PSA- Stay clear of Stihl and ACE Hardware

6 weeks ago, a storm came through and knocked down a big oak and blocked my garage. Gas chainsaw I had, was old as dirt, and the electric one just was too small for this job.

I go to my local ACE Hardware and buy a new Stihl saw. Sales guys says if I by the Stihl premix fuel with it, it doubles my warranty. Well, I need fuel anyway so this was a no brainer. Dropped about $600 on everything. After a few pulls, he demonstrates that it works and I'm on my way to get to work. Used it that day, got most it done with just the biggest part of the trunk left. Finish it up the next day. Last weekend, I get the saw out to take care of another tree that is about ready fall. Go to start the saw and ended up with blisters on my hand from pulling the cord so many times. Thought I had to be doing something wrong, so I re-read the manual and pulled up some Youtube videos. Nope. I was doing everything correctly, so I give up and take it back to ACE. They call me a couple of days later and say it's ready to go.

Here's where the shite hits the fan. They call up the guy who sold it all to me and he's also the guy who works on their stuff. Immediately tells me I owe $60. At first, I thought he was making a joke, then realized he was serious. So of course I ask why it wasn't covered under warranty. He tells me that there was water in the fuel and that's what caused all the problems. I look at him like he has lost his mind and say "You mean the fuel you sold me with the saw was bad, broke my new saw, and that's my fault"? You could almost see the cartoon light bulb go on over his head and immediately said he would waive the repair fee. So now I start asking questions about Stihl fuel and it's quality and how I know now to never buy that crap again. He goes on to say that it's good stuff, but might have froze before they got that shipment indoors and stocked on the shelf. That's when I just bit my tongue, grabbed the saw and left. Gas has a freezing point of -40 degrees! We live in Central Alabama! I've still got about a 1/4 of that bottle left. Guess I have some expensive garbage burning fuel now.

I'm going to call Stihl on Monday and see what they say, and make sure my warranty is still intact, because I have no idea what ACE reported back to them.