Thread: Festool Price Increase

...a well known fact that prices in the US are on the rise. As far as the latter part of your post, don't we all wish we here in OZ could pay somewhere near those prices. We do subsidize the US folks, IMO, until they are "hooked" and WHAMOOO.. slight increase in prices. ...Sorry to the mods as this is not a political debate, but the OP has posed a question, per se... ...and I'll pose another question to see if I can get a simple answer. Festool, made in Europe, approx. 70% of OZ price we pay... Festool, in the US, approx 50% of OZ price we pay... ..Yea I know about the population thing, more bucks to be made in the US etc etc etc. But let me impress on you good folk. I do love the green stuff and have bought lots and will buy more green stuff because it is better made than a lot of the cheap crap on the market these days. As a chippie I know the value worth of power and hand tools, and Festool is right up there on top, in my books. But the pricing here in OZ has me at sorts with Festool. \Rant Cheers Glenn

Couldn't agree more with the wolften's post. I have recently priced a Rotex to do a number of upcoming sanding jobs and was faced with a purchase price of $2000 for a new Rotex with a dusty without allowing for consumables. It kinda smacks economic rationale right in the face. We are a stupid, stupid race here downunder and will be taken advantage while we remain so.

I would think its more a matter of volume. there are 313 million people in america, its entirely possible that america has as many woodworkers, carpenters, etc as we have people. importing from europe or asia in that kind of volume is going to be far more cost effective than to australia.

How about the size of the 'home' market for Festool in Europe? It must be a similar size to that of the USA. The machines produced for that market are 240v, so, if the prices in Europe and the USA are not similar, then Festool must be 'dumping' product into the USA.
If prices ARE similar, then, given that 240v machines are already being produced in Europe, then they should be exportable to Australia for a similar price. But they are not.

I think we have to discount the notion that, somehow, Festool have to set up a completely autonomous production facility just for the Australian market. Their European one could handle the needs of the Australian market quite easily.