If you are in the market for a Stihl chainsaw the question you should ask is whether it’s better and more advantageous to buy from a Stihl dealership.

The short answer is yes and there are several reasons why. One of the main reasons is for service ability. When you buy from a Stihl dealer you get the advantage of having your chainsaw serviced from the place of purchase. Stihl places a lot of emphasis on it’s follow up service.

We’re not suggesting you completely dismiss buying from some of the big hardware stores particularly if you can get a better deal but if there is a Stihl dealer in your area, then at least give them the chance to talk to you.

If something goes wrong with your chainsaw what sort of guarantee do you have it will be repaired. Sure it will come with a warranty but taking it back to a place other than a Stihl dealer means the saw may need to be shipped somewhere before being returned.

With the dealer, you can simply drop the machine off and have a Stihl-trained technician perform the required maintenance and have Stihl parts at their disposal. From a convenience point-of-view, it could provide less frustration.

Product Demonstration

Another advantage of purchasing from a Stihl dealer is you have the option of seeing a product demonstration. You even get to test the saw out for yourself. In other words, the chainsaw you buy won’t come in a box untested.

It’s a little like purchasing a motor car; you get to take it for a spin to get a feel for the car. The same principle applies with the chainsaw. Buying it in a box and then trying to figure out what it does and is capable of when you get it home, can be a little frustrating, especially for an inexperienced operator.

Safety is a major issue with chainsaws and apart from getting a demonstration, you’ll also be pointed to it’s safety features and what you should and should not do. This is invaluable stuff for an occasional user.

Choosing a chainsaw comes down to several factors. We’re not going to suggest to professionals how to pick the right saw for the job however, for the novice or complete beginner, then making the right choice is vital.

Too many times homeowners, with little use for a chainsaw other than to cut some firewood or to perform some pruning maintenance around the home go over the top, normally following bad advice, and over-capitalize to the hilt.

In many cases, an electric chainsaw would be perfect yet many get carried away and buy high-powered gas saws without giving consideration to a couple of major factors.

1. The machine they purchase will do the job they want okay, but it’s simply to big and too expensive for the minor jobs it’s been asked to do. In many cases, a purchaser could have saved themselves hundreds of dollars.

2. A gas-powered saw can make a lot of noise and this is not a good fit for a suburban area. There’s every chance you’ll get under your neighbor’s skin.

Lack of use will be a major issue and you could find your high-powered saw could become a tool shed decoration!

Electric chainsaws are a little more restrictive and that’s understandable when you’re dragging a chord attached to the chainsaw around. However, ask yourself how many times you are likely to use it and then weigh up the pros and cons of whether outlaying several hundred dollars makes any sense.

For less than a hundred bucks, you can pick yourself up any number of handy little chainsaws which can do the minor jobs around a home. For example, McCulloch’s MCC 3516 electric chainsaw is excellent value and while it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles it’s easy to start and is lightweight design.

Shop around before making a decision and talk to the experts and get a good cross-section of opinions. In fact, join in on some of the forums online dedicated to chainsaw users and handy persons and simply describe your situation and ask for an opinion.