The Stihl thing from another viewpoint

[Steve Bullman]

haha. Sorry, I wasnt aiming my post at you, just the whole Stihl thing in general and how many people have such a bee in their bonnets over it

[Sciadopitys]

Been thinking.... Can i pay online and purchase the Stihl items and arrange to collect them? If so, could the items be packed in a box with an address of my choice stuck on the box? Then if i'm busy that day, my mate TNT or Parcelforce will pick it up for me?? Is this breaking the rules?

[felixthelogchopper]

Crikey, anyone would think it was the end of the world or something!

 

Sorry Steve. The kind of arrogance shown by Stihl attempting to dictate choice really pees me off, as you may have guessed.

[Sciadopitys]

I just looked on Jonsies site to buy a new Husky, it says he won't post them either!! Thought it just Stihl??

[felixthelogchopper]

I guess from the outside that is how it looks and my understanding of what I have read but they will no doubt have had expensive lawyers look at the is it a cartel side of things

 

Ultimately you still have of choice if you are in an area served by a few local dealers I have around 10 within half an hours drive and they will all be competing against each other but on a level playing field so customer service is as important as price because regardless of price one dealer I don't like going into because the staff are all brain dead the next nearest makes you feel welcome and that your business is valuable no matter what it is for

 

 

 

 

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What irks me is that I no longer have the choice of the dealers I like to deal with unless I waste the time to go to their showrooms. Unfortunately, it's not the same as chain stores who have an outlet in every town. But the solution to my dilemma is easy; I will maintain the Stihl kit I have until it needs replacement and then that will end my association with them. Any consumables eg bars, chains, strimmer heads etc can be sourced from other manufacturers from now. Problem solved.

[Alycidon]

A lot of industries are like that. They want their products sold through local experts who can sort any issues, make sure the customer is buying the right product etc.

 

The downside is the end user who goes to his local dealer for info then saves £50 by buying on line. Then when a problem occurs the on line company who are probably several hundred miles away want the manufacturer to go out on site and sort the problem. The on line sellers margin is so tight they cannot afford to go and sort it. Manufacturers are not by and large set up to do that.

 

In my industry the online sellers are more and more buying in grey market stoves from abroad, some of the UK arms of those manufacturers are now refusing any warranty issue on any stove not sourced directly through them. So the customer has saved £50 yet has no UK based warranty support at all.

 

As a small independent seller I have a good web site but I don't sell on line, a, my suppliers wont let me, and b, I want to make sure I am able to sort any issues that may arise with anything I sell.

 

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[easy-lift guy]

This whole thing seems like Stihl has opened a barrel of worms. I have heard that Stihl is running a special on rods and reels,only problem you have to order and pick up in person at a dealer!. I am going fishing with Mendiplogs. At least he has his own tackle.

easy-lift guy

[porky]

If you don't live near a dealer it is a big deal. I have had much better service from FRJones 300miles away than any "local dealer".

[Gary Prentice]

I just looked on Jonsies site to buy a new Husky, it says he won't post them either!! Thought it just Stihl??

 

I think both Stihl and Husky have had this protocol for a while. If you are known to the supplier, in that you are trained/pro user, they will, or would have, posted saws. Both manufacturers didn't want liability issues with Joe Public getting new saws without some form of minimum instruction. (Two stroke mix in that hole/chain oil in that one:confused1:)

 

So, if you're 'known', you can still buy Huskies IMO

[Gary Prentice]

A lot of industries are like that. They want their products sold through local experts who can sort any issues, make sure the customer is buying the right product etc.

 

The downside is the end user who goes to his local dealer for info then saves £50 by buying on line. Then when a problem occurs the on line company who are probably several hundred miles away want the manufacturer to go out on site and sort the problem. The on line sellers margin is so tight they cannot afford to go and sort it. Manufacturers are not by and large set up to do that.

 

In my industry the online sellers are more and more buying in grey market stoves from abroad, some of the UK arms of those manufacturers are now refusing any warranty issue on any stove not sourced directly through them. So the customer has saved £50 yet has no UK based warranty support at all.

 

As a small independent seller I have a good web site but I don't sell on line, a, my suppliers wont let me, and b, I want to make sure I am able to sort any issues that may arise with anything I sell.

 

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I don't want to buy spares online, just ring up, order and get it popped in the post..... like I've done for 26yrs, from a company - Dick Leigh- who 99% of the time has it in stock. Now I can't even order a keyring:confused1: