Buying from Dealer vs local stores (like hope depot)

[eyolf]

ZeroGrav:
I bet that more home owners with acreage come into a Tractor Supply or Lowes than 100 saw dealers.

Own my home; 94 acres tilled, 55 forested, 10 wetlands.

Never been in a Lowe's, have been in a tractor supply, but didn't think much of the store. I've bought chain saws from dealers. Never in a box store. My nearest neighbor has enough woods to need a Jonsered 2065 and a 2152; he's never bought a chainsaw from a box store. Another neighbor has 20 acres, mostly wetlands, but 200 feet of lakeshore; he's had 3 or 4 box-store cheapies over the last 13 years. This fall he asked advice about the local Deere/Stihl dealer's sale on MS250.

While I'm more of an Allis/Case/IH and Jonsered man, I think pretty highly of most of Stihl's small saws and that 250 seems like a real nice homeowner saw. if he cares for it, he should never need another one.

You can't get these in most box stores.

 

[Zero Gravity]

Zero did I ever say that type of marketing would be a failure, no. Did I ever say more home owners go to dealers than the box stores, no so no need to bet me for your are correct, the box stores do have much more traffic than small time dealers. However you seem to be forgetting our disagreement altogether.

We, yes you and me, were talking about brand reconition and what happens to it when your product is put on the same shelf with pure junk. You say the brand is enhanced by it, I said the brand reconition goes down because of it. That was my only disagreement with you and my man in the SUV proved my point when he said "I don't want anything remotely related to my Craftsman saw".

What your talking about is called by many rainbow marketing, and if you know marketing like you say then you have indeed heard the term and know exactly what it means. Why don't you tell all the good folks on the board what the term rainbow marketing means and explain how it enhances name brand outdoor power equipment.

I am glad to see your being more civil with me. You was really starting to hurt my feelings getting all personal. Calling me a jew was not nice. Take note I did not call you discount begging cheap skate, which you probly are but I refrained that, see I'm a nice guy, :hmm3grin2orange::hmm3grin2orange::hmm3grin2orange:

At lease you did not quote the Stihl annual report again. Glad you finaly agree that marketing in an associated store to qualified customers makes sence. It might be your pot of gold at the end of the "rainbow". Lowes and Tractor supply is one hell of a lot better than True Value hardware. I would bet that over 80% of True Value's products are Chinese origin. What does that do for Stihl's brand? Your logic is defective.
ZG

 

[jimdad07]

I am going through the same thought process as anchary at this time, I have found a Dolmar dealer five miles from my front door and have been very impressed with the ps5100s, compared to the poulan pro I am using now, it looks like the difference between a Caddy and a ford escort.

 

[Slamm]

Send your money to a saw modder and have them purchase a saw and modd it before you ever get it. Then you don't have to worry about whether or not to get it from some little dealer or Home Depot.

That is how I would solve that minor issue, next.

Sam

 

[jimdad07]

reply to saw modder

would you do the same for a work saw as well, or just a competition saw? I am looking a the saw for cutting up to sixty face cord a year and maybe running an Alaskan sawmill for hardwood such as oak, maple and cherry.:newbie:

 

[Slamm]

would you do the same for a work saw as well, or just a competition saw? I am looking a the saw for cutting up to sixty face cord a year and maybe running an Alaskan sawmill for hardwood such as oak, maple and cherry.:newbie:

All my saws are work saws. I do not want a slow chainsaw if I am working. If I am just playing around then I could afford to take my time. But if one of my chainsaws is running then it is probably for money and it is probably piece work related, and I'm lazy so I try to get it done quickly and efficiently.

I refuse to operate or own any unmoddified saws, at the end of the day a good modded saw will make you money.

I have my saw man get the new saw and have them modd it and then send it to me.

Sam

 

[Gologit]

At lease you did not quote the Stihl annual report again. Glad you finaly agree that marketing in an associated store to qualified customers makes sence. It might be your pot of gold at the end of the "rainbow". Lowes and Tractor supply is one hell of a lot better than True Value hardware. I would bet that over 80% of True Value's products are Chinese origin. What does that do for Stihl's brand? Your logic is defective.
ZG

Lowes, Home Dept, and Tractor Supply all have stores in my area. I buy a lot of stuff from them...building supplies, small tools, household stuff etc.

I buy my saws from one of two actual, real, genuine saw shops in my area. I have no real need for the miniature saws that the box stores sell.

