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I'm trying to setup my dream shop and seem to be having trouble with sales. I want to buy a number of different machines, but getting help from sales on narrowing in on what I want is really hard. The feeling I get is that they consider it a privilege to talk to them, and that any of the questions I have are too hard for them to answer. With the amount of money that I'm looking at spending, I really was hoping to get a partner in my journey, but this couldn't be further from my experience. Anyone else experienced this when dealing with sales, or is my experience unique?
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Hi Tony,?
I've purchased 7 pieces of equipment from Felder. My experience is that my salesperson has really good intentions, but that I am ultimately best served by doing my own research and leaning on the accumulated knowledge of the FOG to nail down certain selections. Not excusing the dynamic, but it's what I've found to work for me.?
For what it's worth, I've reached out to SCM several times and have never received a response, so the fact that I can get my Felder salesperson on their cell phone is something.....?
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Tom Gensmer
Heritage Home Renewals, LLC
Minneapolis, MN
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Tony,
I have had excellent service from Liz at the Sacramento office.
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I'm trying to setup my dream shop and seem to be having trouble with sales. I want to buy a number of different machines, but getting help from sales on narrowing in on what I want is really hard. The feeling I get is that they consider it a privilege to talk to them, and that any of the questions I have are too hard for them to answer. With the amount of money that I'm looking at spending, I really was hoping to get a partner in my journey, but this couldn't be further from my experience. Anyone else experienced this when dealing with sales, or is my experience unique?
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Mark Foster
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I've purchased two sliders and other equipment from Felder over the last 15 years. They aren't great to deal with. You will probably have better luck asking your questions in this group forum, then after making your decisions, just place the order. In my case, I didn't even get what I ordered because the sales person didn't think I needed that feature. There are definitely folks on this forum that are more knowledgeable about Felder equipment than the Felder sales team, and much more responsive. It's good equipment, sales, not so much. I think it varies with the individual and with the sales person and their communication skills. I've found tech support to be good, not as good as Grizzly, but good. So just take a deep breath and enjoy the fact that you're buying new equipment! We don't get to do that too often...My 2 cents
Bill Bélanger
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On Thu, Dec 1, 2022 at 3:05 PM < tom@...> wrote: Hi Tony,?
I've purchased 7 pieces of equipment from Felder. My experience is that my salesperson has really good intentions, but that I am ultimately best served by doing my own research and leaning on the accumulated knowledge of the FOG to nail down certain selections. Not excusing the dynamic, but it's what I've found to work for me.?
For what it's worth, I've reached out to SCM several times and have never received a response, so the fact that I can get my Felder salesperson on their cell phone is something.....?
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Tom Gensmer
Heritage Home Renewals, LLC
Minneapolis, MN
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On Thu, Dec 1, 2022 at 2:19 PM Mark Foster < mfsta2lt@...> wrote: Tony,
I have had excellent service from Liz at the Sacramento office.
Mark Foster
I'm trying to setup my dream shop and seem to be having trouble with sales. I want to buy a number of different machines, but getting help from sales on narrowing in on what I want is really hard. The feeling I get is that they consider it a privilege to talk to them, and that any of the questions I have are too hard for them to answer. With the amount of money that I'm looking at spending, I really was hoping to get a partner in my journey, but this couldn't be further from my experience. Anyone else experienced this when dealing with sales, or is my experience unique?
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Mark Foster
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With SCM you need to be in Sam Blasco's territory or find a way to get to him or you are on your
own.? Dave
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Hi Tony,?
I've purchased 7 pieces of equipment from Felder. My experience is that my salesperson has really good intentions, but that I am ultimately best served by doing my own research and leaning on the accumulated knowledge of the FOG to nail down certain selections.
Not excusing the dynamic, but it's what I've found to work for me.?
For what it's worth, I've reached out to SCM several times and have never received a response, so the fact that I can get my Felder salesperson on their cell phone is something.....?
--
Tom Gensmer
Heritage Home Renewals, LLC
Minneapolis, MN
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I think a lot has to do with the individual.?? They all know the machines pretty well but some are much better at helping you decide what you really need or want.? Where are you located? ? If on the east coast Dave and Jesse in Delaware are both very helpful and if they don’t have the answer will get you one.? The helped me select and set up my machines – I actually bought pretty much a full shop by the time we were done. ?
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From: [email protected] < [email protected]> On Behalf Of Tony Smith Sent: Thursday, December 1, 2022 4:44 PM To: [email protected]Subject: [FOG] Trouble with North America Sales ? I'm trying to setup my dream shop and seem to be having trouble with sales. I want to buy a number of different machines, but getting help from sales on narrowing in on what I want is really hard. The feeling I get is that they consider it a privilege to talk to them, and that any of the questions I have are too hard for them to answer. With the amount of money that I'm looking at spending, I really was hoping to get a partner in my journey, but this couldn't be further from my experience. Anyone else experienced this when dealing with sales, or is my experience unique? -- Michael Marsico
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In So Cal we have the pleasure to have Carl as our sales person.? I have had great experiences with him and he has always been more than helpful!
