Disappointed in the Woodcraft "25% off any single item" deal ...

[BadeMillsap]

Phooey! I received a very nice plastic coated "gift card" in the mail this last week from Woodcraft (possibly a local only promotion I don't know) ... it offered a 25% single item discount for this next weekend and then $20 off a $100 dollar or more purchase from 10/21 - 12/31.

I carefully read the backside of the offer and saw the expected exclusions (power tools, Tormek, SawStop, Festool, Dowelmax and dovetail jigs) ... being the cautious sort (it's about 80 miles round trip) I called them today to ask if the Jessem Mast-R-Lift II was eligible for the 25% discount ... after the guy "checked with management" ... I was informed that because of the "slim margins" it was considered a "power tool" ... Booooo!!! I wonder how you plug that puppy in!

I wonder how many people will wander in this weekend planning to buy items NOT SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDED on the card only to be told "oops ... sorry, the margins are too slim on that ..." ... seems like questionable marketing practice to me.

[aiyou]

Might be worth a call to corporate offices.

If it is a local deal, then perhaps they can "encourage" those participating locations to honor the conditions as listed.

[All Thumbs]

I think those 25% offers should clearly state "only on things we've already marked up several hundred percent."

Because that seems to be what they're good for.

[Cochese]

I think those 25% offers should clearly state "only on things we've already marked up several hundred percent."

Because that seems to be what they're good for.

Indeed. Perhaps even listing the four items they are good for.

[gerti]

They probably should just add "Excludes items over $20"... Rockler has the same exclusions, they'd like best: "only valid on stuff we get made in China for $0.40 and sell for $12".

I was able to use one of those coupons for 20% off of a Forrest Woodworker II once though, that was sweet (nice blade!).

[BadeMillsap]

Woodcraft came through!

I wanted to post this to be fair to Woodcraft and the local store manager.

I need to add here that I had gone into the store on Saturday thinking I would buy a Rockwell Jawhorse RK9002 using the discount. I asked at the counter if it was covered by the discount, after checking with the manager they said it was but it would have to be ordered since none were in stock. I surrendered my discount card but when they were ringing it up told me "sorry we can't order that.." I wasn't pleased!

I sent an email to Woodcraft corp expressing my dissatisfaction with the way the whole coupon thing worked for me. Clearly I did this with the intention of getting the local store manager's attention. I wasn't belligerent, I didn't rave or make threats, I just stated my case and how disappointed I was as a consumer.

I received a call this morning from the local store manager (franchise owner?). He asked me to review with him the ordeal. He admitted that the Jessem lift SHOULD have been indicated as an exclusion and that the local stores could not order direct from Rockwell ... that being said, he told me to come down to the store and he would honor the 25% off list on the Jessem Mast-R-Lift II and give me a $10 gift card for my trouble.

I thanked him for his call and told him I would be in later this week to take advantage of his concession.

Wanted to post this to be fair to Woodcraft and to let others that know that IF you believe you are in the right and are willing to raise a little sand you CAN get satisfaction. I don't think I was overly outrageous in my complaint, I handled it with what I believe was the proper path to resolution and I got the result I wanted.

[BigguyZ]

With a large corporate store like Rockler or HF, or Menards or HD or Sears, I definitely raise my concerns.

However, given that Woodcraft is a franchise, and that WWing stores are tough to keep open as is, I would give them a little more slack. Any boutique store has to be tough to run in a down economy. Sure, they're higher priced than online, but I still think there's value in shopping there for some things and keeping their lights on.

[LinuxRandal]

I wanted to post this to be fair to Woodcraft and the local store manager.

I need to add here that I had gone into the store on Saturday thinking I would buy a Rockler Jawhorse RK9002 using the discount.

A fun read, as I was at first trying to figure out why/how you would get Woodcraft to order from Rockler, then my brain said, "does Rockler rebrand the jawhorse?".

[BadeMillsap]

"Rockwell" not "Rockler" ... sorry I'll try to edit that !!

[sweensdv]

Good on that Woodcraft franchinee, he could give lessons to other business owners on how to retain customers. Although your experience wasn't without a bump or two in the road, in the end, that store owner made sure you ended up happy.