But just for fun I asked a clerk in each of these three stores about different saws they had on display. One guy faked it and spouted off a bunch of really bad informatiom, one just scratched his head and offered me the owner's manual, the third guy ran to get his supervisor and the supervisor gave me enough poor advice to last me the rest of the morning.

That's okay, I know enough about saws to make an informed decision about what to buy. But what about the poor schmo that doesn't? The big box stores just don't make it, not when compared to a knowledgable saw shop.

And we all know what happens when, after the big box stores get through laughing at you, you take your saw to a dealer for service. When they find out where you bought it they won't rip you off or treat you badly...but you sure won't be a priority for them, either.

And Tom Hall? I've dealt with the man, done business with him, and found him to be a straight up individual. I'd do business with him again. The same can't be said of the big box stores.

 

[jimdad07]

thanks for the advice sam, I will definitely give consideration because I want to get the most out of a saw as I can, tired of owning cheap junk that I bought because it was what I could afford at the time. Could have bought something decent two or three times by now.

 

[7sleeper]

thanks for the advice sam, I will definitely give consideration because I want to get the most out of a saw as I can, tired of owning cheap junk that I bought because it was what I could afford at the time. Could have bought something decent two or three times by now.

That pretty much sums it up in a very short sentence!

7

 

[slinger]

I had to order a replacement rubber tip for one of my cordless Paslode finish nailers. I bought the nailer from Home depot.

Talk about a Chinese Firedrill

Took over an hour to order a common 2 dollar part.

As long as you are after a stock item you are OK

Special orders are a PITA plus I had to pre-pay

 

[Log Hogger]

Unless you know chainsaws

Unless you know chainsaws and how to maintain them, or are interested in learning, then avoid Home Depot. A chainsaw is a high-maintenance tool and a dealer, a good one at least, will work with you rather than against you. Home Depot is just moving widgets, they don't know or care anything about chainsaws, and the saws they sell are all garbage. So are their saw chains: cheap, non-branded Chinese crap.

I try to avoid the behemoth box stores like Home Depot and Wal*Mart, they are all anti-union and facilitate exporting jobs overseas. At least at local, indie stores the employees treated better and are happier and more helpful.

 

[REJ2]

Unless you know chainsaws and how to maintain them, or are interested in learning, then avoid Home Depot. A chainsaw is a high-maintenance tool and a dealer, a good one at least, will work with you rather than against you. Home Depot is just moving widgets, they don't know or care anything about chainsaws, and the saws they sell are all garbage. So are their saw chains: cheap, non-branded Chinese crap.

I try to avoid the behemoth box stores like Home Depot and Wal*Mart, they are all anti-union and facilitate exporting jobs overseas. At least at local, indie stores the employees treated better and are happier and more helpful.

Is Tractor Supply Co. a behemoth box store, I've seen some Husqvarna 359's in there along with Oregon bars and chain, doesn't exactly look like garbage to me. REJ2

 

[THALL10326]

At lease you did not quote the Stihl annual report again. Glad you finaly agree that marketing in an associated store to qualified customers makes sence. It might be your pot of gold at the end of the "rainbow". Lowes and Tractor supply is one hell of a lot better than True Value hardware. I would bet that over 80% of True Value's products are Chinese origin. What does that do for Stihl's brand? Your logic is defective.
ZG

Well it appears I have put you in a box at last. Your slipping Zero and slipping bad. The question was power equipment, not paint brushes, screws and bolts and window puddy sitting on the same shelf, man you are slippery Zero but thats ok. You think maybe Elmers glue is the cause of all the lay offs at you know where,LOL

I find it good you admit the term without admitting the term by saying "qualified customers". What your really saying is that rainbow marketing is used for customers that don't know any better and that is correct, thank you.

I quote the Stihl annual report according to you, I don't think so, I quote the Husqvarna annual report Zero because its public, Stihl is private. Their latest report isn't pretty is it Zero. All that rainbow marketing doesn't seem to be reaping them any rewards does it. Maybe they need more "qualified customers", you know those that don't know any better. Speaking of those reports however the one I quoted does tend to prove my point as to who has brand reconition problems, seems the coat of many different colors and who's ya daddy isn't playing out too well.

True Value is alittle more expensive than Lowes or HD, why I would bet my 80% you don't shop there at all, course they don't want to hear ya sqeeeking when ya walk in anyway,LOLOL

 

[willsaw4beer]

I had to order a replacement rubber tip for one of my cordless Paslode finish nailers. I bought the nailer from Home depot.

