How do you like this?

[bobbyb13]

Sign on the door of a local Stihl dealer. We do not work on saws and equipment we did not sell! Wonder why I won't buy a new Stihl? Go into the Echo, Husky dealer and the young man there will bust his tail to help you. If there is something he doesn't know, he is on the phone getting an answer. My question is, If a person contacted Stihl, what would they think of this policy?

 

[Ed*L]

There is a local Husky dealer that has the same policy.
Some of it I understand, some I don't.
A Husky saw that is the same no matter where you bought it, he should fix it. He will get the customers money (or Husky's if it's warranty) and he might gain a future customer.
Lawnmowers etc. that are mass produced for different customers by a single source can be a pita to get parts for. Each customer (Sears, TSC, etc.) wants their product to be a little different. Why should the dealer spend 2 hours to find a $5.00 part that is totally unique to one stores tractor and then, hope it fits. The customer isn't going to want to pay him for that extra time, it's a lose/lose situtation for all involved. In that instance, I don't blame the dealer a bit for sending someone "down the road". Although they should do it a little more diplomatically than a sign in the door.

Ed

 

[computeruser]

The topic has been covered a number of times, but I think it comes down to it being a matter of the choice of the individual dealership. Personally I can understand not wanting to take every guy off the street with any old oddball piece of equipment that he'll abandon when he gets the final parts+labor bill.

I look at it this way: if he doesn't want to fix my equipment, I don't want him to.

 

[NYH1]

Most dealers a round here will work on any saw you bring them. They're in the service and repair business to make money. They will however work on thier own customers saws before they work on someone who didn't buy from them, and in my opinion..........that's the way it should be!

 

[59Billy]

one data point

My local Stihl shop works on pretty much everything. In fact, they just signed up as a Poulan warranty center. I suppose they figure labor dollars are labor dollars.

 

[gatkeper1]

Sign on the door of a local Stihl dealer. We do not work on saws and equipment we did not sell!

But I bet he will take your cash for new bars,chains,parts or lubricants.

I can understand not servicing brands they do not sell because of the parts or use of needed special tools to properly repair them.
But outright refusing to service the brands they sell only because you purchaced elsewhere, well thats a no brainer for me. If I am not good enough for you to service my equipment, you are not good enough for me to spend my money in your establishment.

 

[Stihl 041S]

But don't get caught putting those bars and chains on a saw he didn't sell!!

Propriety you know>

 

[spike60]

The topic has been covered a number of times

Yeah, it's not even fun anymore.

It's pretty much my policy also, with some obvious and necessary exceptions. We are polite about it, and refer people to someone who can help them. I think that the sign is too unfriendly a way to send the message.

 

[Wismer]

probably a bit of a liability issue. They don't want to risk messing up stuff they don't know too much about?

I think my dealer would work on just about anything but i dont know cause i only run stihls

 

[joatmon]

My Stihl dealer

Well, I walked into my Stihl dealer with a pocket full of money and they wouldn't even sell me a saw.

They didn't need a sign about service 'cause I kinda figured that one out by myself.

 

[doc874]

Well, I walked into my Stihl dealer with a pocket full of money and they wouldn't even sell me a saw.

They didn't need a sign about service 'cause I kinda figured that one out by myself.

Elaborate on why they wouldn't sell you a saw. Most dealers i know at least, the ones with no moral fibor would take your money in a heart beat. Maybe you ran into one of the better ones who thought you after talking to you that you lacked experience?? Not trying to knock you but an explaination of why they wouldn't sell you a saw would be good. Thanks.

 

[THALL10326]

Sign on the door of a local Stihl dealer. We do not work on saws and equipment we did not sell! Wonder why I won't buy a new Stihl? Go into the Echo, Husky dealer and the young man there will bust his tail to help you. If there is something he doesn't know, he is on the phone getting an answer. My question is, If a person contacted Stihl, what would they think of this policy?

Call Stihl and be ready for a major disappointment. They will tell you each dealer is independant. He is required by Stihl to service the Stihl he sells, nothing more. The dealer decides what else he will service and what he won't.

Is there more to your story than just the sign you saw or did you take something there to be serviced and got turned away?

