Why I don't own a new Dolmar saw.

[musch]

Well, this is kind of a follow up to the thread about trash talking dealers.
I was on the road today, and decided that I was going to look for a Dolmar 7900.

Number 1
The first dealer I went to was 30 miles away.
When I walked in, a KID, about 17, came over and asked me if I needed any help. I started asking about the Dolmar saws. He knew NOTHING.
He literally didn't even know what saws they had.
Turns out they only had 3 used saws in stock.
I had to explain to HIM that the 6400 weighed the same as the 7900, and he couldn't tell me if he had ever seen a 7900.
He then told me he'd get somebody who could answer my questions.
Out comes a guy, and while I don't generally believe in judging people based on appearance, Id bet my left one that he is currently on probation.
I asked him about the 7900. He literally seemed to be aggravated to have to deal with me, and he stated that they cost $X.
He then told me that the price he quoted was sans-bar.
I said, well, thats cool, I think I have an extra husky bar I can use.
He then told me that Dolmar saws are made in Germany, and are a SUBSIDIARY of STIHL. Since Stihl bars dont fit on Dolmar saws, Husky bars, being made elsewhere, don't fit either.
I asked him where he heard that and he told me the DISTRIBUTOR told him.
I then looked him dead in the eye and asked him if he ever tried to put a Husky large mount bar on a Dolmar 7900, and he admitted he had not.
I left the store.

Number 2 -
I went to a local place that carrys Dolmar saws, and they had a 5100, which seemed really nice, but again, I am after a 7900.
They quoted me a price, and it seemed like a fair deal, but being a special order, they did not want to commit to it, since they did not know if the price named included a bar/chain.
I gave them my cell number, explicitly stating that I would order it over the phone with a credit card number, once they told me the price.
I waited all day.... no call.

I am willing to spend $700 on a new saw, and I literally cannot give my money away.
Dolmar may as well sell online. Their "dealers" are a bunch of losers.

:bang:

 

[04ultra]

You just went to the wrong Dealer....I just bought two with no problems..






.

 

[musch]

Im not bashing the saw, I REALLY WANT ONE.
But thats 3 dumbass dealers.
Add to that the other Stihl and Husky dealers around here, and I should just open my own place!!

 

[sugarbush]

Im not bashing the saw, I REALLY WANT ONE.
But thats 3 dumbass dealers.
Add to that the other Stihl and Husky dealers around here, and I should just open my own place!!

your math is funnier then your story. :hmm3grin2orange:

 

[Dadatwins]

I don't think many will question the lack of avaliable dealers. Dolmar does have a really good product. Keep looking for a dealer, there are good ones out there, quite a few on this site also.
I am curious if anyone knows how Dolmar saws are recieved oversees in Europe and such. I know Stihl and Husky has the USA pretty much locked up, but is the market share as strong in other countries?

 

[DOLMARatOs]

Sorry to hear that you ran into some bad apples. Sorry to say that every manufacturer has bad dealers. There are bad Husky and Stihl dealers out there too.

I really hope that you find a good dealer close enough to keep you happy. Please PM the Dolmar guy on here and tell him the names and addresses of these dealers so that they can be either instructed or fired. I'd rather their be no dealers at all in your area than 3 very very poor ones.

Either Dolmar will flourish or die in the traces. I'm happy to be along for the ride for the past 14 years.

 

[musch]

your math is funnier then your story. :hmm3grin2orange:

I'll PM you the names of all 3, if you feel the need Mr Bush.

 

[computeruser]

Im not bashing the saw, I REALLY WANT ONE.
But thats 3 dumbass dealers.
Add to that the other Stihl and Husky dealers around here, and I should just open my own place!!

Yup. I thought about opening up my own shop for just that same reason. The local Dolmar dealers I have tried to deal with are either incompetent, are dealers in name only, or else they're not really "local" - a 2 hour round trip is NOT local.

I think that Dolmar has a good product line and by working to get a bit more exposure and by getting the saws into peoples hands their products will sell themselves. But as your experience so clearly illustrates, so far Dolmar has not put the effort into identifying and developing a pool of competent dealers that can be respectable and persuasive ambassadors for their product line.

 

[ciscoguy01]

Ugh

If you were here in NY you coulda gone to the cutting edge and got some real service buddy. My dealer kicked a55 bro...

 

[Freakingstang]

Yup. I thought about opening up my own shop for just that same reason. The local Dolmar dealers I have tried to deal with are either incompetent, are dealers in name only, or else they're not really "local" - a 2 hour round trip is NOT local.

I think that Dolmar has a good product line and by working to get a bit more exposure and by getting the saws into peoples hands their products will sell themselves. But as your experience so clearly illustrates, so far Dolmar has not put the effort into identifying and developing a pool of competent dealers that can be respectable and persuasive ambassadors for their product line.

