I want to support my local dealer and economy, but ...

It is very hard to support the local dealer when prices are 50%+ higher than on the internet.

I stopped in at the local dealer, an independently owned Ace Hardware, that has been around for almost 100 years. They are having a buy 1 Stihl chain get the second 1/2 off sale so I wanted to check out their prices. They are slightly better than the other Stihl dealer where I bought my saws from.

$32 for 26 RSC 74
$42 for 33 RSC 84

Now, even at buy 1 get one 1/2 off, it hardly makes any sense to buy from them since I can get 26 RSC 74 on the internet for $18 and two sets of 33 RSC 74 on the internet for $45 and both are with free shipping, no sales tax, and no travel/gas.

While I was there, I decided to take a look at their Fiskar products. Just bought the following from Amazaon:

X27 - $40
X7 - $20
Sharpener - $10
Total $70

At Ace Hardware, they were:

X27 - $60
X7 - $30
Sharpener - $17
Sales tax - about $6
Total $113

Difference, $43 or over 50%.

They just make it so hard. Wouldn't mind paying 10% more, but 50% plus, and then they did not even have the chainsaw on the shelf that I want to buy.

Yeouch, I don't pay anywhere near that for Stihl chain either. We don't have any ACE hardware/Stihl dealers in my immediate area here but it seems to me they aren't exactly cream of the crop when it comes to dealerships.

Fabs, you have any dedicated Small Engine/Saw shops around you?

I have the same issue with many products, in particular, offshore fishing stuff. I would much rather by local, but the cost is much much higher sometimes, to the point where i cannot justify it.

Not that I know of. Have a John Deere dealer that is also a Stihl dealer. That is where I bought my saws. Then Ace Hardware. Then a Kubota dealer that is also a Stihl dealer. Other than that, I know of nothing in the area that specializes in small engines/saws.

I am somewhat lucky in that regard because I have an Outdoor World/Bass Pro Shop right down the road from me. Now, they just need to build a Cabelas closer than a 4 hour drive to me.

Maybe I should move to Ohio.....

Welcome to the Buckeye State............... I'm originally from NY, Grand Island.

That's kind of the opposite corner of the state from me but I would love to get Buffalo snow here. My family is orginally from Southern IN (Washington) so I have criss-crossed PA and Ohio dozens of times.

I would just like someone to explain to me why "everything" seems to be 30% less in the states. I am looking at buying a BRP Commander and now seriously looking at going to the states to buy. Pretty sure I will save at least $ 3000 if not almost as much as $ 5000 what gives? The internet shopping does not totally work for me because I always seem to get killed by shipping charges. I know you can send something from one side of the US to the other for short $; not the same for us Canadians - they if you live outside of a major city - well forget it

I stocked up on WoodlandPro chains 20" for $12 each last time I ordered from Baileys.

The local True Value charges $10 to sharpen... So I sharpen myself.

For some reason replacement stones are half the price at Lowes than elsewhere.

Yep, they vary from $10 to $12 to sharpen a chain around here. At that price, I might as well buy a new one off the internet and throw the old one away. Got my Northern Tool sharpener on Thursday but am dropping it off at UPS tomorrow to return it because one of the bolt holes was not tapped and I could not assemble it correctly. Hoping the next one they send has the bolt hole tapped since I don't own a tap and die set yet.