The new internet policy

[DOLMARatOs]

For everyone that is looking for a cheaper this and that.

Check out a Lawn mowing or snowplowing site...Search the word LOWBALLER

You'll find those guys treat em like lepers.

 

[PES+]

Ok.........horseshat! They may not make the big dollars they want on warrantee work, but I doubt seriously that they are doing it at a loss. Has there been an instance of a dealer being forced to do this work from box sales. I have read on here plenty of dealers saying they won't do it, but not that they were forced too. Even if they were forced to do it, I have a hard time believing that the dealers and the manufacturer have struck a deal, where the dealer loses money servicing the manufacturers product.



So, just making a little (ha) on a sale, enables the dealer to absorb the catastrophic losses he's incurring doing service work?



Ha
sorry, you are signing their contract, better read the fine print!


Here's one of my local saw dealers, he sells stihl, husky and echo. I go in looking for a snowblower a few years back, yup in December, I looked around on the web at the pricing and went there with a pocketful of cash. The mofo informs me it'll cost me $500 more than list, I asked him, ain't that a little much?? He told me "tis the season" Me and my cash got in the truck and left, I bought another unit at the JD store a couple of towns away.

As I have posted before in other threads
"The dealer is expected to use reasonable judgement in any warranty situation. All authorized Husqvarna Dealers SHALL provide service to ALL customers on an equal basis REGARDLESS OF WHERE THE PRODUCT WAS PURCHASED."
This is from the Dealer Warranty Policy and Procedure Manual 1999

this may have changed but I do not think it has

 

[THALL10326]

Pest, everyone knows there is no money to be made selling saws........:rockn:

Average margin on Stihl saws is right around 22% if you take the whole line and average them out. Not much room for bartering is it. Dayumm Ben on this one your RIGHT.

 

[THALL10326]

I hear you Ben, I get you're situation. I have three dealers for Sthil, two Stihl/Husky, one Stihl/Walker. Now two of these dealers, I will not allow my shadow to pass on there door mat, one had been good for the most part but has his moments as well(easy THALL!!)

Might I suggest, as you seem to be very mechanicly inclined, buying used until one of the dealers gets there act together?

What, GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR:hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange:

 

[sawinredneck]

Ok.........horseshat! They may not make the big dollars they want on warrantee work, but I doubt seriously that they are doing it at a loss. Has there been an instance of a dealer being forced to do this work from box sales. I have read on here plenty of dealers saying they won't do it, but not that they were forced too. Even if they were forced to do it, I have a hard time believing that the dealers and the manufacturer have struck a deal, where the dealer loses money servicing the manufacturers product.

They don't make JACK on waranty work!!! It's almost always a loss!! As I have stated before, you are NOT alowed time for diagnostics, just to fix the problem. The saftey interlock module acts funny on a new machine thats just come out, nobody has worked o one of these units, you spend two days playing phone tag with D-Tach, check every electrical connection, saftey switch there is. Now I have three days tied up in this machine, the waranty work pays, yes it's a set rate, 1/2 hour at THERE ste rate of $25hr. The dealer paid my wages, ovehead, made nothing on the part, waranty as well, for three days for $12.50. Who made money? Me, and thats it!!

So, just making a little (ha) on a sale, enables the dealer to absorb the catastrophic losses he's incurring doing service work?

They make good money on service work, that is where mos of the money comes from!!! $5k mower nets around $500 profit! Look at the big picture, yes I have seen six go out the door on a saturday, but how about the winter? The service dept. is the only thing that carries the bills over! The dealer I worked for, that was the FIRST year in twenty, that they didn't have to borrow money to pay employees through the winter. Maybe bad managment, maybe not, but certainly food for thought.

Ha
sorry, you are signing their contract, better read the fine print!


Here's one of my local saw dealers, he sells stihl, husky and echo. I go in looking for a snowblower a few years back, yup in December, I looked around on the web at the pricing and went there with a pocketful of cash. The mofo informs me it'll cost me $500 more than list, I asked him, ain't that a little much?? He told me "tis the season" Me and my cash got in the truck and left, I bought another unit at the JD store a couple of towns away.

Now that story is blatant price gouging and is not anyway to make freinds, and you most certainly did the right thing!!! Saw the same type of crap two years ago with generators after the ice storm we had here.

