Dealer preparation of new saws

[Sidecarflip]

Been up north hunting the last 3 days so my comment is somewhat belated but in the case of the dealer I work at part time, his big sales are in Kubota Tractors and the Cub stuff and the Echo stuff are kind of secondary. I should add that if an owner brings a saw in for service or if something is amiss like it's locked up, first thing we do is dump the gas and have a look see. Echo will not warrant any saw that has been straight gassed, customer or not. He isn't the only Echo dealer in town either. Actually 2.

We have very few saws come in for service actually. Most are for loop sharpening or a new loop and I get the sharpen ALL the dull chains in my shop, why I own a pair of chain grinders. Kind of a side thing for me.

If a saw is locked up are suffering, first thing we tell them is the Echo warranty right up front. That way there is no 'grey' area.

 

[ZeroJunk]

My Stihl dealer fuels, adds bar oil, runs it, tunes a little rich if adjustable and asks you to bring it back after a couple tanks to final tune it. They will also allow you to run it in a test log if you like.

That's how it should be done. It's called customer service and is the reason I buy all my parts from them. They're there if you need it and will bend over backwards to help. Someone here could learn from that.

I suppose that is aimed at me. I never even see a new saw other than walking by them going to the shop. It is just befuddling how many saws or other Stihl equipment that I am not fixing anywhere even in the neighborhood of the time it was sold.

My problem is usually the other end of it. The thing is slap worn out. Screws holes stripped. Plastic broke. Linkage doesn't half work anymore. Chain brake is burned off. Pieces of crankcase broken off that holds the dogs. Palls worn to nothing. And on and on.
But, they want it repaired so we do

Put a crank half on a 500I last week because they managed to break it where the brake handle pivots.
I'ts all fun.

 

[Husky77]

My Stihl dealer fuels, adds bar oil, runs it, tunes a little rich if adjustable and asks you to bring it back after a couple tanks to final tune it. They will also allow you to run it in a test log if you like.

That's how it should be done. It's called customer service and is the reason I buy all my parts from them. They're there if you need it and will bend over backwards to help. Someone here could learn from that.

Thats what you would expect and is Stihl & Husqvarna policy. What lets it down is lazy and cant be bothered so called sales persons. Sadly they are everywhere. My local dealer was very good, now much older and only there part time so its run by his son, too lazy to get out of bed and not worried if they sell a saw or not. The attitude and way I seen him speak to customers, stopped me going there. All the hard work his dad done on building up a business is slowly being eroded. Thats what happends when you leave school and get your first job in the family business and carried, not having to work to earn it.

 

[sean donato]

So, you sell a saw. The customer wants it tested in a log, filled with oil, whatever. Then , he decides he does not want it for whatever.
You have a used saw.

not sure i understand what you're dribbling on about. As long as I've been dealing with them, it's been standard procedure(for them) to run the saw before you leave. Usually done while you're paying and doing the paperwork. Yes, they keep test logs around, as well as several "demo" saws for customers to run. Mostly the reason I bought a new 562xp when they came out. They actually demo quite a lot of equipment, worth much more then any chainsaw. Some other dealers do similar.
I have no idea what the return policy is, never once returned a saw, nor would I ever have any Intentions of doing so. I highly doubt they accept returns, but can't honestly answer that question.

 

[ZeroJunk]

not sure i understand what you're dribbling on about. As long as I've been dealing with them, it's been standard procedure(for them) to run the saw before you leave. Usually done while you're paying and doing the paperwork. Yes, they keep test logs around, as well as several "demo" saws for customers to run. Mostly the reason I bought a new 562xp when they came out. They actually demo quite a lot of equipment, worth much more then any chainsaw. Some other dealers do similar.
I have no idea what the return policy is, never once returned a saw, nor would I ever have any Intentions of doing so. I highly doubt they accept returns, but can't honestly answer that question.

Stihl has a 7 day satisfaction guarantee with a couple of series that are exceptions. Chainsaws aren't one.
Most of our customers don't need to be shown how to run a saw.

