Support your local dealer? The argument

[woodrookie]

Okay, I've read the threads with the arguments between supporting the bricks and mortar dealers, online sales, and getting service, etc,etc. Let me start off by saying this right now::::You people that are in the saw selling business, are sponsors of this site, are bricks and mortar dealers, AND hang around to help people on this site are a complete different breed. Living and breathing chainsaws, knowing your products, and are a credit to the industry.
Now for the reality, and why online sales are flourishing.

I explained in a previous post my search for the right saw for me and my desire to at east give someone local a chance. As I said, I knew more about the Dolmar 5100s then the local Dolmar dealer, he never hand one in the shop, and was glad to order one for me for $410.00. Okay fine, but why should I pay $410 for a saw from a guy who has never worked on one before, just so I have a local shop to cover the warranty? So I continued looking and found one online new for $335.00 and bought it.
Now believe me when I say this, I actually felt bad buying it because of you good guys here, I felt like a traitor. So I was going to try to at least support the local people by doing this.
I check out the closest Stihl dealer, Stihl was never in the running as a saw purchase, too many products, and not very clear on quality levels, turned me off early, but surely their dealer network would be top notch. So off I go try to establish a relationship, see if they could do some carb adjustment if needed it and run it on a tach, and purchase some 2 stroke and winter bar oil, and check out some extra chains.
Off I go, walk in do the howdy thing, and their friendly people, they service all makes, but getting Dolmar parts would be slow, but I explained all I would need is maybe a minor carb adjustment and I'm more then willing to pay whatever. Okay lets get this oil. 2-stroke oil-check, bar oil-check, well wait, let me check if it's summer or winter oil as you good people here pointed out. Summer oil. Let's ask. You have winter bar oil right? Nope, never stock it says the guy.
This is Michigan, it's 15 degrees, and a top notch outdoor dealer, with Stihl stuff all over the place, and he does'nt have winter bar oil for peoples saws? W.T.F.?? If he does'nt stock winter bar oil how can I trust him to turn a few screws correctly? So I get the 2 stroke oil, and get home and the seal on the top of the oil has been punched in. I'm sure it's fine but I can't win.
The point I'm trying to make here is you all here and what's out in the hinderlands are two different things. You all here should want to slap these so called dealers that give a dealer network a bad name and causes people to not value local services as it should be valued. You try to support local people and their not worth supporting. So when you guys get bent out of shape because the dude up there in the U.P. of Michigan bashes dealers, take a breath and realize you all are not even of the same breed, or linked in any manner to these so called dealers.

 

[stckciv]

I dont stock winter bar oil and it has been in the single digits here. Put the oil in your truck with the heater on and it is just fine when you start to work.

Over the past 10 years lets say (new building then) I have had 2 people ask for winter bar oil. So what you are saying is that I should buy a case so I can sell those 6 gallons in 30 years?

Not every dealer will stock everything you want, if there is no call for it then no reason to stock it. I am the only Dolmar dealer in my area and the Rep. never told me they sold it. He knew I was a big chainsaw dealer, so why not try to sell me on it? This dealer that didnt stock a 5100 may not know what kind of saw it is because he may have a Rep. like I do.

I understand what you are saying and I am sure people will go to the net when they get the shaft from a service repair as well. There are only so many O.P.E. shops around and if you get the shaft by a few in your area you will look elsewhere.

Just remember, you may have to be the one to get your dealer to sell different products. If you walk out of every dealers store because they dont have the oil you like or they havent stocked a certain saw then you will never have that local access. Talk to them, see if they can get stuff in for you. Maybe its you that has to sell your dealer on Dolmar to bring in more saws. After he gets in more he will sale more and then stock more parts, which you will no longer have to wait for.

I do agree with you, just feel you gave up too easy.

 

[lesorubcheek]

Winter bar oil work-around

Most Homelite manuals I have suggest diluting bar oil with kerosene for extreme cold conditions. Being from southern Alabama and now living in Northern Florida (I know, its actually lower Alabama for all that want to make a joke about it) I've never had to do this. Makes good sense though and should reduce viscosity enough so you get plenty on the bar even when its cold outside.

