Keith
05-20-2001, 02:14 AM
I think any of you who have read my post regarding 2 cycle equipment know my feelings about Shindaiwa. It has, quite simply been the best we have used. You may also know how I have debated with others on the subject of buying from local dealers vs. buying via mail order or internet. I am a firm believer that you should be able to buy from the dealer you choose and not from who others would like you to deal with. I assemble my own stuff and quite frankly I would rather do that than have some part time kid at the dealership do it. I have bought equipment locally on several occasions that was set up improperly.
Recently Shindaiwa has tried to put an end to these sales. I have emailed them regarding this and have been given the same old song and dance. The local dealers are professionals at servicing, blah, blah, blah. I have never taken a piece of Shindaiwa back to the dealer! Many of you say, "ahhh, your just being cheap Keith. Would you want customers doing this to you?" It's not that, I can assure you. yes, I loved buying EB630's for $400, who wouldn't? Some of you guys even get a break from local dealers (gaspppp!) I here people say "I can get a T230 form my dealer $240." Or "I can get that EB630 for $460." Hell I'd love to get that locally! I would have no problem paying that. The problem is, they often want more than MSRP :angry: Not only that, I can't even get them to sell it to me
Thats right, the local dealer/ distributor network and ultimately Shindaiwa has kept me from buying Shindaiwa lately. I will keep this brief and give you the most recent example. I wanted a DH230 hedge trimmer with the 24 inch cutter. My first call to an out of state dealer lands me the "sorry can't ship Shindaiwa" answer from Russo's. No biggie, so that source has dried up. Next up, call the locals. Damn, none of them have it. Start calling the not-so-local dealers. Nothing :( A couple say they can order it, but they will need me to bring a deposit (keep in mind, these are upwards of 100 miles away). Not only that, the lowest price I find is MSRP. No deals to be found, no hedge trimmer to be found for that matter. What the hell is going on. Half of these guys are trying to pawn off other brands when I call. Is it true? I can't even find what I need at full list price! If I could order, it would be sitting on the door step in a couple days.
Possible solution! A dealer I have dealt with for a number of years sells brands I really don't want. The loophole. He is a dealer for honda engines distributed by the same company that distributes Shindaiwa. We get to talking and he says "let me see what I can do about getting them for you" The ball is rolling now. No nearby dealers, so there is no territory problem. This may just work :)
I get a call back from him. The distributor says he can if he buys like 40 pieces. Now he was gonna do this as a favor for me, but he ain't buying no 40 pieces of Shindaiwa equipment. Now it is becoming more clear why other dealers don't have any in stock. Hell, they can't afford to restock.
So where does that leave me. Well, I've bought 3 pieces this year and they are not Shindaiwa. I love them, but they won't let me buy them. I will still recommend Shin to everyone (I really don't know why). But I don't think Shindaiwa realizes the loss of sales this is causing. If a guy calls and says I want a Shindaiwa hedge trimmer, but they tell him all they have is Tanaka and Echo, what's he gonna buy? Especially when this is the answer he gets over and over again. Somehow, I get the idea Shindaiwa doesn't even know this is happening.
Recently Shindaiwa has tried to put an end to these sales. I have emailed them regarding this and have been given the same old song and dance. The local dealers are professionals at servicing, blah, blah, blah. I have never taken a piece of Shindaiwa back to the dealer! Many of you say, "ahhh, your just being cheap Keith. Would you want customers doing this to you?" It's not that, I can assure you. yes, I loved buying EB630's for $400, who wouldn't? Some of you guys even get a break from local dealers (gaspppp!) I here people say "I can get a T230 form my dealer $240." Or "I can get that EB630 for $460." Hell I'd love to get that locally! I would have no problem paying that. The problem is, they often want more than MSRP :angry: Not only that, I can't even get them to sell it to me
Thats right, the local dealer/ distributor network and ultimately Shindaiwa has kept me from buying Shindaiwa lately. I will keep this brief and give you the most recent example. I wanted a DH230 hedge trimmer with the 24 inch cutter. My first call to an out of state dealer lands me the "sorry can't ship Shindaiwa" answer from Russo's. No biggie, so that source has dried up. Next up, call the locals. Damn, none of them have it. Start calling the not-so-local dealers. Nothing :( A couple say they can order it, but they will need me to bring a deposit (keep in mind, these are upwards of 100 miles away). Not only that, the lowest price I find is MSRP. No deals to be found, no hedge trimmer to be found for that matter. What the hell is going on. Half of these guys are trying to pawn off other brands when I call. Is it true? I can't even find what I need at full list price! If I could order, it would be sitting on the door step in a couple days.
Possible solution! A dealer I have dealt with for a number of years sells brands I really don't want. The loophole. He is a dealer for honda engines distributed by the same company that distributes Shindaiwa. We get to talking and he says "let me see what I can do about getting them for you" The ball is rolling now. No nearby dealers, so there is no territory problem. This may just work :)
I get a call back from him. The distributor says he can if he buys like 40 pieces. Now he was gonna do this as a favor for me, but he ain't buying no 40 pieces of Shindaiwa equipment. Now it is becoming more clear why other dealers don't have any in stock. Hell, they can't afford to restock.
So where does that leave me. Well, I've bought 3 pieces this year and they are not Shindaiwa. I love them, but they won't let me buy them. I will still recommend Shin to everyone (I really don't know why). But I don't think Shindaiwa realizes the loss of sales this is causing. If a guy calls and says I want a Shindaiwa hedge trimmer, but they tell him all they have is Tanaka and Echo, what's he gonna buy? Especially when this is the answer he gets over and over again. Somehow, I get the idea Shindaiwa doesn't even know this is happening.