Well said. I think undecover Dolmar managers that would stop into shops would find a bunch of low key dealers out there. The 3 or 4 around me are incompetent. It took a member here Pm'ing me the address of my my "local" dealer and hour away.

 

[MOA]

This is a BIG problem around here too. we only have one dealer for Dolmar, and they didnt now what I wanted when I asked if they had a 5100 in. Then they quoted me 25% more than retail, and told me that I would have to pay anouther $20 for the bar and chain I wanted. Thats why I have a Stihl. I think a dolmar 5100 would have been WAY better than my MS310, but the Stihl dealer rocks. every time I go in he GIVES me some pre mix, and he has offered me discounts on merchndise that I want because it has been around for a while. Plus, I have sent 8 people to him to buy saws. I am the best friend a dealer can have. ALL good customers are.

 

[bwalker]

You just went to the wrong Dealer....I just bought two with no problems..

He probably exhausted 50% of the Dolmar dealers in the state with the 3 he went to.
Dolmars problems are #1 Dealer network, #2 parts distribution, #3 minor engineering fubars that are easily corrected. Untill they fix these problems they will never compete with Husky or Stihl.

 

[Marco]

:taped: opcorn:

 

[mini kahuna]

it is a shame you can't find someone to sell you a 7900,I have a great dolmar dealer to buy from and that is the reason I went with a 5100.
if you really want a 7900 your only choice is to try and hookup with one of the dealers on here.

 

[DOLMARatOs]

I feel sorry for people who do the homework and actually want a Dolmar but are frustrated with the lack of quality dealers in their area.

We strive to be the best Dolmat dealer that we can. I'm not stocking any 6400-7900 right now but I have them coming in around February.

We stock the rest of Dolmar's line though. All Dolmar dealers should be required to stock a minimum amount of saws (different models).

I stock the 341, 401, 460, 510, 5100 in a variety of set-ups. I also have every bar and chain combo for every Dolmar saw in stock on my shelf.

We are only stocking a small amount of parts, but we can get 95% in 1 day. Every time a part is ordered...we order 1 for stock also.

Just my $0.02

 

[MOA]

Like I said. I did the research, decided what to get, then got my 3rd choice because the dealer was better(as in, they actually new that what i wanted was a chain saw) and it was what I could afford. That said, I may risk it to get a 7900. This wood cutting is fun

 

[Just Mow]

I feel sorry for people who do the homework and actually want a Dolmar but are frustrated with the lack of quality dealers in their area.

We strive to be the best Dolmat dealer that we can. I'm not stocking any 6400-7900 right now but I have them coming in around February.

We stock the rest of Dolmar's line though. All Dolmar dealers should be required to stock a minimum amount of saws (different models).

I stock the 341, 401, 460, 510, 5100 in a variety of set-ups. I also have every bar and chain combo for every Dolmar saw in stock on my shelf.

We are only stocking a small amount of parts, but we can get 95% in 1 day. Every time a part is ordered...we order 1 for stock also.

Just my $0.02

Why would you talk about the need for the dealer network to get better and you have been a dealer for 14 years with them and then say you do not have a 6400-7900 but will be getting them in in February. It makes you look just like the rest of the incompetent ones that you are talking about.
Just my .02

 

[DOLMARatOs]

Why would you talk about the need for the dealer network to get better and you have been a dealer for 14 years with them and then say you do not have a 6400-7900 but will be getting them in in February. It makes you look just like the rest of the incompetent ones that you are talking about.
Just my .02

Well. And i'll be gentle here.

Right now I'm ballz deep in snowthrowers and in my area, saws don't sell in december and January. I'm sold out of Large saws and they are on order and will arrive with the rest of my spring shipment in early February. I have to pay for these units of course. We don't floorplan saws which allows us to keep a little more flexibility in pricing and "deals". So right now I have about 50 saws in stock. ALL of THE popular and well purchased saws. If a customer wants a 6400-7900 i'll have one tomorrow with no down paymnet or committment. It's just a matter of stock order schedules that i don't have a full stock of 6400-7900 saws. I have my 7900 demo saw for show and tell and it's always for sale. Demo in my shop usually means about 2 hours of run time. They don't last.

So, in summation. I have a ton of saws, accessories, parts, bars and chains etc. But I don't have very many loggers, or anyone who really wants a big saw right now. It isn't that I don't carry the saws, it's just a matter of overlap in stocking.

Again. My shop, my area (Northern Illinois where corn outnumbers mosquitos 2 to 1). Most people in this area think a 5100 is a huge saw and a 16" is plenty for most folks.

 

[RiverRat2]

Well said Jay

It must be fun trying to run a business and keep evrybody happy

 

[B_Turner]

Well. And i'll be gentle here.

Nice reply.