Dan

 

[computeruser]

Okay, I've read the threads with the arguments between supporting the bricks and mortar dealers, online sales, and getting service, etc,etc. Let me start off by saying this right now::::You people that are in the saw selling business, are sponsors of this site, are bricks and mortar dealers, AND hang around to help people on this site are a complete different breed. Living and breathing chainsaws, knowing your products, and are a credit to the industry.

Amen. Sometimes I think that we forget, both in our roles as dealers and as customers, that anyone who ends up on this site is unlike 99% of all saw users and dealers.

 

[Woodsrover]

I try to support my local Stihl dealer...I've bought two new saws in the past two months, a large Stihl backpack leaf blower last year and lots of little stuff. But I'll tell you, I can never, and I mean NEVER get him on the phone. If I've tried to call him once, I've tried 40 times. Never, ever have I got him on the phone or gotten him to call back when I leave a message. Kinda pisses me off.

Jim

 

[Butch(OH)]

Amen. Sometimes I think that we forget, both in our roles as dealers and as customers, that anyone who ends up on this site is unlike 99% of all saw users and dealers.

And an Amen to that. My STihl dealer, as good as he is, is not on top of the inovations I read about on here. I remember him giving me a cross eyed look when I told him the 441 looked like it was going to be a winner of a saw, "Never heard of a 441??" Butthe next guy in line may have wanted a new Lawn Boy , we dont have "saw shops" around here, we have small engine shops that sell saws, lawn mowers, weed whackers etc no matter what brand you wish to buy. When I wanted to try RSC chain he didn't know that it was in the new catalog, but ordered a reel and cut me some loops. He has to make the rent, feed his ugly face plus feed momma and the kids and I frankly could care less if I can save a buck on Steal Bay, Lowes or whatever.

 

[Lakeside53]

Not to take this thread off into the weeds of winter bar oil... but we sell about 6 gallons a year of the stuff, and never to repeat customers... and although it's not MI, it's been below freezing every morning (sometimes all day) here for 5 or 6 weeks. Stihl (and many other) Pro saws heat the oil quite nicely on their own... the crankcase/oil tank is one unit, deliberately. And if it's real cold, yes, you should warm your saw up before using it. Sure, sometimes a thinner oiler would be better, but most who buy from dealers just don't find it necessary. Logging operations in the cold areas get their oils (correct for the season) in drums, not from dealers by the gallon.

Back to your thread O.K., so for you winter oil is an issue, but how about a few other criteria to judge dealers?

There are always those that go for the lowest prices and don't want any repair or aftermarket service (I've been guilty many times on many products), but the vast majority of people with OPE are dependent on a dealers (or independent servicing shops) for repairs.

 

[ericjeeper]

well the next time

I try to support my local Stihl dealer...I've bought two new saws in the past two months, a large Stihl backpack leaf blower last year and lots of little stuff. But I'll tell you, I can never, and I mean NEVER get him on the phone. If I've tried to call him once, I've tried 40 times. Never, ever have I got him on the phone or gotten him to call back when I leave a message. Kinda pisses me off.

Jim

You are serious about making a large purchase. Put it all up on the counter.Start to write a check or better yet pull out the cash, Then tell the owner, I will buy this . When you start answering the phone or returning my calls. and walk out the door.

 

[manual]

You are serious about making a large purchase. Put it all up on the counter.Start to write a check or better yet pull out the cash, Then tell the owner, I will buy this . When you start answering the phone or returning my calls. and walk out the door.

That would give food for thought .
One dealer I go to, goes out of his way to help you.
A friend of mine was looking for a saw for carving, the dealer did not have one set up to do so, The next day my friend got a call from the dealer saying he has a saw sit up for carving and would like him to come back and try it out.
To me that shows the dealer has a interest in his costumers.

 

[chuckiehow]

Jonsered sells an All-Season bar oil that is competetive in price to all others.
I use it in my Stihl altho that is evidently a useless approach due to Stihl's built in heating features. I've also added a small amount of diesel fuel to the bar oil to lighten it up. When blocking some big cottonwood it seems necessary to pull out and let the oiler catch up due to the dryness regardless of the oil used.

