Woodpeckers OneTime Tool - Festool MFT Layout & Assembly Square (US)

[JFelchlin]

Regards:
Woodpeckers' "ONE TIME TOOLS" versus "Whenever Tools".
It's hard to understand how a tool company making PRECISION tools -
Can't keep a FIXED production schedule on ORDERS MADE MONTHS IN ADVANCE.
Last year - When I ordered a WP's "ONE TIME TOOL" - The scheduled date of delivery passed by nearly a month.
So I called 'em - And complained - Saying: "If you can't deliver it - Cancel my $300+ order".
After listening to their excuses about suppliers not delivering materials to make the product - I repeated my "deliver or cancel my order" edict.
That was in the late afternoon (EST - Their time).
Interestingly... Somehow... My completed order arrived the next afternoon.
As my Dad used to say: "Who they tryin’ to fool?"

WP's makes excellent products. I have many of them.
And... I probably/maybe will order another ONE TIME TOOL in the future.
TRUST Woodpeckers as a company? Nada. Nope. Not any more.

At some point - Another company will begin to compete with Woodpeckers.
It almost always happens sooner or later.
Old business saying: "Ignore your customers - They'll go away."
My own addendum: Lie to ‘em - And they’ll run from your business -
“Bad mouthin’ ya” to everybody as they go.

As a caveat - This is about Woodpeckers' ongoing poor business practices.
I, nor I doubt anyone else, has anything but good to say about Shane or The Tool Nut.
My experience has always been that you:
Do what your say your going to do - Are customer oriented - And go out of your way to: "Get it right - Make it right".
You do your best to make up for the failures of your suppliers.
Kudos to you and your team.

 

[ProCarpenterRVA]

I thought I'd chime in on the One Time Tool thing. Just my thoughts and opinion based on recent experiences over the last year.

I have bought quite a few one time tools over the past year. Some come early, some come late. I don't stress over it because I know that it's going to be made and it'll be a good tool.

Woodpeckers sells a ton of the One Time tool orders. They have a niche market that delivers high quality products for discerning crafts people. These people are willing to work with their schedule because they are getting something that isn't available elsewhere.

Woodpeckers business model for this program is a good way for them to keep inventory at a minimum and offer more products than they would otherwise given their size.

My guess would be that Woodpeckers uses subcontractors for some phases, and that they do have supply chain problems just like I do in my business. Also, I would guess that the earlier you order your tool in the marketing cycle, the sooner you get it when they begin production. That has been the pattern for the delivery of my tools. I am sure that they are very helpful and willing to give some on the delivery if you call and complain,  they're just trying to keep people happy. I doubt that they are trying to mislead or lie to anyone. They're trying to make the stuff and get it out the door!

Lastly, given the current tariff issue for steel and aluminum, they may be facing pressure in the market for raw materials both in cost and availability...

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[Cheese]

1. My guess would be that Woodpeckers uses subcontractors for some phases, and that they do have supply chain problems just like I do in my business.

2. Also, I would guess that the earlier you order your tool in the marketing cycle, the sooner you get it when they begin production. That has been the pattern for the delivery of my tools. I am sure that they are very helpful and willing to give some on the delivery if you call and complain,  they're just trying to keep people happy. I doubt that they are trying to mislead or lie to anyone. They're trying to make the stuff and get it out the door!

3. Lastly, given the current tariff issue for steel and aluminum, they may be facing pressure in the market for raw materials both in cost and availability...

1. I've talked with several of the designers and also the owner of Woodpeckers. According to them, everything is done in-house except for the anodizing. They have had issues with the anodizer.

2. I also confirmed the FIFO purchase/ship issue with them.

3. This new tariff issue will be effecting us more and more. Got this note from Starrett just yesterday.

June 1, 2018

Subject: Section 232 Steel Tariffs – June 1, 2018 – Imported Steel
Re: June 8th Effective Surcharge Ground Flat Stock and Drill Rod

The U. S. Government has imposed a 25% duty on steel imported from the European Union effective June 1, 2018. This action will have a significant impact to our cost and, as a result, we will implement an immediate material(s) surcharge.

Without additional notice or exception, effective with the start of business June 8, 2018, The Company shall add a surcharge to all ground flat stock and drill rod of: 10%.

We appreciate your understanding during this unsettled period and we thank you for your continued business.

The L.S. Starrett Company
121 Crescent Street | Athol, MA 01331 - USA
Phone: (978) 249-3551 | Fax: (978) 249-8495

 

[Mike Upstate]

Just cancelled and requesred a refund to my Paypal account.  Customer service at Tool-Nut was accomodating, though insisted that Woodpeckers has not released the tool to any purchasers.

 

[RustE]

Just cancelled and requesred a refund to my Paypal account.  Customer service at Tool-Nut was accomodating, though insisted that Woodpeckers has not released the tool to any purchasers.

I would interpret that as none of the ToolNut purchasers have received their order.  The folks at Woodpeckers are shipping orders now that their production issues are mostly resolved.  As previously mentioned they are following the first in, first out philosophy.  What I do not know is if the ToolNut purchasers are in a group near the very end of that list.

