Ma and Pop shops

[rahtreelimbs]

I get a kick out of how many dealers think their customers are helpless and will need outside service on their equipment. Come on guys, saws aren't rocket science. If you've done any mechanic work whatsoever, you'll be able to handle your own saw repairs, and you'll be quicker in the process than having to haul the thing in to a repair shop. Sure, for those who are not so inclined, dealers are good things. To the savvy person, though, money talks, bs walks, and a $3.00 set of screwdrivers fixes the saws.

Try telling this to a guy who owns a 200T that needs pressure/vacuum checked and the bill will be roughly $200 in labor and $90 in parts!

I just did this exact job and it wasn't easy chasing the leak!

 

[spacemule]

Try telling this to a guy who owns a 200T that needs pressure/vacuum checked and the bill will be roughly $200 in labor and $90 in parts!

I just did this exact job and it wasn't easy chasing the leak!

Why in God's blue underwear would you spend $300 in repair on a $400 saw?

 

[rahtreelimbs]

Why in God's blue underwear would you spend $300 in repair on a $400 saw?

I didn't............it just cost me the $90 in parts. There are guys out there that WILL pay the $200 in labor!


Incidently the price of a $200T just went up..........$539 in my parts!!!

 

[spacemule]

Ah, I got ya.

 

[sedanman]

Why in God's blue underwear would you spend $300 in repair on a $400 saw?

Let's see, cust has no working saw, $300 and it's good as new or $400 and it IS new. Maybe the guy couldn't spare the extra hundred that month.

 

[Lakeside53]

Try telling this to a guy who owns a 200T that needs pressure/vacuum checked and the bill will be roughly $200 in labor and $90 in parts!

I just did this exact job and it wasn't easy chasing the leak!

I do one ot two month at least just like that... new piston, cylinder hone, carb kit, seals, hoses, plug/filters, other minor work.. add's up quick.., but it will work for another 1000 or more hours. Some guys trade them in on new, but most just want them fixed.

 

[ciscoguy01]

Trade in?

How is Stihl and Husky and JR on Trade-ins? I mean, what do they give $$$wise. I know the can't resell a saw w/out a chainbreak anymore. But what would one expect for example on a trade in? Like $50 or something silly? or do they give you a good deal???

 

[sedanman]

If the saw was built without a brake then they could re-sell it. If it had a brake that was removed it cannot be re-sold. It would be like retrofitting airbags into a car from the 60's.

 

[Lakeside53]

Stihl doesn't trade in - an individual dealer might. How much? all depends on what's wrong... If I'm spending a bunch fixing it, then you aren't getting much...

I just gave $60 for a decent looking 026, 1995 or so, with a scored piston/cylinder. I have no idea what else is wrong - maybe just a new piston, maybe a cylinder, etc.. After I fix it up I'll get $300 and it will get a 90 day store warranty. His rough quote on a rebuild was $200-$300. Shop rate is $60/hr. If you want an exact quote, $30 evaluation fee, most of which we'll bury in the repair if you proceed.

I never pressure a trade-in and rarely "up" the deal. I usually give them the option of selling it on ebay or craigslist. Most can't be bothered.

 

[JUDGE1162]

I like to support my local ma and pop stores but sometimes it is just nuts, I can get a chain from Bailey's for $12 to $15 depending on how many I order (split up the shipping charge) but when I go to my local Husky dealer he want $25 a chain. I am sorry I like the guy and all but 50% savings is just too good to pass up. That is the case with a lot of items I can get motor oil, bar lube a lot cheaper at least 30% cheaper at a box store. Yeah it is a few dollar here and there but it adds up and adds up quicky.

As for parts and service I use him, but a new saw I can buy one on-line for $50 to $100 cheaper plus get a lot of free goodies.

It is like anything else in life volume = Discount more you sell, cheaper you can get the products, cheaper you can sell the products. If I can get it at my local shop and the cost is only 10% to 15% more I will buy from the local guy but beyound that it is a waste of money.


Some of you have said hey the local guy will throw in a free service or some free this or that which they would charge you for is you were not a regular, I know this happens but I rather pay for the services I use instead of over paying waiting for that time I have an easy to fix problem in hopes the local guy will fix it for free because of all the times I have over paid him in the past.

 

[NYH1]

I'm going to buy a new Husky 353. I probably won't get it until Spring. Pretty much done cutting this year.

I can order this saw on-line with a 16 inch bar and two extra chains for $349 plus shipping and NO tax!

I can buy the saw from one of my local dealers that has been GREAT to me so far for $389 plus tax, no extra chains.

I'm buying it from the dealer. Like I said this guy has been great to me. I feel it's worth the extra money to buy it from a guy that wants my business and will take care of me later on down the road. This dealer sells Stihl, Husqvarna and Jonsered. This shop has been in business since 1965. The guy I deal with is younger and hopefully will be in business for many years to come! He has no brand loyalty. He doesn't tell you what you want to hear to make a sale. He tells you the truth then stands behind you!

