Being a certified stihl mechanic. I can give you the goods on the masterbation over a cardboard box with the Stihl insignia.
Part of being a Stihl dealer, you are covered by their insurance. They pay for the lawyers in your court case.
ANY Stihl product, when sold has to be demonstrated, on how to use to the customer. YOU CAN'T DO THAT WHEN ITS STILL IN THE BOX. Any dealer caught selling products in the box, weather it be on eBay or any other way is stripped of their dealership withing a few weeks. If you find someone selling a Stihl product still in the box. It is most likely a stolen unit. When you take it to be serviced and they run the numbers they call you and say it's ready and instead of you picking up your saw. The cops pick you up.. Quite a few tilmes over the years in my case.
Most small saws come 2 to a box. NONE OF THEM HAVE THE BAR INSTALLED. To be a dealer,you assemble the saw and instruct the customer on how to use it and be safe aside from service tips.
I had no issues giving the box away. But it didn't have the saw in it. Think of Christmas time. Sweetie wants to buy hubby a saw. So after she paid, I gave the box to her and said simply have your husband come and pick it up so I / we can instruct safe usage. So you don't drop start it at wide open throttle your cahonies off for example. Stihl has folks scouring ebay and the likes for equipment in boxes. Because it's most likely stolen.
Most people don't know but write down your damn serial number. If some ****** steals your saw and you report it, and dipwad takes it to the dealer. You get your saw and he gets free ride from the cops.
I had recovered stolen saws for insurance rip offs and regular saws that were ripped off from the owners buy the run of the mill thief.
You really want the box. Ask them
If you want Stihl boxes for what ever. Check the dumpster.
Stihl will drop millions for lawyer fees to protect a good standing dealer. When you buy a saw a lowes and the chain is on backwards and you ruin the saw trying to cut with it. See how far you get besides a new saw. If you get hurt. Your screwed!,!
Hope what I said puts this thread to bed because there is a very good reason for everything if you take some time and do a little research you can generally find a valid answer..
I Wil in time post about an entire trailer that was full of stihl trimmers that was stolen and how they got caught. It's a riot.
Be safe people and hope well to everyone.