Woodpeckers $289.00 measuring tool vs. mine made from scrap and paper clips.
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Crazyraceguy
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Cheese said:
They stock spares for tools that they no longer produce? Now that, sounds counter to the idea that these tools were not popular enough to be profitable in the first place?
Also "spare parts" or repair parts are not the entire tool. If it is stolen, or destroyed by some other means, you are still stuck. And if they did, by some insanity, have all of the parts to create the entire tool, why not sell it as the entire tool?
Or if they could/would make these parts on an "as needed" basis for the original purchaser? That has created the exclusivity thing that I mentioned before by calling it a cult. If you have to "follow" a tool company so closely that you see these initial offerings from the very beginning like it's some kind of Kickstarter program? So only those who pre-paid some arbitrary "cost" get the privilege of owning one?
Ah, no.
As far as the ide of a back-up, it just depends. I don't really mean a direct duplicate, but more of another way to do the same thing, until the original can be repaired or replaced.
For example, If something were to happen to my MFK700, that I use exclusively for trimming hardwood edging, I have an alternative. I purchased all of the angle stop and chip deflector parts of the OF1010, which will do the same thing. I have only ever needed to set it up like that once and that was because I needed more width of cut than the MFK700 could reach, but the ability is there.
Again, this is because I do this for a living, I can't just set things off to the side until I canget the original fixed/replaced, like a hobbyist can.
So, my original point, if this was the case with some very unique OTT, for which there really is no alternative? Even if I could put a project off until I could get the new one, if no new one is available, then what?
I realize that I may be over-dramatizing this, but having a devastating loss can change ones perspective.
Cheese
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Crazyraceguy said:
Ya, on several occasions I called them up and they sent out the parts I needed which I received in 4-5 days. On a OTT square they sent me a completely new one with a return slip for the old one that I had. I'm sure they probably rebuilt it & re-anodized it and then put it in inventory for spares. So after chatting with them, it's my understanding that they inventory spares and some complete assemblies.
To tell you the truth, I've had more issues with getting spares from Festool. [sad]
R
Rob Z
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Cheese, I had the same experience years ago. Before I ordered the first OTT (first for me as a buyer), I called and asked "what happens if I have a problem later etc etc?" The WP employee explained that they have projections for this and they do keep spares and fully intend to get everything to work out so they have enough for these "eventualities".
Turns out one time I had one of those problems and sure enough, I called and with no hassle and no questions asked, they sent a replacement.
CRG, I've never felt it was cultish or hard to stay on top of what the plans were for upcoming products. The periodic emails with product announcements make it easy to stay on top of what is available. The website is about as clear as one could expect. I have never felt like it was a Kickstarter sort of deal with WP because they aren't taking any payment up front. I have always considered the OTT dealio to be very one-sided: all the risk is on WP and none of the risk is on the consumer. Except for the paypal issue, any other customer can cancel their order prior to shipment and WP is left holding the bag, so to speak.
Turns out one time I had one of those problems and sure enough, I called and with no hassle and no questions asked, they sent a replacement.
CRG, I've never felt it was cultish or hard to stay on top of what the plans were for upcoming products. The periodic emails with product announcements make it easy to stay on top of what is available. The website is about as clear as one could expect. I have never felt like it was a Kickstarter sort of deal with WP because they aren't taking any payment up front. I have always considered the OTT dealio to be very one-sided: all the risk is on WP and none of the risk is on the consumer. Except for the paypal issue, any other customer can cancel their order prior to shipment and WP is left holding the bag, so to speak.
No amount of explanation justifies people bitching about a company that offers limited run tools that no one else is offering. If you have a problem with their model do not buy anything from them and it past time for you to reevaluate your outlook on life. The negativity towards something that is nothing but positive is beyond my comprehension.
I am thankful that companies go out on a limb to make products and hope they sell. I do not want to live in a world without entrepreneurs. I do not care about what anyone sells...more selection is better and quality counts.
A previous poster mentioned their tools might be a loss leader. There is no chance they are making OTT's as loss leader. At the next woodworking show head over to their booth and have a talk with one of the owners.
I am thankful that companies go out on a limb to make products and hope they sell. I do not want to live in a world without entrepreneurs. I do not care about what anyone sells...more selection is better and quality counts.
