Brand loyalty vs. logic

[c5rulz]

Many on the forum are die hard, Stihl, Husky, Wild thing, Earthquake, whatever ....... Fill in the blank loyalsts to a given manufacturer. However the basis for this opinion are that is what they have always used and have no real objective information to form a bias against another. By the same token, just because you used XXXX saw and it ran for 20 years is no reason to say it was the best compared to another comprable saw in that class.


For example, for over 20 years I ran a single Stihl and nothing else. (At that point certainly not an enthusiast.) I never considered another manufacturer. After getting introduced to the XP line, I am now questioning my own close mindedness.

I always ran GM products too. Now NEVER AGAIN.:msp_angry:


Loyalists, what say ye????????????opcorn:

 

[MotorSeven]

Sounds like you are in the midst of an identity crisis:sword:

 

[Stihl Livin]

Sounds like you have been doing some research you should have years ago. I have always been a loyal brand guy and tried to stray at times but to no avail. Looked at getting a ford power stroke before the duramax came out only to have the ford sales men tell me they close in 30 minutes so I could only drive the truck around the lot. I told him thanks for reminding me why I buy GM.

 

[sachsmo]

Where is the logic of buying a new saw, then sending it out to get modded?

The cost of a new good saw is is not chump change.

So I'm guessing none of the big players sells a saw worth a hoot?

Or perhaps being "brand loyal" means you can't run with the competition as purchased?

 

[jeepyfz450]

Loyal VS Logic.........

I am a somewhat brand loyal guy. I run Stihls (i have huskys, echoes, macs, homelites) i have ran most of the new "latest and greatest" from most manufacturers. I think there are many many great choices of saws out there and i DONT think Stihl is the only way to go. I like stihls always have.... my first saw was an 036pro still have it and still use it. i stick with stihl cause its what i like and has always done me right.

Now logic....... everyone on this site is a "chainsaw Expert" they know which saw it the fastest,best handeling,looks the best, sounds the best, balances the best...... so on so on so on....

Its NOT the chainsaw its the operator.....There are guys on here that could whip my azz in the woods with a homelite super XL thats a fact.

If you ask anybody here what the best 50CC chainsaw is they will say 346/550 (depending on the day). I run a 026pro...... my 026 is a great saw does everything a 50cc saw should. am i going to sell it and go buy a 550 well maybe someday but is it really that big of deal??

People on this site hype up saws to the point that they dissapoint most that run them the first time.

 

[sachsmo]

I hear ya jeep,

we all have our favorites. There are a lot of damned good saws out there.

If I have learned anything about saws over the years, the best thing by far is learning to file a chain.

Any saw is near worthless without a razor sharp chain!

 

[jeepyfz450]

Yeah i agree on the sharp chain. self feeding sharp chain on a good running saw.

 

[sachsmo]

That is the secret,

I'd pay $1000 dollars if someone could build me a saw that could run with a blunt chain as good as a stocker with a good chain.

I hate wasting time lovin' me chains.

 

[srb08]

I've always run Stihl, because of local dealer support. I can walk into the Stihl dealer and get just about any part I need. He has an extensive inventory and is always helpful.
When the Husq 562xp came out, I decided to get one, went to the local Husq dealer and got nothing but a blank stare when I ask about them. Ended up going to a better Husq dealer about an hour away to get the saw. I had the same experience when I wanted a Techlite bar for the saw. The local Husq guy said he had never heard of the Techlite. He looked it up on his computer as was suprised when he found it, said the minimum order was six and I would have to buy all six as he didn't think he could sell such an expensive bar. I ended up getting one from the dealer who sold me the saw.
In my case, brand loyalty is a function of dealer knowledge and support.

 

[sefh3]

Dealer support. Enough said. I have Stihl dealer that is close to me. If he doesn't have a part I need it's there within 2-3 days. It could be as small as a $.05 part or $100 and they order it for me. I also know the mechanic/tech he calls me when he runs into issues while working on saws. We share a ton of information with each other. The Husky dealer well, it would be nice if there was one within 50 miles of me????

 

[tollster]

Only a wise man considers other brands before a purchase, he will review, listen and ask about other brands, then he'll purchase the same as he always had.

 

[sunfish]

My brand loyalty is based on what works for me.

The XP saws opened my eyes 12 years ago.

I have a good dealer that sells both top brands.