 

[sean donato]

Stihl has a 7 day satisfaction guarantee with a couple of series that are exceptions. Chainsaws aren't one.
Most of our customers don't need to be shown how to run a saw.

It's not there to teach someone how to run a saw, it's to test run the saw. Ita a useful sales tool, and they use it for testing saws that come in with complaints. No different then I do after I fix someone's saw, other then I just go out back and cut blocks to fire wood size vs cookies like they do. I really don't get your opposition to having test logs around as a bad thing. Of all the "dealers" we have around, they are one of the best I've ever delt with. As far as that goes, it's not unusual to want to demo a piece of equipment before buying it. You go buy a truck and not take it for a spin before you leave? Same thing here.

 

[farmer steve]

My guy has a log out back. Mostly used for testing saws they have repaired. I'm not there enough to know if they have ran any new saws in the log for a customer. I'll ask. I have seen them fire up a new saw for a customer to show them starting procedures if they want.

 

[ZeroJunk]

It's not there to teach someone how to run a saw, it's to test run the saw. Ita a useful sales tool, and they use it for testing saws that come in with complaints. No different then I do after I fix someone's saw, other then I just go out back and cut blocks to fire wood size vs cookies like they do. I really don't get your opposition to having test logs around as a bad thing. Of all the "dealers" we have around, they are one of the best I've ever delt with. As far as that goes, it's not unusual to want to demo a piece of equipment before buying it. You go buy a truck and not take it for a spin before you leave? Same thing here.

We have test logs. I am the one who takes them up there. 30 inch red oak usually. Still have a bunch laying around dying from something.

But, the discussion before it wandered around was starting every saw or whatever before it goes out the door. We don't unless the customer wants it, and they usually don't even mention it.

The stuff is made 200 miles down the road and every one is ran and adjusted by computer. The chainsaws all have limiters that are set, and if the dealer is going to make them richer he will have to disable the limiter. And, the high needle if it has one is hard against the limiter. So, what are we adjusting ?
We had one guy buy a MS500I and came back the next day and wanted a MS462 instead. So, we did whatever made him happy. Not a big deal.

 

[Old2stroke]

We have test logs. I am the one who takes them up there. 30 inch red oak usually. Still have a bunch laying around dying from something.

But, the discussion before it wandered around was starting every saw or whatever before it goes out the door. We don't unless the customer wants it, and they usually don't even mention it.

The stuff is made 200 miles down the road and every one is ran and adjusted by computer. The chainsaws all have limiters that are set, and if the dealer is going to make them richer he will have to disable the limiter. And, the high needle if it has one is hard against the limiter. So, what are we adjusting ?
We had one guy buy a MS500I and came back the next day and wanted a MS462 instead. So, we did whatever made him happy. Not a big deal.

Not everyone lives so close to the factory that no adjustments are needed. People who cut trees in the high country have to run a leaner setting. THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE ADJUSTING. The high speed mix and probably the low speed settings as well.

 

[Old2stroke]

not sure i understand what you're dribbling on about. As long as I've been dealing with them, it's been standard procedure(for them) to run the saw before you leave. Usually done while you're paying and doing the paperwork. Yes, they keep test logs around, as well as several "demo" saws for customers to run. Mostly the reason I bought a new 562xp when they came out. They actually demo quite a lot of equipment, worth much more then any chainsaw. Some other dealers do similar.
I have no idea what the return policy is, never once returned a saw, nor would I ever have any Intentions of doing so. I highly doubt they accept returns, but can't honestly answer that question.

This is what a great dealer should be doing, unfortunately many dealers in large cities don't have the means or real estate to keep a test log out back so their idea of preparing a saw, besides mounting the bar and chain, is to use a tach and make sure the full throttle, no load rpm is set to the factory specs, which is just as well since their mechanics deal mainly with lawn mowers, trimmers and blowers and have never actually cut anything with a chainsaw let alone know how to tune one by ear.

