STIHL Incorporated Reviews 28

Probably the worst customer service company on the planet. If you buy a product and later (even the same day.... or hour) discover it's the wrong model for the job (as in my case, a much lower powered leaf blower than I expected) and try to return or exchange it, you're (guess what) out of luck. No refunds; No returns..... unless the product is defective, and even then the retailer is the sole arbiter at determining 'defective'. More often than not, the defective unit is because of a user-created issue. Since Stihl has no company stores and all the retail outlets are independent contractors, the contractors get to decide what the refund/repair/replace policy is. None of them will allow a return on any gas powered Stihl product that has had gasoline added to the unit and started. Which begs the question........ How do you know if the product is right for your situation if you don't start it an use it? Is the consumer supposed to know just by looking at it? Suffice it to say I wasted $400 on a product I will probably never use because it's not powerful enough to blow leaves from my yard. Also suffice it to add I will never buy another Stihl product, and as a buyer beware suggestion, make sure the one you're buying is absolutely the one you want, because once you pay for it, you're stuck with it. Good luck. This is not a good look for a company, regardless of whether they have control over the retailers selling their products.

I bought a FS56 weed eater from Ace hardware in Jamul Calif, and before I left they filled it with the premixed fuel they had on the shelf. The very next day after 20 minutes of running a major sound coming out of engine like something seizing. I then changed the oil not trusting what they put in. I called ace no exchange just said go to an authorized service center. I went to a great place in lakeside they called stihl thinking they should give me a new one with less than a day of running. Stihl company said no, now I have to wait 2 or more weeks for service. Terrible way to treat someone who pays almost $300 for a machine that was a defect from the factory, what else is going to go wrong!!!

I have been suffering through the current Stihl Christmas commercial for well over a month now. I work from home and usually have a news stream running on a window in the background. Stihl must pay a ton extra to have their commercial come blasting through at maximum volume regardless of where I have my volume set. It is annoying and poorly written with a horrible arrangement of Christmas music. I would NEVER buy their product based on that alone. My house is on a heavily wooded plot that requires at a minimum seasonal maintenance but Stihl equipment will not be doing the job.

Seems everytime I go to use a Stihl product it doesn't work
I bought all Stihl because I THOUGHT it was a good product now I find myself going back to the store for Huskavarna
I will never buy these crappy products again and I would suggest you don't either
They will leave you high and dry
THEY ALWAYS DO FOR ME

Never but Stihl this is now the third product they have refused to cover under warranty!!! It is the same story give it to our amazing certified dealer and 4 weeks later they tell you can’t fix it your problem!

This was a pressure washer cost $600 made it through 6 residential washes of my car pressure always released did not make it 8 months into the warranty.

I had a Costco special for ten years before that worked amazing.

Stihl has the worst customer service and cheap parts
Prior to that a bolt holding my weedeater engine together broke in half said they would not fix it! Used it to trim my lawn??? No landscaping work at all!!

Buy husky or any other brand should not even get a star …. Ok maybe for getting away with over charging us!!!

How do these battery powered lawn products companies expect us to buy especially a blower when all these companies do is show a video of a blower moving leaves across a sidewalk or a back patio. My blow dryer could do this. If you’re not gonna show us a real world application like leaves across the lawn, where they get resistance. Stop blowing smoke because obviously these battery power machines are not that good otherwise we’d see a real life situation.

I’d like Stihl rechargeable tools to last longer. It costs just as much to replace the battery as it does to replace the entire Weedwhacker. I’m going to dump this brand completely because they raised the price 62% on the blades that go in the Weed whacker. And they made them gray instead of bright orange, making it near impossible to find one if it flies off the the tool.

Do not buy anything that uses the Stihl AP300 series batteries. The batteries are complete junk…. That’s all I have to say about that!