 

[Hard Knocks]

I dont stock winter bar oil and it has been in the single digits here. Put the oil in your truck with the heater on and it is just fine when you start to work.

Over the past 10 years lets say (new building then) I have had 2 people ask for winter bar oil. So what you are saying is that I should buy a case so I can sell those 6 gallons in 30 years?

Not every dealer will stock everything you want, if there is no call for it then no reason to stock it. I am the only Dolmar dealer in my area and the Rep. never told me they sold it. He knew I was a big chainsaw dealer, so why not try to sell me on it? This dealer that didnt stock a 5100 may not know what kind of saw it is because he may have a Rep. like I do.

I understand what you are saying and I am sure people will go to the net when they get the shaft from a service repair as well. There are only so many O.P.E. shops around and if you get the shaft by a few in your area you will look elsewhere.

Just remember, you may have to be the one to get your dealer to sell different products. If you walk out of every dealers store because they dont have the oil you like or they havent stocked a certain saw then you will never have that local access. Talk to them, see if they can get stuff in for you. Maybe its you that has to sell your dealer on Dolmar to bring in more saws. After he gets in more he will sale more and then stock more parts, which you will no longer have to wait for.

I do agree with you, just feel you gave up too easy.

Well written post! I don't think that any dealer wants to have upset customers and for the most part are willing to listen to customers requests to to better serve their needs. I also do not stock winter bar oil. We sell medium oil and have never had a request for specific summer or winter oil. Having said that, if a customer asked me to stock it for them I would have no problem bringing in a few cases just for them. We may not always be 100% educated on new products that we represent, but again if asked about something that I am not sure of you can bet that I will quickly become educated. The OPE dealer today has only one thing to offer and that is service. I think that if more customers were willing to share their personal expectations with the dealer they might become pleasantly surprised by the outcome. A good OPE dealer will go out of their way to adapt to the customer if they know what the customer expects. Their existence relies this level of service.

 

[woodrookie]

"Back to your thread O.K., so for you winter oil is an issue, but how about a few other criteria to judge dealers?"

Just a question. After reading post after post on this site to not run summer oil in the winter unless you want to be replacing bars sooner then necessary, you would want someone working of your stuff who doesn't give one hoot about takng care of the equipment he sells in the proper manner, and doesn't stock something as simple as the proper oil for the climate? I completely understand that a small dealer (this dude is medium sized) can't stock everything, but proper weight chain oil? This is all the criteria I need.
I care about the proper care of my stuff, I readily admit I didn't know squat about saws, and have learned quite a bit from people who care. There's a commerical place a little farther away, I'll check them out now, I was a little short of time yesterday.

 

[jefeVTtreeman]

i see two different knids of customers around here. I can walk into the local shop they sell husky and stihl and talk about all the new stuff coming out but if you look in the storage room all you see are tons of older saws needing repairs from customers who could care less about anything. They are loggers who dont have time to talk they just work and work and when the saws breaks they dont ask why they just get her fixed and keep on going. The dealers apreciate both kinds of customers up here, after all money is money

 

[blis]

"Back to your thread O.K., so for you winter oil is an issue, but how about a few other criteria to judge dealers?"

Just a question. After reading post after post on this site to not run summer oil in the winter unless you want to be replacing bars sooner then necessary, you would want someone working of your stuff who doesn't give one hoot about takng care of the equipment he sells in the proper manner, and doesn't stock something as simple as the proper oil for the climate? I completely understand that a small dealer (this dude is medium sized) can't stock everything, but proper weight chain oil? This is all the criteria I need.
I care about the proper care of my stuff, I readily admit I didn't know squat about saws, and have learned quite a bit from people who care. There's a commerical place a little farther away, I'll check them out now, I was a little short of time yesterday.

Most summer grade bar oils work fine long as the temp doesnt go below -25c, and in that weather most dont want to even go outside... Thou, there are differences in summer grade oil too, some work better in cold and some worse, but the point is that it works well enough for winter cutting that theres no need for winter grade...