PK
PKwoodworking
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Liz in Sacramento could not be better to work with or more helpful in my experience.
If she doesn't know the answer to something I have asked, she reaches out to Carl or Fergus and gets me the info I was wanting to know, but as a buyer I also have some responsibility to have done my homework as well. I have bought seven machines from her and hope to do more in the future.
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I worked with Liz in SAC too. I think she provided good support. Of course I have nothing to compare with.
She always seemed personable, engaged, and helpful. She set me up with a local owner so I could see a machine before I bought one.
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John Hinman
Boise ID
K700S and A941
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John Hinman,
Are you referring to Elisabeth, sales associate in Sacramento, by chance? ?
Wade
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On Dec 1, 2022, at 5:09 PM, John Hinman <jhinman1911@...> wrote:
?I worked with Liz in SAC too. I think she provided good support. Of course I have nothing to compare with.
She always seemed personable, engaged, and helpful. She set me up with a local owner so I could see a machine before I bought one.
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John Hinman
Boise ID
K700S and A941
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On Dec 1, 2022, at 18:27, Wade Dees <wjdsignature@...> wrote:
? John Hinman,
Are you referring to Elisabeth, sales associate in Sacramento, by chance? ?
Wade On Dec 1, 2022, at 5:09 PM, John Hinman <jhinman1911@...> wrote:
?I worked with Liz in SAC too. I think she provided good support. Of course I have nothing to compare with.
She always seemed personable, engaged, and helpful. She set me up with a local owner so I could see a machine before I bought one.
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John Hinman
Boise ID
K700S and A941
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Mark Foster
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Wade - yes.
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John Hinman
Boise ID
K700S and A941
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John Hinman,
Oh okay, she was very nice to work with, unfortunately she miss lead me on two option for the K700S, that she said could be added later, but ended up not being the case. Kind of a bummer, but I’ll live. ?
Wade
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On Dec 1, 2022, at 6:30 PM, John Hinman <jhinman1911@...> wrote:
?Wade - yes.
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John Hinman
Boise ID
K700S and A941
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Sam Blasco is great to work with! ?Very knowledgeable. ?Almost went with SCMI.
Wade
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On Dec 1, 2022, at 2:24 PM, David Kumm <davekumm@...> wrote:
?
With SCM you need to be in Sam Blasco's territory or find a way to get to him or you are on your
own.? Dave
Hi Tony,?
I've purchased 7 pieces of equipment from Felder. My experience is that my salesperson has really good intentions, but that I am ultimately best served by doing my own research and leaning on the accumulated knowledge of the FOG to nail down certain selections.
Not excusing the dynamic, but it's what I've found to work for me.?
For what it's worth, I've reached out to SCM several times and have never received a response, so the fact that I can get my Felder salesperson on their cell phone is something.....?
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Tom Gensmer
Heritage Home Renewals, LLC
Minneapolis, MN
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The Felder sales organization is organized along two orthogonal vectors. ?The most experienced are focused on “professional” shops. ?Additionally, in the USA the organization is regionally organized - the rep for Rhode Island is not interested in talking with someone from Wyoming. ?Carl, Fergus, and Jesse are all long-timers who are very knowledgeable, but focus almost exclusively on specific territories/professional shops. ?Liz has been around long enough now that she knows many (if not most) of the configuration aspects that matter and depend on the user’s specific needs/constraints. ?
Many of the “associate” sales reps you reach with a “blind call” into Felder, have absolutely ZERO woodworking background or direct user experience with the Felder machines. If anyone posting here needs “road warrior” experience in configuring Felder equipment, sing out. ?The saws, shapers, jointers, planers offer a somewhat baffling set of options, all of which relate to intended use. ?
When a potential user/buyer are frustrated by bad sales or technical supper, a few of ?us here can assist in elevating the situation to a higher level. ?To assist in this, we need to know where you are located. ?
Alternatively, you can always pull the chain of the Felder USA CEO. ?He can be emailed here: R.duToit@... His name is Ruan du Toit. ?
To the OP, if you’d like me to elevate your situation, I’d be happy to assist. ?DM me please.
David Best
DBestWorkshop@...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidpbest/collections/
https://www.youtube.com/@David_Best
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On Dec 1, 2022, at 6:35 PM, Wade Dees <wjdsignature@...> wrote:
Sam Blasco is great to work with! ?Very knowledgeable. ?Almost went with SCMI.
