zich6
ArboristSite Member
As you may recall, I posted several weeks ago asking for help on the purchase of a new Stihl saw. I received good advice and ordered an MS-460 on 12/16. Since I hadn't heard anything, I called the dealer today and inquired on the status. I was told the distributer, Stihl Mid-Atlantic (SMA), was snowed under and was not shipping. I then called SMA and they told me the order wasn't placed until 12/27, they had been shipping all along and that there was an issue with the dealer that was holding up the order. They would not go into detail, but it was clear the issue was financial. I understand times are hard, especially for small businesses like them, but that being the case, I should have been told.
The SMA rep called another dealer to try to get me the same deal I had with the original dealer, but was unsuccessful getting the dealer to honor a reasonable deal - less than 10% off. In fact, the 2nd dealer wouldn't budge off their normal price. I ended up driving to a third dealer about 45 minutes away and buying the saw.
Since this is my first Stihl I have to say that I'm under-whelmed with not only the dealers in my area, but more importantly, the inability of my Stihl distributer to influence their dealers in any way. I know the dealers are independent, but when SMA called them for help because a customer got hosed, the answer was, essentially, "pound sand." What concerns me now is who can I trust to get reasonable prices and competence with parts and service? I really don't want to make the 45 minute drive every time, but I may have to.
I really don't need much advice here, I just needed to vent. Also, if anyone wants the name of the good and bad dealer I dealt with, I'd be happy to supply it, but I didn't want to violate any forum rules.
All that said, even though the purchase was not fun I love the dad burn saw. It's really great.
The SMA rep called another dealer to try to get me the same deal I had with the original dealer, but was unsuccessful getting the dealer to honor a reasonable deal - less than 10% off. In fact, the 2nd dealer wouldn't budge off their normal price. I ended up driving to a third dealer about 45 minutes away and buying the saw.
Since this is my first Stihl I have to say that I'm under-whelmed with not only the dealers in my area, but more importantly, the inability of my Stihl distributer to influence their dealers in any way. I know the dealers are independent, but when SMA called them for help because a customer got hosed, the answer was, essentially, "pound sand." What concerns me now is who can I trust to get reasonable prices and competence with parts and service? I really don't want to make the 45 minute drive every time, but I may have to.
I really don't need much advice here, I just needed to vent. Also, if anyone wants the name of the good and bad dealer I dealt with, I'd be happy to supply it, but I didn't want to violate any forum rules.
All that said, even though the purchase was not fun I love the dad burn saw. It's really great.