Thread: the price of festool in australia compared to USA

That US$787 is gunna end up around AU$1200 including freight + GST and that's for a pair of tools that run on 110 volts. Then theres a power converter, probably around $500 - $1500 + if you can get one with 1500 watt peak output which is what you'll need for the router alone.

If the dollar drops between now and when you buy it could also add more.

So around $1,900 paid here doesn't really look all that bad now does it.

The grass might look greener on the other side of the fence but often it leaves a really bitter after taste.

Oops , just noticed your in the Alice. You can add another $100 at least to the postage.

I'd like to second Neil's opinion. You also need to consider the availability of service. TT Australia would not need (or desire, I feel) to support your 110V router and vacuum. Also, any parts they may require would have to be bought in as a special order and would incur extra cost and a repair lag time. The fringe problems are just not worth the hassle.

Regards,

Rob

I once mentioned this on another thread regarding clamps, but more so it applies here. It seems like a good idea sometimes to bring gear in from OS and bypass the Aussie located manufacturers/distributors and dealers... but when something goes wrong these are most likely the people turned to to assist. The value of support (and cost of poor support) is hard to quantity - but significant. My 2c.

Yep, agree with Neil on this one. All that glitters is not gold. Worth the bit extra it costs to buy here in OZ to have some peace of mind if something goes wrong with it.

Yep, when it comes to 110V tools, its not worth it.

Just wondering why I would need so much support here in Australia for 100%+ more expensive Festool vacuum bags.

You can get a good deal on 12V gear and other non electrical gear though. Ever wonder why the price of Lie Nielsen gear got a hell of a lot cheaper. I still buy locally most times, but not at any price.

Originally Posted by ubeaut

That US$787 is gunna end up around AU$1200 including freight + GST and that's for a pair of tools that run on 110 volts. Then theres a power converter, probably around $500 - $1500 + if you can get one with 1500 watt peak output which is what you'll need for the router alone.

If the dollar drops between now and when you buy it could also add more.

So around $1,900 paid here doesn't really look all that bad now does it.

The grass might look greener on the other side of the fence but often it leaves a really bitter after taste.

thats not what i was implying i would never get power tools from US because of the 110v insue

i was implying that if you live in the US it is a lot cheaper to buy festool power tools then it is over here a lot cheaper

i love my festool

jig saw
planer
rotex sander
ct22 dust extractor
domino

i got all those i love festool just not the price

Originally Posted by boban

Yep, when it comes to 110V tools, its not worth it.

Just wondering why I would need so much support here in Australia for 100%+ more expensive Festool vacuum bags.

You can get a good deal on 12V gear and other non electrical gear though. Ever wonder why the price of Lie Nielsen gear got a hell of a lot cheaper. I still buy locally most times, but not at any price.

I think you're funny.

When making comparisons with tools/whatever with regards to prices there are a number of factors to be considered.

The taxes that are applied vary greatly in comparison with ours here in Oz also the market also has a redeeming factor due to the volume able to be sold in a larger community which the manufacturer probably takes into account.

Some of the state taxes in the US may be as little as 5% whilst others will invariably be higher but not to the rate that we pay here as GST 10%.

Also consider the exchange rate when making these alignments of costings with a floating dollar against the US it changes markedly from day to day.

Just my 2c input
Cheers

Originally Posted by John Saxton

Also consider the exchange rate when making these alignments of costings with a floating dollar against the US it changes markedly from day to day.

Not really. The daily differences are not that much in the price range we are talking about. If you're buying about luxury yachts (or something really expensive but you get my drift) then you have a point.

I also take Anthony's point about after sales service but that doesn't explain the price of abrasives. Check the prices in the US versus here.

Originally Posted by markharrison

I also take Anthony's point about after sales service but that doesn't explain the price of abrasives. Check the prices in the US versus here.

Evening Mark,

Actually the point I like to make.... is about the need for support of any product, power tools, accessories, and consumables. You may need local support on any of these product types. Even abrasives can have faults, you may not get the quantity ordered, , damaged or missing in transit, stock availability, you mistakingly ordered the wrong grade or type and need to exchange them. All these things require prompt support to resolve the issue.

Of course the individual will make up their own mind about what the cost/value/return on investment is in their particular situation, and make an appropriate choice from there. We all make those decisions even when buying locally.

Back to prices: I can't and do not try to explain the difference between the prices of products in one country and another. I am certain I do not have enough information or know all the factors that influence prices locally or around the world.

It's generally given that the manufacturing base in the US is substantial compared to that of Oz and therefore overly more competitive and probably due to the price differences than what we have here.

Irrespective of the product there are reasons why those products dictate the prices compared to what we have here in Oz and perhaps research into the background in the dictating of the price structure may find us all coming to grips with the reasons why it is so!

I have found some purchases o/seas beneficially concordant with my finances and cannot necessarily explain away the reason why it is so.

With an exchange rate varying at any one day a given any $$$$ I SAVE over what I spend is $$$$ in my account and I take this into regard if over time I have outlaid some reasonable amount and with that in mind it means I can spend the saving at the MELBOURNE ww show or here with U-beaut products or any other home grown produx


Cheers

I have slowly increased my overseas spending as the benfits can be consdierable. I only purchase overseas when there is significant savings though. It is not unusual to get 50% off the local retail price even when freight is added. To quote a recent example I got 100 carbide lathe tips for AUS$250 landed and the local suppliers would not budge on their AUS$7.20 per tip price. The two week wait on shipping is not an issue for me.

I would never buy 110 volt items but I have purchased 250 volt motors from the US that are made for the UK and Australian markets.

The internet and paypal have made it a lot easier and I now consider the world as one big shopping village. Australian business need to come to grips with their new competitors and market themsleves more overseas so that they have the same customer base. It is a two way opportunity and to sit back and think they have a captured market could be short sighted.

Being from the States, I'd say it has to the competition between manufactures in a larger open market. We have to pay "sales tax" on almost all items sold (except things like food, medicine and clothing), that rate is set by the state you live in and ranges from 5% to maybe 9%. Where I live it is 7%. I don't know what you guys are paying for other tool but here Festools cost 40%-100% more than the other major tools companies tools.