New Stihl dealer!

[longbowch]

I just left Farm & Fleet and they are now a Stihl dealer. The lady said put the display up today.

 

[AKDoug]

Other Farm and Fleet stores have been Stihl dealers for a long time.

 

[Dave6390]

Not in WI, they only stock Huskies and Echoes! I live across the street from the Regional Distributor and his wife is their Accountant. They haven't heard anything about Stihls, the only dealer is 3 miles away from them! Big Conflict!


Dave6390 in WI

 

[longbowch]

Not in WI, they only stock Huskies and Echoes! I live across the street from the Regional Distributor and his wife is their Accountant. They haven't heard anything about Stihls, the only dealer is 3 miles away from them! Big Conflict!


Dave6390 in WI

That's the way it was here too.

 

[Dave6390]

I wonder if they'll be priced the same or if they are Japanese knockoffs? It would be interesting to see how this plays out!


Dave6390 in WI

 

[Chainsaw Jim]

I love it when new Stihl dealers open shops near other Stihl dealers. It straightens em up and makes them a bit more honest.

 

[AKDoug]

I wonder if they'll be priced the same or if they are Japanese knockoffs? It would be interesting to see how this plays out!


Dave6390 in WI

There are no Japanese knockoff Stihls.

 

[Jon1212]

CAL Ranch is our regional Farm store. They were a Husqvarna retailer for a number of years until almost two years ago. That's when they made the switch to Stihl. They have no service department locally. They have one store in the SLC Metro area that supposedly has a service department. Bear in mind that this chain of stores covers Utah, Idaho, Arizona, and I believe Wyoming with one service department. I have an independent Stihl Dealer 10 miles away that has lost some sales to CAL Ranch yet he gets stuck doing the warranty work on saws that left the box store without proper set up, and sometimes the wrong bar, or chain.
I also know the Regional Stihl rep, and he fought tooth and nail against Stihl putting there product into a store that isn't OPE exclusively, and now he is "stuck babysitting a bunch of people who don't have a clue".

 

[AKDoug]

I love it when new Stihl dealers open shops near other Stihl dealers. It straightens em up and makes them a bit more honest.

CAL Ranch is our regional Farm store. They were a Husqvarna retailer for a number of years until almost two years ago. That's when they made the switch to Stihl. They have no service department locally. They have one store in the SLC Metro area that supposedly has a service department. Bear in mind that this chain of stores covers Utah, Idaho, and I believe Wyoming with one service department. I have an independent Stihl Dealer 10 miles away that has lost some sales to CAL Ranch yet he gets stuck doing the warranty work on saws that left the box store without proper set up, and sometimes the wrong bar, or chain.
I also know the Regional Stihl rep, and he fought tooth and nail against Stihl putting there product into a store that isn't OPE exclusively, and now he is "stuck babysitting a bunch of people who don't have a clue".

I'd love to do warranty work on saws as long as Stihl pays me my shop rate, which they do if you meet certain criteria. There is hardly a thing in their repair tables I, or my techs, can't currently beat, so I'd make money at that deal. It also gives you an opportunity to win over the customer. Do I agree with Stihl allowing them in stores with no service department...no way !!, but I'd be making lemonade out of lemons if one was close to me.

 

[Deets066]

One of the three farm and fleets by me is a stihl dealer. That makes 5 stihl dealers within 30 min from the house

 

[longbowch]

I asked about service and she said they have a mechanic there. I noticed they had a 362cm. Idk if they have the software to work on that. I'll ask next time I'm there.

 

[Deets066]

I think the biggest saw they had at F&F was a 290

 

[Deets066]

Or 291 whichever it was

 

[Chainsaw Jim]

I'd love to do warranty work on saws as long as Stihl pays me my shop rate, which they do if you meet certain criteria. There is hardly a thing in their repair tables I, or my techs, can't currently beat, so I'd make money at that deal. It also gives you an opportunity to win over the customer. Do I agree with Stihl allowing them in stores with no service department...no way !!, but I'd be making lemonade out of lemons if one was close to me.

Stihl won't allow you to be a dealer unless you have a certified Stihl i-academy technician on site. I believe bronze level is the requirement.

 

[Philbert]

In the Minnesota area, we have 4 'Farm & Fleet' chains:

Mill's Fleet Farm (35 stores)
Blaine's Farm and Fleet (37 stores)
Runnings Farm and Fleet (37 stores)
L&M Fleet Supply (8 stores)

I have seen STIHL saws at Runnings and L&M stores.

Philbert

 

[AKDoug]

Stihl won't allow you to be a dealer unless you have a certified Stihl i-academy technician on site. I believe bronze level is the requirement.

I am aware of that. I am silver qualified myself, and so are two of my guys. However, there have been several reports that some of these regional chains have no service department. Bronze/Icademy is what my sales people go through. I'm pretty sure told me I needed to have one guy through Silver training within 6 months.

 

[Chainsaw Jim]

I am aware of that. I am silver qualified myself, and so are two of my guys. However, there have been several reports that some of these regional chains have no service department. Bronze/Icademy is what my sales people go through. I'm pretty sure told me I needed to have one guy through Silver training within 6 months.

If Stihl didn't approve that particular location then it might be interesting to hear about whatever drama unfolds.

 

[HarleyT]

I am a Polished Aluminum tech here in Ky............
You get a wig and kneepads at the training school.....

 

[HarleyT]

The Gold certification is a joke. The area reps borrow shop tools from all over to loan a shop trying to get it's Gold certification, to build a special "Uber Shop" on the premises, that will be quickly dismantled after the shop gets it's Gold level status.....

 

[longbowch]

In the Minnesota area, we have 4 'Farm & Fleet' chains:

Mill's Fleet Farm (35 stores)
Blaine's Farm and Fleet (37 stores)
Runnings Farm and Fleet (37 stores)
L&M Fleet Supply (8 stores)

I have seen STIHL saws at Runnings and L&M stores.

Philbert

This is a Blaines.