I do buy some shooting stuff online. I can get Speer Gold Dot's locally from Gander Mountain (which put a lot of mom and pop gun shops out of business) for my 357 Sig for $17 plus tax per 20 round box. I can order them online for $15 per 50 round box plus shipping which isn't much. I'd be stupid to pay TWICE as much for the same thing!

 

[JUDGE1162]

NYH1

You would pay about $114 more for the same saw and chains from a local guy compared to the internet supplier, for that extra money you could buy a 359 instead of the 353.

If you are going to spend the money speed it wisely, why pay 30% more for you saw???? If you like your saw local guy great, buy parts from him, use him for service, have him sharpen your chains, etc but don't waste your money just because the dealer is a nice guy.

Hell I am a nice guy, buy your saw online and send me the money you saved if you like to give your money away to nice guys.

 

[ASEMASTER]

ma & pa

I go for price, hang the service. The small dealers I've been into want to bs all day and tell you what you already know. Plus, they get really annoyed when you tell them they are higher than Home Depot or the Internet. :hmm3grin2orange:

must be nice to know everything , I run a small repair shop and only buy from locals and they use me also. there is something to be said about taking care of your neighbor.

 

[NYH1]

NYH1

You would pay about $114 more for the same saw and chains from a local guy compared to the internet supplier, for that extra money you could buy a 359 instead of the 353.

If you are going to spend the money speed it wisely, why pay 30% more for you saw???? If you like your saw local guy great, buy parts from him, use him for service, have him sharpen your chains, etc but don't waste your money just because the dealer is a nice guy.

Hell I am a nice guy, buy your saw online and send me the money you saved if you like to give your money away to nice guys.

Well I have a Stihl 021 and 029. I want a saw that weight wise is in between the two saws I all ready have. The 353 will be a good fit for me. A 359 is heavier then I want to go with. I use my 021 about 85 to 90% of the time. The 353 is going to be great for what I'll use it for.

I am being smart with my money. I'm going to support someone that has already and will continue to support me. If people don't buy from their local guys, there won't be many local guys.........not even for service and parts!

Plus I've seen my dealer stop working on a saw that wasn't bought from him to work on a customers saw that was bought from him (if anyone thinks this doesn't happen you are CRAZY, and it's the right thing to do!). I work a lot of over time and don't have a lot of time to wait for things to be fixed. I know my dealer will take care of me and get me running again ASAP. Customer service means a lot to me.

I'm not knocking anyone for what they do. This is just me!

 

[spacemule]

must be nice to know everything ,

Oh it is, it is. I often look around and ask people how it feels to not be the smartest person on the planet.

 

[spacemule]

I run a small repair shop and only buy from locals and they use me also. there is something to be said about taking care of your neighbor.

Sounds like socialism to me--you know, take my hard earned money away from me and use it as ma and pa shop welfare. I'm much more of a capitalist guy. :rockn:

 

[Chucker45]

My local 'ma and pop' shop was a jerk to me when I asked about a cash discount on a new Stihl saw going for around $479.

My local rental company, right down the street from the pop shop, is also a stihl dealer -- they were extremely nice and gave me about $50 or $60 off iirc.

The irony is that I spoke with the ma and pop shop first about a discount on the saw. I had shopped there for about 20 years, always used them for service and sharpening. If they had 1) been polite and 2) offered even a token cash discount, then I would have been content.

After I bought at the rental company I went back to ma and pop and flat out told them what happened. I never asked for the moon, just respect and a slight cash discount... I would have settled for respect, instead of slimy sarcasm.

So... I'm going back to the rental company now that I need a new leaf blower... and a chainsaw case... and ?

Bottom line, I support companies who deserve it, I shun companies that don't

 

[Lakeside53]

So, you only support companies that give you a discount?

You might want to take it back to the ma&pa store for service though - the local rental companies are seriously deficient in this area... some of the chains have one stihl "tech" per 5 stores..

 

[Chucker45]

So, you only support companies that give you a discount?

You might want to take it back to the ma&pa store for service though - the local rental companies are seriously deficient in that area... sone of the chains have one stihl "tech" per 5 stores..

If they are an a-hole to me when I ask about a cash discount, then no support ever... and I shop for a new place for service.

Yes I have no plans to use the rental company for service.

Yes I support places that give me a cash discount on larger ticket items, EPECIALLY after years of using their company for many smaller priced items/services at regular retail (tunes, parts, sharpening).

After they were sarcastic jerks to me I simply went to every stihl dealer in the area and the first one who were respectful and gave me a discount got my business.

Cash is king, and it also saves points on CC processing. A customer, cash in hand, is worth 3 in the bush

 

[cuttinscott]

Cash is nice but we still have to keep one of those pesky counterfeit pens handy to check the greenbacks.

Scott