"New Saw" that's 5 years old

TimberXX · Mar 2, 2020

So I bought a new MS241. I knew it was a leftover, since it is discontinued. But I just realized the saw was made 7/2015! That's nearly 5 years sitting on a shelf.

I contacted stihl, and initially I was taken back by their indifference.

I'm a lifelong stihl guy, but I am pissed.

Thoughts? Am I unreasonable?

bcp · Mar 2, 2020

My first thought is you should be talking to the seller, not Stihl.

Tell us more.

Bruce

ovrszd · Mar 2, 2020

I guess I've never looked at my saws to see when they were made? Is that information tagged on the saw somewhere?

arrow · Mar 2, 2020

Are you being unreasonable? To answer that, one would have to know what exactly are you mad about. If you were treated even handedly, you would pay on the 2015 price of the saw. If not and you were charged current pricing, thats up to the buyer to decide if they wish to purchase the saw. I'm thinking there wouldn't be much of a price difference anyway. Not like there would be for a tractor.

That the saw just sat for 5 years means nothing to the saw if kept inside and never used. I once bought a saw that sat in a guys cellar for 15 years. Never used. Ran like new.

Look on ebay. There was a guy selling a Husqvarna 246. Saw was discontinued about 20 years ago. Never used. Guy wanted $900 for it as if it were a collectors item. As much as I love that saw, this buyer decided to "pass".

buck12 · Mar 2, 2020

If it concerns you go back to the dealer to see if they will swap it. When I bought my current saw (260) it may have been older as the 261 was out but the dealer did not have a 261. I did not know the date was on a saw. By the way I have had no problems with that saw other than a broken bar oil cap. I do hate those stupid flip up caps.

RandyT · Mar 2, 2020

it is not unusual for saws and other similar items to be boxed in a warehouse for sometime before it is shipped to the dealer, and then if it doesn't move well then it sits on the dealer shelf for some time. I have personally received new in box saws from my distributor that were 2-3 years after the date of manufacture.

Jstpssng · Mar 3, 2020

I guess that I have never checked the date on any of the saws I"ve bought, or any other small item for that matter. The only way that would concern me is if there was some type of an update because the earlier models had problems.

And I loved those flip up caps on my old Huskie, they were the only things that worked right.

Professor Marvel · Mar 3, 2020

does your warranty stand from the time you bought it? if so I would be fine with it. if not I would have an issue with the selling dealer.

ericm979 · Mar 3, 2020

If the one you got was the current version when it was discontinued, there's not much to complain about. For example with the 362CM there's a I and II version. The II is a bit lighter and has M-tronic updates. It can be recognized by the shape of the clutch cover. I'm not aware of the same thing with the 241 but if there was I'd want to make sure I got the latest version.

For many products, factories can make more than one model. It's more efficient if they make only one at a time. So they often make a "run" of one model then a "run" of another. Each production run gets warehoused and sent to distribution. If it's a model that does not sell well, a the stock from a "run" may last a long time. Since Stihl discontinued this saw you can assume that it was not a big seller. So it's not unreasonable that the last production run was a while ago.

When I get a chance I'll look up how to read production date from the SN and see when my 241 was made.

MH8675309 · Mar 3, 2020

I bought a Husqvarna this year at a sale - I think its a 344Xp. 16 inch bar that looked well used but the saw was cheap - $140. I took it home and took the bar off and found a few heavy burrs which I filed off. I blew it out with the air compressor put the bar and chain back on and filed the chain. I then cleaned the carburetor with Gumout and cleaned the air cleaner. Started it just like the instructions said on the side of the saw and it fired right up. I could tell just by the way it sounded that despite the bar not having been maintained that this saw didnt have many hours on it. 2 cycle engines will last a long time. If you didnt pay too much for it I wouldnt be too concerned - especially like others here have mentioned - if it still has the warranty.