Seems I see mostly Stihl chainsaws being used on these Alaska reality shows I watch... others, too. The occasional Husky makes an appearance but most are Stihl... I haven't owned a saw in about 40 years... back then I had a Homelite and a Mac...
I watch pretty much all those shows! I'd say there's about a 60/40 split in Stihls favor. I mighta thought they promote there saws too except if you look closely a lot of times the word STIHL on the side of the saw is blurred out! I think overall stihls are just a tad more common/popular than Husqvarna in the entire country, so you're just seeing that.
I don't have cable or satellite so I've not seen those shows so I just shooting at shadows with my comment.
I don't watch a lot of those shoes, but every time I see a show, they are stihl saws. That maybe cabin masters show, the one guy that uses saws, uses husky. I only personally know of 1 person that uses husky saws. Everyone else uses Stihl. I have to say though, I'm very impressed with my dolkita the more I use it. A new loop of Bailey's full chisel really woke it up versus the trilink safety chain.
Could just be a matree of who is closest, or what the person that they like to do business with sells.
If a saw doesn't start easily, 99% of the time it's because the owner doesn't know how to tune the carb, I don't care what brand it is. Always find the hard starting comments amusing. What I see is tree trimmers, firewood cutters seem to use Stihl, loggers seem to go with Husqvarna's mostly 372's 390's and a few 395"s. It's also regional, most buy what is available and supported locally. I would agree overall Stihl has the more of the market than Husqvarna. If you really think about it more Poulan Wild Thing's are probably sold than just about any other saw...
Any saw that is tuned properly, that doesn't have anything mechanically wrong with, will start easily at any temperature. If you don't adjust the carb for the change in air density, you're going to have running issues. This is not something I've conjured up, this is fact.
Yep I agree with Andyshine 77. When I was working in a small engine shop a lot of the saws that came in for no start was due to flooding or just too lean. I am sitting at around 5000ft above sea level. Everything has to be retuned.
Course those guys are cuttin’ pine all day, so... When ya come across something a little harder, all the pro’s know: Nothing is tougher than a Stihl.
WWW needed a new saw in the late 90's, his buddy that ran a tractor dealership said Stihl was the best so he did, that was before we ever even heard of a reality show.
I dont know anyone who owns a husky nor have i ever seen one on a truck. All Stihl here in IN (not because one is better than the other, just a regional thing). This goes for almost all hand held pro equipment here. You rarely see anything else (some echos). I bet more wild things are sold more than any others, like andyshine 77 says.
Stihl has done a much better job of protecting the brand than other makes...for example, you won’t find a $200 Stihl with a “one click, buy now” option like you will with Husqy. Is having to actually step foot into your local Stihl dealer’s brick and mortar an inconvenience? Sure...but it builds the perception of quality of the brand, and gets people back interfacing with their local merchants.
Husky pro saw start just as well in the cold as Stihl does !! Mainly its that Stihl has probably 4 times as many pro saw stocking dealers in Alaska as Husky has. The worst thing Husky did was allow big box stores to sell their saws without sufficient dealership support. And to sell only homeowner models without stocking the pro line.
Stihl's business model has been stable throughout the last 30 years or so. Lately however, in an attempt to keep sales volume up, Stihl is making some major missteps the last 5 years or so IMHO. What I see happening is a few main things that could tarnish Stihl's reputation. Selling it's products in low end hardware stores, that lack any knowledgeable sales staff, and certainly no technician on hand. "this is no different than internet sales in my opinion" Asking for basic items at these places gets you much the same response you'd receive at HD or Lowe's. No sir we don't sell Zama carb kits, we only sell Stihl products. well sir my ms361 has a Zama carb. The next issue is Stihl's dictatorial and borderline illegal business practices. Such as attempting to price fix it's products, not allowing an independent business from selling other equipment than Stihl, or they will pull the rug out from under them. The local dealership I deal with is just about to switch brands after 45 years, because they're now 4 Stihl dealers within 5 miles of each other and several more with in about 15 miles. None of them beside my dealer can even spin a chain, yet they're more than happy price gouge you on bar oil and 2 cycle oil. Poor service and price gouging unwitting customers is all too easy these days. Yet the good dealers often struggle. Why is Stihl doing this? For the same reason non XP Husqvarna saws are sold on the internet and in the big box stores. The market has shifted to low end consumer products, professional sales are small patatos. When you get out Midwestern cities, things are radically different, you see real shops that often carry a couple brands, they can swap out a bar tip while you wait, offer full wrap handles, and will have a test log out back to tune saw on and give demos. Now when it comes to internet sales, give me a break! I can make a phone call and have a Stihl saw shipped to my door for $100 over dealer cost. I get Stihl RS chain for half the price shipped to my door. Same with Husqvarna, Dolmar\ Makita and Echo. Walking into some of these Steelerships just isn't worth it these days IMHO. Discuss
There are other businesses that have a price range. Interstate batteries is an example. When I got to buy a new Stihl I always take cash and get a better price than is online. If you are a Bobcat dealer you are not allowed to sell other brands of construction equipment. There is a Bobcat dealer close to me that sells Kubota and New Holland Ag equipment but they don't sell the construction lines. That places is also a Stihl dealer and Echo dealer. What about Madsens, they are Stihl and Husqvarna.
Because pound for pound, if you have a good, conscientious dealer and service, they are the best! There, I said it...love the rumble...I'm blessed with a good dealer so that makes me spoiled...That's enough for me, he does whatever it takes to make it right, he's 15 min away, I'm sold and committed to STIHL!
