Several people wrote in about Festool’s new Tool Tester contest, where they’re giving away (10) cordless impact drivers, with a catch.
I reviewed the Festool TID 18 cordless impact driver last year, and continue to bust it out on occasion for context and comparison purposes. It’s a good model that I think most users would be satisfied with.
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Festool launched their 18V impact driver alongside a number of kit and combo kit SKUs that were seemingly configured to attract the attention of broader range of cordless power tool users.
Read More: A New Breed of Festool Cordless Power Tools
Festool isn’t just giving away 10 cordless impact driver kits right now, they’re looking for “product testers.” The “search for product testers” kicked off at the start of the month and will end on 9/12/2021.
The official press announcement, which came several days after the search began on social media, invites both trade professional and advanced DIYers to throw their names into the hat.
How to enter:
1) Sign up for the MyFestool portal at festoolusa.com/myfestool
2a) Click the link on the main menu to access the entry form
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2b) Complete the form and tell us [Festool] why you should be the one testing the TID 18 Cordless Impact Driver.
Festool USA will select (10) people to each win an impact driver kit.
Now, here’s the catch:
In return we would ask you to give us written feedback on the tool and also submit a photo- and/or a video back to us. All selected product testers can keep the tool after the test period.
Each tester will agree to use the tool during their normal day on the jobsite or in the workshop.
That might not seem like a lot to ask, but it is.
In any case, this doesn’t seem to be about putting tools in potential testers’ hands, but about spreading word about the impact driver kit in a highly publicized way. Maybe they’re trying to spread the word to broader audience of trades professionals and advanced DIYers, that Festool is more than just a fine woodworking and carpentry brand.
Back to the title question – should you enter this contest?
Festool says that they will select their favorite submissions, which means this is a contest and not a giveaway.
Due to the nature of this program, it’s going to have a much lower entry rate than a straight up “put your name down to enter” type of sweepstakes.
First, you have to register for the MyFestool USA portal, which a lot of people simply aren’t going to be willing to do. Then, you have to confirm your account via email link, log in, and then fill out or skip an account completion form. Go back and find the context entry link, and start by filling out a couple of pages with your contact info. They also ask for your social media account info and total number of followers, but this is listed as optional.
On the last page of the entry form, they ask your profession or if you’re a DIY-hobbyist, and for entrants to answer, in 3-5 sentences, why they should be selected as a product tester.
In other words, your chances of winning, should you really want this Festool 18V cordless impact driver kit, are going to be much higher than if this was a regular giveaway or sweepstakes.
In my experience, the more steps in a giveaway or context entry program, the fewer people enter. And with this being a contest rather than winners being selected at random, that will discourage even more people from entering.
Back in 2018, Bosch had a contest where they were giving out 2,000 18V FREAK impact tool kits. They were giving away two THOUSAND tool kits. The Instagram hashtag created for the context currently only has 473 entries. Although there are a bunch more entries on other social platforms, you’d think there’d be much greater interest that that.
Although Festool is only giving away 10 Festool impacts to tool testers, you might have very good chances to win one.
Then again, you’re not just going up against other users, you might also be competing against “aspiring influencers” and others who might see this as a route for exposure.
If you enter this contest, be honest but think about what Festool USA might want to hear in their “why should you be a product tester” part. After all, they’re choosing their “favorite” submissions. Meaning, “my last impact broke and I need a new one” isn’t going to cut it.
Their messaging says it all – they’re not asking you to enter, they’re asking you to apply.
Given that Festool launched this impact driver more than a year ago, this contest doesn’t seem to be about testing or reviewing this tool itself. As mentioned, I think it’s more about Festool trying to appeal to a broader audience, and they might be more interested in potential testers that can help further this goal.
Good luck!
Festool says that entries will be accepted until 11:59pm ET 9/12/2021.
Scott K
I regret not trying for the Bosch freak, but at the time I didn’t have any interest in using my personal social media account to enter a giveaway.
