Jonsered Shocker!

[Dolmar Junkie]

Might be next weekend, amigo!

Just get some cloth diapers and start washing them and you can definitely afford one possibly two by eliminating disposable. I had 2 in diapers at same time and could have easily converted that into a payment for a Harley Davidson...

 

[Dolmar Junkie]

Heard this rather disturbing news this afternoon guys. And it ain't a joke. From what I've been told, the powers that be have decided to beef up and expand the Red Max brand. Part of this plan includes killing the Jonsered brand, and re-branding the saws as Red Max. They are also giving Red Max some of the Husky commercial mowing equipment. I kind of get the idea of putting the effort into one brand, but come on, no more Jonsered? Absolutely floored me when I heard this.

I'd like for this to turn out to be wrong, but I wouldn't post it if it didn't come from a good source, so it sounds legit at this point. Boo.

Will they keep the same saws and just rebrand them as red max?

 

[Dolmar Junkie]

Crap, crap, crap. I get a Dolmar 5105 and Jonny 2150 and end up liking them. I really like these somewhat obscure but historic saw brands and was planning to get into them. I mean, I'm having custom decals made for my 5105 for goodness sakes. Now, the owners of these companies have decided to make them walk the plank so they can push brands that are even less recognizable and have even less dealer support and customer goodwill. I live in rural Kentucky, and the outdoor power equipment market here is as robust as you'll find anywhere. Makita and Redmax have almost no retail representation here. I have never in my entire life met someone who sought out one of these brands specifically when they needed a new machine, much less chose one of them over Stihl or Husky. Makita chainsaws here are almost exclusively rental units, and the places that rent Makita saws nearly always carry another brand for new retail sale. Some lawn services use Redmax weedeaters, but I think this is because they are cheaper than Stihl or Shindaiwa.I can count on one hand the number of Redmax chainsaws I have seen either for sale or being used.

Please don't think I am trying to diss anyone who is a fan of these brands or say their products are junk. I'm complaining about what the owners of these brands are doing. Nobody here would miss Redmax or Makita OPE if they disappeared. These brands have had only limited success and I don't see how supplanting longstanding, historically important brands in favor of them is going to change that. If anything, I think it will create a net loss in terms of stocking dealers and customer interest, only accelerating Stihl and Husky's march toward near complete domination of 2 stroke OPE.

I Would be very disappointed if Makita went south, while I was very disappointed that they did away with the Dolmar name I do appreciate Makitas money keeping the saw alive. The fact that they have owned Dolmar since 1991 and kept the Dolmar name that long makes me feel like they at least respected the fact that they bought the manufacturer of the first gas chainsaw. But I do think that husky,Electrolux , Daimler Chrysler Fiat, Walmart or whatever conglomerate owns hoonsred(what it sounds like when my Swedish neighbor says it) is definitely dropping its candy by remaiming red max...
Just the insignificant ramblings and opinions of a hillbilly...

 

[Shanson]

How will it effect parts availability? Would hate to pick up one or two and then have a problem getting parts down the road! I realize it would only primarily be plastic parts that are different, but that is what breaks the easiest.

 

[Simondo]

Heard this rather disturbing news this afternoon guys. And it ain't a joke. From what I've been told, the powers that be have decided to beef up and expand the Red Max brand. Part of this plan includes killing the Jonsered brand, and re-branding the saws as Red Max. They are also giving Red Max some of the Husky commercial mowing equipment. I kind of get the idea of putting the effort into one brand, but come on, no more Jonsered? Absolutely floored me when I heard this.

I'd like for this to turn out to be wrong, but I wouldn't post it if it didn't come from a good source, so it sounds legit at this point. Boo.

We lost J red as a brand other than some spare parts through Husq dealers years ago and i see no actual REDMAX outlets on the Redmax.com site in the UK at all presently. Maybe the brand will be sold through existing Husq dealers ? Looks like there is re shuffle and consolidation going on all over at the moment. As has been mentioned above "Makita" are the brand name in the USA now plus the new colours rather than Dolmar and Makita. Still Dolmar and Makita in UK and some of Europe at the moment ...how long ? no idea.
We live in fluid times !

