How much $ is too much?

[andrethegiant70]

Well, this great country of ours has this thing called capitalism...the market sets the price, peeps. The only way you can influence it is to decide where and how to spend your money. I do like has been suggested....anything over my head I take to my Stihl dealer, and I fix everything else myself. I try to remind myself that having my dealer work on it supprts my local economy. I'll pretty much do ANYTHING to stay out of the box stores!

 

[7ShawnT]

Mark-up?

You might be suprised to know that parts have a decent profit for the dealers, and I don't see much difference in Stihl or Husky parts prices...

Yep, I found that out last week, when I needed to get a new spur sprocket for my 021. I called my nearest Stihl dealer, in VT, (6 mi away) and his line was busy . . . after trying 3 times . . . still busy! I called the nearest Stihl dealer in NH (13 mi away) he didn't have one in stock, but could have one by the end of Wed. it was $16.99 (Since I had already checked Bailey's it was $9.95 but if that was the only thing I needed Shipping would be another $7.95!) I then called the VT dealer (he was off the phone!) and he also did not have it in stock, but he could get it in a few days for $22.00!

So there you have it $5 diff, and neither one had it in stock, and I'm sure the guy in NH was no fool, and was making something on it too!

It pays to shop around.

Shawn

 

[Ductape]

Shawn..... PLUS you snookered your way out of paying the sales tax !

 

[ChuckinOhio]

I will buy stuff off of the internet if it is for a project that is gonna take awhile to complete.
I buy stuff from several different dealers, depending on which saws I am buying stuff for." Homie, Mac or Husky"
I am fortunate that my Husky dealer is a real down to earth guy, and dosen't try to make his whole retirement fund in one sale. His words on the subject of prices are" I try to treat people so that they want to return. I don't just want a customer, I want a customer for life"


Chuck

 

[7ShawnT]

Shawn..... PLUS you snookered your way out of paying the sales tax !

Yup! The gov got enough!

As the ol saying goes "Don't steal, the Government hates competition"

Also I agree that box store's are my last resort! (I'd rather get it on line!)

Shawn

 

[swampfox]

I feel like a bomb thrower. I posted this message and went to bed and see that there are many different perspectives. I always want to support my local dealer which is the root of why I'm not happy with him. I paid full, retail price on the three pieces of Stihl equipment - never haggled just wrote the checks. When I brought my MS200T - which was not cheap -in for repairs, he told me they were backed up for a week to ten days - "don't know when I can get to it" - and informed me there new rate was $68.50. I guess my point is that having spent a good amount of money with him and unless he didn't charge me enough and make a profit - that's his fault not mine - the least he could have done was take a look at the saw and give me some idea of when I could get it back and about how much. I just feel I was treated with indiffference - just like the big box stores, not like the local dealer I was supporting. The o-ring deal really got my goat because he said: "we usually have lots of those in stock, I'll get some in for you next week". When he charged me the shipping and it was enough to ship 500 o-rings across the country, for something that was "stocking part", I feel abused. Every business exists to make a profit, including the one I work for - but taking care of customers is what keeps them coming back. I'm not asking for something free but if I give you my business, take reasonable care of me and I'll come back!

 

[oldsaw]

I feel like a bomb thrower. I posted this message and went to bed and see that there are many different perspectives. I always want to support my local dealer which is the root of why I'm not happy with him. I paid full, retail price on the three pieces of Stihl equipment - never haggled just wrote the checks. When I brought my MS200T - which was not cheap -in for repairs, he told me they were backed up for a week to ten days - "don't know when I can get to it" - and informed me there new rate was $68.50. I guess my point is that having spent a good amount of money with him and unless he didn't charge me enough and make a profit - that's his fault not mine - the least he could have done was take a look at the saw and give me some idea of when I could get it back and about how much. I just feel I was treated with indiffference - just like the big box stores, not like the local dealer I was supporting. The o-ring deal really got my goat because he said: "we usually have lots of those in stock, I'll get some in for you next week". When he charged me the shipping and it was enough to ship 500 o-rings across the country, for something that was "stocking part", I feel abused. Every business exists to make a profit, including the one I work for - but taking care of customers is what keeps them coming back. I'm not asking for something free but if I give you my business, take reasonable care of me and I'll come back!

