Not too long ago I picked up a Stihl 020av-top handle saw. I tried and failed to get it started, so, trusting my dealer, I brought it to him to repair it. This was last Thursday. The key to this story is that the saw was 100% original and in pretty mint condition (although dirty) right down to the original Duromatic bar and 1/4" pitch chain. Early 1970's vintage.
Saturday I get a call/message from the mechanic - "Saw is running, come pick it up, bill is $50 and change."
Today I show up, about 10 am, mechanic doesn't come in until 1 pm. The sales guy can't find the saw. I go out back with him to look, there's a 020avt on the floor with my name on the tag, but something just doesn't look right. I point out that the model tag on my saw was clear and easy to read and this one wasn't but maybe I was misremembering. The paper repair tag had a comment on it, written by the mechanic, that said - "Recommendation - don't put any more $ into this saw". The fuel filter, fuel line and impulse line was replaced and the carb was cleaned. At least it started and ran. I paid the bill and walked out to my truck.
Just as I was setting the saw down on the passenger floorboard, I saw something else that didn't look quite right - I had replaced the pull cord on my saw less than two weeks ago and left a pretty huge knot sticking out the top of the handle. This saw had no knot, and the rope was frayed and dirty. A closer look revealed that the saw I held, did not have the old-style early 70's Stihl tag, but a much newer tag, and there were some other differences to the saw, more cosmetic than anything else.
I brought the saw back inside and complained to the sales guy. We went back into the shop and I spotted another 020avt under the bench, with my saw's parts bolted to it, and a big note written right on the case in Sharpie that said "GAS TANK LEAKS" and an arrow. I said - that's half my saw, and this is half your saw, and why? He said that he'd have the mechanic call me. So about an hour ago, the mechanic calls and I asked him to explain. He says that he was taking apart the saw and did something to the gasket that holds the two halves of the gas tank together, stripped a screw, and caused my gas tank to leak. So he replaced half of my saw (the original, mint-condition part that HE broke) with a much newer half off a saw that was in their parts inventory. He basically shrugged it off and said, hey man, your saw runs, that's all you wanted, right?
Let's just say that the reason I bought the saw is because it WAS all original, and an excellent candidate for restoration and cleaning. Now the dumbass has busted my saw and I want satisfaction. The owner of the shop, who seems to be a really decent guy, is on vacation. I left the saw with them while I wait for the owner to get back. When he does (if you were me), what should I do?
Saturday I get a call/message from the mechanic - "Saw is running, come pick it up, bill is $50 and change."
Today I show up, about 10 am, mechanic doesn't come in until 1 pm. The sales guy can't find the saw. I go out back with him to look, there's a 020avt on the floor with my name on the tag, but something just doesn't look right. I point out that the model tag on my saw was clear and easy to read and this one wasn't but maybe I was misremembering. The paper repair tag had a comment on it, written by the mechanic, that said - "Recommendation - don't put any more $ into this saw". The fuel filter, fuel line and impulse line was replaced and the carb was cleaned. At least it started and ran. I paid the bill and walked out to my truck.
Just as I was setting the saw down on the passenger floorboard, I saw something else that didn't look quite right - I had replaced the pull cord on my saw less than two weeks ago and left a pretty huge knot sticking out the top of the handle. This saw had no knot, and the rope was frayed and dirty. A closer look revealed that the saw I held, did not have the old-style early 70's Stihl tag, but a much newer tag, and there were some other differences to the saw, more cosmetic than anything else.
I brought the saw back inside and complained to the sales guy. We went back into the shop and I spotted another 020avt under the bench, with my saw's parts bolted to it, and a big note written right on the case in Sharpie that said "GAS TANK LEAKS" and an arrow. I said - that's half my saw, and this is half your saw, and why? He said that he'd have the mechanic call me. So about an hour ago, the mechanic calls and I asked him to explain. He says that he was taking apart the saw and did something to the gasket that holds the two halves of the gas tank together, stripped a screw, and caused my gas tank to leak. So he replaced half of my saw (the original, mint-condition part that HE broke) with a much newer half off a saw that was in their parts inventory. He basically shrugged it off and said, hey man, your saw runs, that's all you wanted, right?
Let's just say that the reason I bought the saw is because it WAS all original, and an excellent candidate for restoration and cleaning. Now the dumbass has busted my saw and I want satisfaction. The owner of the shop, who seems to be a really decent guy, is on vacation. I left the saw with them while I wait for the owner to get back. When he does (if you were me), what should I do?