 

[manual]

Jonsered sells an All-Season bar oil that is competetive in price to all others.
I use it in my Stihl altho that is evidently a useless approach due to Stihl's built in heating features. I've also added a small amount of diesel fuel to the bar oil to lighten it up. When blocking some big cottonwood it seems necessary to pull out and let the oiler catch up due to the dryness regardless of the oil used.

"Stihl's built in heating features" thats a funny one, I thought all saws get hot.
Anyway if my bar lube seems to be to thick in the winter I just add 30wt oil.

 

[WRW]

woodrookie,
You are fast painting yourself into a corner. You wouldn't buy from the local dealer cause he never worked on a 5100...how different is that from the other saws he does carry? Then, I guess, you wouldn't go back to him so you went to a Stihl dealer for bar oil. You've now written him off cause he doesn't carry winter oil...have there been a lot of oilers going bad in your area because of summer bar oil use?

You might want to lower your expectations to a realistic level, or learn real quick how to work on your own saw.

 

[stckciv]

"Back to your thread O.K., so for you winter oil is an issue, but how about a few other criteria to judge dealers?"

Just a question. After reading post after post on this site to not run summer oil in the winter unless you want to be replacing bars sooner then necessary, you would want someone working of your stuff who doesn't give one hoot about takng care of the equipment he sells in the proper manner, and doesn't stock something as simple as the proper oil for the climate? I completely understand that a small dealer (this dude is medium sized) can't stock everything, but proper weight chain oil? This is all the criteria I need.
I care about the proper care of my stuff, I readily admit I didn't know squat about saws, and have learned quite a bit from people who care. There's a commerical place a little farther away, I'll check them out now, I was a little short of time yesterday.

I think you are putting to much into this winter bar oil. I have guys out everyday of the year and dont ask for it. The bars they have are not getting that much wear because they dont use it. I think you would be just fine to run a regular oil year round and I would bet you wouldnt be able to tell the difference on your bar years down the road. You have received post after post in this thread that you dont NEED the winter oil yet you still wont go back to that dealer.

I still think that you need to help out your local Dolmar dealer and make a friend. If all you do is bash him then you will never have a local guy to help with your saw. You are so quick to bash the local dealer and to drop them because they dont carry a winter oil that you may pass up something good!

 

[mattinky]

Last week my buddy goes to the local Husky/Dolmar dealer to get a loop of chain for his saw and is told there is no one there that can make it up while he waits, he'll have to come back and pick it up the next day, which he does. We go out to cut some firewood a couple days later and when he starts cutting the saw is jumping up and down and about shakes his teeth loose. The dumba** that put the chain together used a raker style link in the chain instead of a straight one so the chain has a big lump in it where it can't lay flat against the bar. Luckily he had a sawzall and a file in his truck and we were able to trim the link so it would work correctly. Fast forward a week, the same buddy gets his brother a new 28" bar for his 394XP from Bailey's on closeout for a great price - goes back to the same dealer to get another loop of chain and tells him what size and how many links he needs as well as to tell them how they screwed up the other chain. Again he's told there's nobody there that can make him up a chain, again they tell him to come back the next day. He goes back the next day, they have'nt made him a chain and told him they did'nt stock the size of chain he needs and he'll have to go somewhere else to get it! A regular old 3/8 .058 chain and they don't stock it? and there's 7 or 8 people working in this place and they don't have anyone to make up a chain? a chimpanze could make a chain. They can kiss my entire a** and I WILL NOT go back in that place, like it or not I don't have these problems shopping online. Matt

 

[Marco]

Until my shop gets done I'm still selling out of my back porch. Under my bathroom sink sits a case of winter bar oil, I have .325 .050 chain too. So there. :biggrinbounce2:

 

[Lakeside53]

"Stihl's built in heating features" thats a funny one, I thought all saws get hot.
Anyway if my bar lube seems to be to thick in the winter I just add 30wt oil.

Nope.. not those with plastic tanks isolated from the crankcase...