 

[sean donato]

This is what a great dealer should be doing, unfortunately many dealers in large cities don't have the means or real estate to keep a test log out back so their idea of preparing a saw, besides mounting the bar and chain, is to use a tach and make sure the full throttle, no load rpm is set to the factory specs, which is just as well since their mechanics deal mainly with lawn mowers, trimmers and blowers and have never actually cut anything with a chainsaw let alone know how to tune one by ear.

yeah, we have "dealers" like that too. Hence why I patronize a dealer an hour away from my house.

 

[PV Hiker]

As a business stand point for Stihl, having the dealer assemble and run new chainsaws (or any product) gives them assurance that their product works as advertised. Prevents buyer from saying did not run give me another one. Buyer said dealer said issues.

But you need to have a competent dealer that knows how to assemble and run a chainsaw. This protects the buyer that is clueless around a chainsaw. I have no issue dealer assemble and run my chainsaws as this heads off any defective parts head, bar or chain, oiler working, starter and rope, control switch, etc...

Like I said earlier, my dealer assembled and ran a new chainsaw. Upon start up the piston exploded. How would a buyer feel if made the purchase with boxed chainsaw and drove 50 miles home only to have the piston explode upon start up? The hassel of phone calls and another trip to the dealer for replacement. Also dealer not knowing that said buyer knew what they were doing and caused it. Stress on both sides. Stihl would have prevented buyer bad mouthing Stihl by word of mouth and lose future sales.

There are both sides as some want the box and do it themselves. Others don't mind having a known product that was verified before taking it away. This will always be the case..... search out a dealer that does it your way if it is important to you.

 

[ZeroJunk]

This is what a great dealer should be doing, unfortunately many dealers in large cities don't have the means or real estate to keep a test log out back so their idea of preparing a saw, besides mounting the bar and chain, is to use a tach and make sure the full throttle, no load rpm is set to the factory specs, which is just as well since their mechanics deal mainly with lawn mowers, trimmers and blowers and have never actually cut anything with a chainsaw let alone know how to tune one by ear.

NO. NO. NO. You don't do any of that. It goes out the door the way it came from the factory. If there is a problem within 7 days you replace it. And, if there is a problem under warranty you repair it.

I love these farts who think they can tune better by ear than a machine programmed to do it.

 

[ZeroJunk]

Not everyone lives so close to the factory that no adjustments are needed. People who cut trees in the high country have to run a leaner setting. THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE ADJUSTING. The high speed mix and probably the low speed settings as well.

So, how am I going to adjust for somebody at a higher elevation ?

And, running rich never hurt anything. Do you understand how any of this works ?

 

[OM617YOTA]

What dealer do you work at @ZeroJunk ?

 

[ZeroJunk]

What dealer do you work at @ZeroJunk ?

Well, where do you work ?

 

[Marley5]

I love these farts who think they can tune better by ear than a machine programmed to do it.

IDK, I've bought many new saws and just about everyone needed tuning for optimal performance after break in.
I'll also take an ear over a tachometer when tuning.

 

[OM617YOTA]

Well, where do you work ?

Fair enough!

Glad I like my local dealer. Mostly don't need them, but glad there are good folks available if/when I do.

 

[ZeroJunk]

IDK, I've bought many new saws and just about everyone needed tuning for optimal performance after break in.
I'll also take an ear over a tachometer when tuning.

Cool.

 

[ZeroJunk]

Fair enough!

Glad I like my local dealer. Mostly don't need them, but glad there are good folks available if/when I do.

We can and do fix anything Stihl. Hell, I'm 71 years old and just do it cause I like it.
Have a young tech who is meticulous, just slow. I would rather him fix my stuff than anybody. Even the counter man is Stihl Gold certified.
I do most of the volume because I can tell what is wrong with it by instinct.
We have been Stihl since there was Stihl.

We will do anything you want. If you don't want us to start your stuff just to be starting it, we don't.