Talk about a Chinese Firedrill

Took over an hour to order a common 2 dollar part.

As long as you are after a stock item you are OK

Special orders are a PITA plus I had to pre-pay

Reminds me of my boss's Ridgid pressure washer (purchased at HD) quitting on us. The bossman had it torn down and the problem pinpointed in about 10 mins- if I remember right the pressure regulator valve froze up. Of course the Home Depot was no help, and of course Ridgid said the warranty was void since the unit has been taken apart (kind of funny because my boss is a better mechanic than the people who would have done the warranty work..) Thankfully it was just a project around the house and not on a job for a client because we would have been totally ####ed. Even with the express shipping the part wouldn't have been available for several days...

This is a huge contrast compared to the local Stihl guy who has literally run out of his shop grabbed the malfunctioning equipment and gotten us out the door and back on the job as quickly as possible.

For a half assed homeowner, sure the Home Depot is fine. If you rely on your equipment to make a living dealer support is crucial...

 

[Walt41]

I am blessed with a 20 plus year relationship with the same saw and tractor dealer. You simply cannot put a price on this. I go there for all my supplies etc and he just marks down what I leave with and sends a monthly bill(no interest) try that at the box stores!
I guarantee I will never purchase a saw elsewhere.

 

[slinger]

I am blessed with a 20 plus year relationship with the same saw and tractor dealer. You simply cannot put a price on this. I go there for all my supplies etc and he just marks down what I leave with and sends a monthly bill(no interest) try that at the box stores!
I guarantee I will never purchase a saw elsewhere.

Timber Buyer I know was at the Dolmar dealear the day I stopped to look at (and eventually buy) my 3410. He had a I think if I remeber correctly a broken sping on his saw.

Dealer did'nt have one in stock so he took apart a new saw to get him going.

Logger was in and out while I was still fondling my new 3410.:blush:

He probably should have had the spring in parts but, he helped the brother out in the end!

 

[mickeyd]

I had to order a replacement rubber tip for one of my cordless Paslode finish nailers. I bought the nailer from Home depot.

Talk about a Chinese Firedrill

Took over an hour to order a common 2 dollar part.

As long as you are after a stock item you are OK

Special orders are a PITA plus I had to pre-pay

of course you had to pre pay . are they supposed to order something for you and then you never show up and they are stuck with it or have to pay to ship it back and restocking fee? I am not referring to you in particular
MD

 

[nanuk]

Put in on the shelf!

a dealer would just put the item on the shelf with the 5 others (s)he brought in at the same time to never be caught short again.

this just happened with me and the O-ring on an MS250 oil cap. I bought 6, dealer brought in 12.

 

[Zero Gravity]

Well it appears I have put you in a box at last. Your slipping Zero and slipping bad. The question was power equipment, not paint brushes, screws and bolts and window puddy sitting on the same shelf, man you are slippery Zero but thats ok. You think maybe Elmers glue is the cause of all the lay offs at you know where,LOL

I find it good you admit the term without admitting the term by saying "qualified customers". What your really saying is that rainbow marketing is used for customers that don't know any better and that is correct, thank you.

I quote the Stihl annual report according to you, I don't think so, I quote the Husqvarna annual report Zero because its public, Stihl is private. Their latest report isn't pretty is it Zero. All that rainbow marketing doesn't seem to be reaping them any rewards does it. Maybe they need more "qualified customers", you know those that don't know any better. Speaking of those reports however the one I quoted does tend to prove my point as to who has brand reconition problems, seems the coat of many different colors and who's ya daddy isn't playing out too well.

True Value is alittle more expensive than Lowes or HD, why I would bet my 80% you don't shop there at all, course they don't want to hear ya sqeeeking when ya walk in anyway,LOLOL

So

Is there a point to this incoherent rambling? I think you have been hanging around the solvent tank to long.
ZG

 

[THALL10326]

So

Is there a point to this incoherent rambling? I think you have been hanging around the solvent tank to long.
ZG

My point is simple, your wrong, thats all. Zero you should read this entire thread and maybe you will see many aren't agreeing with your HD/Lowes saw buying experiance at all. Are they all wrong and your right, I don't think so.

Got a question for you though Zero and I'm sure only you can answer this. Now we know our two points of view very clearly about this business of rainbow marketing. So I ask you, how come when you go to a full fledge Husky saw dealer you don't see Craftsman or Wild Things on the shelf? Any idea?