Over the past few decades, the world of shopping has evolved drastically. Customers are now granted more choice when it comes to shopping either online or in physical stores, with “holiday” shopping events such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday drawing more and more consumers to the world of online shopping. The Covid-19 pandemic had a huge effect on the world of commerce, driving many customers to stay home and shop online in order to stay as safe as possible. Even though Covid-19 precautions have relaxed some in the last year, many people still prefer to shop online, citing a number of different reasons as to why. In just a few minutes of reading, find out all you need to know about shopping for Stihl Cape Town products online vs in-store.
The advantages of shopping online for Stihl Cape products
Despite the fact that online shopping has been in existence since the mid-1990s, wide usage has increased drastically over the past 10 years. This can be attributed to people feeling more and more comfortable with the process. Before, there was a general distrust with online payment portals that could only be ameliorated by watching others succeed in the process. Many people were pleasantly surprised with the speed and ease of online shopping.
It is near impossible to argue with the advantages of online retail, especially since the availability of reviews on products boosts the confidence of potential buyers, or alternatively discourages them and steers them towards a different product. One would be pressed to find a person who dislikes the 24/hour availability of online shopping, as well as the fact that it can be done from anywhere, from your couch to your desk – and anywhere in between. There are many more advantages to online shopping for Stihl Cape Town products, such as:
Delivery
Ordering a Stihl Cape Town chainsaw online? A brushcutter? Whatever Stihl product you decide upon, know that it can be delivered. This is one of the greatest pros of ordering online. You don’t even have to leave your property! Not only does this help you cut down on petrol costs, but it also minimises your risk of contracting Covid-19 in a busy store.
No pressure to buy any products
Oftentimes, when shopping in a physical store, we end up buying something we did not want – or need – due to feelings of pressure and anxiety. Having over-zealous salesperson hovering over your shoulder can actually be more detrimental than informative. You may get persuaded into buying something that you are not quite happy with. Shopping online removes the pressure of having to make a purchase in a store, and you are afforded all the time in the world to make your decision.
Product reviews and research readily available
As already mentioned, the ability to check out relevant product reviews, as well as conduct thorough research while browsing online, leads to more informed decisions. Reliable online articles and blogs are great resources to find honest reviews and tips before making a purchase on a particular Stihl Cape Town product. We at BS Power offer a diverse blog, detailing tips, tricks and buyers’ guides to help you make a responsible decision.
More variety online than in-store
It is no secret that online stores offer more variety than brick-and-mortar stores. The latter has to take shelving space into account, which is why they typically do not stock as much as online stores which usually have multiple warehouses at their disposal. Even if rarer products need to be ordered from across the country and may take a few weeks, you will have saved a trip to a physical store where they likely would have told you the same thing.
Escape the crowds when you shop online
Undoubtedly, one of the greatest advantages of online shopping for Stihl Cape Town products from online stores such as BS Power is the fact that you can escape crowds of shoppers. There are very few people who enjoy waiting in queues, or having their shoulders bumped while standing in a busy shop. The arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic only made these stresses worse. Shopping online erases all of the above issues, ensuring a stress-free (mostly) shopping experience with quick check-out times.
Advantages of shopping in-store
Naturally, there are advantages that only shopping in brick-and-mortar stores can provide. Shopping in-store still has a very prominent place in retail, and many people enjoy the personalised experience it provides. The peace of mind of knowing exactly what you are buying, how it feels and looks in real life, cannot be understated. The instant gratification of bringing home your Stihl Cape Town product is rather desirable. The following list contains some more benefits of shopping in-store:
In-store promotions
Oftentimes, physical stores attempt to attract customers by offering “in-store only” promotions. This is understandable, as they are trying to create product awareness and build their brand. If you are only shopping online, you may miss out on some of these exceptional deals.
Instant gratification
We have already discussed the notion of instant gratification when taking a product home on the same day of purchasing it. Forgoing the wait of delivery as well as potential shipping issues certainly does not hurt.
Enjoy a personalised experience
Although most online stores have chat-bots or online sales assistants, some people prefer the face-to-face interaction with a salesperson who can equip them with extra knowledge and share their own experiences. Personal recommendations are known to be quite helpful when making a decision between two or more Stihl Cape Town products.
