What happened to Husqvarna?!!!

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MaddBomber

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Was just on the market to buy a new 70cc class saw. I'm a Stihl owner, but a diehard Jonsered fan.
Decided to get my hands on a 572xp.
Found one dealer within 50 miles. Called and said they'd have to order one as they no longer sell pro saws. Said they're soon to close as the virus and prolonged lack of customers has been devastating. He can only get pro saws by special order as directed by Husqvarna.
Sadly I weighed dealer support, and I decided to drive only 1.1 miles away and picked an MS462c right off the shelf.
Awesome saw. Especially when compared to anything Husqvarna has available right now. Not... anything they make... but available.
I do have few tanks of experience on a 572xp and had nothing but smiles... Until I grabbed an MS462.
I mean... What the heck Husqvarna?!? Your premier saw is bloated and slow compared to the competition.... In a class they recently dominated. Yeah, the 572 can pull a 32" or 36" way better... hands down. But on the right coast... That's 80-90cc territory.... And even then, the 500i is lighter than the 572!!
In these woods the majority of all cutting and felling is done with 20-24" on 70cc. Frozen 25" maples and ash are no joke. And the 462 is absolutely running circles around the 572xp in these specific mountainous hardwoods.
I called family and friends back up north.. same. Almost all Husqvarna dealers are special order only on pro saws. Three years ago I could test run the full line of Husqvarna pro saws.. Now they barely have any! And what they do have is overpriced 400 series... And that's logging country... Central VT and N.Western MA. For example, my father an old timberman is really feeling his boardfeet in miles, and now only cuts firewood. He got a 550xp in December. By valentine's day that dealer had completely stopped selling Husqvarna at all. Only Stihl now. He's pissed!
Why?!?
371/372/2071/2072 used to absolutely dominate those woods.
Now, you can't even find a Husqvarna dealer.
What is going on? They dying?
 
Agree with some of the above, same in my area. Tons of Stihl dealers and support. As for husky it's only one of the box stores and a farm and ranch store. But they don't sell the pro models. I also looked at a 462 but 1200 bucks is too much for that saw. One dealer im our area sold Husqvarna for about 40 years I think and now they only sell echo and jonsered. Still two great choices. They told me that Husqvarna was pursuing the box store markets in this area and pulled the products. I own a very nice Husqvarna 372xp OE that I just got from a member here. Runs like a you know what. Same for the jonsered 2172 and echo 620P. I'm just not going to pay a premium for stihls advertising. Most of their current saws are in my opinion WAY overpriced. But I feel your pain for the lack of good solid husky support and pro sales.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk
 
Dealers need support from the manufacturers and distributors. When customers can buy saws and parts on-line for less than the dealer's cost, how long can shops stay in business? Plus, they are expected to do warrenty work at manufacturer determined flat rates.

I don't have much of a business mind, but that model seems to value volume over service. And the same mindset runs the company.

Husqvarna has always seemed a bit more 'detached' as a company, to me as a consumer. Harder to get information, specs, etc. But they have made some really nice saws.

That MS462 is also a really nice saw, especially for its weight. Will be interested to hear how they hold up over time, compared to the 046/460 legacy saws.

Philbert
 
I love my husky saws second to none. But they sold the dealers out going to the big box stores and online sales. There’s profit in the numbers sold.
Greed takes over. Stihl seems to sell saws and parts mainly through their dealers.
 
Husqvarna sells home owner saws at the big box stores, but the pro saws are sold online and at dealers. What if there are problems with a big box store Husqvarna? Then it goes to a local dealer for repair right?

I been buying the 70’s and up Husqvarna pro saws mainly. With a few clam shells inbetween. Making sure there restored, run great plus stocking new parts for them. My sons are all setup.
 
That MS462 is also a really nice saw, especially for its weight. Will be interested to hear how they hold up over time, compared to the 046/460 legacy saws.
I completely agree. My biggest hesitation is the small crank and bearings. I had a lot of trouble with a 385xp due to their smaller bottom end.
I have heard nothing but positive opinions from the few professionals I still know. But, like you said: Time will tell.
 
My 385 Xp been running the 32” bar on big diameter trees. No problems yet but I’m running them oil rich. 38:1. Husky Xp+ oil. We were cutting saw mill rejects. This wood was shoulder high on the ground.
 
I like my 572xp but there is one dealer close by for husqvarna, and about 6 for stihl. I will say this though in the pro logger market around here the 572 is more popular than the 462. Although some of the bigger outfits are running echo due to the fact that the best dealer around only Carrys echo and shindaiwa. It really is all in the dealer
 
