Sorry to see you go and Best Wishes!

 
 Thanks Chris and to be honest -it's kind of bitter sweet not having that customer contact but like I mentioned I'll still be around - I'm going to still be selling the QWAS products.

@Bob Marino 

My heartfelt best wishes for you after stepping away.  Over the past 12 years you have been a dealer to me, a counselor, and a friend in addition to what you have brought to the FOG.

From the first time I contacted you (following advice given here) you always took the customer first approach that I learned when I first got into retailing.  You never pressured, you spent far too much time explaining things to a Festool junkie, and you didn't care about the time of day.

When I was ill you were there for me.

You are a class act and will always be!

(And you rock that plaid coat!)

Peter

Wow Bob, I must say I was shocked when I recieved your email. Youve been a very good dealer and friend. Ill miss our conversations. I wish you the best in your retirement. Now youll be able to take the vacations to the places youve wanted to go.

But be aware, Ive been retired for about a year half and Im busier now then i was when I was working making up for all the things I couldnt get done when I was working.

If by chance ya ever make it out west to SoCal plz let me know, I would be great seeing an chatting with you again.

@Bob Marino 

My heartfelt best wishes for you after stepping away.  Over the past 12 years you have been a dealer to me, a counselor, and a friend in addition to what you have brought to the FOG.

From the first time I contacted you (following advice given here) you always took the customer first approach that I learned when I first got into retailing.  You never pressured, you spent far too much time explaining things to a Festool junkie, and you didn't care about the time of day.

When I was ill you were there for me.

You are a class act and will always be!

(And you rock that plaid coat!)

Peter

 Pete, what can I say? I'm humbled and thankful for your friendship and kind words - and I still like that coat.

Good luck with the future Bob! And thank you for the outstanding service over all the years. You and Tom Bellemare were the best dealers one could have hoped for as I built up my workshop over the years.

All the best,
Richard.

 
Thanks Richard and Tom (RIP - dear friend) is still missed. He left us all way too soon.

Bob, thanks for the years of great service and best of luck in retirement.  It always amazed me how quick things arrived from your out of state DC, almost as quick as if I drove up the turnpike.

Well, that's disappointing (for me, I'm happy for you Bob).  When I started buying Festool Tools I purposefully order from multiple dealers (to spread the money around and try different ones). I've been very happy with your you, everything shows up in great shape and as planned. I've been very un-happy with a certain other very large dealer and won't use them again, and now I loose you. Grr.  It's amazing how when you find something you like, that's right when it goes away.

So any hobbies for retirement,  take up woodworking maybe, I hear many people do that.

I called you once (at least) like a maniac during the dreaded Festool Recon by dealer days...

I asked for a T18 drill and an MFK700 both at the 30% discounts range. They had just posted it, I felt like I won a lottery or something.

You took the order and I crossed my fingers that'd I'd make it out alive in the stampede of Festool recon chaos.

Communicated with you through phone or email and got the bad news that I was too late...

THEN. My account got charged and both items were in the mail!

Thanks Bob!

Best to you and your next moves.

  Ah yes, the Recon Sale - that was always a junk-shoot. Glad it worked out and thanks again.

as they say in Minnesota: "Holy Moly!"  - what a hard act to follow for those guys in St. Louis. You set the bar kind of high for them, didn't you?

Bob, the respect of your peers and customers in this business was earned the old fashioned way: sustained dedicated hard work!

Our very best wishes and a special thank you for being our first TSO dealer in the USA.

Hans, Eric and Tamara

  Thanks All. And thanks for offering to let me be a TSO dealer. I was proud to be selling such high quality products.

Well, that's disappointing (for me, I'm happy for you Bob).  When I started buying Festool Tools I purposefully order from multiple dealers (to spread the money around and try different ones). I've been very happy with your you, everything shows up in great shape and as planned. I've been very un-happy with a certain other very large dealer and won't use them again, and now I loose you. Grr.  It's amazing how when you find something you like, that's right when it goes away.

So any hobbies for retirement,  take up woodworking maybe, I hear many people do that.

  Thanks you! Sorry you had a bad experience with a dealer - but we all, all all make mistakes. There are plenty of great dealers out there (I passed by Festool baton onto Beaver Industrial Supply) and Festool is greatly expanding its dealer network.
 One I regain my shop space (my garage) back and make a semblance of order there, I'd like to get back into some woodworking.

Best wishes Bob in your retirement, and thanks for contributions to the Festool community through great service and always being available to answers questions here and on the phone. Sorry to see one of the few NJ Festool dealers go away. I've bought from you and BIS and had smooth transactions with both.

I feel like a Festool chapter in its history is closing.  Being on this forum for many years, you easily start to connect the dots with who were the standout folks and retailers and without hesitation, had it not been for the issue of being in Canada and Festool's cross border shipping restrictions, I would have easily been dealing with you many times over the years for my Festool needs and purchases.  You just stood out as a class act Bob!

All the best in retirement Bob!

Peter Halle said, “you spent far too much time explaining things to a Festool junkie”.

That resembles my first conversation with Bob sixteen years ago. He’s been my main man ever since.

Bob, I’m very surprised by the retirement announcement considering all the work that went into changing the fulfillment center and it’s success but only you know what’s best for you and your family. I’m glad you’re able to walk away from this phase of your life with so much more time ahead for new endeavors.

Bob - Congrats on your retirement.  It has been a pleasure from my first order many years ago though my last order recently.  Best wishes and much enjoyment in your retirement.

Congratulations Bob on your retirement!

I just got into the festool game less than a year ago as I started tackling (more and more of) my remodel, and I’ve been so impressed not just by the tools, but by the dealer network and online community.

I’ve ordered from a few different dealers, including BIS, since getting my first piece (a sweet TSC55) and have always been impressed by your service and broad inventory (that spot sander (493069) I needed for finishing with rosettes)!

Thanks for helping to get my journey started!

Eugene Yoo