Hard to say for sure.

Seth

A complaint is warranted.

It is simply ridiculous that a multinational company with offices in over 20 countries can't appoint one official representative on this forum that generated over 44 million page views this year alone.

Really, the forum took a big hit when Shane left. He was very active here and still is, which is good for the Toolnut but not Festool. Back then the Ask Festool section meant something and Shane would reply to questions in no time. Now the Ask Festool section is a complete dessert.

Since Shane left user participation on the FOG also went down, and quite dramatically. From 73.000 posts in 2015 to a mere 29.000 now in 2019. That's a 60% drop.

I don't understand why Festool completely ignores this site now. You'd think losing 44.000 posts per year might have some influence on sales also.

Keep a lookout on the Recon Site, maybe festool will get a rep back in they can refurbish and offer up to the website.

What happened to Phil Beckley?

Having company and dealer reps on here has been a huge plus. One of the reasons I bought Festool in the first place was the direct involvement of Festool on this forum. It's something I have not seen on other tool brand forums.Having access to Shane and his knowledge and quick responses was great.

I kind of remember a comment from Tyler about Festool USA not wanting to make this forum within someone’s job description. Which is sad considering how they went about acquiring this forum.

I kind of remember a comment from Tyler about Festool USA not wanting to make this forum within someone’s job description. Which is sad considering how they went about acquiring this forum.

Something like this?

https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/ask-festool/about-this-board-7675/

Something like this?

https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/ask-festool/about-this-board-7675/

Hmm, not exactly.  More like there wasn’t someone at FestoolUSA assigned to check this forum on a regular basis.  Wouldn’t be a full-time responsibility, at least I wouldn’t think so.  However there should be someone at FestoolUSA with a few hours available each day to come here and say “hi”.

For me, instagram or facebook don't come remotely close to the information available here.
They're fine if you like looking at pictures (which I do) or like your information dispensed in single sentences.

...
Indicative that this type of forum is being usurped by social media.  I just started using Instagram in the last couple of months.  So much good information/videos/pictures available, including info on Festool.
...

Arguably forums in general are on a downward trend. The people running them keep selling-out to advertisements and spam bots. There are a few good ones left, like here and Sawmill Creek. Many of the automotive and fishing forums changed for the worse.

Is FestoolUSA putting their tutorials on Instagram instead of YouTube these days?  That might be worth me trying to figure out how to use it.

Regardless of all the other comments concerning this subject . . .Without a Festool rep directly connected and tuned into the FOG, there seems to be no point to maintaining the Ask Festool category. Who are we asking? Who monitors the questions? Who answers?

I'm not being sarcastic, ironic, or angry . . . just wondering why an Ask Festool topic would even remain on the FOG?

Agreed.  It’s become a useless distraction.  Its disingenuous to keep it given its stated purpose on the FOG itself is not being served/met.

OK, I have to ask, seriously, WHAT ON EARTH does make you guys think this IS NOT social media?? 


This is a place where everybody can talk to each other, in more detail than anywhere else because you can write 10.000 word posts if you want to.

You should not consider this is a place for direct customer support, though a guy like Shane did absolutely make it to be like that anyway.

OK, you got a response on FB in half an hour. Ever heard of telephone? Gets a response in seconds. I mean, if they're any good and the call center isn't outsourced to Mike in India.

I agree with you, but at the same time when someone says "social media" they mean things more like twitter and facebook.  It's along the lines of someone drinking water and saying they don't drink anything with chemicals in it. Their comment is nonsense, but in the end you know what the meant.

Any company who thinks facebook and the like is the answer is in trouble, in the end more people than not do not use those or refuse to do anything more than just view something.  What does help companies is having good websites with good information, that alone can cut down the need for forums, and reps answering questions.  Festools website is absolutely awful, this there is a need for forums. While sometimes contacting a company directly is the answer, often it's not what folks want to do if they are just exploring or gathering information. Additionally many/most companies make it very difficult to contact them (not saying this is festool, I've never tried, just companies in general).

For forum drop off, well, there is a lot more information else where out there.  While festool is still basically an unknown name to most people even people involved in tools and construction, woodworking very well are not aware of them (lots of folks do these things and never go online for anything about them).

As others mention there are more companies out there offering products, meanwhile in the US Festool removes products.  It's not like Festool has been rolling out new stuff to drive questions about stuff.

Being the interface to a company is not fun. Just gives people who are upset a target.

OK, I have to ask, seriously, WHAT ON EARTH does make you guys think this IS NOT social media?? 

OK, you got a response on FB in half an hour. Ever heard of telephone? Gets a response in seconds. I mean, if they're any good and the call center isn't outsourced to Mike in India.

In my book, everything found on the internet which includes exchanges is social media, including blogs and forums, not just instagram, youtube etc.

Forums are a dying species as technology advances itself and we, human beings, become more pictures and videos tuned. That's partly why written words (newspapers, magazines, etc.) have been struggling. The future lies in what's in your hand -- the cell phone or whatever new device that may come and replace it. I still do online shopping using my laptop, but only when I'm home-bound; the cell is where actions take place outside home.

Quote from: ChuckM on December 16, 2019, 12:07 PM

In my book, everything found on the internet which includes exchanges is social media, including blogs and forums, not just instagram, youtube etc.

Forums are a dying species as technology advances itself and we, human beings, become more pictures and videos tuned. That's partly why written words (newspapers, magazines, etc.) have been struggling. The future lies in what's in your hand -- the cell phone or whatever new device that may come and replace it. I still do online shopping using my laptop, but only when I'm home-bound; the cell is where actions take place outside home.

That’s a shame.

(Not a criticism of you Chuck)

A terrible shame.

I've learned a lot about woodworking from YouTube. I'm glad it exists. But long form forums like this and the other FOG (Felder Owners Group), have provided far greater depth on topics specific to my circumstances. Those of us who still frequent them will grow, while others who gravitate to consumption focused\single sentence platforms will languish. The gap between the have and have nots will only continue to widen.

"WHAT ON EARTH does make you guys think this IS NOT social media"

Well, it IS a form of social media, and existed long before FB, IG, and the
rest, but I don't think it falls into the current definition of Social Media, at
least the way you hear it referred to currently. Ask anyone under 40 what
platforms make up Social Media and I doubt they will include online forums.