A previous poster mentioned their tools might be a loss leader. There is no chance they are making OTT's as loss leader. At the next woodworking show head over to their booth and have a talk with one of the owners.
Crazyraceguy
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What exactly is positive about advertising a tool that you no longer make?JimH2 said:
General Motors doesn't advertise Pontiac or Oldsmobile anymore, because they don't make them anymore.
In general, when a company discontinues an item it's for a reason, but that is not because they intended that from day one, and they certainly don't keep advertising it. They stop production because the item didn't sell like they thought, or something happens to the supply chain making it not profitable, or they end up in a lawsuit? something?
I still say that this seems like a crowd funding type thing where only the original investors get anything.
I wouldn’t say WP really “advertises” OTTs no longer in production. They have the one page on their site (which isn’t very conspicuous) showing the OTT production history. There are a lot of benefits to this: some people are just curious, some people want to look back at details of a product they ordered and are still waiting for, and some people might want to look at older products so they can request a new production run — something which WP does do infrequently when there’s enough pent-up demand to justify it.
They are not sending out marketing emails going, “aren’t you sorry you missed the SuperWidget 31? Don’t miss out again! Order the WhizbangGizmo 32 today!” If the mere knowledge of a limited purchasing window for low volume products is causing major FOMO anxiety, that strikes me as saying more about the purchaser than about the company.
They are not sending out marketing emails going, “aren’t you sorry you missed the SuperWidget 31? Don’t miss out again! Order the WhizbangGizmo 32 today!” If the mere knowledge of a limited purchasing window for low volume products is causing major FOMO anxiety, that strikes me as saying more about the purchaser than about the company.
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Most of the expired OTT pages have a link where you can get on a
list so they can judge how much interest there is in another run.
I have used that a couple times to catch the next run of a OTT I
wanted.
I can't believe people are still whining about this. Can't you find
anything better to complain about?
Taxes, the ice caps are melting, social injustice, corruption in
government.
Don't complain about them here though, do it somewhere else.
list so they can judge how much interest there is in another run.
I have used that a couple times to catch the next run of a OTT I
wanted.
I can't believe people are still whining about this. Can't you find
anything better to complain about?
Taxes, the ice caps are melting, social injustice, corruption in
government.
Don't complain about them here though, do it somewhere else.
Festool and WP are the exact same. You will find tons and tons of people who bitch about them and exclaim they are too expensive for what you get. Yet if you drink the red Kool-Aid or the green Kool-Aid nine times out of 10 you’re probably happy. I have more money than I care to admit invested in both. Most of them have been winners. The ones that have not been I simply accept that maybe it was not the tool I should have bought.
Not sure I really understand the whole OTT marketing structure. But the OTT tools that I have gotten I’ve been happy with. The ones that I’ve missed out on I’ve never gone to bed screaming at the wife and kids “how in gods name did I let that slip!!” Fun topic to read but probably time to move on. Buy WP or don’t buy WP.
But I will say this their customer service is outstanding. Bought a silly little woodpecker’s tin sign just for the heck of it. Had a small blemish in it and I just simply sent an email that said “oh wow tiny little mark on it” but just letting you know. I am a big believer in giving companies feedback. I’m not looking for a freebie I was not looking to send it back just wanted to let them know that they may want to take a check in the future before it ships.
No questions asked they shipped out another one didn’t even want the other one back. Again not mother Theresa actions but pretty darn solid in my book
Not sure I really understand the whole OTT marketing structure. But the OTT tools that I have gotten I’ve been happy with. The ones that I’ve missed out on I’ve never gone to bed screaming at the wife and kids “how in gods name did I let that slip!!” Fun topic to read but probably time to move on. Buy WP or don’t buy WP.
But I will say this their customer service is outstanding. Bought a silly little woodpecker’s tin sign just for the heck of it. Had a small blemish in it and I just simply sent an email that said “oh wow tiny little mark on it” but just letting you know. I am a big believer in giving companies feedback. I’m not looking for a freebie I was not looking to send it back just wanted to let them know that they may want to take a check in the future before it ships.
No questions asked they shipped out another one didn’t even want the other one back. Again not mother Theresa actions but pretty darn solid in my book
