Buyer tips for Stihl Ebays sales?

[bensonjv]

I'm anticipating looking for a bigger saw to compliment my 210. I see a great number of Stihls for sale on Ebay is various states of repair.

Is it more cost effective to buy a good running used saw or get a rebuider special and buy parts?

Is a "rebuilders dream" really a nightmare? What does a rebuild run? How low compression is too low? Will a honed cylinder wall and new rings fix that?

What should I look for and avoid regarding used saws? Specific suggestions on models? Is an 046/460 a good compliment to the 210?

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

Wow, big questions! But we'll see what we can do.

Anything will be a compliment to a 210. You cut mostly firewood? Then you'd be well off with a 290 series saw (290/310/390). 290's are known for going for WAY over what they're actually worth. You'll see guys buy used 290's on ebay for more than what can buy new ones for at your dealer. Going from a 210 to a 460 would be a huge jump. You can probably look at a 290 series, a 361 or an 044/440. They'll all fill a "big saw/larger saw" niche.

As for buying one ebay, patience is a virtue and will save you money. Guys spend too much when they get into bidding wars or bid on a whim. Take it slow, watch the auctions, look for auctions to end during the week, rather than on a Saturday night when everyone is at home relaxing, surfing ebay. This is when bidding wars start and knee jerk bidding happens.

Set your price, and don't spend more than that. You'll eventually get what you want.

Do your research, get the saw you want, not just the best deal.

If a saw seems too good to be true, it is.

Don't buy from a guy with less than 99% positive feedback. There's no reason to have less than that.

Rebuilds will always cost more than you think they will. Count on it. If you think you can rebuild a saw for $200, budget for $300. You may not have to spend that, but when it ends up that you need a new clutch, your covered.

If a saw looks like crap, it is.

If a guy tells you he's souped up the saw for racing, and that it'll keep up with a bigger saw, he's lying.

Don't pay more for a guy who throws in screnches, extra bar nuts and small crap like that.

There's always exceptions, but these are basic guidlines.

And try a search here on AS for "ebay." It gets discussed alot.

Welcome to AS.

Jeff

 

[rb_in_va]

Good advice from Jeff. Here's some more. Forget ebay and get a saw from someone on this site. Saws (especially Stihls) on ebay routinely go for more than they are worth.

 

[computeruser]

I'm anticipating looking for a bigger saw to compliment my 210. I see a great number of Stihls for sale on Ebay is various states of repair.

Is it more cost effective to buy a good running used saw or get a rebuider special and buy parts?

Is a "rebuilders dream" really a nightmare? What does a rebuild run? How low compression is too low? Will a honed cylinder wall and new rings fix that?

What should I look for and avoid regarding used saws? Specific suggestions on models? Is an 046/460 a good compliment to the 210?

Jeff pretty much covered it, as usual.

What are you planning on using the bigger saw for? What do you envision using your 210 for after you have another saw? The answers to questions like that will have a lot of bearing on which model(s) would be worth considering.

If you're just into firewood and most of your wood is of a reasonable size that can be handled by a 20" bar, I'd say to for the 290/310 and see what you think of it. If it is underwhelming then you can flip it on eBay for damned near what you paid. If it is satisfactory, then you just saved yourself a bunch of money and the aggrivation of rebuilding a project saw.

 

[bensonjv]

Thanks for the feedback.

I'm pretty sure most of the work I will be doing will be firewood related. I initially thought the 210 might be enough. I'm finding it is a bit underpowered for the rounds I am cutting even after swapping the PM1 for a PM chain.

So my thought was get a bigger saw, something with some giddy-up with a 20-22" bar for the big, heavy work and keep the 210 as a tree saw and for lighter work. That would prevent my having to swap bars, chains, etc, and having to lug a bigger saw into a tree.

Where I purchase a saw isn't as big a concern to me as to the quality. If I can find a good saw here, all the better. I just happened to see the many saws for sale there. My local Sithl dealer doesn't do used or refurbs and there are no pawn shops around so my choices are limited.

Maybe a 390 would be a little better.

Thanks.

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

Maybe a 390 would be a little better.

If you're gonna do the 290 series, and you can afford it, do the 390. But if you can swing just a bit more you're looking at the 361 which is a better saw in every respect.

JMO.

Jeff

 

[livewire]

I'm with rb_in_va on this one. I'd be extremely careful with buying a saw through ebay.

Too many unknown variabls for this kid.

I did see ONE guy selling an old 054??? that he had completely torn down and taken closeups to show everything. I would've bid on it had it been a 460. Hardly anyone does that on ebay.

