My new Stihl , broken- should it be covered under warrantee?

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Heatsource

Minister of Fire
Dec 19, 2011
1,064
Northern CA
a1stoves.com
So my 2 week old Stihl MS 391 picked up a stick and kicked it back at me and popped a hole through the bar oil reservoir. It was an oak branch about as thick as my thumb, and 24" long. weight under 1lb.

It's a major repair (at least for me!) and the parts alone run $140 according to the store I bought the saw from.

I've run saws and been around them my whole life, and never seen a saw so easily broken by a stick during normal use. Usually you have to drive over the thing or drop large timber on it to put it out of commission like this in my experience...

The store I got it from also runs a rental yard, and the guys say they have never seen such a thing either.
My questions: Should this be a warrantee issue?
Anyone else seen or done this?

Thanks, Dave
 
I think it should be but there is only one way to find out for sure. I know I'd be a bit ticked if they did not cover it. I'm another one who has never heard of something like this. It says there was something really weak there. Weak things break. Broken things like that should be covered and replaced with a stronger part.
 
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I would call the homeowner's insurance company and find out if power tools are covered.
 
I would call the homeowner's insurance company and find out if power tools are covered.


My personal saw, on my property....

Denis, after patiently/gently arguing with the front desk guys I had to speak w/the manager- but he said they will take care of it.
The new part is not in stock at the distributor and will have to come from the factory, so I'm with out saw for a while.

I'm hoping it was a once in a lifetime fluke and wont happen again once it's fixed :)
 
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Good that they are covering it. But to me that's not a warranty issue. Your dealer may be eating the cost.

I would have suggested that you contact your credit/debit card company. Often new items are covered for 30 days. I knew a guy that dropped is 80 gallon compressor when trying to unload. Had bent the cranks shaft. Ended up getting a full refund and kept the compressor.
 
How should it be a warranty issue?! I think you know you're cheating the system.

Hope you continue to support your local dealer to help him recoup the costs he's incurring by fixing it to keep you happy.
 
^ oh I do support them very much! got my saw, blower, weed whacker and all my odds and ends there, and our company spends 20k a year there for the last 10 years.

I think the plastic was junk and should be a warrantee issue, saws should be durable!
 
Running a shop in a small town you have to take care of your customers

If we install a new blazeking and 2 months later the customer calls to say the cat is crumbling, I go out and replace it at no charge. And spend no-charge time with them explaining how to prevent further overfire damage from occurring.

I dont tell them, gee- sorry your warrantee doesn't cover overfiring, so a new Cat is $229 and today's visit is $80
 
Closing this one. Dave is getting his saw fixed and nothing left but for the thread to lapse into conjecture.
 
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