I moved up here from the city around 1974, before this, I'd help my dad cut and split wood because we needed to clear the area to build his house. We started out with two Mini Mac 6 saws and we'd cut and split up to 15 cords or oak per year. I wanted a bigger saw and the old Stihl dealer south of us is one of the first guys I met up here.. He didn't just do saws, the old guy was smart. I bought a new snowblower and the darn thing would never start good and one day I was talking to him and he told me to check the head gasket on the blower.. I kind'a laughed thinking how foolish he was - because the blower was new... I got home and sure enough, the head gasket was cracked from day one, the engine would run but a bugger to start..
Stihl is making a big mistake, they could put up a big building on the main streets, have huge signs up that show where they are located, they could give away coffee, hot dogs and free brats but if the owners now very little about the saws or how to fix them, they might as well sell their products on line..
That old guy has and knows generations of loyal customers, I have those 'Red Saws' but I bought most of my chains from him... When I wanted a new bar, he taught me how to dress them. Once I wanted to buy a few spark plugs and he laughed, poured out my gas, put in his and sent me off with my tail between my legs..
He might not be the dealership but I would think he'll always be around, maybe tinker with saws and give out advice. I can't see him sitting around eating soggy toast in the morning and watching some TV program... Like someone wrote above, that oil and exhaust smell gets in to your blood. This is sad... The seed dealer shut down and sold out, the mill is gone and now him... I guess the big box stores and the days of disposable goods are here to stay..