 

[Mastermind]

Strange thinking by the mothership.

 

[FergusonTO35]

Right now, Makita and Husky might as well start putting up billboards here that say, "Please buy Stihl and Echo, we really don't need the business." If I was one of the latter two brands, I would start courting Tractor Supply ASAP.

 

[Spike60]

How will it effect parts availability? Would hate to pick up one or two and then have a problem getting parts down the road! I realize it would only primarily be plastic parts that are different, but that is what breaks the easiest.

Really shouldn't affect it at all. Everything remains in place other than the branding. Dealers will still have an account with their distributor. The question is more about whether or not individual dealers will embrace the name change or not. Some will probably drop it. I'm still going to be a Red Max dealer, I'm just not going to bother with the saws. And I can get most Jonny parts from Husky anyway. Not every dealer is in the same situation. Some that have a strong Jonsered following will have a tough time with this.

Also, I want to repeat that this is likely just a US, or maybe North America deal. Don't think it will affect you guys in other parts of the world.

 

[Fishnuts2]

I think that around here most people not all that familiar with ope would associate the name Red Max with a saw line like the new Remingtons, Earthquakes, and blue Chinese saws. Whereas, Jonsered is at least known as a quality, upper tier chainsaw. The Stihl dealers will have a good time I'm sure.

 

[Simondo]

I got one or two if you want one.

I've already decided that when this goes down I won't continue the saws in Red Max. (and I am a Red Max dealer for over 20 years) The Jonnys don't sell near as good as the Huskys as it is, and the Red Max saws would sell way less than that. So, I'll just go all Husky and move on. Jonsered does have a little following in my area, but those guys will migrate to Husky, not to Red Max. Got couple dozen Jonnys in stock at good prices, but I won't even bother to order more as they wind them down.

Also have to wonder how many models Red Max gets. The last time they tried this, Red Max only got versions of the 353 and 570. They may only get a limited selection.

Care to chuck out there a long term dealer take on the reasons and gains to Electrolux/Husqvarna....... of taking Redmax into the group back in the day Bob?

 

[Spike60]

Right now, Makita and Husky might as well start putting up billboards here that say, "Please buy Stihl and Echo, we really don't need the business." If I was one of the latter two brands, I would start courting Tractor Supply ASAP.

Yeah, but Stihl doesn't sell in "box stores"; at least those that fit within their narrow definition.

Like it or not, Makita is a far stronger brand than Dolmar in the overall market place. Same for Husky and Jonsered.

Don't get me wrong, I don't like to see these brands disappear either. And Red Max saws will probably be a flop. Just like the Jonsered tractors, zero turns and snow blowers were. And oh yeah, before they started making Jonsered wheeled goods, the Red Max distributors had all those nice blue Dixon mowers, many of which used to be Kees and then Yazoo/Kees. See a pattern here? Even the distributors gotta be shaking their heads. We're painting them red, we're painting them blue, now were going back to red, now lets try a different red. How many times do they want to get behind a product line and see it go away? Dealers and distributors alike put effort into these brands and then they get canceled. Every time they do this it's a mess.

 

[Dolmar Junkie]

I think that around here most people not all that familiar with ope would associate the name Red Max with a saw line like the new Remingtons, Earthquakes, and blue Chinese saws. Whereas, Jonsered is at least known as a quality, upper tier chainsaw. The Stihl dealers will have a good time I'm sure.

When I was substantially younger and less in the know, I didn't like their use of the word TURBO in the model designation, to gimmicky. I would have much preferred something like Super Vortex Cyclonic Chip Extractor
Because I fully expected to hear a power stroke whistle and they never whistled!! I now know that that sticker kept me from fully appreciating a pretty good/ great saw...