BTW, I told him to check out AS so hopefully he's reading this!

Good luck to you!

Edit: 056!!!

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

Is there an 054? Don't think so...I've never heard of one.

 

[livewire]

Is there an 054?

That's what the "???'s" were for...I shoulda just said "an old saw"

 

[sawinredneck]

WOW Jeff!!! And I just gave you rep!!! Damn the bad luck!!! Awsome post!!!!

Now, what are you planning on cutting with this saw? Really if you are looking at the 210 you might do better with another brand saw, in a homeowner version, I don't know, but in that class and that money, there are better buys out there depending what you are doing eith it.

 

[chowdozer]

WOW Jeff!!! And I just gave you rep!!! Damn the bad luck!!! Awsome post!!!!

Now, what are you planning on cutting with this saw? Really if you are looking at the 210 you might do better with another brand saw, in a homeowner version, I don't know, but in that class and that money, there are better buys out there depending what you are doing eith it.

I thought you were a Stihl cheerleader? Whaddya doing, switchin' camps??? :fart:

 

[sawinredneck]

I thought you were a Stihl cheerleader? Whaddya doing, switchin' camps??? :fart:

Well.................................. I found a better pizza!!!

 

[bytehoven]

I'll add a couple of things...

The bar condition can tell many stories.

If the bar looks severely used, it's a good indicator the auction is not being honest, if it says the saw has been used very little.

If the bar is brand new, don't be fooled into assuming the saw had low use and was well maintained. It's just too easy to slap a new bar on a saw and make it look real good.

I was thinking you might be able to tell a little more about a saw's condition by looking at the rest of the exterior surfaces. Surfaces around the muffler, intake filter, sprocket, bottom, etc. A real clean saw in these areas might suggest the owner took the time to clean his tools and by extension cared for them well in other areas.

IMHO, the prices you see on used Stihl saws on EBAY, are too close to deals you can haggle from dealers. For instance, saving maybe $100 on a used MS361 on Ebay, is it really worth it over buying a new saw? Maybe if was indeed a saw used a couple of weekends and then put up for sale. But hardly if the saw has a year's worth of daily use, but was nicely maintained.

If Ebay had used Stihl saws going for less than half retail, then it's a risk perhaps worth taking. Otherwise, it just seems buying from Ebay might be penny wise and pound foolish.

 

[GASoline71]

It is usually totaly obvious when some one is selling a saw and has not a clue about what they are sellin'. They try to sound like they know what they are talking about by describing the saw as super powerful, and used by professionals only. Then they will post a picture and provide the specs right from Stihl's website.

Stick with guys that describe the actual saw being sold. Not a bunch of generic crap that any 'tard can come up with. When I sold a few saws on ebay, I provided as much info on the actual saw being sold as possible. Including what I had done to it. I provided clear pictures, and also described any blemishes the saw might have. I also provided pictures of the saw cuttin' wood too.

Anothe seller to stay away from are the... "I was told this saw runs, but will not guarantee it." or when they will describe a big powerful saw that will chew through anything, and then they will add..."won't start right now, but did when put away 2 years ago."

Use common sense. If you sense a guy is sellin' junk... they prolly are. I agree with Jeff and some others that there are diamonds in the rough... but they are few and far between... plus you will ALWAYS spend more on a rebuild than you first intended.

I had been lookin' for an 044/046 for awhile. Then I put some feelers out to people that I knew and trusted from here and other websites. It took awhile, but I was finally offered a really nice 044 that was the right price for me. So I bought it. He even sent it to me for a trial run before I purchased it from him. Try that with ebay... ain't gonna happen. I would trust buyin' used power equipment this way instead of ebay.

Buying used power equipment on ebay is a crap shoot. There are a lot of dishonest people on there. More than honest IMHO. I would also try to stay with guys that sell nothing but saws and saw parts. There are a lot of people that go to estate sales and garage sales, and buy lots of crap. They might get a saw, and then sell it. They know nothing about it. If they are sellin' an old 041 and all their other auctions are Holly Hobbie crap... I would pass.

Good luck mang... buyin' on ebay sucks if you ask me. I buy stuff from there once in awhile. But I won't buy power equiment there anymore. Parts yes... saws no.opcorn:

Gary

 

[belgian]

It is usually totaly obvious when some one is selling a saw and has not a clue about what they are sellin'. They try to sound like they know what they are talking about by describing the saw as super powerful, and used by professionals only. Then they will post a picture and provide the specs right from Stihl's website.