I spent 1000 dollars/Euros on a Stihl imow 2 years ago. The first one didn't work at all and had to be replaced. The second one worked with difficulty for the first season. I stored it over the winter in a dry basement. It wouldn't work when I took it out of storage for the second season. The dealer suggested I open it and have a look. I poured off about 1 pint / 500 ml of water that had accumulated inside during the previous season. The electronics were ruined. Back and forth for repairs all season until I finally gave up. I will sell it cheaply for spare parts. Maybe the wheels are useful to someone. This year I bought a Husqvarna automower and it just works and it is waterproof. I estimated that the time I wasted on the imow was equivalent to cutting the lawn for 5 years with my petrol lawnmower.

I spent $500,000 on equipment from this company, expecting top quality. Weeks later, the equipment stopped working. When I contacted support, they blamed everything except their product. I followed their instructions, but nothing worked.

After endless excuses and no real solution, I was left with expensive, useless equipment. Thankfully, the organization tagged in my bio came to my rescue and helped me recover my money.

If you’re considering buying from this company, don’t. Their products are unreliable, and their support is worthless. Save yourself the loss.

Total junk.my kids just bought me a new wood boss still ms251..new 2 days old 1st time trying to use run 5 3 minutes stalled out can't get it running. My right arm is killing me ..total junk it's going back today my China chainsaw is better than this trap there selling bought at bellevue,ohio

By my own neglect, I ruined my out of warranty ms271 farm boss. I didn’t know the handbrake would cause issues if left engaged and the engine was in half choke. Spoke with Andrea Benson who offered to cover the price for the parts for repair, however the repair cost from my authorized dealer was over $300.00, including parts AND labor. The labor being much much more than the parts. This was near the cost of the saw! I informed Andrea that I would be purchasing a new farmboss, just the bigger ms391 from another state. She asked me to hold onto the saw and she would advise me. After 5 more phone calls and messages she has failed to reply. I reached out to corporate and no follow-up from anyone there. All I wanted was some help, not a handout or a free saw.

My wife bought me a Stihl 16” chainsaw. I used it twice and then the engine seized up. Brought it back and they said I used the wrong mix but sent it out to an expert . He said the mix was fine. Of course it was. I’ve been making mixes since I was 16. I called Sthil,no help. The guy wouldn’t even listen to the story. I haven’t bought a Sthil product since and never will!

I bought a Stihl (Farm Boss) saw three weeks ago. Used it 3 times and now it will not start. Returned it to the dealer who said the gas was bad, I ran Stihl 2 cycle oil with ethanol free gas. Dealer said they switched out the gas and it ran fine, got it home, still won't start. After 30 pulls on the cord I gave up and pitched it in the bed of the truck. I guess I made a 479 dollar mistake.

I bought a case at Ace Hardware, Westerly RI, of MotoMix 50:1 2 cycle fuel. I emptied out my usual 2 cycle from Husqvarna chain saw. Filled with MotoMix. The thing would not start.
Brought it to repair shop he emptied out MotoMix poured in shop gas mix. Started right up!!

Answer your complaint instead of blocking them!

may 30,2024
On May 16,2024 A family member went with me to purchase weedeater I was assured could do the job I described.
I made known I had some joint issues so I wanted to make sure it would be easy for me to use and string.
It wasn't at all easy for me. I called and went back 18th? for salesman to demonstrate. By then I still could
not put line in my hands were too inflamed from my efforts to do this myself. I also explained that the
green line was melted,singed and would not come out. I requested if I could get
another head easier for me to operate. Salesman found 1 and exchanged it for the original.
I offered to pay for it and he declined. May 30,2024 I was weedeating and the line kept running out. And I had to stop and pull it out several times.
I realized the green line wasn't strong enough to do the job.
I watched video seller told me to watch on youtube and attempted to put .095 which would not fit.
I took it back wanting to exchange for another that could do the job.
I reminded him that I had made it clear what the weedeater would be used for before I bought it.
My family member was there when I purchased it and also stated same.
He replied he didn't remember the conversation.
Was told he would not take it back unless defected. I said,"I spent 200.00 and your saying I've got to spend another 200.00 for 1 that will do the job?"
He said,"Yes. Or you can sell it." He stated,"I can't sell a used weedeater."
Salesman offered to try to "drill it out" to make the .095 line fit.
As was picking it up to leave he stated he hadn't charged me for that head. I replied That I HAD offered to pay for it as I am a Fair Person.

