Finding Festool: 5 Guaranteed Places to Get Used Festool
By Ben Marshall
Festool equipment is hard to find at the moment, as the globe is still reeling from manufacturing and supply chain issues. While nothing beats a fresh, new, virgin Festool tool in your hands - picking up a used Festool is kinda your only choice at the moment. I know for most that can be a scary experience, especially considering that most used Festool cost the same if not more than a used on (I made $100 more than I paid when I sold my TS-75 a few months back - it was a 2 year old saw). I can attest to purchasing used Festool as more than half of my shop is filled with used Festool and I’ve never had an issue. While a grain of salt should be taken with that last statement, in most cases you should be getting a fair deal.
Here are the 5 places I frequent when searching for that next elusive Festool:
Festool Owner’s Group (Facebook group)
Festool Fans North America (Facebook group)
Facebook Marketplace
Festool Recon
Festool Owner’s Group (website)
Beware of Lemons!
Care should be taken to avoid being scammed or bamboozled when dealing with online purchases and you should always verify a warranty (if they claim it is) and request a video of the tool in operation. The owner can download a warranty certificate off the Festool USA website as long as the tool has been registered online. Most authorized dealers register new tools at the time of purchase, however you should always check especially if the seller is claiming the tool is still under warranty.
Here are 5 websites to track down used Festool hardware. These are all places I have personally searched and purchased used tools. If you are looking to save a little bit of cash on buying into the Festool ecosystem, I’ve included links to all the websites I’m about to mention in the description below.
Facebook Marketplace
The first place I always check for Festool is through Facebook Marketplace. Navigating to the Marketplace search bar and typing in ‘Festool’ is a great place to start. Be sure max out the search radius, as I’ve used plenty of sellers that were willing to meet me halfway or even ship me the tool. Tools come and go daily, so if you’re really in need of a particular tool, you can use the ‘notify’ feature in Facebook Marketplace to keep you informed new listings are made for your particular search term.
Use Facebook’s builtin ‘notification’ feature in marketplace.
facebook groups
FaceBook is a great place to join groups of like minded individuals.
The next two places I would check are two Facebook Groups - Festool Owners Group and Festool North America Fans. These are two great communities where Festool enthusiasts go to talk all things, well, Festool. On occasion, posts are made advertising a sale of a used tool. It seems that every few days, a new post is made - so be sure to check both groups often.
FOG on FaceBook is an international group, so keep in mind that not every tool listing will be local to you.
Facebook groups are also a great resource to find out the experiences users have for whatever tool you’re looking at purchasing.
festool recon
Festool Recon site. Note the highly discounted rate. Unfortunately, this tool has been up for a few weeks now, and won’t go away until someone purchases it!
The next place you can check is the website www.festoolrecon.com. This is the official tool reconditioning program operated by Festool (hence the name). Available tools are listed one at a time, and remain listed until they are purchased at a discounted rate. Registering your email address places you on a notification system and you will receive an email as tools are added. Tools bought from Festool Recon come with a 1 year warranty and free shipping. Keep in mind that the higher the demand for a tool, the quicker it disappears from this site, so you had better act fast if you see a tool you want.
Festool owner’s group (website)
I’ve been a member of the FOG for a few years now - this is a great place to find discontinued Festool items and tools, as well as used modern tools.
The last place you should check, which is also the first place I always check is www.festoolownersgroup.com. Not only is this a great place to pick up used and discontinued Festool, it’s also a gold mine for Festool information you may be looking for. This site, which has no official affiliation with Festool, is managed by the community and hosts some amazing people full of Festool knowledge. Even if you aren’t checking this site for sales, it’s a great place to start learning about how to use Festool hardware.
The Classified section on festoolownersgroup.com
To see the classified section of the Festool owners group, you must be a registered member. Account confirmation only takes a few minutes and you should be searching the classifieds in no time.
Finding used Festool hardware can be challenging at times, however patience usually pays off to those who wait as even discontinued tools like the VACSYS show up from time to time. Like most used sale sites, you can search the “FS” (for sale) listings, but also leave a posting if you are searching for a tool or accessory. Use “WTB (want to buy) or ISO (in search of) in you listing title, and this will let potential sellers know that you are actively looking for these tools.
I cannot restate the importance of getting validation or proof of these tools beforehand. There was one time I was almost fooled into purchasing a used Festool Conturo, however I trusted my instincts and did a little research on the individual selling. My best advice for all potential sales is to click on the person’s name (on Facebook or Festool owner’s group website), and see their activity. If they’ve been around a while and have contributed to conversations in the community, they are likely a good consideration for your business. Just make sure you get a current video or picture of the tool, as it is easy to copy and paste media from other websites to fluke a sale.
Hopefully this helps you out in the time being as tool manufacturers and dealers close the demand and production gaps affecting the globe. While nothing beats a shiny, new Festool in your hands - a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush (or in another person’s shop).