 

[sedanman]

I actually work in the car business, we have a Chrysler dealership with a power equipment division in the same building. The car business screwed itself into the ground in the 70's and most of the blame falls on Potamkin Cadillac in Manhattan, they ruined the car business pure and simple (a full explaination would take several pages of text and I'm not getting involved) The return on investment in new car inventory is approximately 1 percent. I NEVER pay retail for a new car because I am in the business, not a good example in my particular case. When I bought my last vehicle the owner refused to take even a penny profit on it. Let's find another way to blow holes in my statement.

So would it be reasonable to assume, based on this theory, that when you buy a new car you are perfectly happy paying the sticker price? A truthful answer will blow alot of holes in your statement quoted above.

 

[redprospector]

Didn't order that milk online though did ya, ya had to get in the car and go get it. I see your point and they are all valid. What your saying is simple. You will do anything you want and thats fine. The big companies will too and so will the dealers so whats this all about.

I see your a logger so I assume you take down trees as well. If I had a 100 foot oak I wanted taken down and hauled away for 600.00 would you do it? If I told you I got another guy that will do it for 300.00 would you do it then. Now your free to do what you want, right, whatcha gonna tell me, get lost, your nuts, your out of your mind. See you can choose to compete or you can say forget it. So whats the differance at the dealer or the big companies, aren't they free to choose how they will operate their business just like you, hmm.

Well Thall, I'd have to see the tree. Then look at the potential for enough repeat business to justify the discount. I try to practice what I preach, I have 2 building contractors here that I do all of their tree removal. They get a substancial discount on my rates, and I more than make up for the discount in volume.
Oh, we don't have any 100' oaks around here, just pine & fir. If it's the only tree on your property, no discount.
It's like I've been saying, if we support our local dealers they should support us, and not take a "that's the price, take it or leave it" attitude. My customers support me as a local contractor, and I do everything I can to earn their loyalty.

Andy

 

[sawinredneck]

Ok Ben, tell me how do you feel about Orbitz.com?

 

[klickitatsacket]

For the guys who do not like a companies policy - Go some where else!

For the dealers who have money and time invested - why do you care? at the end of the day you are either in business and where right or you are not and were wrong.

For those who think they know how to do it better - Put your money where your mouth is or shut up!

Do not tell me there is no money in selling saws ; if that was true then the dealers wouldn't care. 22% of 2 pro saws is not bad for an average day. The 40% on parts helps make up for it and yes those are covered under warrenty as well. the regular shop rate is usually set to help make up for the low ball warrenty rate. Then you got the 3 and 4 hundred % mark up on such things as gloves and safety glasses. You got the trade ins and leave behinds that the dealers scavage for parts (huge proffit in used parts). lets also not forget that any good tech can make 1.5 times book time.

It's no better or no worse than any other type of business. Just a bunch of hard work, blood, sweat and tears. This way of doing it, that way of doing it, good customers bad customers and the same for dealers. Word of mouth will make or break a business in a heart beat. Do your best, vote with your wallet and the guy with his doors open at the end of the day must be doing something right up to that point.

 

[redprospector]

Well, Thall is right about it. It doesn't matter what I think, or you or anybody else on this site. I think from past experience that the consumer is going to get screwed royally. That's my opinion, it and $2 will get you a cup of coffee in most places, so take it for what it's worth. I've got better things to do than get involved in something I can't do anything about, so you guys have fun. I'm done.

Andy

 

[klickitatsacket]

redprospector - you are only getting screwed if you have no choice. One of the bennifits of a company that artificially keeps the retail price up is that the value of said item in used condition is also driven up. Just look at the prices of Stihl saws on ebay and the price of a used poulan on ebay.

 

[musch]

Am I the only one who noticed that Mr. Smartypants asked for a 3/8 .50 24" Stihl ES bar?

