Odd; Festool price display policy at Woodcraft- Baltimore

[marc rosen]

Hey All, I stopped in my local (Baltimore) Woodcraft today and noticed that all of the Festool items had their price obliterated. When I asked if this was in anticipation of the March 1 price increase the sales dude told me no, it was a Festool policy not to display their prices. He related to me that there was one Festool vendor that had its "license" to sell Festool revoked because they displayed prices. He was not sure if that was another Woodcraft or a more independent vendor. The new Festool catalogue is also devoid of prices. This makes sense since they won't have "out of date" catalogues when they raise prices again but if the vendors can't display prices on the floor it will require potential customers to interact with the store staff (which may or may not be a desireable task). I do not know if this is national policy or if it is just limited to Woodfcraft, or if it is just the Woodcrafts owned by the local franchiser, but it seems counter productive to me. It disrupts my eagerness to buy stuff if I have to ask prices each time I contemplate buying something. I really doubt this is a nationwwide policy but maybe it is Festool's version of buying a yacht; If you have to ask how much it is, you really can't afford it. On a slightly different note I'm not that excited about the Rotex

1. Unless you really need a small diameter sander the larger Festools appear to have better balance. I have a Rotex 150 and it is very easy to keep the pad flat when only holding the barrel . The 90 feels barrel heavy and I think you'd need to hold down on the head as well as the barrel. Still, maybe some day I will "need" that 3+ inch diameter pad for sanding something. If you are a Festool junkie I think you'll also be happy seeing the new catalogue. There are a couple new battery jigsaws and some new battery drills including an 18 volt. That's got to be an expensive drill based on their other models. Not much else to dwell on so I'll head back down to my shop. Hope you all have a productive - and safe - weekend in your shop too. Marc

[-MIKE-]

I walk out of stores that don't display prices. Whether it's wood, tools, or beer... I will not buy from a place that doesn't have prices near or on the merch.

[Robatoy]

About prices... a buddy of mine has a standard saying: "If you've got to ask...fukkum."

[Lee Michaels]

--------- Yep, there are a lot of websites out there that offer all kinds of information EXCEPT prices. I leave them immediately. I spend enormous amount of time on the web, both at work and at home. I don't have time to talk to shiny shoed salesman.

Same with all those sites who want me to "register". If I have to register to find out about your product or service, you must be selling crap. Or be a crook.

Honest people who offer good products and service don't have to conduct themselves like con men.

[Edward Hennessey]

If this is a Festool policy, then someone report Rockler. Either haven't got the flyer or there was no flyer. My take is the retailer feels that if the customer sees the tool and the price simultaneously, they will be inclined to walk the other way rather than inquire about the features which may otherwise incline them to consider a purchase in spite of the dollar tag. IOW, Woodcraft wants to justify a purchase with the sizzling spiel before revealing a cost figure.

Whether they have actually run a test of both approaches which decided them on this one as a better contributor to their bottom line...who knows? But if Rockler's current handling of the same product line means Woodcraft is lying...then the thought of where else the profit motive will have them decieving their clientel is something I'd consider before stepping in the store at all.

Regards,

Edward Hennessey Edward Hennessey

[Bill]

Yeah, most the used car dealers are like that around here. I feel the same way you do. One family of dealers won't even give you a price until they get your whole family medical history (slight exaggeration).

Bill

[Bill]

I have a Rockler and Woodcraft within driving distance. I think Rockler's prices are often about 25% more than Woodcraft's--which helps them complensate for all of those 20%-off coupons they send out every week. I'd rather they not sent the coupons, and just adjusted their pricing. Like some other posters here, I'm getting impatient with pricing "games".

Bill in IN.

[Larry Jaques]

The truth is probably that they were spending far too much time cleaning poo off the floor in front of the green tool pricetags. I know I just about shit every time I read one of their prices.

-- You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club. --Jack London

[-MIKE-]

I walked out on a car deal once, because after I had asked the guy for the total amount it would cost so I could call my bank and ask about payments, I came back and it was like $150 higher for administrative fees.

I told him, "First of all, that's called overhead and it comes out of your profit. Secondly, you had your chance to disclose that when I asked the first time. You now have the chance to remove it or loss the sale."

[Bill]

Gosh maybe we're neighbors. I ran into that same $150 administrative fee twice (on my car and my wife's). I asked them point blank, "Are you trying to charge me for cashing my check?" Fee was waved both times. In the more interesting of the two cases, I was asked, "Do you want to speak to the manager about it?", I hesitated for a moment and then said yes, and she said, "Oh, he's out to lunch" and printed out a new bill of sale without batting an eye. Must be good commissions in that work...

Bill

[Larry W]

It's been a while since I was in WoodCraft, but I do remember thinking that they should have been ashamed of the prices that they DID display.

[Swingman]

Lame salesman BS? ... here's one of the most active Festool dealers in the country:

said, the dealers are apparently not allowed to disclose the new prices in advance, which makes absolutely perfect sense.

Sounds like some dumb shit overreacted. The world is becoming full of 'em.

[F Murtz]

I don't buy coffee at a place that does not display prices.

Places that do not show prices are always dearer.

[Doug White]

-MIKE- wrote in news:ika132$v0t$ [e-mail]- september.org:

In some states, it's illegal not to post prices at least next to an item. It used to be everything had to have the price clearly marked on the item, but inflation made that problematic for some places. As long as you turn over your mechandise faster than the prices go up, it's not such a big deal.

Unless I REALLY need a specific item, I generally avoid stuff that isn't priced. I also try to arrive at a store with a good idea of what the going rate is. I'm certainly not going to buy an expensive power tool without shopping around first, even if I decide to pick it up at a local store.

Doug White

[Ed Pawlowski]

"Lee Michaels" wrote

The only time no price is acceptable is when the manufacturer shows items that will vary considerably by retailer, generally low end items. Even major appliances show the "list" price so you have a starting point to talk to the local retailers.

As for Festool, I wonder if they think asking will start a dialog with the salesperson and eventually a sale. I've usually done my homework before hitting the store so I know if I want to even look at an item before I get there. With $100 in my pocket, no amount of interaction with a salesdude will get me to buy a $400 sander.

[Robatoy]

t don't display prices.

Amen, bro'!

[Robatoy]

Years ago, the local Ford dealer would make you sign a purchase agreement with the price you wanted to pay before he'd take it in to the manager. "You buy it first, then we talk money." That didn't last too long.

[Robatoy]

I found at a Subaru dealer a really cool , black, 2008 WRX sti, second stage COBB, 70,000 km. I asked the price, which was well within my magic number, but I had to ask if he could a little better than that, cash deal and all that. He said he'd "waive the $450.00 admin fee." I asked him if that was already in the original number he had given me. He said no. I asked him if he could really sweeten the deal by taking off a $1000.00 admin fee that way...He didn't get my humour. I said bye.

Like those clowns who will try to get your business by offering 2 years no interest but want a 10% admin/registration fee.

[Doug Houseman]

In some states the store is violating the law, since they have to display the price or put the item price on every box. I don't know about Maryland, but you may be able to get some money, since turning in a store that does not follow the pricing policy has a bounty in some states.

[JayPique]

That sounds like when I tried to patronize a local insurance agent (State Farm). I went in to get a quote and was presented with a full- page list of personal history that they "needed" to have. I said "really?" and then left. It's almost as if some places don't really want your business at all. Strange.

JP