Test products
There are various products that are much easier to buy if you have tested them out yourself. Naturally, it may not be the norm to start up a Stihl Cape Town chainsaw in-store, but there are certainly other applications.
Shopping safely during Covid-19
Should you make the decision to visit a physical store, make sure that you are aware that the risk of contracting Covid-19, despite the relaxed restrictions, is very much still there. However, if you are willing to take the risk, try to practice the following points:
- Always wear a mask, properly over your nose and mouth.
- Never shop in-store should you feel that you have any symptoms of the virus.
- Avoid peak shopping hours.
- Maintain a distance of 2 metres from other shoppers.
- Disinfect your hands and shopping cart or basket handles before entering the shop.
- Avoid picking up products that you do not intend on buying.
- Avoid touching your face, neck and hair.
- Ensure that you use sanitizer upon leaving the store.
- Ensure that you stick to your budget
There are few things worse than splurging and exceeding your budget, only to suffer later on in the month. However, sometimes a product you desperately need is out of your price range. Fortunately, like shopping trends, payment options have also evolved. Currently, most retailers accept credit cards and monthly instalment options to help alleviate financial strain. Making use of these plans is certainly nothing to be ashamed of, and although budgeting can feel like a schlep, it increases your chances of meeting all expenses, paying off any debt as well as putting money away in savings.
Tips on choosing the best Stihl Cape Town chainsaw for you
As one of Stihl’s most popular products, the Stihl chainsaw comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. Models range from heavy-duty to more lightweight ones, and even battery-operated versions. The size, style and type of chainsaw you buy depend completely on your budget, requirements and the specific project/s you will be working on. With so many gorgeous and sleek models, you may feel overwhelmed when it comes to making your choice. So, to help you with your choice, here are some Stihl Cape Town chainsaw buying tips:
Ask yourself, what will you be using the chainsaw for?
Should you be a homeowner looking to use a chainsaw occasionally to do some light cutting, an electric chainsaw will work wonderfully for you. Should you be looking to burn wood in a furnace, and wish to take down medium-sized trees, you may want to look for a petrol chainsaw that has a 45cc engine or more.
What is your level of experience?
In the event that you have never used a chainsaw before, you may wish to start with a smaller chainsaw, then follow through with your first project and gain some experience before upgrading. Small chainsaws usually range from around 12’’ to 18’’. For more experienced chainsaw users, 20’’ up should be perfect.
What type of wood will you be cutting with your chainsaw?
Wood ranges from soft to hard. When it comes to woods like hickory, ash, oak, dogwood, birch, beech and hard maple, you will want to use a more powerful petrol chainsaw.
How frequently will you be using it?
Should you foresee yourself making use of your chainsaw only a few times a year, an electric chainsaw may be more suited to your needs. As a result, you will not need to worry too much about maintenance. When it comes to petrol chainsaws, much more maintenance is required, though they are perfect for users who will put them to work often, and take part in larger projects.
Where will you be using the chainsaw?
If you are the owner of a large plot of land, and see yourself trekking into the woods to cut larger trees, a petrol chainsaw is definitely what you need. On the other hand, should you be staying close to your home and trimming nearby trees, an electric chainsaw is a good choice.
Does noise matter to you?
It should come as no shock that petrol chainsaws are noisier than electric ones. Petrol chainsaws boast a 2-stroke engine – like lawnmowers – and are a result are quite noisy. You may wish to consider using ear muffs or another form of hearing protection while operating it.
The most important factors of a chainsaw
Now that you have a guideline to help you choose the most appropriate chainsaw, it is important for you to get familiar with the most important aspects of a chainsaw – if you are not already keyed up. The most important factors are as follows:
Engine power type
There are 3 different engine types in chainsaws:
- Electric: wherein power is referred to as amps, or amperage. The higher the amperage, the more powerful the chainsaw is.
- Petrol: wherein power and capabilities are measured in cubic inches (or centimetres). Naturally, the more powerful the chainsaw’s engine is, the larger it will be.
- Battery: in this case, power is referred to as volts or voltage. This type of chainsaw is suitable for lighter cutting and pruning only.