 

[joatmon]

Elaborate on why they wouldn't sell you a saw. Most dealers i know at least, the ones with no moral fibor would take your money in a heart beat. Maybe you ran into one of the better ones who thought you after talking to you that you lacked experience?? Not trying to knock you but an explaination of why they wouldn't sell you a saw would be good. Thanks.

I have a dealer I visit 5 or 6 times a year. In the last 1 1/2 years, I've purchased a BG85 blower and a BR600 blower in addition to a chain, oil and other misc. parts.

About 4 weeks ago, I'd decided I wanted a 440 or 460. I went to the dealer and bought a part, and then asked the guy that was helping me to show me a saw. He said he didn't know much about them, so he said: "Bob, can you show this fella' a saw?" Bob's response: "You can read as well as I can. Take a catalog over there".

Well, I know Bob knows his stuff. He's either an owner or principal. He acted put upon to even show me how to start the BR600 I bought last year. Being my first 4-mix and all, I wanted a little direction.

Well, 2 Saturdays ago, I walk in the store and buy a part. I started looking at saws. There was one other customer in the store, also getting a part. Now, not one of the 4 perple on the sales floor or behind the sales counter were interested in me as I spent 10 minutes handling the 440 and 460.

I left determined to get a Dolmar 7900. The dealer/service/parts for Dolmar bothered me, so I asked a site sponsor about a 372 and bingo, I'm cuttin' wood.

No runs, ho hits, no Stihl.

Lots of firewood, big grin and a nice Husky.:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[joatmon]

I stiull think a 440 or 460 would do just as well as the 372. I'm just not going to support this dealer. I would never have considered a Husky except for this attitude. BTW, I can give 5 or 6 similar episodes in the last 4 or57 years. This attitude is systemic with this dealer.

 

[59Billy]

Sounds like Bob needs a remedial class in salesmanship.

I don't blame you for not wanting to deal with somebody like that.

 

[bookerdog]

I know my brother in law drives a 60 miles to a stihl dealer because the one in our town has a terrible attitude.

 

[Finnbear]

But I bet he will take your cash for new bars,chains,parts or lubricants.

I can understand not servicing brands they do not sell because of the parts or use of needed special tools to properly repair them.
But outright refusing to service the brands they sell only because you purchaced elsewhere, well thats a no brainer for me. If I am not good enough for you to service my equipment, you are not good enough for me to spend my money in your establishment.

And I'll bet if you were at their counter buying a chain and some bar oil or mix oil and asked if they would service your Stihl saw they would do so.
Finnbear

 

[THALL10326]

And I'll bet if you were at their counter buying a chain and some bar oil or mix oil and asked if they would service your Stihl saw they would do so.
Finnbear

Shhhhhhhhhhhhh Finn, this is a Stihl bashing thread. We'll get our turn after they're done,:hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange:

 

[MikeInParadise]

Here there are none of the "mythical saw dealers". Chainsaws are a small side line for RV dealers, Snowmobile,ATV dealers, Rental Shops. A dedicated saw shop would starve to death. We only recently got someone in the area (Pop 200,000+) that sells Dolmar and he did not have a 5100s .You will be lucky to see a saw as big as Stihl MS361 on display.

The Husky dealer is a corner store/garden supply where you can put on your wifes grocery list, milk, eggs, bag of chips, Husky 346xp.. (Hmmmm I wonder if she would get it for me!). The owner is knowledgable but when I was looking for the MS660 he would not knock a single penny off the price of a 395xp which made it $300 more than what I ended up paying for the MS660. Of course most of the Stihl dealers would not discount on the MS660 at all either. The one that did got the business and gave it to me in an unopened box, so much for starting it and making sure that it runs.

I also have yet to see these "knowledgeable saw guys" as it is such a small part of their business. They have no full time saw mechanics as again their guys/gals work on a variety of products.

So it wouldn't surprise me at all for them to not want to service stuff that they don't sell although here that just does not fit the average business profile of anything for a buck that is common here on the island. Plus by nature here people try to help, even if they are not knowledgeable, they are friendly.

 

[Cedarkerf]

Shhhhhhhhhhhhh Finn, this is a Stihl bashing thread. We'll get our turn after they're done,:hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange:

:hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange: