OK, I now understand. I couldn't understand why an individual would be hoarding expensive chainsaws, or how that would relate to someone wanting to get in to the saw game at a minimum level.
I personally agree with your principle of buying for quality if you can find it cheaply. But that is a huge "if". With the universal market info provided by Craigslist and ebay, I doubt if there are many good deals out there anymore. I know that when I was looking for mine all I saw was worn out ones being discarded by lawn services.
However, I will also give the example of my father-in-law. I know that he used Stihl's at one time, as he passed a worn-out one down to me. But I also know that he eventually treated chainsaws as disposable. When a new disposable one comes on sale at little more than the minimum bench charge for a repair visit, why not go that route?
Yes, that goes against the grain if you like to tinker, or are into sustainability. But as a practical matter, a Sears chainsaw has exactly the same advantages as Craftsman tools. When you want one, they are available and cheap, and warrantied for a certain period. For the moment, as long as we are not assessed the real cost to the world of disposal, they are an economically viable option.
I personally agree with your principle of buying for quality if you can find it cheaply. But that is a huge "if". With the universal market info provided by Craigslist and ebay, I doubt if there are many good deals out there anymore. I know that when I was looking for mine all I saw was worn out ones being discarded by lawn services.
However, I will also give the example of my father-in-law. I know that he used Stihl's at one time, as he passed a worn-out one down to me. But I also know that he eventually treated chainsaws as disposable. When a new disposable one comes on sale at little more than the minimum bench charge for a repair visit, why not go that route?
Yes, that goes against the grain if you like to tinker, or are into sustainability. But as a practical matter, a Sears chainsaw has exactly the same advantages as Craftsman tools. When you want one, they are available and cheap, and warrantied for a certain period. For the moment, as long as we are not assessed the real cost to the world of disposal, they are an economically viable option.