Any good saws from "box" stores?

[JPP]

Back in 1995, a wind storm blew an oak tree over on my fence.
At that time I didn't own a chainsaw and knew NOTHING about them.
Went to HD and bought a Poulan 2450 38cc saw for about $139. Made quick work of that tree and then cut 10-11 cords of firewood every year since then with that very same saw until this year. This year I bought a Stihl to maintain my new 35 acre camp, but the Poulan 2450 still runs great and wears a 14" bar now for limbing and clearing trails. The saw usually starts on 4 or 5 pulls and still runs great.
Since 1995, I have never had ANY major issues with it and I have no clue as to how many hours I have run the saw. That cheap green 'door stop' has been one of the BEST investments I have ever made.
That being said....I do love my Stihl better now.

 

[DanManofStihl]

Big box store

I work in the big box store now at lowes and help out in the power equipment section. They are getting ready to drop huskys line we only have 2 models left in stock and the string trimmers are on sale now only for like 20.00 off. THey have all the models though you can order any one you like and all the accessories out of the catalog. Also if you buy the extended warrantee they will switch the saw out if something happens were it can't be fixed for free. It is only like $20.00 more. I still would never buy from a big box store but their not as bad as you all think or at least ours.

 

[havvey]

saws

I think its well covered If you need one for quick tempory use $139 will do if you want lonevity and parts support go to a dealer and buy a pro modle. husky and echo are good quality but sears sold the 455 for $399 I have seen them $100 cheaper if you really shop!

 

[GASoline71]

well shucks it's like my old man says when he makes a batch of liver and onions "you don't like it, fine, more for me"

LMAO! That is a good way to put it marco. I got a good chuckle out of that this mornin'!

Gary

 

[TwoTurboVolvos]

:monkey: Am I missing something here? What I gather here is it's not where you purchase a saw, but where you get equipment service that counts. Probably all if not most of us bought a used saw from either a private party, pawn shop, or garage sale, etc. Now after reading this post, if you go to a dealer to have service done,THAT is where a relationship to the customer starts...Service and not so much sales. Is this correct?
Ron

 

[computeruser]

What do you guys think of these?

The Echo and Husqvarna saws sold by the big box stores are the same as any other Echo or Husqvarna saw, so they're fine. The prices for them may not be so great, but that's another matter.

Do we need to go to saw shops to get decent saws?

No. Online sources, buying used, and even the occasional big box store, are all good sources of decent saws. Dealers, obviously, are always sources for decent saws. Simply put, there are lots of options worth considering when looking for a decent saw.

That said, it is always a good idea to cultivate a positive relationship with a local saw shop for repairs, parts, etc. This is obviously easier for the frequent saw buyer, who is in there often and is soon known by face or name, but even for the occasional guy it can (and should!) be done. At the end of the day, buying the saw is only one very small part of the big picture, with getting service, buying parts, and stocking up on accessories occupying a far larger portion of the picture.

 

[THALL10326]

The Echo and Husqvarna saws sold by the big box stores are the same as any other Echo or Husqvarna saw, so they're fine. The prices for them may not be so great, but that's another matter.




No. Online sources, buying used, and even the occasional big box store, are all good sources of decent saws. Dealers, obviously, are always sources for decent saws. Simply put, there are lots of options worth considering when looking for a decent saw.

That said, it is always a good idea to cultivate a positive relationship with a local saw shop for repairs, parts, etc. This is obviously easier for the frequent saw buyer, who is in there often and is soon known by face or name, but even for the occasional guy it can (and should!) be done. At the end of the day, buying the saw is only one very small part of the big picture, with getting service, buying parts, and stocking up on accessories occupying a far larger portion of the picture.

Good post there of which I can prove. I have a old timer thats a one man outfit landscaper. He's pushing 70 years old and has a Chevy pickup with a little trailer and he does lawn work, some tree work and all sorts of odds and in's jobs to make a living. He's bought all his trimmers from me, all his blowers and mix oil and most everything. One day he walked in the shop carring a brand new Echo chainsaw wanting me to cut him a good Stihl chain for it because Home Depot didn't have any chains for it, the place where he bought it. His son was with him and I winked over at him and told his pappy oh nooooooooo buddy,you bought it from across town you take it back overthere. The old guy looked at me all funny thinking I was serious. I said how come you bought all your trimmers and blowers here but bought that saw from Home Depot, why didn't you buy a Stihl from me. It took all I had to pretend I was serious and his son was cracking up behind his back. The old guy got to stuttering well I just seen it while I was getting something over at Home Depot, I didn't really think about you at the time. I said well by Joe your thinking about me now aren't ya. He looked all puzzled and I finally busted out laffing and told him to hand me the saw. I made him a new chain and told him I was only giving him a hard time. He asked me is the Echo saw a good saw. I said hell yeah, you take care of them, treat them right they're all pretty good. He, his son and me all had a good laff and away they went. Two weeks later the old guy comes in and wants a small Stihl. I said you don't have to buy a saw from me just cause I was giving you a bunch of non-sense a few weeks ago. He said no, I really need a small saw. I said ok and sold him a small 180 for light stuff. As he was leaving he said you know its more fun to buy from you than Home Depot. That proves the whole theroy of the big store verses the small shop. At the shop its more one on one and more personal, at the big store your just another shopper...

