Professional Tool Reviews for Pros

The Stihl dealer network is arguably the most important aspect of their business model. It’s the concept of having a brand specialist there to support you during the sale and for you to work with on your maintenance and repairs throughout the life of your tool.

That’s fine for the older generations – they like that kind of thing. But this is an age where we research and buy online. With Millennials driving online sales even harder, does it mean that Stihl has to evolve its dealer network to meet them?

I sat down with Bjoern Fischer, President of Stihl to talk about the future of the Stihl Dealer Network.

I remember when we did our battery-powered string trimmer shootout and brought in some Pros to get their opinions. Stihl wasn’t in first place. One of our guys that runs several crews looked at the lineup and confidently said Stihl was the only one he’d choose. Why?

The Stihl dealer network. His local dealer would make the sales end easy and provide all the service he needed. It was an established relationship and he knew that he didn’t have to worry about it.

Pros know that sooner or later, every tool is going to need service. Since Stihl takes the guesswork out of the equation, it means less downtime. Knowing what to expect on the service end of the sale is gold for a crew that has to keep productivity rolling.

Over a beer, which is a great way to discuss anything with a German company, Bjoern explains that the Stihl dealer network isn’t a handicap, but a strength in this Amazonian Age of internet sales.

Take a young adult just getting started with their first home. As you acquire products to maintain your home, it’s very price-driven. It’s likely you’ll make that first purchase based on a combination of the best price and at least reasonable online reviews even though you know there are higher quality products available.

That string trimmer or blower will work fine for a year or two, but the lack of performance or quality will take its toll. As you have more available income, you can afford to step up – perhaps to something you pick up from one of the big box stores.

It might not be your first or second purchase, but as your career evolves, Sithl believes their combination of building quality products and offering outstanding service after the sale will bring you to one of their dealers.

What Bjoern is talking about in this example is how a person matures. It’s not a process of turning into your grandparents, it’s the process of realizing that having higher quality products and service is desirable and cost-effective over a long-term view.

It’s similar to the late-model Camry your parents let you keep when you got your first job. It gets you where you need to go, but it will eventually show its age. You might not be in a place to buy a Mercedes next, but you take the next step up until you it eventually makes sense for where you are in life.

Stihl’s outlook on the future is as solid as ever. We heard story after story of the way their production in the US is expanding rather than contracting. The US market is the largest for the brand, and there’s no indication that Internet sales are slowing down the strength of the Stihl dealer network.

On the clock, Kenny dives deep to discover the practical limits and comparative differences for all kinds of tools. Off the clock, his faith and love for his family are his top priorities, and you'll typically find him in the kitchen, on his bike (he's an Ironman), or taking folks out for a day of fishing on Tampa Bay.

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If you buy equipment that’s worth repairing and i f you believe in repairing equipment instead of just throwing it away, then buy Stihl. They are the only brand in my local area that sells parts to repair their equipment.

I was going to post a lengthy story about how idiotic the policy of not allowing even authorized dealers to ship products to local customers is, but I have decided against it, because I have just happily become a Husqvarna customer. Thank you, King Karlos XI of Sweden.

If Festool can sell via the Internet and mail orders, so can Stihl. I will never again set foot in a dysfunctional mom-and-pop lawnmower repair shop that is not even familiar with its own inventory, even if it is the only one accessible by public transportation on Saturdays.

I live in St. John, Virgin Islands. All you see used by professionals here is Stihl. String cutters, chainsaws and blowers. I own a string cutter and a chainsaw. They all run forever, always start and do a great job. Eventually they all require repair/replace. Unfortunately, the nearest dealer is in St. Thomas, a $50 boat ride for me and my truck and at least a 1/2 a days time. The dealer in St. Thomas is very nice and helpful, but if you have to leave your equipment or need a part they don’t have in stock it’s another $50.…  Read more »

Interesting . . . Down here in Baja California Sur, we have found the Stihl network to be a joke. Have a non-working, expensive 25” chainsaw that doesn’t work because the seller has no parts!

Love to have a beer with Mr Fischer, but I suspect we would get sent to Stihl Mexico – life is too short.

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Professional Tool Reviews for Pros