hornett22
Platinum Member
Their poor marketing and lack of dealers didn't help.
Thinkin about..
- Thread starter Duds13
- Start date
Hay Dude
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2012
- Messages
- 16,669
- Tractor
- Challenger MT655E, Massey Ferguson 7495, Challenger MT535B, Krone 4x4 XC baler, Kubota F3680 & ZD331 Ram 5500 Cummins 4x4, IH 7500 4x4 dump truck, Kaufman 35’ tandem 19 ton trailer, John Deere CX-15
Agree. Never saw them market their saws in stores!
John_Mc
Elite Member
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2001
- Messages
- 4,047
- Location
- Monkton, Vermont
- Tractor
- NH TC33D Modified with belly pan, limb risers & FOPS. Honda Pioneer 520 & antique Coot UTV
I'd probably own a Dolmar/Makita saw by now, if there were decent servicing dealers in my area.
hornett22
Platinum Member
I saw two in Corrupticut. One was a big logging supply shop that sold Husky and Jonsered as well. The other was a small lawnmower shop.
A couple buddies of mine had them. They didn't seem to hold up to commercial use long.
John_Mc
Elite Member
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2001
- Messages
- 4,047
- Location
- Monkton, Vermont
- Tractor
- NH TC33D Modified with belly pan, limb risers & FOPS. Honda Pioneer 520 & antique Coot UTV
The pro level Dolmar saws (and the better Makitas which were just relabled Dolmar, once Makita bought them out) had good reputations. Like every saw maker, they also made some saws which were not intended for full-time commercial use. I wonder what models your buddies were using?
About the only knock I heard against the pro Dolmar/Makita saws were that they weighed a bit more than pro saws from some other manufacturers.
RandyT
Elite Member
Prior to 2015 when Makita took Dolmar in house there was 6 within a 20 mile radius of me. And Makita killed off all of them except 1.
Home Depot
Makita killed their own market by killing off their own dealers. Similar to a product that I used to use from Walmart that was never in stock. And the reason they gave for not stocking it was they didn't sell enough. So by not stocking it they didn't sell it and since they didn't sell it they didn't stock it.
RandyT
Elite Member
Dolmar was the only saw manufacturer that offered a 2 year commercial warranty. How many of the other saw makers would offer a 2 year warranty to a logger. At one time Stihl warranty on all saws larger than the 034 had a 90 day warranty no matter how it was used,. Homeowner or logger.
John_Mc
Elite Member
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2001
- Messages
- 4,047
- Location
- Monkton, Vermont
- Tractor
- NH TC33D Modified with belly pan, limb risers & FOPS. Honda Pioneer 520 & antique Coot UTV
Out local Home Depot had Makita saws in their equipment rental program, but they did not sell them (other than selling their used rental equipment every couple of years). If I recall correctly, they may have sold the lower end (and possibly mid-range) Husqvarna at one point, but I believe they have since switched to Echo for gas chainsaws. (Echo does make some solid saws, but I have not looked at what models the local Home Depot carries - I won't buy a saw from HD. I prefer to support someone who services what they sell.)
5030
Epic Contributor
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2003
- Messages
- 24,733
- Location
- SE Michigan in the middle of nowhere
- Tractor
- Kubota M9000 HDCC3 M9000 HDC
Not true. Echo also has a 2 year non commercial warranty on their saws. I know, I have one.
You didn't watch the video, that is obvioius. The guy from "Project Farm" does an excellent job comparing all sorts of products. I am guessing he has an engineering background given his methods for testing. He is not a celebrity. I have used Stihl's for 40 years. There is nothing better although they are the most expensive. I have never had one not start and their chains are great. No one said to throw away their chainsaws. It just depends on your budget and how one plans on using their saws.