New Stihl online policy

[Breton monkey]

Worth a shot ?

 

one site is MEGAVERT Des experts en matériel de parc et jardin depuis 20 ans

i dont know how their prices compare with the uk as i dont shop there anymore... to expencive when you add a ferry ticket to the cost of the saw!! but megavert do deliver to the uk.

[Triassic]

I am reporting people who break the rules.

Out of interest I've just searched on line for Stihl chainsaws. Looks like our Scottish friend has his work cut out !!

[Daniël Bos]

Does anyone else think "Stihl dealer in Scotland" is an agent planted by the "better together" campaign....?

[ArthurBottlesworth]

There are guys who make a living bringing van loads of food from france for UK restaurants

Opportunity here for a guy with a van and a passport ....

 

Free trade, don't you love it!

[Stihl dealer in Scotland]

Just out of interest, if you were in my shoes how much profit do you think is acceptable on a MS 261CM 16" Chainsaw (random example) RRP is £575.00 + VAT.

 

Try and post sensible answers, lets have a discussion, NOT a slanging match with insults.

[spudulike]

Purchsing product in the UK is different from purchasing product in Germany, in Germany they have fewer online purchases and prefer to research online and to purchase from a shop. The online sales figures are freely available for all to see.

 

It is about time this German company understand that they can't enforce how we shop in the UK and that if they try to, they will ultimately lose sales.

 

Stihl should understand the local market and respond to it rather than trying to fight the fact that online sales in the UK are in growth and they will not change this!!!

 

Stihls sales figures must have been hit by this stupid decision!

[codlasher]

Dear Stihl dealer in Scotland.

It is my belief Stihl is behaving in an antediluvian way and their sales will suffer as a result.

I for one am glad I do not have to deal with this policy in my now much quieter life but I really don't envy anyone who is a busy professional as this must make an already life so much harder.

I am still well connected within certain sides of the 'trade' and if I needed a Stihl product I would request it to be sent to me on a 'phone call or via an email, I know for certain that the long standing and respected agent, whom I have dealt with for 35 years+, would still send my my request.

To be honest I don't really care about your so called price of the machine you mention and to be perfectly honest I don't even know what this model is. What I would like on the other hand is an agent who stocks the right spares and has them in when I want them...Right now....Try that!

Yours,

codlasher

[peatff]

Just out of interest, if you were in my shoes how much profit do you think is acceptable on a MS 261CM 16" Chainsaw (random example) RRP is £575.00 + VAT.

 

Try and post sensible answers, lets have a discussion, NOT a slanging match with insults.

 

I can't speculate on how much profit you should make or need to make without some kind of insight into the size of your business and your outlay on machinery etc. but I have looked on google at the example you asked about and notice it is available from £516 inc.vat. to £982

with heated grips and carb and £862 without so either someone is cutting themselves to the quick or the high seller is raking it in when he makes a sale.

[GardenKit]

There is a lot of wild speculation flying around here, and the smaller dealers who play by the rules are getting an undeserved slating.

This Scottish guy is playing by the rules and its understandable that he is annoyed by the actions of those who do not. After all 'rules is rules'. (not so sure that I condone the telling of tales though)

 

Stihl are trying to bring some sense back into the professional retailing of their equipment for the long term good of all, but unfortunately the control of the market by the handful of discount merchants set on national domination is not helping Stihl's cause.

 

The same thing is happening with many other brands of machinery, and those manufacturers are also trying new policies.

 

Now, I am not trying to defend Stihl, as I am not a Stihl dealer and have ceased to sell their product even as a sub dealer, doing several loyal customers out of the chance to buy locally from me.

I have not stopped selling in response to Stihl's policy, but in response to the price war by the few discount merchants intent on ruining the kind of local service that many users rely on. It is just impossible for me to compete if I wish to run an efficient business. So I am out.

 

This was the announcement in the trade press in january which puts Stihl proposed policy in a slightly clearer light than we have seen so far on this thread.

 

STIHL GB has announced a new e-commerce solution that will enable its Approved Dealers to serve customers via a high quality online platform. From April 2014, Approved Dealers can add online sales to their STIHL and VIKING offer.

 

Many products will be available to order online for delivery to the customer’s place of work or home, while those which STIHL deems to require a detailed or personal handover such as chain saws and metal tool brush cutters will be available to ‘click and collect’.

 

Announcing the development, Robin Lennie, Managing Director of STIHL GB said: “The new STIHL e-commerce concept will ensure all our customers – both valued Approved Dealers and end users, can enjoy the benefits of online sales, whilst critically retaining the high service standards expected of our brands.”

 

STIHL continues to rely exclusively on the servicing dealer, but this latest change reflects the latest legal requirements within the EU as well as growing significance of the Internet for the power tool segment. The expanded online business will supplement the dealer’s local presence enabling customers to buy STIHL and VIKING at a time and place to best suit their needs.

 

Ensuring that the high service standards of the STIHL Group are retained, Approved Dealers can sign-up for an official STIHL Online Partner Store – a customised online store with technical and marketing support provided by STIHL, or will be able to retail products online through their own websites using an approved ‘shop-in-shop’ formula.

 

STIHL will work closely with its Approved STIHL and VIKING Dealer network to ensure that every dealership has the tools and support needed to take advantage of the opportunities this programme presents, providing guidelines for shop-in-shop concepts and access to specialist online marketing support.

 

The STIHL GB team says it will work closely with its Approved Dealers over forthcoming months to ensure a positive and professional experience is maintained for every customer.

[Stihl dealer in Scotland]

If I told you that some online sellers were making as little as £30.00 on a sale of this size would it surprise you?