I know what you mean. I don't expect a whole lot out of a dealer. Now, if he's backed up with service for a week, that's what it is, but if that's the case, and you are in a hurry to get it back, he could offer suggestions of things for you to check if you are comfortable doing basic repairs. I'll pay the $68.50 if I leave it for service, but for that money I expect a service pro who knows the "lay of the land", not some newbie who's practicing on my saw.

Getting charged shipping when he is replenishing his own stock is cheesy...sounds like my old dealer. The problem is that a lot of businesspeople are bad businesspeople. They don't look at things from the other side. There are some opportunities for profit that should be taken legitimately, and others that shouldn't. I'll take a little abuse, but I don't want to walk away feeling violated. I want a dealer who wants me to want to come back, not who feels like I have to.

Mark

 

[oldsaw]

Yep, I found that out last week, when I needed to get a new spur sprocket for my 021. I called my nearest Stihl dealer, in VT, (6 mi away) and his line was busy . . . after trying 3 times . . . still busy! I called the nearest Stihl dealer in NH (13 mi away) he didn't have one in stock, but could have one by the end of Wed. it was $16.99 (Since I had already checked Bailey's it was $9.95 but if that was the only thing I needed Shipping would be another $7.95!) I then called the VT dealer (he was off the phone!) and he also did not have it in stock, but he could get it in a few days for $22.00!

So there you have it $5 diff, and neither one had it in stock, and I'm sure the guy in NH was no fool, and was making something on it too!

It pays to shop around.

Shawn

I'd drive the extra 7 miles just for the point of it. I drove the extra 12-13 miles to go to a good dealer when I got sick of the abuse. Then I had one open up even closer. So far, they seem good. Their chain selection is weak, but they can get anything from their other dealership on the other side of KC. $17 is probably SRP on the piece. Bailey's isn't worth it for just one piece. I always wait until I need multiple things from them or shipping kills you. Not their fault, shipping is a killer.

Mark

 

[swampfox]

Mark: right on. I want to support the dealer and the staff he employs but he needs to be reasonable. One would think that taking care of a good customer - I spent all the money - never complained - is what he would want to do. I'm in the market for big saw in the next few months and the few dollars he made on the o-rings will cost him a sale, simple as that.

 

[oldsaw]

Mark: right on. I want to support the dealer and the staff he employs but he needs to be reasonable. One would think that taking care of a good customer - I spent all the money - never complained - is what he would want to do. I'm in the market for big saw in the next few months and the few dollars he made on the o-rings will cost him a sale, simple as that.

That's my point. "Few dollars" and "O-rings" should have set off an alarm in his head. "Few cents" and "O-rings" is where the rest of the world is. You paid to replenish his bin, although I kind of wonder if the guy is semi-dishonest or just that clueless. Either way, he'd be on my "poo-poo" list and used for emergencies only. I'm an "order" guy anyway, since nobody stocks much for an 066 in Kansas City. I need to wait for virtually everything, but I accept that. If I lived in Washington state, not so much.

Mark

 

[rreidnauer]

I don't know if dealers do this, but it would be nice if they would take precedence on those who purchased equipment from them, over those who haven't. Sort of a "go to the head of the line" where service is concerned. Being treated indifferently does feel a bit "cold shoulder" like.

But look at this dealer. He's getting $68 and he's lined up out the door. I guess you can't blame him for that. If he was charging $50, you'd probably have a one month wait!!!!

 

[ropensaddle]

How much, kinda depends on how much you have I remember
a time when any was too much. If I was in the position that a lot
of the complainers are I would take my truck to dealer and tell them
fix it. When you are working with a budget it is a whole different story
that has made me learn a lot of stuff I would rather pay to have done!
I am just starting to get to that level of being able to pay. It seems the
people that have it made are the ones doing most of the complaining,
probably because the have eaten from silver all there lives and have
never labored ,or struggled to make a living. I have experienced this
in my biz the rich feel like everyone is trying to get to them so they
end up jewing you on bids. That is why trickle down economics does
not work the rich are not happy with a deal usually they want a steal!

 

[swampfox]

I've heard that the reason he's backed up is he lost his technician because of pay issues. This could be just conjecture because I don't know this first hand. I've twisted wrenches for 20 years so I know how to work and I'm not "rich", just yet Reducing expenses and maximizing profits is the goal of any good business - which is what they all should be doing - but there is a point where the business will suffer. A fair price for competent service: is that too much to ask? No sense beating this horse anymore - I wish my former dealer continued success with his business but he has lost me as a customer. Peter

 

[Cut4fun]

I'd say time to learn to do it yourself. What made me learn to try and work on a saw a few years ago was a quote of $200 to fix a saw that I fixed later for $8 in parts and $8 in shipping of parts to me, Total of $16. The dealer that gave me the $200 estimate is a heck of a dealer and I just didn't want to put $200 in a saw that was only worth $300 NEW.
The good folks here will help you every inch of the way and trust me they will.

 

[Just Mow]

Yep, I found that out last week, when I needed to get a new spur sprocket for my 021. I called my nearest Stihl dealer, in VT, (6 mi away) and his line was busy . . . after trying 3 times . . . still busy! I called the nearest Stihl dealer in NH (13 mi away) he didn't have one in stock, but could have one by the end of Wed. it was $16.99 (Since I had already checked Bailey's it was $9.95 but if that was the only thing I needed Shipping would be another $7.95!) I then called the VT dealer (he was off the phone!) and he also did not have it in stock, but he could get it in a few days for $22.00!

So there you have it $5 diff, and neither one had it in stock, and I'm sure the guy in NH was no fool, and was making something on it too!

It pays to shop around.

Shawn

Don't forget that the one at Baileys is not OEM, which may or may not make a difference but it does reflect the price and quality.

 

[Cut4fun]

Don't forget that the one at Baileys is not OEM, which may or may not make a difference but it does reflect the price and quality.

OK stihl poster boy, Bawhahahah whatever Bawhahaha


Price has nothing to do in quality most of the time IMO, only dealer greed and mark up for profit.

 

[Lakeside53]

I don't know if dealers do this, but it would be nice if they would take precedence on those who purchased equipment from them, over those who haven't. Sort of a "go to the head of the line" where service is concerned. Being treated indifferently does feel a bit "cold shoulder" like.

But look at this dealer. He's getting $68 and he's lined up out the door. I guess you can't blame him for that. If he was charging $50, you'd probably have a one month wait!!!!

Most dealers "look after" their "pro customers". Ours always get looked at first, but there's nothing written that says we have to.

This time of year can be overwhelming... out here masses of weedeateres are all being dragged out of garages and hauled off to the repair shops... Thank god we don't work on lawn mowers. Sounds to me like the original dealer in question just need a primer on face-to-face customer relations... In his mind he was probaly setting expections, but...

 

[ropensaddle]

OK stihl poster boy, Bawhahahah whatever Bawhahaha


Price has nothing to do in quality most of the time IMO, only dealer greed and mark up for profit.

Price has everything to do with quality
greed has everything to do with poor quality! I don't want best price I
want best service price will effect that. For example I tip a waitress
that keeps my glass full and has my check ready when I am! When I
come back she will spot me and service will be as good or better.
Greed is just a tool to enslave the working class by keeping price of
labor too low. Thing is, service was jeopardized, a good example was the
feller I heard that started a small biz, and told his employees if company
did well after a few years there would be bonus. Well this biz had record
profits after ten years and for every employee he gave them 1000.00
per year of service plus twenty thousand for employees that had been
with him at start up. All the local business executives thought the man
was loco and snickered. Well next year rolled around found profits were
thirty percent better than year before! The thing is the people that
were givin them bonus checks made the company and the boss was
twice as smart as any greedy ceo. Those people loved working for
their boss never had a bad word about their company and did not stand
around the water fountain.

 

[Cut4fun]

I'm sorry rope but I still dont agree on price has anything to do with quality. I buy a OEM part for $300 and it still is not up to the aftermarket replacement specs, that has fixed the problem with the $300 OEM part. You can get the aftermarket part for $150 and is better quality then OEM. That what I am trying to say. Not all OEM stuff is quality because it cost more.

 

[livewire]

I'm sorry rope but I still dont agree on price has anything to do with quality. I buy a OEM part for $300 and it still is not up to the aftermarket replacement specs, that has fixed the problem with the $300 OEM part. You can get the aftermarket part for $150 and is better quality then OEM. That what I am trying to say. Not all OEM stuff is quality because it cost more.

Interesting.

I've been looking into a carb for a 066. Is there any difference between OEM and aftermarket?