sent to trustpilot
may 30,2024
Cabot Outdoors
On May 16,2024 A family member went with me to purchase weedeater I was assured could do the job I described.
I made known I had some joint issues so I wanted to make sure it would be easy for me to use and string.
It wasn't at all easy for me. I called and went back 18th? for salesman to demonstrate. By then I still could not put line in my hands were too inflamed from my efforts to do this myself. I also explained that the green line was melted,singed and would not come out. I requested if I could get another head easier for me to operate. Salesman found 1 and exchanged it for the original. I offered to pay for it and he declined. May 30,2024 I was weedeating and the line kept running out. And I had to stop and pull it out several times. I realized the green line wasn't strong enough to do the job. I watched video seller told me to watch on youtube and attempted to put .095 which would not fit. I took it back wanting to exchange for another that could do the job.
I reminded him that I had made it clear what the weedeater would be used for before I bought it.
My family member was there when I purchased it and also stated same.
He replied he didn't remember the conversation.
Was told he would not take it back unless defected. I said,"I spent 200.00 and your saying I've got to spend another 200.00 for 1 that will do the job?"
He said,"Yes. Or you can sell it." He stated,"I can't sell a used weed eater."
Salesman offered to try to "drill it out" to make the .095 line fit.
As was picking it up to leave he stated he hadn't charged me for that head. I replied, "That I HAD offered to pay for it as I am a Fair Person."
Do Not Trust them to tell truth. Deceit for sale a small cost for them.

While I agree that Stihl makes the best equipment on the market, they need to do some soul searching when it comes to customer satisfaction/confidence. I tried to use my military discount at my local Ace Hardware store and Stihl negated any such discount and deprived me of using an in store discount and the ability to collect my points for the purchase. My advice to Stihl, you need to embrace an American company attitude, or you’ll be boycotted like the rest. #unAmericanCompany
#ALLaboutthedollarbills

Worst dealership ever gone to in Marble Falls Tx major rip off ! Stay far away from them !

I purchased my first Stihl saw roughly 15 years ago and I was hooked! I cut about 75 cords a season to heat my home and outside barns and quickly I had become a collector which I would buy from ebay the saw's for parts or repair penny's on the dollar then and could have them running within a half hour of receiving which I buy all name brands but I found Stihl to be the easiest to repair where Husqvarna uses a lot more little pieces which I think the best way to describe it is Stihl would be equal to a Chevy and Husqvarna a Ford and everyone favors one over the other and for me I am a Stihl fan thru n thru but I appreciate the professional class Husqvarna saw's almost favor them over Stihl saw's of equal power n not sure why but they just cut great don't get me wrong the Stihl 066 or 046 rips thru the wood but the Husqvarna 395 seems to be a bit faster smother I'd say so for all the reviews on here downing Stihl because of there contracted out repair facility's you can't fully blame on Stihl themselves which first of all personally I believe that if you are going to buy something like a chainsaw or weedeater do your research and learn a little bit about it and how to do maintenance at the very least and if you can't do that then you have no business owning one and hire the work out especially considering how easy Stihl saw's are to work on it is child play I mean it is literally gas air spark period that simple believe me I own over 300 saw's and worked on every single one of them in one way or another and not all Stihl I have Husqvarna of course and Echo mostly old school bow bar style along with Mcculloch n Jonsenreds and can't forget good ol Pioneer saw's and a number of other name brand saw's and my point is if it wasn't for Stihl quality I would not have even started collecting them so I have no complaints at this point and doubt I ever will with Stihl products! Thanks for everything you have done and made Andrea Stihl!

Chainsaw Guru
Monster "Chainsaw" Mike