Selling Chainsaws

[Jiles]

I sell a lot of Stihl 200t and occasionally other brands.
My saws are usually sold in a week or two on CL. A few years ago, I sold on eBay but stopped when they started all the BS seller rules and also because of winners not paying.
Now for my point---I have sold a lot of older model Echoes, but I have had a couple of really nice CS355T listed now for over a month with just two replies? And, yes, I am well aware of why the 200 sells so well.
These are not junk and are priced at $185.00 for one and $250 for the nicer one.
These are great little saws and I have no idea why people will pay that much for an older 330t/360T and pass on these later models.
The two I have run really close to my 200s with same modifications.

 

[Stackowood]

I've noticed the same thing with the Husky T435 saws that I've tried to sell on CL. MS192Ts sell in a week, but very little interest in the T435. It's not a bad saw, and they have good power after opening up the muffler and intake.

 

[RocketRoss57]

I've always had a hard time moving anything but a stihl. I had a nice husky 55 on for months and ended up trading it for some tires.... Almost all my stihl's have sold within a week. Dang creamsicle huggers.

 

[Jiles]

Strange thing about selling anything on CL is that sometimes it is listed for a month or longer and then you get FIVE calls in one day.
Had that happen last week and other times.
I had a Husky 142 on CL for TWO MONTHS. Then one evening about 8:00 PM, I got three calls within an hour, or so and they wanted to come now. I told them it was raining and the first person will buy the saw.
Last caller 9:15PM asked if he could come tomorrow morning at 6:00 AM before he went to work.
He bought the saw.

 

[drf256]

People don't realize just how good echo top handles are. I had one as my only saw for years and the thing cut more wood than any other saw in my possession. Never a hiccup.

As for durability, Stihl has them beat. My buddy uses 330T's commercially as a landscaper. No climbing. Uses 50:1 echo synthetic. He tosses 2-3 of the saws a year. His big saw is a Stihl 038 Magnum he bought new in I believe 1989. That saw starts on the 3rd pull every spring and hasn't even had the carb screws touched.

 

[Mutley]

I think that the problem is that nobody outside of Pro's & chainsaw nuts even know what an Echo is.
Stihl have done a fantastic job promoting & marketing their stuff. Kelvinator used to, but even they don't promote their stuff much any more.
Stihl sells, because the marketing works! (and they make some pretty good stuff too, but so does Echo!)

 

[Wood Doctor]

I think the Echo CS330T might have a better cover than the CS355T for the long fuel lines and choke lever that reach from the tank to the carb in the back. That cover below the handle of the CS355T is too flimsy and gets beat up too easily by pro climbers working in the trees.

I still prefer the carb forward design of the CS3400 and the older models like the CS3000. These saws are tough puppies that keep on going and going and going...

 

[Chainsaw Jim]

Everyone wants to know why echo isn't as popular until they go on the search for replacement parts. I don't believe there's one single new or used part for a cs-335t on ebay.
That's only a complaint because of the cost of ordering new parts through dealers. It can be a bit steep.

 

[Khntr85]

I have learned in my area, I will never sell saws that fast....I had about 10-12 saw listed in local CL....well I would sell one every few weeks, then I sold about 5-6 in the last 2-weeks....as you stated, I can have a dry spell, then sell out in a few days, very strange!!!!


What I have learned.....I try to keep a few saws in each size....I also try to order a lot of extras in parts, so I always have them on hand....I also just started ordering 7-8 bar and chain combos at a time....


I also can only sell Stihl saws.....I will add it's a good thing I love working on saws, because I will never ever make much money at it were I am located.....if I can pay for my beer, some tools, parts, and of course buy/keep the saws I want, I will be content!!!!!

 

[a. palmer jr.]

I prefer to sell saws on ebay, less hassle than trying to find time to have people come out and look at them. With ebay you just put them in a box and mail them. I generally use the "Buy it Now" so I don't have to wait up to a week for buyer to pay. Lots of scammers either way you go however..