Always wondered why some regions do better than others. One thing that killed Husqvarna around here was how the dealers were dealt with. Husqvarna decided they all had to carry...everything from saws to push mowers. They wanted all the dealers to step up and be a fully line dealer. The saw oriented shops simply decided to stop. Jonsered was the alternative. Then they went the way of Redmax. So the brand is on it's last gasp here as well. A sad thing. A few hours to the south and they own a region. But it's a different territory. And the one dealer carry's other than Husqvarna branded lawn mowing equipment as their bread and butter. No push mowers....:) So...why is Husqvarna dealt with differently there than here? No idea...:) But I do know the "prominent" local dealer pushed the saws to a second teir status and have a FULL Stihl display and only a couple of Husqvarna's....and that's only because of the local demand for the Pro level Husqvarna's. Some thing to think about...there STILL is local loyalty and demand in spite of the company approach, simply because the customer see's the dealer & products as the "face" of a company...:) AND "Boonville" and places like GKS have such a lower price point many will go there for the saws...Stihl doesn't have that price point issue across sales channels. AND that said local dealer only sells Husqvarna at list.
And as far as the 572 being "bloated" , Husqvarna learned the hard way about targeting a weight and a spec sheet. The 572 is much stronger with larger crank and bearings than the prior 70cc class offerings. In fact the bearings are sized the same as the 385/390's were. That is where the weight is..in the crank and bearings. And the release has been very smooth. They have evolved that "efficient" design to the next level from a reliability standpoint. No more hot start issues, bearing issues, and all the things they went through on the first generation 550's and early 562's. From my perspective the 550mk 2 and 572 are the quintessential pro saw's designed to last while delivering pro level performance over a long period of time. A great saw and reliable right now vs. how the prior "new" saw designs have been in the past, from both the major brands. After this last ten years with the logger types I have supported, the priority Husqvarna has placed for this saw and how it is designed really fits their priorities of strength and longevity over weight and a spec sheet. Time will tell....assuming they still have a presence! The rate they are going in my area, they might be gone in ten years. :(
 
3 dealers within 20 minutes of me have become Stihl dealers in the past 2 years. Like Weimedog said, Husky requires them to carry a crazy amount of lawn equipment and they can’t selling it. Around hear some Stihl, but Echo, RedMax, Shindawia, are the big lawn equipment sellers as well as SCAG and Exmark mowers. Can’t remember last time i saw Husky on a trailer.
 
I'm lucky to have an incredible dealer who carry's Stihl, Husqvarna, and Echo and arborist/logging equipment, log splitters. They fix a ton of saws, sometimes sell used saws, and are given demo saws here and there. I have some time on the 462, nice and light saw, only problem i had was clearing chips properly, especially when noodling, and the plastics felt thin. I ended up buying a 572xp demo saw for a discount, when i first used it i was not impressed, but now its a beast and clears chips great and the plastic is heavy duty and the normal clutch cover clears chips fine even when noodling, and the air filter is awesome, It came with a 24" Tsumura light bar and balances perfectly. It starts real easy and i really love this saw right now, although i still like the master control start lever on Stihl better. Yes the 572xp is heavier for sure. I was at the shop 2 weeks ago and they had a deal on getting $100 off husqvarna if you turn in a junk saw, like cash for clunkers, so i got a 550xp Mark II, love this saw too with 18" bar, and x-cut chain, the combo of these two saws is great. To be clear my alltime fav saw is the 10mm Stihl 044 but i wish it had an updated anti-vibe and air filter, if it did that would be a perfect saw.
 
Saw this coming ever since Husqvarna became available in box stores. Another decade and they'll be what McCulloch/Poulan/Homelite are now.

Let's see. . . who owns McCulloch and Poulan now . . . ?

And what did they do to Jonsered?

One thing that killed Husqvarna around here was how the dealers were dealt with. Husqvarna decided they all had to carry...everything from saws to push mowers. They wanted all the dealers to step up and be a fully line dealer. The saw oriented shops simply decided to stop. Jonsered was the alternative. Then they went the way of Redmax.

I have heard similar things from several dealers. A few, well established dealers carry multiple lines, but others got a lot of pressure to carry just one. Two, area dealers really promoted Jonsered, but now carry STIHL and some Husqvarna. A couple of very enthusiastic Dolmar dealers I know of are now speaking 'ECHO' (easier to spell too!).

Anyone seen an Efco dealer in a while?

Philbert
 
Also within 5 miles of my saw specialist dealer (who doesnt carry any mowers), there are others shops selling Stihl as well that probably take business away from them....Ace Hardware carrys a lot of Stihl products, mostly homeowner and farm/landowner models, and also John Deere dealership has a full line-up of Stihl, and they get a corporate level discount, so they offer 10% off list price all year.
 
Let's see. . . who owns McCulloch and Poulan now . . . ?

And what did they do to Jonsered?



I have heard similar things from several dealers. A few, well established dealers carry multiple lines, but others got a lot of pressure to carry just one. Two, area dealers really promoted Jonsered, but now carry STIHL and some Husqvarna. A couple of very enthusiastic Dolmar dealers I know of are now speaking ECHO' (easier to spell too!).

Anyone seen an Efco dealer in a while?

Philbert
Philbert, Boyd was selling them.
 
Husqvarna buried jonsered, one rumor is I think that they can’t say Husqvarna turbo because jonsered coined that phrase. Too bad the jred weren’t that bad here they had a following with loggers here. What happened to partner in the US? Looks like Husqvarna maybe the sole survivor? Buy up your competition then bury them. Seen it before.

I have two Husqvarna dealers in my area my buddy is a gold dealer. His repair shop is out standing.
 
Well ill bite.....my life is not in the woods but I do cut wood...maple sugaring and home stove wood. My most current saw is a 346xp and older so that tells a lot. My local stihl dealer bummed me out cause it would take so long to get parts. Local husky dealer much faster with parts but I think their distribution for parts is in ny. That is still true today. My heart goes out to anyone who has to run a saw from the big 2 cause the prices wow. Stihl does carry a price premium for what reason I don't know and on the right day the dealer will let ya know too. A classic saw only shop round here does not exist. When I travel and have time I make it a point to stop at what looks like a saw only shop to ck it out always a good conversation. Both shops do mowers and stuff one lager tractors too. They have pro saws on the shelf. The stihl shop had a 661 pretty quick when that was the rage. Anything round her over 70cc I think sits on the shelf for awhile...

the can
 
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