 I can see the 8Ah TBX packs being the go-to.

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I Europe the price differences are such that buying a "set" only gives you a /mostly/ free charger. So the default option is buying the basic tools and batteries separately, possibly outside an initial purchase into the platform. I think this pattern will even accelerate with the new systainer charger as it will create additional glut of chargers on the secondary market, making the "bundled" chargers even less of a value for many.

 

[onocoffee]

@luvmytoolz Did Oz have any price changes in 2026? In the USA, the 4,0 and 5,0 batteries dropped to $86 from over $100. The upcoming 8,0 will be $165 in June. It seems that the "old" 8,0 is no longer available here.

 

[luvmytoolz]

@luvmytoolz Did Oz have any price changes in 2026? In the USA, the 4,0 and 5,0 batteries dropped to $86 from over $100. The upcoming 8,0 will be $165 in June. It seems that the "old" 8,0 is no longer available here.

Some tools are a little more but no significant changes from what I've seen. The 8ah set of 2 batteries and single charger is $695, same as it was last year. No word on any new batteries.

 

[artforge]

Might be a little late here - but they're currently offering the KSC 60 package with the 8.0AH batteries (and a pair of SCA-16 chargers!) for just a few bucks more than the 5.0AH package

 

[Coen]

Probably better profit on the 18650 cell based batteries. Plus SKU spam is annoying for dealers too.

 

[luvmytoolz]

Might be a little late here - but they're currently offering the KSC 60 package with the 8.0AH batteries (and a pair of SCA-16 chargers!) for just a few bucks more than the 5.0AH package

As usual here in Oz that's not an option for us! Still only supplied with the 5's.

 

[Crispy]

A while ago I did ask festool about swapping out items in a bundle like some of our big box stores can and will do, and paying the difference when i went looking for my vacuum originall.
I was told they come as they are from Festool ( europe) and we cant change any items.

Even an option dropdown like hilti do, and choose what batteries they come with would be nice, as i had to order my CXS18 bare and then get a battery separate as i didnt want another tcl6 charger, ( would have been #4 ) id rather get a sca8 or 16.

 

[luvmytoolz]

A while ago I did ask festool about swapping out items in a bundle like some of our big box stores can and will do, and paying the difference when i went looking for my vacuum originall.
I was told they come as they are from Festool ( europe) and we cant change any items.

Even an option dropdown like hilti do, and choose what batteries they come with would be nice, as i had to order my CXS18 bare and then get a battery separate as i didnt want another tcl6 charger, ( would have been #4 ) id rather get a sca8 or 16.

Yeah it gets pretty annoying. When I got the SYS 50 I wanted the mobile trolley with it, but of course it came with a set of 5Ah's that were pretty much useless to me, and I had to buy the 8Ah set separately.

It was just a waste of money for me.

 

[onocoffee]

I was told they come as they are from Festool ( europe) and we cant change any items.

Yet, FTUSA went ahead and created their own abrasive systainers?

 

[mino]

Yet, FTUSA went ahead and created their own abrasive systainers?

Yup. That "we cannot change what comes" is a local, Australian, call so they are not asked to justify themselves to the HQ.

Given how super-regulated Australian culture seems lately, looking from the outside, this seems par for the course. To change things one needs take ownership of decisions. Something that is the absolute last thing you want to do when operating in a bureaucratic organization..

One needs to keep nagging them .. maybe even nagging the HQ directly if local bureaucrats say HQ calls the shots..