 

[dall]

I prefer to sell saws on ebay, less hassle than trying to find time to have people come out and look at them. With ebay you just put them in a box and mail them. I generally use the "Buy it Now" so I don't have to wait up to a week for buyer to pay. Lots of scammers either way you go however..

your ebay name ?

 

[Basher]

People don't realize just how good echo top handles are. I had one as my only saw for years and the thing cut more wood than any other saw in my possession. Never a hiccup.

As for durability, Stihl has them beat. My buddy uses 330T's commercially as a landscaper. No climbing. Uses 50:1 echo synthetic. He tosses 2-3 of the saws a year. His big saw is a Stihl 038 Magnum he bought new in I believe 1989. That saw starts on the 3rd pull every spring and hasn't even had the carb screws touched.

Plus one on durability.

 

[Bob95065]

I prefer to sell saws on ebay, less hassle than trying to find time to have people come out and look at them. With ebay you just put them in a box and mail them. I generally use the "Buy it Now" so I don't have to wait up to a week for buyer to pay. Lots of scammers either way you go however..

I used to do the same thing but I got sick of all the fees associated with eBay. I go to Craigslist now.

I have had customers call me for second saws and to file chains. I prefer selling saws I rebuild locally.

 

[fearofpavement]

Funny this thread should show up. I've had several saws on CL for a couple months. Calls but no lookers. Then in the last few days, all of a sudden everyone was interested in my 028S. Sold it today and a Poulan 3400. Had two customers here at the same time. One guy was testing the Poulan after already committing to purchase it and the other customer said "that's a good saw" I was going to buy it to go with the one I already have." The first guy left and the second guy tried the 028S (which of course wouldn't idle until I tweaked it...) and then he tried an 044 which he really wanted but didn't have the money to get both. He left with the 028S but said I might hear back from him on the 044 or MS440.
So after a long drought of no saw sales, it seems to be heating up finally. Oh, and as a side note, again this year I have sold no firewood. That's two years in a row. Wait till they forecast an ice storm, lol.

 

[a. palmer jr.]

I've sold two saws in about 3 months and got one of them returned....buyer couldn't get one started. I'll probably have to throw a carb cleaning on it and a kit and send it out again...to a hopefully different buyer this time.. I guess the saws have been sitting for a while though..

Update: Got it back today, filled it up and started it right up! Apparently the guy's wife wouldn't let him keep it or he was seriously lacking in knowledge of how to run a chainsaw..
I went ahead and cleaned the carb and put a new tank vent on it plus a fuel line just because it was in my shop but it wasn't really needed I don't think..

 

[birddogtg]

People don't realize just how good echo top handles are. I had one as my only saw for years and the thing cut more wood than any other saw in my possession. Never a hiccup.

As for durability, Stihl has them beat. My buddy uses 330T's commercially as a landscaper. No climbing. Uses 50:1 echo synthetic. He tosses 2-3 of the saws a year. His big saw is a Stihl 038 Magnum he bought new in I believe 1989. That saw starts on the 3rd pull every spring and hasn't even had the carb screws touched.

038 ran like a pig whether the carb was adjusted right or not

 

[jockeydeuce]

For me, Kijiji has been incredible for selling saws. I sell the odd Stihl on EBay or here on the forums, but the sales traffic on Kijiji is amazing.

 

[a. palmer jr.]

I'll probably list a couple of saws before long to test the market again. I wonder if I'd be better off listing these as "for parts or repair" instead of used even if there's nothing wrong with them?

 

[Khntr85]

I have never sold anything on eBay....I see the crazy prices people pay for even clamshells, it's made me think about it...

To you guys that sell on eBay, is it more of a pain in the ass than its worth it what....

 

[jb-chainsaws]

I have never sold anything on eBay....I see the crazy prices people pay for even clamshells, it's made me think about it...

To you guys that sell on eBay, is it more of a pain in the ass than its worth it what....

I do it but it's an utter ball ache, they rob about 13% by the time eBay and PayPal have had their cut And if you get a seller that wants to shaft you eBay will take the money off you and give it to them no questions asked 99.99% of the time