 

[Spike60]

Care to chuck out there a long term dealer take on the reasons and gains to Electrolux/Husqvarna....... of taking Redmax into the group back in the day Bob?

The official explanation was: "We bought Red Max because we were on the same technology curve, so it was a good fit"

What that means is the Red Max had 48 patents on strato-charge engine design and they didn't necessarily take kindly to sharing that technology curve with anyone. Made more sense to buy the company than to pay royalties or legal fees.

 

[Simondo]

The official explanation was: "We bought Red Max because we were on the same technology curve, so it was a good fit"

What that means is the Red Max had 48 patents on strato-charge engine design and they didn't necessarily take kindly to sharing that technology curve with anyone. Made more sense to buy the company than to pay royalties or legal fees.

I guess the EPA situation was hotting up around then ? US regulations are not something i know much about ..historically.

 

[CR888]

I think that around here most people not all that familiar with ope would associate the name Red Max with a saw line like the new Remingtons, Earthquakes, and blue Chinese saws. Whereas, Jonsered is at least known as a quality, upper tier chainsaw. The Stihl dealers will have a good time I'm sure.

I agree with this post. Johnsered is a name with a long history known for quality OPE products. In a world of pop up China brands that flood eBay and box stores the name Redmax may just get confused with the garbage names. WE know what Redmax is & what they are about but Joe Blow public may well not. The market place is based on marketing these days, was this a clever idea....not sure.

 

[Dolmar Junkie]

The official explanation was: "We bought Red Max because we were on the same technology curve, so it was a good fit"

What that means is the Red Max had 48 patents on strato-charge engine design and they didn't necessarily take kindly to sharing that technology curve with anyone. Made more sense to buy the company than to pay royalties or legal fees.

A nurse at my doctors office told me approx. 1 1/2 2 yrs. ago that her husband bought a new red max saw saw(firewood business) and thought it was the greatest thing ever ( naturally as a self appointed corporate sponsor I suggested that he throw it away and get a Makita) would a red max from that period be a different saw from what will appear after rebranding? Is it going to be a red max or a rebranded jonsred? Or a hybrid?

 

[FergusonTO35]

I would be totally ok with doing away with all Jonny products other than saws. Nobody is buying them anyway. Same for Dolmar, nobody cares about their weedeaters and blowers even if they are good products. Would it really be that hard to keep the chainsaws under their correct and widely respected names?

If this goes through, I'll be buying Echo and nothing but from now on. Always had good success with their machines and so far they are keeping Shindaiwa alive and even promoting them. Might even give Stihl a try (gulp, sour face).

 

[FergusonTO35]

I think that around here most people not all that familiar with ope would associate the name Red Max with a saw line like the new Remingtons, Earthquakes, and blue Chinese saws. Whereas, Jonsered is at least known as a quality, upper tier chainsaw. The Stihl dealers will have a good time I'm sure.

If there was ever a time for Stihl to start selling in a "box" store chain, now would be the time. Every town has a TSC store, and all the farmers and landowners respect Stihl. All they would have to do is sell maybe five or six of the clamshell models, they could still reserve the premium models for the saw shops.

Actually, Stihl does already sell at a big box store, Rural King. If they sold at TSC too they would already be even further ahead of the other guys than they already are.

 

[Sleeper]

@Spike60 Hang onto one of those 2188's... not sure I will hear back from the guy I sent a message to... if I don't, you will likely have a buyer.

 

[Dub11]

A nurse at my doctors office told me approx. 1 1/2 2 yrs. ago that her husband bought a new red max saw saw(firewood business) and thought it was the greatest thing ever ( naturally as a self appointed corporate sponsor I suggested that he throw it away and get a Makita) would a red max from that period be a different saw from what will appear after rebranding? Is it going to be a red max or a rebranded jonsred? Or a hybrid?

I've seen some redmax saw for sale that were just rebranded 346s