The sad decline of real Stihl dealers.

[Bill G]

I tried ordering a stihl 560cm clearing saw from a dedicated 2cycle dealer in Knoxville. They sell chainsaws, weed eaters, hedge trimmers, blowers etc. Basically all handheld lawn equipment. Cater to tree guys. My order was in for 3 months with still no eta. When the dealer would call stihl they said those units were built in Germany to order and there was no eta on when I would get the unit. They checked on it once a month. Finally after 90 days, I gave up and got a refund. Really annoying as I could have used the clearing saw.

That is a Stihl corporate issue not the brick and mortar servicing dealer's issue.
Try a box store and see if you have better luck.....
I will wait.......


Yes folks ....ole Stihl has chit the bed in their support of real real Stihl dealers.

 

[Woodwackr]

I must say I have been impressed with the local Ace store ordering parts. I have the numbers and they will order no questions asked and call when they’re in. I am not driving out of my way either.

Same here. There are no dedicated saw shops left in the Boise area (400,000+ population?) the local farm chain has the only “dealers”. Mine has a mgr who’s family used to own a Stihl dealership…used to…he has interesting stories as he grew up at that shop. I buy all oe Stihl parts from them and often get 3+ rather than 1 part when they are commonly replaced parts. They are also a Husky “dealer” but are royally screwed by them so ordered parts may or may not show up, sigh…
His prices on most parts are well under eBay or other online places…when he can get things.
Sad…

 

[ZERO]

OFF TOPIC:
My local husky dealer is a blessing, it's like walking into good old Bob's @Spike60 dealership. Just dropped off my 357 for sprocket and a fuel filter replacement. They know I know how to replace, but I support them where I can plus a generous tip each time. Hope they will stay. No sleazy upsale or unnecessary repairs.

Back to topic:
Now I may know why the local Stihl dealer left a few years ago.
Product support in the fringes is more important than brand loyalty. No point driving far to get basic service and parts.

 

[Bill G]

I have posted this picture before but dammit I will post it again so sue me!!

This is a picture of a real dealer. The picture is from the 1970's but the shop looks about the same today. Ole Charlie is as honest as you will ever find. He is in his mid-late 70's now but still runs the shop with help from his brother roundabout the same age. The climbing of the stairs is rough on them but they do it.

 

[lehman live edge slab]

Same here. There are no dedicated saw shops left in the Boise area (400,000+ population?) the local farm chain has the only “dealers”. Mine has a mgr who’s family used to own a Stihl dealership…used to…he has interesting stories as he grew up at that shop. I buy all oe Stihl parts from them and often get 3+ rather than 1 part when they are commonly replaced parts. They are also a Husky “dealer” but are royally screwed by them so ordered parts may or may not show up, sigh…
His prices on most parts are well under eBay or other online places…when he can get things.
Sad…

I hope Stihl doesn’t follow the parts situation with husky because they have totally sucked the last few years. Where my wife works deals Stihl and husky most times Stihl parts in within 3 days husky might be lucky to see in 3 months.

 

[heimannm]

I think Charlie sells bicycles now, doesn't he? No more Lombards.

Mark

 

[Mad Professor]

Best local dealer here retired and closed up shop.

Billy Bratcher Bennington VT. Stihl dealer and sold Husky too, would work on most other saws.

Showroom/parts was in his garage, workshop in his basement. Two man operation, Billy and his helper that was also a mechanic.

Small shop but had good amounts of consumables and would order whatever you wanted. Sold AM parts if they were good quality too (Oregon, Stens,...).

Labor rates were excellent. If you bought in a clean saw, with flywheel and clutch off, he'd install seals for $20 if you bought the gasket kit from him. Also had a pelthora of saw carcasses, of all makes, sizes, and condition for used parts.

I truly miss him.

The state of the remaining dealers is sad close by. The Deere dealer, does not even stock rim sprockets. Parts people do not know what milling chain is............asked about pres/vac tests and they try to sell you a P/C or new saw. If you want to order parts, bring in the part #s yourself.

Now it's a 30+ mile drive to the closest servicing dealers who might have parts on hand. Both are OPE dealers of many brands and longtime Stihl dealers. One still keeps a pile of used saws for parts.

 

[Bill G]

I hope Stihl doesn’t follow the parts situation with husky because they have totally sucked the last few years. Where my wife works deals Stihl and husky most times Stihl parts in within 3 days husky might be lucky to see in 3 months.

I have had issues getting parts from both. In my experience neither company does even a hal-asz good job of getting parts but of course that is also the distributor and dealer's fault. Each blames the other and the customer get's left waiting.

 

[lehman live edge slab]

I have had issues getting parts from both. In my experience neither company does even a hal-asz good job of getting parts but of course that is also the distributor and dealer's fault. Each blames the other and the customer get's left waiting.

All our parts come out of Wisconsin and usually 2-3 days for Stihl parts is all

 

[sundance]

My local full service dealer closed before Thanksgiving. Was a great place to deal with, everything Stihl I've ever owned came from them. Richard was excellent to work with. Went there for 40+ years. I'll miss him greatly. The proliferation of box store sales hit him hard. Have another full service dealer near by that I haven't dealt with since they pissed me off in 1983. Guess I'll try them again. Maybe times have changed.