Um. There is no such thing.



http://www.stihllibrary.com/pdf/catalog/SawChainSelectionID.pdf

 

[trimmmed]

I actually work in the car business, we have a Chrysler dealership with a power equipment division in the same building. The car business screwed itself into the ground in the 70's and most of the blame falls on Potamkin Cadillac in Manhattan, they ruined the car business pure and simple (a full explaination would take several pages of text and I'm not getting involved) The return on investment in new car inventory is approximately 1 percent. I NEVER pay retail for a new car because I am in the business, not a good example in my particular case. When I bought my last vehicle the owner refused to take even a penny profit on it. Let's find another way to blow holes in my statement.

Ok, you personally might not have been the best example so I'll change the word you in my original statement to average joe not affiliated with a car dealership

So would it be reasonable to assume, based on this theory, that when average joe not affiliated with a car dealership buy a new car you are perfectly happy paying the sticker price? A truthful answer will blow alot of holes in your statement quoted above.

The truthful answer part is still the same and while I do not doubt the truthfulness of your answer I do think that you sidesteped the intent of my original question. C'mon now, how many of your peers are paying list for their cars?

 

[bwalker]

Dean, you and I both know there is money to be made in the saw business or else there would not be one...Its the dealers that constantly complain that they make no money selling saws, that net sales kill them, that the lose moeny on warranty work, etc, etc.

Musch, is that all you got? Pretty weak.

 

[musch]

Dean, you and I both know there is money to be made in the saw business or else there would not be one...Its the dealers that constantly complain that they make no money selling saws, that net sales kill them, that the lose moeny on warranty work, etc, etc.

Musch, is that all you got? Pretty weak.

I was just jerkin yer chain a little

I have started a couple threads espousing my feelings about the "locals"

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=40348

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=40834

I had a guy tell me that "nobody" is making money on Husky saws right now too. I wouldn't know, cause I don't know what they pay.
But as the largest saw company in the world, somebodys gotta be makin money somewhere. Maybe its like the PC industry. People got used to making like 50 percent profit.
Somewhere in the 90s, the big companies started dealing direct with the big accounts, and the small guys started dealing with Dell, Gateway, etc.
Lotsa smaller shops had to adapt or die. Just biz.

 

[sedanman]

Trimmed, I don't know anyone who EVER paid list price for a car, I doubt you could pay list price for a car. As soon as you express interest the sales guy will will start talking price.......................using the sticker as a starting point. Like I said, the car business is ruined, I don't want to see the same thing happen to the OPE industry. BTW we (Ketcham Motors) have been in business since 1929, we must know a thing or two about business.

 

[sawinredneck]

Around here nobody pays list price on a car!! They can't hardly give them away, wait another three months, and you will pay over list for the same car. A little tick I learned about buying cars, buy the week or two before Christmas, nothing is selling, and salesman want to buy presents!! After the aircraft bonuses come out, it's a free for all around here, you can't buy anything!!

As far as the dealer thing goes, I don't think this will ever be settled. I have my own small business, I have lost money on jobs due to stuff happens, but try not to slit my own throat just to make a customer. I don't know when they will call again!

Good example of how things can go wrong for the small guy:

I was asked to bid a basement, sheet rock the whole thing, walls and ceilings. On a really good day I can get two helpers, usually just me. I figured up how much time I would have in it as best I could, don't usually take on projects that large. It was around 2K bdft of rock, build an angle wall, install french doors etc. I bid it right at $4k without materials. I ENCOURAGED the homeowner to get additional bids, as I thought I was very high. They got it done for $2600 with materials!!! I can't touch that!! I doubt I could have bought the materials for that!!! It's just give and take, a lot of the jobs I get, they wouldn't waste time on, no money in it for them.
Being the little guy, I try and look out for the little guy as best I can!

 

[bwalker]

Like I said, the car business is ruined, I don't want to see the

Thats funny. I know several car dealers including a guy I went to school with. None of em are hurting for money. In fact my one bud who's family owned a Ford dealership complained one year that he only had 30 grand to make it through the winter(this was in november). Not bad for a college kid selling cars in the summer.

 

[Lakeside53]

Am I the only one who noticed that Mr. Smartypants asked for a 3/8 .50 24" Stihl ES bar?

Um. There is no such thing.



http://www.stihllibrary.com/pdf/catalog/SawChainSelectionID.pdf

Assuming you mean 0.050...

I sell them all day every day... Some call then 25 inch, some 24, but they are the same.... 84 drivers..

 

[bwalker]

I have bought several over the years.