 

[clearance]

Speaking for myself, I would rather buy from a grungy old store with parts and stuff all over the place with an old guy behind the counter that knows what parts fit every saw made since Jesus was in diapers. I do not like buying lumber from Homo-Depot (its crap) or the million watts of light and the sale people (associates) that are fine for the weekend warriors and the homeowner doofuses but not me. I like places that concentrate on a few things, the old saying "jack of all trades, master of none" applies. When your saw has problems, its best to take it to the man you bought it from, not from the employee of the week who you have never met. Maybe the box is cheaper, but not everything is about money. I believe many here on this site know this well. Save the box for cases of oil, lawn chairs, paper towels etc.

 

[THALL10326]

Speaking for myself, I would rather buy from a grungy old store with parts and stuff all over the place with an old guy behind the counter that knows what parts fit every saw made since Jesus was in diapers. I do not like buying lumber from Homo-Depot (its crap) or the million watts of light and the sale people (associates) that are fine for the weekend warriors and the homeowner doofuses but not me. I like places that concentrate on a few things, the old saying "jack of all trades, master of none" applies. When your saw has problems, its best to take it to the man you bought it from, not from the employee of the week who you have never met. Maybe the box is cheaper, but not everything is about money. I believe many here on this site know this well. Save the box for cases of oil, lawn chairs, paper towels etc.

I'm the exact sameway, give me the old timer that deals in one or two things. Home Depot is great if your in a hurry, get it and go and be gone. Thats exactly what they want you to do and thats fine, its a busy place. Saw shops on the other are different. I myself don't care you take a seat and hang around for hours. Sometimes I'll be repairing something and there will be a set of eyes looking over my shoulder and its not the owner of the product, its someone just there to shoot the breeze. Everytime I sell a saw or trimmer or whatever I always give a catalog with it. At times I get "whats this for", I always say you might find something in there you like and I want you to come back. Its just a gesture but one you can't get at the big stores because they just don't have time because of all the traffic in the store. I'm like you Clearence, I'll take the laid back place everytime.............

 

[Ax-man]

I'm the exact sameway, give me the old timer that deals in one or two things. Home Depot is great if your in a hurry, get it and go and be gone. Thats exactly what they want you to do and thats fine, its a busy place. Saw shops on the other are different. I myself don't care you take a seat and hang around for hours. Sometimes I'll be repairing something and there will be a set of eyes looking over my shoulder and its not the owner of the product, its someone just there to shoot the breeze. Everytime I sell a saw or trimmer or whatever I always give a catalog with it. At times I get "whats this for", I always say you might find something in there you like and I want you to come back. Its just a gesture but one you can't get at the big stores because they just don't have time because of all the traffic in the store. I'm like you Clearence, I'll take the laid back place everytime.............

Amen to that, but unfortunely a real saw shop is getting to be a thing of the past because of these big mega retailers wanting not just a piece of the pie but the whole pie putting the small independents just about out of business. I have seen it our area, I was going to try for a Sthil dealership many years ago, Sthils policy at that time was only one dealer per town, no box stores and they frowned on people only wanting to carry saws and working out of small shops, they also wanted to get associated with the dealers selling mowers which left me out in the cold.

Now we have three dealers in this town, a box store, a rental store, and another mower dealer selling small saws and trimmers mainly not any of these dealers knows anything except what is on display and how much the sticker price is, going in and talking saw lingo is a foreign language to these people. I know more about their products and saws and how to fix them then these numb nuts do.

It is sad too because I have watched a really good Sthil dealer that concentrated on saws, who knows his saws inside and out go downhill because of these changes in marketing by Sthil. I still make the 1/2 hour drive and go past these other three dealers just to be go to an actual saw shop atmosphere.

Larry

 

[masiman]

Home Depot is great if your in a hurry, get it and go and be gone. Thats exactly what they want you to do and thats fine, its a busy place.

