Another [Dolmar Dealer] bites the Dust

[indiansprings]

Brad101 hit the nail on the head. Outside of this site, which is for chainsaw enthusiast there is no name recognition. Line up twenty guys in this part of the country and ask them what a Dolmar is and I'd say at least 16 of them wouldn't have a clue. It's not a problem with their quality or product, when you don't offer a significant savings over Stihl or Husky, people won't look at a unknown brand.
It's a lack of commitment to the American market and a pizz poor marketing strategy that are killing them.

 

[Kemper]

Brad101 hit the nail on the head. Outside of this site, which is for chainsaw enthusiast there is no name recognition. Line up twenty guys in this part of the country and ask them what a Dolmar is and I'd say at least 16 of them wouldn't have a clue. It's not a problem with their quality or product, when you don't offer a significant savings over Stihl or Husky, people won't look at a unknown brand.
It's a lack of commitment to the American market and a pizz poor marketing strategy that are killing them.

How do you know it's killing them?

In my area there are lots of Dolmars in use.

 

[Justsaws]

How do you know it's killing them?

In my area there are lots of Dolmars in use.

When you say "lots" how many 1000 of current availible models? It is hard to keep a new dealership open if all they can do is sell 100 unit a year near dealer cost. Parts and labor will not keep the doors open unless they can service other brands as well, even then if they are new to the market area chances are someone else will be able to do it cheaper.
The new pricing seems to be taking it's toll on Dolmar, across the board they are right even with the other brands. It has been a while since I have seen any new Dolmar saws of any kind. When they were a bargain some folks would take the "chance". Makita sells more saws than Dolmar around here. Echo sells more than both put together.

Dolmar finally parked a sign in Zanesville, it was sitting on a pickup truck with a bunch of saws and weedwackers on top of a pile of wood in the bed. Hope it works for them, time will tell.

 

[CentaurG2]

No shortage of Dolmar dealers around here. They are on par with Jonsereds. The true outliers are shindiawa, subuaru/robin, Kawasaki, solo. Brands that you think would never sell but they do. I think it is very difficult to survive selling a single brand anymore unless you are selling stihl and your primary customer base is harry the happy homeowner. Of the three big dealers in my area, one sells both husky and Echo,one sells both stihl and husky and the other sells stihl and Echo. They also carry many other lines of equipment from Honda to Mantis to Scag. Homowners need to be told what to buy. Contractors know what brands work best for them and will buy into a brand and dealer that gives them the best performance and service for the buck. Know your customer base and give them what they want.

 

[procarbine2k1]

Just heard this past week we are losing one in our area as well. Hate to hear about guys closing up shop, definitely a hard time to make it in small business.

 

[JustinM]

It's not a problem with their quality or product, when you don't offer a significant savings over Stihl or Husky, people won't look at a unknown brand.

Bingo.

When I bought my 5100, I have never heard of Dolmar. I was actually intending to buy a consumer grade stihl or husky because my budget/needs would not justify a pro model. I actually was just about to buy a husky when the dealer said, 'hey if you want to save some coin, i have this dolmar 510" I asked him what a dolmar was & he explained. I noticed the 5100 he had & said "what about that one?" and he told me it was a pro model and was actually a little cheaper than the consumer husky i was looking at.

Anyway, a day or 2 of research later, I was sold - and ive never regretted the situation - BUT - and this is extremely important: If that price difference hadnt have been there (about 35%) i would have never been motivated to do the research, nor would I have taken a "risk" on a brand I didnt know.

 

[WACutter]

Exactly

If that price difference hadnt have been there (about 35%) i would have never been motivated to do the research, nor would I have taken a "risk" on a brand I didnt know.

I agree completely. Without a price differential, there is little reason to try Dolmar. Most Dolmar dealers that I've seen (I know this is not the case in some areas) are barely in business, or perhaps Dolmar is a very small part of their business. None are what I would call saw shops. If your parts and dealer network are substandard, then you cannot hope to compete against larger players with good dealer support.

I wonder why have their prices gone up so much? I really like the 5100 and 7900, and do hope that Dolmar figures out a way to stay competitive.

 

[WetGunPowder]

To be a sucessful dealer (and it doesn't matter what brand you are selling) you must BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU ARE SELLING!!!


I believe.........

 

[mweba]

To be a sucessful dealer (and it doesn't matter what brand you are selling) you must BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU ARE SELLING!!!


I believe.........

+1 A consumer is never going to believe a sales pitch if the seller him/herself is not an enthusiast. The two "big" saw sellers in my area, Stihl and Husky are both very into there product. The Stihl dealer shows up to and starts local GTG's. The Husky dealer has the new 562xp on all his computers as a screen saver. Funny thing is, the sales rep walked in and asked "What saw is that?"

Things like this get return/new customers. Business is not easy and many hours have to be put in for your own personal brand marketing.