Wade On Dec 1, 2022, at 2:24 PM, David Kumm <davekumm@...> wrote:
?
With SCM you need to be in Sam Blasco's territory or find a way to get to him or you are on your
own.? Dave
Hi Tony,?
I've purchased 7 pieces of equipment from Felder. My experience is that my salesperson has really good intentions, but that I am ultimately best served by doing my own research and leaning on the accumulated knowledge of the FOG to nail down certain selections.
Not excusing the dynamic, but it's what I've found to work for me.?
For what it's worth, I've reached out to SCM several times and have never received a response, so the fact that I can get my Felder salesperson on their cell phone is something.....?
--
Tom Gensmer
Heritage Home Renewals, LLC
Minneapolis, MN
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Seriously, there is probably not a single Felder rep with as much real-world machine experience as dozens of people on this forum who are happy to help people out.
This is the place to figure out WHAT to buy.? ? Felder Sales is the place to get pricing and ultimately place order.
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When I was buying, the sales guy I dealt with might have been plucked from central casting for a cliche role as “annoying, fast talking sales person.” I could barely stand to pick up the phone if he called.
Sam Blasco with Minimax was accessible, helpful and he actually builds things. I don’t think the Felder sales person had ever held a tape measure. And when my machine got delayed by the pandemic, SCM failed to communicate so when I gently complained to Sam, I was treated gracefully and with respect by their VP.
That said, neither of these companies does a very good job of helping small-time buyers actually see one of the machines before it arrives at your doorstep. They’re just not set up for that. Mac, on this forum, was kind enough to meet with me.
That’s my half a cent. And oh yes, I now own a Minimax and completely happy.
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I'm trying to setup my dream shop and seem to be having trouble with sales. I want to buy a number of different machines, but getting help from sales on narrowing in on what I want is really hard. The feeling I get is that they consider it a privilege to talk to them, and that any of the questions I have are too hard for them to answer. With the amount of money that I'm looking at spending, I really was hoping to get a partner in my journey, but this couldn't be further from my experience. Anyone else experienced this when dealing with sales, or is my experience unique?
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Tony, like you I was setting up my dream shop two years ago I called Altendorf, Felder and Martin. Felder was most responsive and I couldn't get the time of day from Martin. I went with a Felder K700s and waited ten months after arrival I liked the DRO rip so much I started thinking about a full electronic machine such as Kappa, Martin T70 or Altendorf F45. I called the same three companies again Martin required a lot of persistence on my part to call. Many times I could not even leave a voice mail for Martin sales, from this forum I was referred to a Martin dealer in California I don't think he took me seriously sent an excel sheet with all the options available instead of a quote when I wanted to buy. After some time Martin sent me a quote which I signed and emailed back asking for deposit payment instructions a week went by no response from them. So I called Martin again the guy apologized but I decided to cancel based on poor communication. So back to Felder, sales response was good for a Kappa which was my price bracket however the machine was not available for another 6-8 months.? Learning from the mistake I just made of purchasing then upgrading I figured I just had to go all in on this.? When I called Altendorf I reminded them of my first call and things didn't work out from that point on I received call backs the same day and the experience was first class.? Ultimately I went with an Altendorf F45 slider, parallelogram fence CNC rip.?
In hindsight single phase power limited me to certain brands and models also adding to the cost of some machines I purchased. Now I am three phase I could have done a package deal with SCM out of the gate for joiner/planer/shaper/sander and had those machines in 4-8 weeks not 8 months.? SCM/Minimax from Sam Blasco or contact Arvid Estep for midwest SCM sales he is a good guy to work with.? Reardon machinery is another company to call. For the saw you are still looking at Altendorf, Felder and Martin.
Unfortunately with end of year, promotions and oversold goods the buying experience is not going to change anytime soon.
Jay Bowen
Cleveland
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So far my experience has been that sales will be fairly accommodating, and the minute your deposit is in, the responses slow down substantially. My salesperson in the delaware office was good, once it got to payment, scheduling, etc. it all went from great service to pretty mediocre if I'm being generous.?
I posted here recently about my unit having a bad capacitor day 1, so far 9 days after letting them know there was a warranty issue they still haven't confirmed that the part is even en route to me.?
I love the quality of my machine overall, it's quiet, very convenient, quite happy with the results I got in the 30 minutes I've used it, but the service so far has been a pretty big letdown. Overall my impression of the company is that they're used shipping and repair timelines in industrial settings, but they do offer consumer equipment.?
Not to disparage felder alone, SCMI didn't even return my calls for a nearly 10,000$ purchase.?
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Tom Gensmer
Mark Foster
Bill Belanger
PK
Bon May
David P. Best