A-A-Ron
I entered and received the Freak, and while a decent overall tool it was quite long in the tooth at the time of the entry. Bosch also offered a “Break up to trade in” promo that required an instagram account and the entrant to record a video of them “breaking up” with an old tool to win a larger selection of tools. I didn’t participate in that one, and the videos of those who did were embarrassingly lazy, to the point where if I worked at Bosch I wouldn’t send them a bit, let alone a power tool. AFAIK that was the last of Bosch’s giveaway promos as I never received follow-up emails asking to test further tools.
fred
I was one of those folks who sent you a copy of the Festool email that I received about this. I’m not sure what I would have thought about one of my past (my prior life as an employed person) workers testing out a tool for someone else on one of our jobsites. Creating photos and/or videos of the testing at a client’s premises – would have been an even bigger red flag for me. Getting a client’s permission (I think de rigueur) would have been awkward. I can see why Festool wants to do this to get them a bit more exposure beyond some glimpses of Tom Silva using their tools on TOH – but I see a few too many issues. Maybe I’m getting to be a paranoid curmudgeon – but this would be a hard pass for me.
Julian Tracy
What a train wreck of an impact… looks like some Menards Masterforce bulky oversized design.
I’d barely want to have to pick it up much less use it. Look at the current diminutive yet powerful Milwaukee Makita and Dewalt designs and then you look at this and wonder “Why, Festool?”
Albert
I had exactly the same thought. I think I would take a Bauer over this.
Tom D
Festool’s smaller installation drill isn’t bad but their 18v equipment is just bulky. Cabled festool stuff is nice but I feel some of their reputation is a bit overplayed.
Ben
I got this email last week and immediately thought ‘10?? That’s it??’. If you’re only giving away so few for testing, why even advertise it? At that point the sample size won’t be big enough to provide anything other than marketing anecdotes.
Julian Tracy
That’s a good point.
Gordon
I’m assuming, from the language, this is going to be 10 people that normally wouldn’t get a review sample. I know many instagram and youtube creators have already had their samples for about a year now. It’s sort of an easy way to revitalize hype.
Andy
Unless I’m mistaken, the kit is selling for about $350. I would really look at what you bill per hour, think about how much time you’re going to spend on this, and decide if you’re going to be upside down if you actual do the “product testing.”
Jared
I would expect the biggest customers for a Festool impact driver would be existing Festool owners. They’re kind of niche. In that context, it seems kind of weird for them to have a “product tester” idea like this.
Unless, of course, this impact is so darn amazing that the usual Dewalt, Milwaukee, Bosch and Makita crowd are going to be blown away when they try it…
fred
Assuming their cost for this advertising (not really testing) campaign is 10 units ( $3500 retail – probably more like $1200 to them) – plus the cost of editing whatever they get as feedback – it is a cheap way to produce some promotional material with a homespun genuine sort of look. Plus it has the added benefit of getting both the 10 actual and much larger group of prospective “testers” interested in this Festool product that may not be selling too briskly.
Jared
Good point Fred. They even got a ToolGuyd article!
Jim Felt
fred. “this Festool product that may not be selling too briskly.”
There’s the most likely entire raison d’être.
Good call.
Plain grainy
With a possible global resource shortage looming , might want to have a few backup tools. Maybe on multiple platforms, as batteries & parts may become scarce. Never know, auto industry is already experiencing shortages. And they are worried it may get worse. Hopefully things will get better.
MFC
I made a 30 second video and got a Bosch kit and radio. Totally worth it. This? Nah. I’ve already got 14+ Drills/Impacts.
Domino? Track saw?
Yes, for sure.
Gordon
Counterpoint; What if this is Festool’s way of weeding out lazy people just in it for the free tool. They select 10 people, and give them the cheapest tool they can. Say, 7 of them respond with a thoughtful review. Then Festool can just send those 7 a tracksaw at a later date, knowing they will get a quality review.
X Lu
Well less than a 1 pct chance of being selected. Why waste your time.
Plain grainy
Festool certainly makes high quality products. But I think I’ll crawl into my systainer case and close the door on this deal.
Adam
I think Festool makes some very good tools, I have a Festool sander and two routers, and there plunge saw and dominoes joiners are very good, but an impact driver I think they should leave to other manufacturers .