The Case for Stihl Zero Turn Lawn Mowers
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You can’t toss a rock without hitting a different lawn mower manufacturer these days. Everyone is trying to enter this growing market, so much so that it's quickly becoming saturated. Customers are inundated with options that borderline on overwhelming. So what makes Stihl’s latest venture into this oversaturated market worthwhile to consumers? We’re going to dive into just that, in this post I’m going to list out the 3 main reasons your next zero turn lawn mower should be a Stihl!
3. They’re Built By Ferris
Whether it’s a blog post or youtube video, the first comment on anything Stihl lawn mower related is always the same “It’s a Ferris”. This isn’t anything Stihl is trying to hide behind. In fact there are several reasons why I think they chose to partner with Ferris. The first and main, being that Ferris makes a solid lawn mower. They have an established reputation for being well built and their suspension system is second to none. The second reason Stihl would want to work with them is their size and availability. Because they are a smaller company, they are willing to work with Stihl to allow customization. Stihl working with them is the biggest thing that has happened to a company like Ferris outside of the myriad of times the company has been purchased. I imagine they would want to bend over backwards to meet Stihl’s high expectations. Why would Stihl try to reinvent the wheel? They can quickly go to market with a top (albeit relatively small) contender. Stihl’s reputation for quality coupled with Ferris’ already great reputation and willingness to meet Stihl’s standards is a match made in heaven. One that might save a small player like Ferris in the future, which we’ll dive into next.
2. They’re Not Going Anywhere
As I mentioned in the opening the zero turn lawn mower market is completely saturated. With the buying craze that covid brought squarely in the rear view mirror market consolidation is inevitable. There are too many cooks in the kitchen and that market is only going to support a few top chefs. This is where Stihl is set to shine. Because of their size, they really don’t have to worry about being bought out or cannibalized. Internally, their zero turn segment is a drop in the bucket compared to their handheld equipment market share which isn't going anywhere. At the end of the day there are going to be several zero turn lawn mower companies that go the way of the dinosaur and Stihl is in a position to watch everyone else fall and remain one of the last manufacturers standing. The obvious benefit to consumers is that they’ll continue to get support for their machines long after their neighbors’ manufacturer has disappeared and left them with an orphaned machine. This is purely this author’s opinion, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Stihl didn't end up purchasing Ferris before this was all said and done. Regardless though, Stihl has a rich history of making older parts accessible to allow customers to get the most out of their equipment while being able to weather any storm the market throws at it. There is no reason to think that is going to stop.
1. Stihl: The Company is Awesome
We’ve been in business for 58 years now and have worked with most of the top level zero turn manufacturers at one point or another. We’ve also had nearly all of the larger hand held equipment providers in our store as well. Stihl does it better than everyone else. I’m not just talking about working with their dealers, which they do a great job of empowering and training in their products, but also, and perhaps more importantly in terms of how they treat the customer. There are never fights about warranty, parts are generally readily available, and they have the highest rate of repeat customers in our store for a reason. Stihl takes care of their customers. This is a main reason why you seldom see them in the big box stores. They want their customers to have the support of a dealer when they purchase a Stihl product. This reputation and attention to detail has set them apart in the handheld equipment industry and will continue to do so within their zero turn line. I’ve said it before in youtube videos and I will continue to say it, the thing that separates Stihl from Ferris and its other competitors is that Stihl is supporting the machine. They will handle the warranty and parts availability. Most people don't understand what a big deal that is and take it for granted, but I personally have fought with companies on customers’ behalf to get warranty work covered. I know what it's like to work with a tough company and what it’s like to work with a good one and believe me when I say Stihl is a good one. Parts availability has become a large issue as well in the past few years post covid. Stihl has buying power and they make their customers a priority, very few companies have/do both.
At the end of the day there are a lot of zero turn mowers out there to choose from. I truly feel like Stihl is one of the better choices out there. Time will prove me right or wrong in terms of what companies will be left standing in 3-5 years but I truly believe Stihl will still be there with the same commitment to excellence that has propelled them to the top of the equipment industry. They’re making a great product. They have basically unlimited buying power, and they have a great dealer base that is empowered and committed to the same high standard Stihl holds for itself. This is my case for a Stihl zero turn for your next lawn mower.
