Is This Normal When Buyer a New Chainsaw at a Dealer?

Arborist Forum

Help Support Arborist Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
windthrown

windthrown

361 Junkie
Joined
Sep 24, 2006
Messages
10,885
Location
The longbar PNW
Around here, pretty much every saw shop has most or all of their saws for sale on display, and typically you buy them off the shelf. Generally they are not sold out of the box (at least not Stihl or Husky saws). Usually there are more than one of each type. They would all likely replace any scuffed or problem parts though. For Stihls, they are required to test them, service it, and fill it with gas and oil. Though I request that they not do that as I have better gas for my saws than they usually do. They usually comply. I have never gotten a bad new Stihl or Husky. I found one saw on the shelf at the Husky dealer here once that they would NOT sell me. It was a clear demo model 346xp 2nd ed saw. It was cool as all hell, but they said it belonged to Husky and they could not sell it to me under any circumstances. They have since returned that saw to the company.

Here is the saw shelf at Madsens, one of the largest saw shops in the universe. Husky or Stihl, name your poison. Pick your desired saw out of the lineup and buy it. If you wanted, they would probably pull one out of a box for you and put it together. Also the 'back room' service center there is open and the first thing you pass going into the store, so you can see what they are doing. No Shenanigans.

Madsens saws.jpg
 
MarkEagleUSA

MarkEagleUSA

ArboristSite Guru
Joined
May 5, 2013
Messages
959
Location
CT
A display model at a dealer is a whole lot different than a display model at a big box store. I probably wouldn't have a problem buying one but would certainly ask for something off. As for that oil cap, I'd go back and ask for a replacement. Worst case, they say no.
 
BKrusher

BKrusher

300 yd drives
Joined
Nov 20, 2013
Messages
169
Location
WI
Like windthrown says....the stihl dealer I go to puts the saws together, then puts em on his display shelf after a test "run". Thats where they sit until someone takes em up to the counter to take home. Most times he has multiples of each model so you can pick which one you want.....No credit/debit cards...he joked that's almost un-american one time when I asked...lol. Hand written receipts, an old calculator and tax card cheat sheet:). Needless to say he will work off msrp
 
HuskStihl

HuskStihl

Chairin'em for the sound
Joined
Aug 6, 2012
Messages
6,163
Location
Hockley, TX
All of my saws look terrible. On the outside. Inside they have a great sheen of H1r, fresh mix, a clean filter, and most importantly, a slightly rich tune.
 
Big_Wood

Big_Wood

westcoast dweller
Joined
Dec 11, 2012
Messages
7,335
Location
Canuckistan
If that display saw had any demo use on it i would be returning it in a heart beat. I'm one of the guys where if a dealer tried to sell me a display saw without any kind of a discount i'd be insulted though. Only new out of box virgin saws for me. I'm the one who's gonna scratch it up.
 
msvold

msvold

ArboristSite Operative
Joined
Aug 18, 2009
Messages
331
Location
Leavenworth, KS
Last two saws i bought were 372XP off the shelf, and 550XP from a shipment that just arrived to his dealership. Each time, he asked me what size bar I wanted on it, took it to the back room maintenance area, cut a new extra chain, put gas & oil, ran them for operation checks, stared me in the eye and said shes ready, go run her. There is no doubt in my mind, that if I wanted a new oil cap for any reason, he would trade me out, but I've also spent more than a penny there and he knows that I take care of my equipment. An oil cap aint worth losing a deal over. Taking a saw back because of an oil cap and I'd venture to guess that mentally he would classify you as "high maintenance' and then decide if he wanted to keep your business.
 
mattaggie

mattaggie

ArboristSite Operative
Joined
Jun 11, 2012
Messages
146
Location
Texas
We sell off the shelf. Displays aren't typically on display long enough for them to get damaged. With that said, if a customer requested one out of a box, I would happily comply. I'd do anything within reason to create a happy, satisfactory experience for the customer. Another saw has to be put together either way, either for you the customer, or to replace the sold display.
 

w8ye

Addicted to ArboristSite
Joined
Apr 16, 2011
Messages
3,988
Location
Ohio
I've had several saws (new to me) that had stuck oil caps. I didn't put any marks on the caps getting them loose.
For some reason, all the "NEW'' saws I have bought were never run except at the factory. I never had a reason to take one back to the dealer for anything.
The ones that had been run were sold to me as demos.
 
Andyshine77
Joined
Jan 25, 2004
Messages
11,305
Location
Cincinnati, OH
Is this thread serious? Every saw dealer I've been to takes the saw off the shelf. It's not a used saw or display saw, it's the saw that's for sale. Husky caps are like 5 bucks, you're going to scratch it soon enough anyway. Go fuel the thing up cut something other than yourself with it.
 
Franny K
Joined
Jan 16, 2013
Messages
4,405
Location
North eastern Ct USA
I'm really curious how some of you guys buy your cars?
Let me turn that around a bit. How do you like it when they want to play locator within 500 miles and don't think you should care how many miles are on it because it has a new warranty instead of ordering one the way you want it? I ordered and waited but it was surprising how some places just want to play locator.

In this case if the cap was just on too tight not cross threaded in a plastic tank it is just a cheap indication of the type of mechanic work they do. I would be more concerned they sold an earlier version than what they had in the back or it was a demo unit.
 

Latest posts

Top