How to Avoid Counterfeit STIHL Tools

Beware of the bargain trap! We all love a good deal, but sometimes, it’s just too good to be true. This is especially true when it comes to STIHL tools being offered for sale on auction sites or at car boot sales. Unfortunately, counterfeit STIHL garden tools are circulating in the market, and they come from unscrupulous sources. While the lower prices for fake STIHL tools may seem tempting, they usually mean reduced safety and lower quality.

You can trust that genuine STIHL tools are of the highest quality and safety standards, having gone through rigorous testing. Whether electric, cordless, or petrol, the tools manufactured at STIHL factories have a reputation for excellence that you can rely on.

The danger with counterfeit machines is that they are often produced cheaply and are likely to break down quickly. Even if you try to repair them, genuine STIHL spare parts may not fit them, rendering them irreparable. Additionally, safety devices could be completely missing, putting the user at risk. We recently came across a counterfeit chainsaw with a broken hand guard for the automatic chain brake, which could have had catastrophic consequences.

The counterfeit tools are usually designed to look like the original STIHL products, with the same model name and the familiar orange and light grey color scheme. Some online sellers even stamp the STIHL logo on the tool. Sometimes, however, online sellers will use the STIHL name to sell a product that is nothing like the original, as happened with the GTA 26 cordless garden pruner in 2020. Many fake adverts appeared online, offering the GTA 26 battery-powered pruner at a low price, but when the products arrived, they were just saw chains with two fabric handles attached!

Sometimes though, 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!

Counterfeits are not limited to our products alone. We’ve also seen imitation saw chains, chainsaw guide bars, and other accessories.

At STIHL, we sell our products exclusively through our network of STIHL Approved Dealers. By finding your nearest STIHL dealer, you can be sure you’re getting the STIHL quality you expect, along with the right servicing and maintenance back-up. STIHL dealers are not authorized to sell through auction sites, such as eBay or Amazon, so if you see STIHL products on these sites, they are highly unlikely to be genuine.

Second-hand STIHL products are sometimes available for sale too, and they won’t all be counterfeit versions. However, be vigilant and examine the products closely before buying. We’ve seen plenty of fake versions with STIHL spelt slightly wrong (STHIL or STILL!) or with no model name at all.

If in 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 genuine. This can also help with machines you suspect might be stolen, as owners can let us know about stolen tools, and we can add a note to our serial number database.

We urge caution when buying new products anywhere other than a STIHL Approved Dealer. It’s not worth risking your safety and quality for a lower price. Instead, take advantage of the advice given to you by STIHL experts at over 700 dealers across Great Britain. At STIHL, we take pride in delivering excellent products and service, and we hope you’ll join us in safeguarding the quality and safety of STIHL tools.