Stick with guys that describe the actual saw being sold. Not a bunch of generic crap that any 'tard can come up with. When I sold a few saws on ebay, I provided as much info on the actual saw being sold as possible. Including what I had done to it. I provided clear pictures, and also described any blemishes the saw might have. I also provided pictures of the saw cuttin' wood too.

Anothe seller to stay away from are the... "I was told this saw runs, but will not guarantee it." or when they will describe a big powerful saw that will chew through anything, and then they will add..."won't start right now, but did when put away 2 years ago."

Use common sense. If you sense a guy is sellin' junk... they prolly are. I agree with Jeff and some others that there are diamonds in the rough... but they are few and far between... plus you will ALWAYS spend more on a rebuild than you first intended.

I had been lookin' for an 044/046 for awhile. Then I put some feelers out to people that I knew and trusted from here and other websites. It took awhile, but I was finally offered a really nice 044 that was the right price for me. So I bought it. He even sent it to me for a trial run before I purchased it from him. Try that with ebay... ain't gonna happen. I would trust buyin' used power equipment this way instead of ebay.

Buying used power equipment on ebay is a crap shoot. There are a lot of dishonest people on there. More than honest IMHO. I would also try to stay with guys that sell nothing but saws and saw parts. There are a lot of people that go to estate sales and garage sales, and buy lots of crap. They might get a saw, and then sell it. They know nothing about it. If they are sellin' an old 041 and all their other auctions are Holly Hobbie crap... I would pass.

Good luck mang... buyin' on ebay sucks if you ask me. I buy stuff from there once in awhile. But I won't buy power equiment there anymore. Parts yes... saws no.opcorn:

Gary

excellent post if you ask me !

 

[rxe]

You also get stuff like this, which, although he is describing what he is selling, he is being rather deceptive to the unwary:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/STIHL-192T-Pr...882QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item300077137550

Yes, he admits he is selling a 192T...but also says it is the "new light 200T" - as if that is some sort of advantage over a 200. Currently going for £330, which is about $660 (+shipping!) at the moment.

I think if you really know what you are looking for, and know how much it will cost to fix the likely problems, eBay is mostly OK. If I look at a price on eBay, I always assume that I would need to budget for a new cylinder and piston at least. I bought an old, tatty 07-S off eBay for $30 and as a project saw, its been great. Generally saws go for way over what they are worth.

 

[hautions11]

I have bought a couple of saws on ebay and will reiterate Jeff's point be patient. Watching all the auctions through the end teaches you a lot. You can usually ID the ones you want right away. Carefull, there is a lot of junk. I put a vote in for 044's. Lot's of them out there, cheap parts, big bores etc. Both saws I bought I was able to talk to the seller. VERY IMPORTANT! One was a guy with a tree service, bought saws new and had retired, so had several bigger saws. (084 $375) The second was from a dealer that uses Ebay to turn good used saws. They had sold it new, knew the owner and gone through the 660 I bought. 2 years old, looked nice, $475 with some extra chains and a very nice original bar. Both of those took a couple of months. My 044, bought from someone here, $250 shipped, Great saw! Keep your eyes open.

 

[rb_in_va]

It is usually totaly obvious when some one is selling a saw and has not a clue about what they are sellin'. They try to sound like they know what they are talking about by describing the saw as super powerful, and used by professionals only.

Which probably mean the saw is worn out. Why would a pro saw user get rid of a perfectly good work saw? I'm sure there are good saws on ebay, but it's a crap shoot, that's all.

 

[ktoom]

Im actually selling my 044 on ebay and this site. Do any of you guys know if u can upload movies on either ebay or this site, to sell things? I think it would help if sellers made movies of the equipment they are trying to sell. Maybe show the machine running and in use. BUT the seller still miht not be honest though about somethings. Thats the only downfall i see. I actually just made a little movie of me using the saw i fixed up and boy did she go good...if it don't sell im just gonna keep it cuz it ran and cut just as good as my new ms440.

 

[alderman]

What works for me

Patience, patience, patience.

Know what you want to buy. Do some homework on what you want before hand, its fun, educational, and can keep you from buying something you really don't want.

Don't get sucked into a bidding war. Know the price you want to pay and stick to it.

Add a $1 and some change to your bid. Most folks bid on even amounts at $5.00 increments.

Contact the seller and ask questions before bidding. If the seller won't answer back, avoid the auction. You can often (not always) get a feel for the honesty of the seller by the way they answer your questions.

Bid later rather than sooner.

Buy Shindaiwa! Nobody seems to want them and they run great!!

Good luck!