I'd have to disagree with you on the quick part, at least in this area (I'm closer into DC than you). Our particular HD is chock full of people trying to find parking, where that small part might be, standing in the longer lines (although the self checkouts are helping). It actually takes me longer to get what I need when it is a small part than from our fixture mom&pop hardware store about 1 mile away. I will gladly spend the 5-20% extra to do business with them. I was looking for a maul the other day and went to HD and saw their offerings. Then went over to the mom&pop. The gentleman behind the counter showed me where they could be found. After searching a few minutes I was at a loss. He came right back and said well we had some. Went right to books and started the order to get some more in. I let him know that I wanted to give them my business rather than HD and he thanked me. I imagine if I said the same to an HD employee I would get a blank stare.

To HD's credit they were advertising that they were the largest employer of Olympic athletes. I will assume it is true and applaud them for that. I'd like to see them hire more vets especially those wounded.

 

[THALL10326]

Amen to that, but unfortunely a real saw shop is getting to be a thing of the past because of these big mega retailers wanting not just a piece of the pie but the whole pie putting the small independents just about out of business. I have seen it our area, I was going to try for a Sthil dealership many years ago, Sthils policy at that time was only one dealer per town, no box stores and they frowned on people only wanting to carry saws and working out of small shops, they also wanted to get associated with the dealers selling mowers which left me out in the cold.

Now we have three dealers in this town, a box store, a rental store, and another mower dealer selling small saws and trimmers mainly not any of these dealers knows anything except what is on display and how much the sticker price is, going in and talking saw lingo is a foreign language to these people. I know more about their products and saws and how to fix them then these numb nuts do.

It is sad too because I have watched a really good Sthil dealer that concentrated on saws, who knows his saws inside and out go downhill because of these changes in marketing by Sthil. I still make the 1/2 hour drive and go past these other three dealers just to be go to an actual saw shop atmosphere.

Larry

Can't argu with any of that. Nowdays if you aren't in town where you can get the product alot of exposure no maker wants to be bothered. They all want the big box traffic without the box. Stihl is no exception. They too want the dealer to have that in town exposure not just for the dealer but for their products as well. I know and understand exactly where your coming from in that post..

 

[upandcommer]

OK i have watched this thread from the beginning and will chime in with my 2.5¢. All saws today are worthy of a place. The wildthing does as intendtended bring the homeowner over to a brand at a price point he is willing to mate to the quality of the saw he receives for said peanuts. The same could be said for the ms250 or 290 as well as the husky 350 or 455 rancher (hopefully a little better on the quality side). If you meant to say is there a quality professional saw available at the big box stores my answer would be a dedicated NO. I for one am a homeowner and run homeowner saws (they won't win races but hey I have time to cut my firewood). I for one would love to have an ms660 as a dedicated firewood saw or a husky 385xp a makita 7901 all of the above please. Is the price performance curve in relation to the work the saw would perform skewed to the negatory column? Yes so none of them will be in my arsenal of tree scarers anytime soon unless I can grab one for less than my homeowner saws cost. Does dealer support matter in the equation? Not really when you are talking a 129.00 dollar wildthing that will last a good month of daily abuse (at this point the owner should feel he got his monies worth from the dead horse). However if you paid 379.00 for an ms290 then the one year warranty is sufficient to see if you got a defect from the assembly line. My 2.5¢ take it for what it is worth

 

[motti]

I think I can agree with what is being wrapped up here. The big bix stores don't cater to the professional users, hence why they don't carry those saws. And, you get what you pay for.

What ever happened to Homelites, by the way? Who sells them now?

 

[asb151]

I think I can agree with what is being wrapped up here. The big bix stores don't cater to the professional users, hence why they don't carry those saws. And, you get what you pay for.

What ever happened to Homelites, by the way? Who sells them now?

The best Homelite to get is an older model at a yard sale.

 

[oldsaw]

The best Homelite to get is an older model at a yard sale.

Second that one. Best $20 I've ever spent. Super XL AO. Chain was toast, carb out of adjustment, but had a runner in minutes after picking up new chain.

Still is my primary saw.

Mark

 

[Douglas]

What is the difference between purchasing a Husky 359 from Lowes and purchasing the same saw from Baileys? You can not just take your saw back into Baileys for assistance. I am no being critical of Baileys but suggesting that being able to pick up a saw at a competitive price is important. Yes the local shop has considerable advantages but many can not afford to pay their sticker price.

 

[motti]

Lowes won't fix things in the store, either. I'm guessing they will have to send it out for repair, or turn you away.

 

[Mr.]

standing in the longer lines (although the self checkouts are helping). QUOTE]

You're welcome.

Fred