Like you, I am growing tired of my money being out on an interest-free loan.  Really tempted to grab an Anderson Plywood square from Amazon for $30/shipped.

 

[ChuckM]

[

Snipe

June 1, 2018

Subject: Section 232 Steel Tariffs – June 1, 2018 – Imported Steel
Re: June 8th Effective Surcharge Ground Flat Stock and Drill Rod

The U. S. Government has imposed a 25% duty on steel imported from the European Union effective June 1, 2018. This action will have a significant impact to our cost and, as a result, we will implement an immediate material(s) surcharge.
.

We Canucks got hit by the tariffs as well, not just EU and we supply more steel and aluminum than any others. So expect the steel product prices to go all up across the board. If the proposed tariffs on autos materialize, vehicles will get more pricey, too.

 

[ChuckM]

Snipe
WP's makes excellent products. I have many of them.
And... I probably/maybe will order another ONE TIME TOOL in the future.
TRUST Woodpeckers as a company? Nada. Nope. Not any more.

I have had no experience with WP and so my comment is not about that company. I will not deal with a vendor if it has proved to be distrustful regardless of the quality of the products it sells.

 

[Shane Holland]

What I do not know is if the ToolNut purchasers are in a group near the very end of that list.

I think I may have mentioned this before but don't mind sharing it again.

Woodpeckers ships to their own customers first since they are the manufacturer. I have asked several times and have been consistently told that we are shipping products as soon as they finish production for their own customers and are among the first to get OneTime Tools.

 

[southrider]

To repeat myself.

Ordering one time tools through The Tool Nut gets me free shipping.
Ordering from woodpeckers I pay shipping, but get the tool a little earlier.

After waiting 3-6 months for a tool a few extra weeks is worth the trade-off to me. We don't order one-time tools because they are something we urgently need for a project or a job.

These are luxuries we indulge ourselves with. Why all the anxiety?

 

[ChuckM]

These are luxuries we indulge ourselves with. Why all the anxiety?

As I see it, the root of the "delay" problem is due to the business model in which a manufacturer sells direct to customers as well as through dealers AND then delivers the finished goods to the direct customers first. Perhaps this is why a dealer offers free shipping as a means to compensate for the "delay".

Those who can't wait have the free option to pay a higher price for an earlier delivery. That is no different from me paying a top-tier courier fee when I want something delivered the next day overseas.

 

[RustE]

[member=48572]Shane Holland[/member] - Any news on the timing for this thing?

 

[Shane Holland]

[member=48572]Shane Holland[/member] - Any news on the timing for this thing?

[member=63201]RustE[/member], we are shipping these today and tomorrow. We just received inventory yesterday. You will receive tracking info shortly for your order.

 

[nostoct]

@shane holland

Does Tool Nut have any extra of these due to canceled orders or otherwise? I missed the deadline but would like to pick one up.

 

[Shane Holland]

[member=67232]nostoct[/member], I'll check and send you a PM once I know. It'll be tomorrow morning before I have an answer.

Shane

 

[RustE]

Mine arrived today.  I have nothing good to say about the initial appearance.

View attachment 1  View attachment 2

Looks like the folks at ToolNut grabbed the Woodpeckers box, slapped a label on it, and sent it on the way.  The square somehow survived shipping as I could not find any visible impact damage.

The machining around the perimeter of the square is not very clean with both visible and tactile marks.  I can tolerate these in the relief areas but not along the primary three edges.

 

[mrgeigh]

Please don't blame the Tool Nut for the condition of your package upon delivery. Mine showed up the same way. Woodpeckers could do a better job at packaging but it's the savages at the US postal service and UPS that do the damage. Everything I order that goes through the postal service comes mangled. No wonder it's another government entity that costs us money to run.

 

[RustE]

...Woodpeckers could do a better job at packaging but it's the savages at the US postal service and UPS that do the damage....

No disagreement on the shipping savages.

However, the white box that you see is meant for retail display and not for shipping.

 

[Shane Holland]

Guys, if you're shipment is damaged, please let me know and I'll get a replacement sent out. Also, I'll be sure that evaluate to make sure that packaging is adequate to prevent damage in transit. As was mentioned, the delivery folks aren't always gentle.

 

[Cheese]

If I remember correctly, as it’s been a couple of months, I received my square from Woodpeckers in the white box which was inside of a brown box with folded paper for cushioning.

I checked the machined edges of mine and they’re all pretty smooth, probably a 63/32 finish except for a spot about 1/2” long which was about 125.

Photo 1. The one poor spot.

Photo 2. All the rest of the machined edges.

 

[RustE]

Looking down one of the legs to the relief corner.  The other leg is very clean and smooth.  I am not sure why Woodpeckers chose to have the machine change speeds at this location.

View attachment 1

Looking at the hypotenuse (longest edge).  The first was taken in the middle and the second was taken towards an end.

View attachment 2    View attachment 3

From a realistic perspective, only one edge of this square is a good quality reference surface.