RIP D&K Sales and Service.

 

[Bill G]

All our parts come out of Wisconsin and usually 2-3 days for Stihl parts is all

Back when the distributor was Mississippi Valley Stihl out of Peoria IL I was able to get parts in a short time. That all changed when Stihl corporate took them over. Since then it has been horrible.

This is a binder from MVS.............the days when Stihl still supported dealers.

 

[Bill G]

I think Charlie sells bicycles now, doesn't he? No more Lombards.

Mark

No sadly "that Charlie" is not selling anything today.
He has been with the Lord for nearly 4 years.
I am sure he and Dad are up there arguing yet today

Charles Harper Obituary | May 24, 2021 | Muscatine, IA

Share memories & support the family

www.wittichfuneralhome.com

 

[Loony661]

Back when the distributor was Mississippi Valley Stihl out of Peoria IL I was able to get parts in a short time. That all changed when Stihl corporate took them over. Since then it has been horrible.

This is a binder from MVS.............the days when Stihl still supported dealers.

View attachment 447802

Back when we had “Midwest Stihl” based out of Hayward, WI, that distributor covered the UP, Wisco, and Minnesota. They were fantastic. That where I went to attend Silver training. The staff was excellent, and friendly. Very knowledgeable. Then Stihl bought them out, and moved the whole operation to Madison, WI. A lot changed when that happened.

 

[Clarkbug]

Best local dealer here retired and closed up shop.

Billy Bratcher Bennington VT. Stihl dealer and sold Husky too, would work on most other saws.

Showroom/parts was in his garage, workshop in his basement. Two man operation, Billy and his helper that was also a mechanic.

Small shop but had good amounts of consumables and would order whatever you wanted. Sold AM parts if they were good quality too (Oregon, Stens,...).

Labor rates were excellent. If you bought in a clean saw, with flywheel and clutch off, he'd install seals for $20 if you bought the gasket kit from him. Also had a pelthora of saw carcasses, of all makes, sizes, and condition for used parts.

I truly miss him.

The state of the remaining dealers is sad close by. The Deere dealer, does not even stock rim sprockets. Parts people do not know what milling chain is............asked about pres/vac tests and they try to sell you a P/C or new saw. If you want to order parts, bring in the part #s yourself.

Now it's a 30+ mile drive to the closest servicing dealers who might have parts on hand. Both are OPE dealers of many brands and longtime Stihl dealers. One still keeps a pile of used saws for parts.

Do you mind sharing which dealers you head to now? I used to go see Billy for what I needed, and he was always able to have it, and Im just a tinkerer/homeowner. Used to love going in the basement to see the piles of what had been left in there. Wasn't the easiest place to find if you weren't looking for it, but he was a great dealer.

There was another guy who used to be over on Twitchell Hill Road that sold McCullough and Echo stuff. I cannot remember his name for the life of me, but my grandfather had gone there for years to get stuff. I went in once to try and get a new head for a string trimmer and it was the best half hour I had spent in a long time listening to the banter and the attempt to "sell" me some new stuff.

 

[Mad Professor]

Do you mind sharing which dealers you head to now? I used to go see Billy for what I needed, and he was always able to have it, and Im just a tinkerer/homeowner. Used to love going in the basement to see the piles of what had been left in there. Wasn't the easiest place to find if you weren't looking for it, but he was a great dealer.

There was another guy who used to be over on Twitchell Hill Road that sold McCullough and Echo stuff. I cannot remember his name for the life of me, but my grandfather had gone there for years to get stuff. I went in once to try and get a new head for a string trimmer and it was the best half hour I had spent in a long time listening to the banter and the attempt to "sell" me some new stuff.

I have not found a place that can replace Billy.

If he was not busy sometimes I'd spend better part of an hour talking about lots of stuff besides saws like hunting and fishing. Stuff he came up with was entertaining and sometimes comical. He'd worked on saws for so long he'd also tell just what was involved in a repair, and if aftermarket parts could be trusted or were junk to be avoided.

Only places I can say usually has/stocks parts is Crane's in Canaan Ct and Bacon's in Williamsburg Ma. There may be others I don't know about? One person mentioned a place near Manchester/Dorset that was decent, can't recall the name. I have places in Pownal and near Pittsfield in Ma.

 

[Clarkbug]

I have not found a place that can replace Billy.

If he was not busy sometimes I'd spend better part of an hour talking about lots of stuff besides saws like hunting and fishing. Stuff he came up with was entertaining and sometimes comical. He'd worked on saws for so long he'd also tell just what was involved in a repair, and if aftermarket parts could be trusted or were junk to be avoided.

Only places I can say usually has/stocks parts is Crane's in Canaan Ct and Bacon's in Williamsburg Ma. There may be others I don't know about? One person mentioned a place near Manchester/Dorset that was decent, can't recall the name. I have places in Pownal and near Pittsfield in Ma.

Thanks for those names. A bit of a hike for me, but always good to keep on the list for when I am needing something.