why do people do this?

I would buy more stihl parts from stihl or dealers if they had online shopping. Its not easy for me to get to a dealer. There all half an hour or more out of my way usually.

Instead I feed the ebay monster and buy parts their either off used saws or the new ones that guys buy new just to part out. Many times cheaper than the part at stihl to begin with!!

 

My only point is that I can not make it to a store in business hours many times. It costs me close to $10 in fuel to go to a dealer and or I have to go into a traffic nightmare to get to the big dealer. The few times I want what I considered a stock item it was "we have to order it" oh " and that part comes from where ever stihl are made so it will take 2 weeks", and I said...you mean Germany or the USA? I got tired or having to take the IPL in to request a part or pulling a saw off the shelf to point to the item for them.
Or the dealer where the kids did not know what skip chain was or safety chain...even though I said i do not want the green chain.
I have bought a good bit of new OEM stihl parts off ebay...well kind of. Find a guy with parts off a saw you need parts for and that sells lots of parts. Send him a message and talk to him and just have him send an invoice through paypal for what you need. Most all were new parts and the used parts looked new.

I get what y'all are saying. Be glad that you have good dealers. Ones where it sounds like the employees know saws and or the owner is there regularly.

 

I personally like Stihl's business model. The Kubota tractor dealership that's a stihl dealer is my neighbor, and the other one is a Deere tractor dealership -those guys don't know chit about the stihls

Recently a Husqvarna dealer/service shop opened up not far from work ~2miles out of the way but he is just getting ramped up and doesn't have any pro saws on the shelf - probably a good thing cause I had some cash burning a hole in my pocket the first time I stopped by to see if they had a 562xp in stock.

Funny thing is they said "we can order one" I said I wanted to hold it first and could order one myself off ebay if need I wanted it...
The business seems more focused on lawn equipment ZTR's/trimmers etc, but I still bought some fuelline and filter from them the other day, nice guys trying to start a brick and mortar on the big stuff that is hard to ship, and folks need service on

 

The last parts I have bought from the dealer I have done that.

Got wise after several trips.

 

So, after reading through this if memory serves me it started out discussing why anyone would pay that much for a like new MS170...

I've said for years that someone needs to write a book on the psychology of eBay. I once got a deal on a small pile of new MS170 saws. That was back before I realized I was selling my soul to the devil by 'power selling' on eBay. I sold probably 10 or so for anywhere around $225-$265. When I first started moving them for so much I figured exactly what Dex said in that the buyers were far enough from the nearest dealer that it was worth the extra jingle to have the saw show up at their door. Then I decided to do a little research (since I had their address after all) and nearly all of them were within 15-20 minutes drive of a Stihl dealer. I have no true answer to the question, but I just figured there are people out there that simply hate their local dealer that much for one reason or another, or they were being purchased as gifts by someone who was too intimidated to walk into a dealership and ask to buy a new chainsaw when they didn't know anything about them. Of course I also subscribe to the theory (mostly on smaller parts) that some folks simply assume the best deals are on eBay and don't even bother price shopping at brick & mortar locations.

Who knows why people do what they do sometimes....

 

I have seen other things do that also, they end up selling for more than you could buy them locally or order on the Internet, and some things are used and go for more than new price

 

I know the farm boss is $1000 in australia!!!
So who know.

I checked back I think the saw sold for $255 if I remember right.

I too have paid as much orore than I could big something at a retail place on ebay to have it shipped to me. But remember I am half an hour for. A decent town and even then there is not many things. Larger stores or specialty things I usually have to drive an hour for.

Some people have way more money than o do and dont care about the $50 and would rather pay that than deal with "used car salesmen" in a Stealerahip.

Selling new ms170s on ebay for $230 the person won't get rich bit may make $20-30 a pop assuming its not a dealer or someone with access to dealer prices.