How to avoid counterfeit STIHL tools
Brand and product piracy: Beware of imitation STIHL products
Take care: what looks like a bargain may turn out to be very expensive, as the low price of counterfeit chainsaws goes hand in hand with shorter life, less power and reduced safety.
However counterfeits are not always offered at low prices. In many cases the prices are only a little lower than the original product prices. This is done to create the impression that they are original STIHL products.
Imitation goods are a major safety risk
While STIHL products are distinguished by features that meet strict quality and safety standards, imitation products have no such safeguards. Often, these substandard power tools are only operational for a short time and then cannot be repaired due to a lack of spare parts. In addition, their safety-specific equipment may be defective or missing entirely. For example, in one instance of investigating a counterfeit chainsaw, the hand guard for the automatic chain brake – the most important safety device in a chainsaw – broke off during unpacking.
STIHL chainsaws in particular have been targeted by counterfeiters. These plagiarised goods come mainly from China and look similar to genuine STIHL products, particularly in terms of their orange and light grey colouring. Buyers are further deceived by the attachment of counterfeit labels displaying the STIHL brand as well as, in some cases, the use of known model designations such as MS 440. Apart from the colours and stated model designation, these chainsaws bear no relation to genuine STIHL saws.
Sometimes online sellers will just use the STIHL name to sell a product that is nothing like the original. This happened when we launched the STIHL GTA 26 cordless garden pruner in 2020. A flood of fake adverts appeared on social media offering the GTA 26 battery-powered pruner at an extremely low price, but when the products actually arrived, they bore no resemblance to the tool. Instead, they were just saw chains with two fabric handles attached!
It’s not just our products that are copied. We have also seen imitation saw chains, chainsaw guide bars and other accessories too.
How can you protect yourself?
Street trading, flea market purchases and car boot sales in particular are always reliable sites for counterfeit, substandard and risky products. Similar suspicion should be applied when new products are offered online, particularly via eBay or Amazon as STIHL dealers are not allowed to sell through these sites.
We are of course aware that second-hand STIHL products are sometimes available for sale too, and they won’t all be counterfeit versions. But do look closely at the products before you buy. We have seen plenty of fake versions with STIHL spelt slightly wrong (STHIL or STILL!) or with no model name on them at all.
If you are in any doubt, you can always ask for the serial number of the STIHL machine and check with our Customer Services team to see if it is a real serial number. This can help with machines you suspect might be stolen too, as owners can let us know about stolen tools and we can add a note to our serial number database.
STIHL sells its products exclusively via authorised dealers, thereby guaranteeing that the products are genuine and that expert service and advice are provided. At your STIHL Approved dealer you can be certain that you are not buying any cheap replicas, but always taking home 100% STIHL quality. If a new product is offered for sale anywhere other than from a STIHL Approved Dealer, at Screwfix, or via our own online shop, we urge you to be cautious
Note:
In case of doubt, please contact your dealer. We will also be happy to answer any questions – please contact us at enquiries@stihl.co.uk.
