There are several Stihl dealers near me. I've used most of them and found each to have their own place. The dealer that sells Stihl and the orange tractors has a good inventory but if you have to order something they charge a bunch of freight. Another will get anything you want and does not charge freight but their mechanical service ain't great and they're a bit far away. Another the service is very good and helpful and they will work with you on orders. If you can wait a while and get hour part with the next regular store stock shipment there's no freight charges. If not there is a minimal charge. Then there's one thats about 35 miles from me that has a great parts supply. The cool thing is the service manager lives about 12 miles from me. He'll do the deal over the phone and I can meet him at the gas station just off the exit to his home. Sometimes ya gotta kiss a bunch of toads before you get to kiss a princess.
Well, turns out I'm wrong again! Went back to the same grocery store/hardware/Stihl dealer again today and I noticed a sign advertising their mower/saw/whatever small engine service. So I asked the guy what they charge for sharpening blades/chains and where they send them to do the work? He says we do it here and I don't know the charge but I'll check. So he calls somebody on the com system...out comes a woman in a Stihl pro shirt! Turns out she used to own a local hardware/Stihl dealer that closed up a few years back and she is gonna run this deal for 'em...does the wrenchin too. They carved out a lil shop for her in their back room...no separate access to the shop...gotta drive the lawn tractors right through the double doors to get in...I said that ought to be fun if a diesel with a plugged air filter comes in! Anyways, she seemed to know her stuff, and honestly the prices seemed, well, not terrible (for Stihl anyhow) so I went ahead and bought a couple packs of files since I took up some of her time...mines about worn out anyways...gotta find just the right spot on them to cut worth a durn anymore. Pleasant surprise!
Pleasant surprise indeed! As far as women knowing their stuff, I don't have any problem with that. My favorite employee at my favorite hardware store knows her hardware. Even knew she had diaphragms for Sloan flush valves in Stock when I called! Ask that question at lowes sometime...
Yea I asked one time at a Lowes for a piano hinge. I got that deer in the head light stare. I guess not everyone has seen a piano.
