Stihl dealers

[bigshovel]

My local dealer of 26 years sadly informed me that Stihl, Echo and Husqvarna will all now be sold at John Deere dealerships without dealer protection and supposedly without inventory parts requirements. This guy is the KING of Stihl in my opinion, all of the four future dealers are yoyo's in my area. I think he will make it just because of who he is and how great his customer service is. How many loyal dealers are going to get turned into Wal mart over this bad corporate decision. Is there no loyalty anymore? I'm furious about this and I don't have a dollar in the matter.

Brad

 

[kennyd]

My local JD dealer has been a Stihl dealer for a LONG time...They also stock parts and service them.

 

[TedLaRue]

I've purchased lots of parts and several machines from my local Stihl, Echo, and Snapper guy over the past 35 years. I also bought a CUT tractor from the local John Deere dealer. I have a good relationship with both places.

I don't think the Deere dealer would take much business away from the other guy if they start selling Stihl and Echo. Where do you think a John Deere dealer makes it's profits? Selling the larger $4000+ Deere machines, or selling chainsaws and trimmers? I don't think they'd put much effort into selling the low-ticket items.

In some ways, this would be hurting the Stihl/Echo dealer the same way that Deere dealers got hurt when the big box stores (like Lowe's) started selling Deere lawn tractors (i.e., green lawn tractors having a "John Deere" label on them, but not the same quality as the models my local dealer carries).

Corporate decisions are usually statistically geared to higher profits. I'm not sure how the models figure in customer loyalty.

Want to buy some John Deere boots? gloves? gas barbecue grill? security safe? screwdriver? You can buy any of those branded with the John Deere label.

 

[gamble77]

The Stihl part is correct, the Echo and Husq. parts are not true at all. Stihl reconized an opportunity to join forces with the top brand in the industry and Deere reconized the fact they needed a stronger offering to give their dealers then their handheld equipment...it is a win/win for both companies.

 

[mudcat]

Local JD dealer has been selling and servicing Stihl and Echo for over ten years! They also sell Snapper, Billy goat, Scag and Lawn boy. Never felt like wal-mart to me.

 

[steveky]

I think new Stihl dealers would be a win, win in my neck of the woods. The local dealer has had the market cornered for years around here. They have acted like its a burden for them to have to wait on me in the past. I once waited for 45 minutes to buy some oil and I was the only customer in the store. Even tried to buy a Kubota tractor from them once, $800 dollars higher after I gave them my quote from another dealer. Was told to come back when I was serious, I bought my tractor the next day from another dealer 20 miles away. I own a Stihl chainsaw, weedeater and blower and all have been good quaulity products. But, I would gladly drive a few extra miles to give my business to someone else when it comes to purchasing Stihl products, even if its at a John Deere dealership.

Steve

 

[coobie]

My local JD dealer has been a Stihl dealer for a LONG time...They also stock parts and service them.

Same here,our JD dealer has been selling Stihl for the last 20 years.coobie

 

[montanaman]

As I understand it, JD is no longer going to bother with the re-badged hand held products they have been selling in the past. I don't know how the Stihl products will benefit JD, but it could benefit their dealers. I was also told that a JD dealer could get the line and it didn't matter if there was a local Stihl dealer right across the street. This could be a very bad thing for a dealer that made his living selling and servicing Stihl products if they are close to a JD dealer.

The problem is that the number of dealers is shrinking as property values go up and the box store traffic increases. A guy working in a small dealership is not going to make enough money to buy the place when the owner decides to close it down!

I also have to say that a lot of customers will buy what is easy for them to buy so they end up at Lowes on a Sunday. Most folks that aren't making a living with their tools don't even think about parts and service when buying something till they have a problem!

Lucky for me, JD closed down all of the dealers near me a few years ago so this won't bother me but there will be some dealers that were barely making it that will sink.....

 

[mjarrels]

Local JD AND Kubota dealers have been selling and servicing stihl products for many years.

mark

 

[ultrarunner]

Is it just me... or has anyone else noticed the price increases on Stihl?