hey wet,
bad weather up your way today, no? good thing you nort-east guys are all issued 10 cases of clam chowder for the winter!!!!
i am glad there are two of us who see eye to eye on this. i keep responding to these posts to see if there are any like minded people around.
seems a guy like me can do no
right.
i say i want to
order a saw, they say go to a dealer.
i go to a dealer they say you gotta deserve a discount.
i ask why they say bcuz. even though the west coast price is only 719.00.
i say what else is bought because of the dealer network?
they say, 'don't care, pay up!'
i say am i the only one to look at a price tag?
they say 'don't care, pay up'!
damn i love the ARBORISTSITE!
Several sides to this conversation and it appears your side is the only one you feel is valid.
You have lots of choices, order after market. Go to E-bay. Find another dealer.
The MSRP is just that, a suggestion. Cost of doing business is slightly different in Conn. or Long Island than say Ohio or Georgia. Thats partly why you'll see prices vary.
My shop, I am fortunate. We deal strictly with the trade. We don't get the shoppers, those wanting to spend 30 minutes of my time explaining how to adjust their saw by ear, change their own fuel filter or the merits of going with a 250 vs a 441. For parts, it's contractors calling/stopping in for what they need, we have it, charge a fair price (that will let us keep the doors open), they pay it, and get back to work.
We also get fan mail sent to Stihl by other dealers because of our advertised prices, 660 at $980 or 84DL RSC loops at $16. Again, because are not selling one at a time, we can afford to do so.
You need to make a decision, do you want to deal with the box store mentality...meaning your saw breaks, hell if we know how to fix it, what could be wrong, or even where to get it fixed (keep in mind if you are here you are less than 1% of the saw owners out there that can/will work on their own saw). Your parts/equipment purchases help offset the cost of those mechanics in back, the shop, heat, servicing the debt load on all that merchandise sitting on the selves, etc.
I'll be the first to admit, lots of dealers out there that need a refresher on customer service. There are also alot more customers who need to re-look why they might not be getting a discount from someone they do business with.
So the choice is yours support your local dealer, establish a relationship with another dealer, hell ask for a discount...I do so even with my local gas station sometimes I get one sometimes I don't but I ask.
But if you think service and support doesn't matter, to you that might be true, to the majority of the buyers out there it does.
"The bitterness of poor quality/service remains long after the thrill of a good deal fades"
Anyway, just my thoughts, feel free to dismiss out of hand, seeing as I'm just another of those ####ing Stihl guys.