STIHL announces new route to market for battery and electric tools.

What a load of crap!

Would they be Screwfix quality like other brands . E.G. Screwfix Milwaukee as opposed to Milwaukee Fuel ?

As Screwfix are B&Q I'm sure this might raise a few questions for dealers in the future.

Unless it's only the gear you can already buy direct via the website ?.

This from Stihl. The products being sold via screwfix are (at the moment at least) the consumer (domestic) battery range in the nice coloured (deliberately for garden centre retail sale) boxes.

STIHL TO SELL IN SCREWFIX
New partnership announced

STIHL GB informed their dealer network on Wednesday this week, June 26th 2024, that from July their electric and battery powered tools, along with a selected range of accessories, will be sold by omnichannel retailer, Screwfix.

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The company announced the STIHL battery and electric range will be available in store, online and on the Screwfix App for Click & Collect from over 880 Screwfix stores in England, Scotland and Wales. In addition, Screwfix will feature a STIHL display system and offer a handover service at its Yeovil - Lysander Road store.

In addition to sales, the manufacturer confirmed that warranty support and repair will be offered through Screwfix’s own repair service and that customer advice and support will be available from the company’s contact centre. 

In an official statement, Kay Green, STIHL GB’s managing director, said, "We know from our market data, that a high proportion of prospective customers of battery tools are already shopping online and many of their home and garden project purchases are already made at Screwfix.

"This new relationship with Screwfix represents an opportunity for STIHL to grow its consumer battery footprint as well as further increasing our brand exposure. It will offer a complementary new dimension to the business we have built with our Approved Dealer network over the last five decades."

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Matt Compton, Screwfix commercial director, added, “We’re delighted to announce this new partnership with STIHL which welcomes another leading brand to the Screwfix family. Our customers demand high quality products and with this new range of electric and battery tools and accessories, we’re going even further to provide them with the tools that help them get their jobs done quickly, affordably and right first time.” 

So , the home owner kit not the pro stuff ?

1 minute ago, Stubby said:

So , the home owner kit not the pro stuff ?

Thats how it reads to me.

2 minutes ago, Steve Bullman said:

Thats how it reads to me.

Yea Steve . Its the same with Dewalt , Milwaukee , Makita etc etc when sold from Screwfix . Slightly lower in quality . 

6 hours ago, pleasant said:

This from Stihl. The products being sold via screwfix are (at the moment at least) the consumer (domestic) battery range in the nice coloured (deliberately for garden centre retail sale) boxes.

Yes.....consumer products are domestic use products. Not pro use.

I know it's just domestic stuff, but we have something written into our Contract with Stihl that there won't be another seller/dealership within a set distance. The nearest Screwfix is a 5 minute walk from work! We get a lot of domestic customers and I think it's going to change. Granted there's not a great deal made on the battery stuff, but it's still a kick in the teeth for a dealer of 45 years!

15 minutes ago, gand said:

I know it's just domestic stuff, but we have something written into our Contract with Stihl that there won't be another seller/dealership within a set distance. The nearest Screwfix is a 5 minute walk from work! We get a lot of domestic customers and I think it's going to change. Granted there's not a great deal made on the battery stuff, but it's still a kick in the teeth for a dealer of 45 years!

Interesting. Do you intend to hold them to it? 

We'll try, but it won't make any difference as Screwfix are a dam sight bigger than us

12 hours ago, gand said:

Screwfix are a dam sight bigger than us

..and they are shit. They can only compete on price. If they weren't as cheap as other merchants they would be out of business.

What will happen with you though, is they will see a cordless stihl domestic product (with eff all profit in them) at screwfix, then they will come to you to 'sell it to them' to confirm it's for their needs which will take you half an hour or more....then they will say 'we will think about it' and then wander into screwfix to buy it, after it's YOU that have convinced them it's what they require.

I know the stihl blurb states screwfix staff will be trained to sell the product, but training and doing afterwards are two completely different things. Their employees aren't sales people, they are order takers.

For now they won't be selling professional gear, that's how the blub reads as it's definitely very non committal and vague on purpose, it's been through the legal department that much is obvious.

Explains the recent number of TV adverts.

4 hours ago, GarethM said:

For now they won't be selling professional gear, that's how the blub reads as it's definitely very non committal and vague on purpose, it's been through the legal department that much is obvious.

 

Explains the recent number of TV adverts.

The tv adverts have been ongoing for the small consumer cordless range for around 4 years now, so nothing new. They have been selling this range of product already in non dealerships, such as garden centres and ironmongers, where the packaging is deliberately designed to be an off the shelf 'self-serve' product for a customer.

This range was deliberately made for that market, where a sales pitch and showroom really weren't necessary for the public to purchase.

When they start producing the core range of higher end consumer and pro product in nice coloured boxed with pictures all over them instead of the corporate and dull stihl orange and grey of now, then you will have issues in the future, but it is unlikely to happen.

Over the years lots of higher end machinery manufacturers such as Hayter have gone for volume sales in the 'sheds' but quickly withdrew after a few seasons, as (A) people spending proper money want to be sold to and be valued, and (B) they found in the end it devalued their brands image and profit margins, for very little gain.

It's like selling whisky in the supermarkets, all it really does is de-value the product.

Been there, done that, wait till they see pallets of crap returns turning up back to them, hope they have plenty of returns storage in Contra.

2 hours ago, adw said:

Been there, done that, wait till they see pallets of crap returns turning up back to them, hope they have plenty of returns storage in Contra.

Yup...whenever I submit a very genuine warranty claim to Stihl for payment it is always scrutinised, and they are so doubtful that then often ask for the discarded parts back for inspection. The world according to Stihl , is the very solid belief they have never produced a faulty product or component.

They will have to get used to screwfix returning pallets of perfectly good returned product- just not assembled or used correctly by the consumer. Screwfix won't challenge a consumer as they either haven't a clue themselves or they just offer a no quibble policy.

21 minutes ago, pleasant said:

 

They will have to get used to screwfix returning pallets of perfectly good returned product- just not assembled or used correctly by the consumer. Screwfix won't challenge a consumer as they either haven't a clue themselves or they just offer a no quibble policy.

That will be an issue for screwfix. Ive had many a shop customer say that they buy machines from screwfix or B&Q, use them until they are broken then go back and get a full refund. I dont think it will cause us the same kind of issue and at least they can take any "faulty" machines back to screwfix so I cant see it being a problem for us.

So happens when the nice man at Stihl customer services says just take it to the local dealer who will gladly sort it out?
What does the warranty card in with the saw say?

Thank you for your purchase, good luck.

It seems our district rep lied or was misinformed. I was told it was only going to be up to the AK range of tools, but selected AP machines and batteries are on their site aswell