 

[goosegunner]

"Sawtroll" :msp_biggrin:

 

[mt.stalker]

I'm definately biased towards Sweedish Pro saws . I ecspecially like the ergonomics of Husqvarna , vs any other brand .
What is really important though is ; I freaking love 2smoke engines . Regardless of manufacturer , they just give me a rush to operate . In reality , I like all of them . :msp_wub::msp_wub:

 

[Swamp Yankee]

Oh well here goes

When it comes to OPE, particularly chainsaws, I've never been brand loyal. I am however ferociously dealer loyal. I do business with the shop(s) that know their products, provide service, and most importantly work to earn and keep my business.

The reciprocal I've found is also true. If you want the dealer to treat you right buy from him and don't whine because he's a few dollars higher on a saw than somebody else without a clue. And as the 2 saw shops I use always say to people that come in and complain about a price because they can buy a sprocket, box of files, chain, etc. from the internet for $1.00 less, "go buy it" They can do that because they've built and expanded their business on servicing loyal regulars, knowing full well that if a potential customer won't spend and extra $.50 for a part, they'll never buy a big piece of equipment if it's $10 more at his shop than at another.

In terms of brand / manufacturer loyalty, nothing wrong with it as long as you understand you're limiting yourself. That is truly a personal decision only you can make. I've always bought the tool / equipment that best suits my needs, not what some one else says I should. In some cases I have to pay more, but I have the satisfaction that comes from knowing I have what I need. In other cases a bargain has appeared and I've been able to take advantage of it because I'm not brand loyal, and trust the dealer(s) knowing they care about keeping me as a customer, and they're not going to screw me and lose my future business for a couple bucks.

Rain has stopped, so will I, I'm going to make chips.

Take Care

 

[Big_Wood]

I like stihls and huskies but lean more to the huskies. (see sig). My thing is every stihl i have used has something i don't like about it. The huskies i find all handle the way i like them to and also they are much easier to work on. Some may say they find stihls easier to work on because i have heard it before but my opinion is the huskies are. I've also had a guy come back and say stihls don't need to be worked on til they need a rebuild but i have worked on many stihls so his idea of stihls lasting longer is non sense. Maybe he straight gasses his saws once a month and thinks wow i didn't have to fix one thing until it needed a rebuild. I like stihl but would never buy one new. i only pick one up if they come to me free or cheap. When it comes to what i use my saws for all the other brands just don't last. Although i had a wild thing that lasted 6 years but it wasn't doing what my other saws do.

 

[cpr]

I'm not a faller, arborist, or any other professional who views these appliances as a tool for a job. I am an enthusiast to whom logic does not and never will apply.

I like what I like because it is fun from my point of view. That others like them too is just a bonus.

ARRRR.

 

[Philip Wheelock]

I guess I'm a dealer loyalist. Whoever's going to provide the best service and support. I started out with a used Stihl saw, and the local Stihl dealer has been really good to me. Turns out there's an equally-qualified Husky dealer nearby, too. Both Stihl and Husqvarna put out superior products, IMHO. If I were to start over, knowing what I know now, it would be a hard choice between the two. Reasons I'd stay with one or the other is the Stihl switch flips up to shut down and the Husky switch flips down, AFAIK; might be a safety issue in a tight situation if I forgot which saw I was using. Also since the Stihl dealer's treated me right, I want to return the favor as a matter of good business practice.

 

[stihl023/5]

I have a few each and am not brand loyal. Nor am I "pro" saw loyal I have non pro's that have not let me down and take a beating. I totally agree on the GM junk thing but all are overpriced and cheaply built.opcorn:
Oh dealer wise doesn't matter stihl,echo,husky same roof.

 

[Chris-PA]

I don't like nor trust any corporation. Individuals within a corporation may be wonderful people, but collectively a corporation is incapable of "caring" about an individual. There is no point in being loyal to an entity like a corporation which cannot reciprocate, unless you derive some financial benefit from it (and probably even then). It's just business.

Even the brands I "like" I do not trust. That said, there is some logic in staying with a brand if they have a product design you like and have learned, as otherwise you'd have to learn other basically equivalent things. But if another product is superior then why not change? If a company can find customers that will pay more than you do you think they sell it to you cheaper out of loyalty?

So my brand loyalty, such little as there is, is based on designs I like and value. Basically if I think I am getting a superior design or a superior value then I'll give that company's products some benefit of the doubt, but always keep my eye's open. And I do my own work, so things like parts cost and availability of information is important - so for me Stihl is a non-starter.

And I would always prefer to buy from local businesses, but that is not always possible.