Kind of a ramble but you get my drift LOL

 

[TK]

I have access to sell Dolmar products through my distributor. The salesman has made a few attempts at getting me to take the line. From what I have seen from the Dolmar product lineup, I would not take them on, and I can not stand working on any of them that have been brought in for service (thank goodness they have been few and far between).

Don't get me wrong, I KNOW they have their strong points and do make some good saws, but the ones that I have seen I have really disliked. No pro saws in this area in the Dolmar line that I've seen, plenty of Stihl and Husky.

I just don't care for them. I'm glad that many people like them, they're just not for me.

 

[mweba]

I have access to sell Dolmar products through my distributor. The salesman has made a few attempts at getting me to take the line. From what I have seen from the Dolmar product lineup, I would not take them on, and I can not stand working on any of them that have been brought in for service (thank goodness they have been few and far between).

Don't get me wrong, I KNOW they have their strong points and do make some good saws, but the ones that I have seen I have really disliked. No pro saws in this area in the Dolmar line that I've seen, plenty of Stihl and Husky.

I just don't care for them. I'm glad that many people like them, they're just not for me.

If you are in the small engine service business, how could you not stand working on a certain brand? Do the owners of that brand not pay for the work?

I will take any piece of equipment that comes through the door if the check is good.

 

[noomt]

First Post

I thought this was as good a time as any to post my first one. I recently purchased a 7900 with a 28" bar from my local Husky/Dolmar/Poulan dealer that handles mowers as well. He recommended it when I told him what I was looking for even after I told him my dad has 2 Huskys. I was shocked. I too did more research (after just having done hours on Husky -vs- Stihl) and liked what I found. Having run my Poulan Pro 4620 w/20" bar for several years, running the 7900 for the first time shocked me again. That saw is a beast!

 

[zogger]

I wonder, ten to one, maybe more...

Jred dealers are harder to find than Husky and Stihl in most areas.....We lost the only local Husky dealer a short time ago and 1 of the 6 Stihl dealers closed ... For 60k population you might think someone would try to get a Husky dealership going ...

With the big box stores selling husky homeowner and "landowner" grade huskys, how many pro series get sold in a given area/population that isn't a heavy logging area? 99% of joe sixpack's firewood and clean up duties can be well met with that grade saw, at that price level... I bet they sell ten to one over the pro saws, some figure like that. Joe six pack barfs at paying a grand and up for a saw when there is a perfectly adequate one sitting there for 2-4 hundred.

Heck, they are all over on internet sales as well. And mom and pop chainsaw store can't compete on price with the box stores, they don't get the same volume discount, so...they try to stay in business emphasizing pro saws and maybe sell one a month or something? Pay rent on a shop and so on?

This is not a viable business outside of working out of your garage unless it is just as small percentage of what you stock and sell, in most areas. My local husky dealer stays in business by being a long and well established general farm and feed store, not from just selling chainsaws and weedwhackers.

 

[jimdad07]

A lot of people don't understand that you can go to the dealer of most brands and get a good mid-range saw for the same price you can go to a box store and buy a Husky or Echo. Box stores are just too easy and people see the Huskies on the shelf and equate them with quality because of the name, it's killing the dealerships. As far as Dolmars, I think if you could find a Dolmar dealer in a good location I think they would do fine. Those saws sell themselves once a few people try them out and spread the word. There are three dealers for Dolmar around me and they are doing all right.

 

[TK]

If you are in the small engine service business, how could you not stand working on a certain brand? Do the owners of that brand not pay for the work?

I will take any piece of equipment that comes through the door if the check is good.

Working on a piece of equipment equates to dollars, sure, if you really want to look at the bottom line. But strictly from a personal standpoint - there are certain items that come through the door that you just plain cringe when you see them. Ever work on a Dolmar/Makita cutoff saw? Where's the vomit emoticon........

Heck, they are all over on internet sales as well. And mom and pop chainsaw store can't compete on price with the box stores, they don't get the same volume discount, so...they try to stay in business emphasizing pro saws and maybe sell one a month or something? Pay rent on a shop and so on?

I would argue that point about mom and pop shops not being able to compete with big boxes - I am by no means a large dealership. But any price I've seen on the box stores equipment in the line I carry, I can beat. As I grow, I will only be able to beat them more. The only thing I CAN'T beat, is the general publics' mentality that the box stores have a cheaper price.

 

[THALL10326]

With the big box stores selling husky homeowner and "landowner" grade huskys, how many pro series get sold in a given area/population that isn't a heavy logging area? 99% of joe sixpack's firewood and clean up duties can be well met with that grade saw, at that price level... I bet they sell ten to one over the pro saws, some figure like that. Joe six pack barfs at paying a grand and up for a saw when there is a perfectly adequate one sitting there for 2-4 hundred.

Heck, they are all over on internet sales as well. And mom and pop chainsaw store can't compete on price with the box stores, they don't get the same volume discount, so...they try to stay in business emphasizing pro saws and maybe sell one a month or something? Pay rent on a shop and so on?

