Festool has announced that “due to increased costs related to international trade,” they “expect to apply import fees” as of August 1, 2025.
Via social media, Festool says they “may apply an import fee on products” beginning at that time.
This language, where they “expect” to raise prices, is similar to what SawStop, Festool’s sibling company under TTS Tooltechnic Systems, used in prolonged marketing ads ahead of their price increase.
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Festool raises prices on occasion, but this time they’re giving a specific reason – they’re alluding to US tariffs
They also added non-committal language about how they “expect” to raise prices, or how they “may” do this.
Retailers, such as Tool Nut, have also been spreading the word about the expected “import fee” price increases.
The tariffs situation continues to evolve, and there’s no indication as to what might lead Festool to not raise prices as they “expect” to do.
If there was something from Festool you’ve been meaning to buy, you might want to consider purchasing it soon, as Festool expects they may raises prices at the start of August 1, 2025.
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DH
Hilarious that they are calling it “Import Fee” They’ve had no problem raising prices over the years, but now they have something to blame it on.
Luke
I don’t think all products in America going up in price is hilarious. But what’s the saying, “elect a clown – expect a circus”
Stuart
Please keep things civil, which means NO POLITICS!!
There’s a line between politics and policies (e.g. tariffs). Please try not to cross it.
Luke
Fair point. My apologies, Stuart.
Adam
If the price increase is due to tariffs, it’s because the people who bring Festool tools into the USA, have to pay the tariffs before they can bring the tools into the country, so they have to pass the cost or some of the costs onto the consumer.
eddiesky
With respect to Stuart’s platform, vendors and manufacturers ARE passing the cost to consumers from tariffs. Tariffs are taxes. And taxation without representation.
And isn’t this a cash grab? “Hurry! EV rebates ending soon! Tool prices set to climb! Steaks and hamburger doubling next month so stock up!”… Festool is already priced to a special tier buyer. This will just hurt them and customers.
Import fee is just Tariffs… nice coverup there, Festool.
Stuart
Would you rather: a) know about an impending price increase, or b) be surprised when what you were just about to buy suddenly becomes more expensive?
Price increases – for whatever reasons – suck, but I’d rather know than not.
I feel that brands announce price increases to boost sales – especially Festool and SawStop, with both doing this on occasion either directly or via retailers – but that doesn’t mean it’s not good for customers to have some advanced notice.
And no, it’s not “taxation without representation.” The new tariffs are more akin to a conditional value-added tax (VAT), a type of federal sales tax.
Wayne R.
I forget – how is this good for the US?
The Reuters headline “US-Japan trade deal averts worst for global economy” seems like more sane-washing, like a disaster was simply unavoidable.
Mike
The reason they have to say “expect to apply” a fee is because nobody knows, from day to day, just what the tariff is going to be. But for those who see nefarious actions by Festool, just note the price today and then see what the price is August 1 and do the math to see if the difference is the amount of the tariff. Or perhaps Festool will break out the tariff (they’re saying “import fee” because they don’t want to piss off the knuckleheads in D.C. by saying “tariff”) as a separate add-on so everyone knows what you’re paying in extra and unnecessary taxes.
Stuart
Could be. SawStop used identical language, but they changed it to “prices are rising.”
Many people – myself included – don’t have a perfect understanding of tariffs and all the nuances involved whereas “import fees” is much clearer. Some people mistakenly believe that Festool or the originating country is responsible for paying tariffs, rather than the importer or end user, and so “import fees” skips over all of that.
It also lets them point a finger at external parties for prompting the price increase. “It’s not us wanting to squeeze you for more money, its import fees.”
Basically, I think it’s about not pushing away customers, rather than Festool caring about what politicians think.
If we’re talking about a company like Stanley Black & Decker, they’re definitely going to watch what they say regarding tariffs price hikes and similar, as any announcements there are likely to become national news.
Suppliers have been adding tariffs line items, such as 10% added for imported electronics components, but I very highly doubt that you’ll see a brand like Festool breaking out the “import fees,” at least in a way customers can see.
If Festool USA imports a tool valued at $100, and they sell it to a retailer for $200, and that retailer sells it to you for $400, a line-item import fee based on the exact amount paid would clue you in as to how much you’re paying just towards profits. They’re not going to do that, even if online or in-store retailers have the capability to do so.
I’d expect to see the cost due to tariffs, and potentially future tariffs or planned increases, baked into the final retail price.
GoodTrouble
These import fees are a direct result of the current administration in the US.
They told everyone what they were going to do, so no one should be surprised at any of these price increases.
Companies will not be eating 15, 25, 40%+ tariff fees, so they pass it onto the consumers – it is simply not in their interest to do so. They are just being good capitalists.
928'er
Tariffs are simply a national sales tax – which is the most regressive form of taxation.
MtnRanch
Don’t forget that these import fees or tariffs are based on the importer’s cost of the product before shipping cost and the myriad other fees they pay to import something. So if there is a 25% tariff, it should only result in a relatively small increase in the final retail price. Let’s see what Festool tacks on the to price under the guise of “import fees”.
If they raise the price and the government relents on the fees, will we get a rebate from Festool?
s
i find the language of the notice interesting.
after the very early issues surrounding walmart announcing they’d raise prices specifically because of the tariffs, and then the immediate political backlash, many retailers have been very careful to insinuate ‘rising costs’ on their end, without directly attributing the cost increase to tariffs to avoid attracting too much attention. home depot’s re-pricing setup, previously covered here, was a direct result of that situation.
i’m thankful for festool’s transparency, and hopeful it doesn’t result in any backlash
Jay
As volatile as the tariffs have been (here today/gone tomorrow)…it would just make me want to wait to see if prices come back down (pre-import fee pricing)…of course if manufacturers see no significant drop in demand they will just hold on to the higher prices “just in case”…and then line their pockets.
Jesse Young
Let’s be honest, what does Festool have that others don’t…? An elite dust extraction system. When it comes to saws I’d prefer Makita, Drills…. Milwaukee. Cheap reliable power tools DeWalt. So other than dust collection, sanders,routers,domino,etc. I’d prefer other brands anyway. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Festool, but I can live without them if they want to get cute.
Travis
Yeah I own so many festool already, if they wanna pass this to the consumers when they already have done numerous price hikes i think I’ll manage without buying any festool again I got what I need and specially the unique side of festool. This company is becoming a joke thinking they can keep raising prices wait till sales drop and the apology letter down the road, then buy
Ronald Raymond
Maybe the better way to go about this is to announce what that fee is. I am not going to simply buy more Festool products because the import fee is $1. Everything goes up in price. There isn’t one report of what this actual tariff is. Just a bunch of bs emails and talk of a price increase.