This is not a viable business outside of working out of your garage unless it is just as small percentage of what you stock and sell, in most areas. My local husky dealer stays in business by being a long and well established general farm and feed store, not from just selling chainsaws and weedwhackers.

10-1, no no no, the ratio is alot higher. I work in a shop in the DC area, hardly no logging around here and I'm positive I sell at least 20 home type saws to every pro saw. Joe around the house just can't justify a pro saw for no more than he's sawing.

Far as this thread goes it appears a Dolmar dealer closed up shop. Tant no biggie, alot of shops have closed, be Dolmar, Stihl or Husky. Its hard for a shop to stay in the biz in tuff times, one thing many people can do without and don't care about is a saw. They aren't cutting theirselves short on something else to buy a saw they can do without for awhile.

I don't know about Dolmar or Husky but I do know Stihl wised up long ago concerning small handheld power equipment. Saws aren't the big thing in the USA, trimmers outsell saws, everyone seems to have grass. Stihl's line-up caters as much to grass as it does trees. A small handheld power equipment company without a good selection of equipment for the yard care is doomed in the USA. People will fork over bucks alot faster for a professional trimmer or blower than they will a pro saw. I sell alot more pro trimmers and blowers than I do pro saws. These people buying these pro type yard care units usually opt for a homeowner type saw..

 

[mikefunaro]

I thought this was as good a time as any to post my first one. I recently purchased a 7900 with a 28" bar from my local Husky/Dolmar/Poulan dealer that handles mowers as well. He recommended it when I told him what I was looking for even after I told him my dad has 2 Huskys. I was shocked. I too did more research (after just having done hours on Husky -vs- Stihl) and liked what I found. Having run my Poulan Pro 4620 w/20" bar for several years, running the 7900 for the first time shocked me again. That saw is a beast!

I don't think there's any doubt that they make a good product. Debate has been, of late, whether its a superior product, equivalent product, or perhaps [slightly] inferior product. I dont think there's anybody that has run a 7900 that hasn't been impressed with the power given its size. I think you can rest assured you made a good decision (I'm currently sitting on a 7900 too).

To give the full story/my interest/shock behind this thread. I grew up in Southern NY/NWCT and my parents are still there and I spend a lot of time there. There are basically no dolmar dealers in that area. Those that claim to be either have like 1 or 2 saw models and then sell lawn mowers or don't stock anything but will "order" whatever you want for list price and then some. I go to college in New Hampshire and have enjoyed being in "saw" country, or at least more of saw country than home was. I was happy to see multiple dolmar dealers in the area, and bought spare parts for them, etc for a dolmar ps 510 that I owned. They seemed to have a fighting chance in the area. In the last three years, however, I've watched the three dealers in the area close one by one, while a competent stihl/jonsered dealer, and a not so competent husky dealer have both done quite well.

 

[spike60]

With the big box stores selling husky homeowner and "landowner" grade huskys, how many pro series get sold in a given area/population that isn't a heavy logging area? 99% of joe sixpack's firewood and clean up duties can be well met with that grade saw, at that price level... I bet they sell ten to one over the pro saws, some figure like that. Joe six pack barfs at paying a grand and up for a saw when there is a perfectly adequate one sitting there for 2-4 hundred.

Heck, they are all over on internet sales as well. And mom and pop chainsaw store can't compete on price with the box stores, they don't get the same volume discount, so...they try to stay in business emphasizing pro saws and maybe sell one a month or something? Pay rent on a shop and so on?

Your first paragraph is accurate. Most personal firewood cutting can be done with the box store Husky models. No one needs a 372 to cut a few cords of wood each year. But, there are a lot of guys who just like to own better tools, and chainsaws are certainly one of them. I sell a lot of pro models to this type of customer. I have also cultivated a good reputation as a "saw shop", and we cater to both the pro guys, as well as the serious user homeowner types. My best selling model 10 years running has been the 372. (But this year it was tied dead even between the 372 and 346) No other models do even half of what those two do. The closest would be the 445 refurbs that I get courtesey of those very same box stores. We have really strong saw business, but it couldn't stand alone. We also do a great commercial business with Exmark, as well as consumer lawn and garden.

Your second paragraph is way off target. Independent guys like myself can easily match, or beat the box stores on price. As someone mentioned, it's the false perception that those stores will always have a better price that hurts us.

There's a small but important distinction about the box store's low price guarranty that most people miss: All they are promising to do is match a lower price if you find one. They are not promising they already have the lowest prices. It's confusing, but they want you to be confused.

 

[striperswaper]

do you husky and echo dealers advertise that you can beat HD and Blows?
local paper, store front?

 

[epicklein22]

do you husky and echo dealers advertise that you can beat HD and Blows?
local paper, store front?

I don't know about "beating" them, but I would push the idea that we sell the same saw for the same amount of money and you get the added bonus of dealer support and knowledge.

They need to take a page from the Stihl advertising/marketing plan. haha