"Dear Customers";  A Weekly Letter from Paul Costa

 Dear Customers,

      This week’s column has nothing whatsoever to do with groceries but since it involves Costa’s Ace Hardware, I felt it important enough to discuss here.  When it comes to home repair, there are basically two extremes in describing homeowners.  Some men find changing a light bulb daunting while at the opposite end of the spectrum are those who just seem to have a natural knack for fixing anything mechanical.  I would rank myself somewhere in the middle of those two extremes.  Light bulbs hold no challenges for me, but I am in awe of those who can tear apart (and put back together in working fashion) machines, engines, and appliances.

      Several years ago at our semi-annual hardware buying show, we were approached by a Stihl representative and asked to be a retailer for their world renowned chain saws, grass trimmers, and lawn equipment.  After some discussion we agreed to give it a try and the success has been phenomenal.  Logger’s and people who make their living in Penn’s woods know that Stihl equipment, though expensive, is worth every penny.  It’s engineered and designed to hold up under the toughest conditions.  It stands to reason then, that equipment that is used this hard will need regular maintenance and the occasional tune-up.

      Therefore, Stihl doesn’t just concern themselves with selling their product – they want to make sure that it continues to run and run and run – long after the warranty has expired.  So, in order to be able to sell Stihl products, you need to have a “certified service technician” on staff to take care of this after purchase care.  There are 3 levels of Stihl Certified Service Training; Bronze, Silver and the extensive Gold Training level which is known as Stihl MasterWrench Service certification.  This last level is bestowed only upon technicians who have been able to pass all three levels!

      Recently, our own Ron Hollowell attended a training session in Virginia Beach for several days.  Upon completion of the course he was notified that he has achieved Stihl MasterWrench certification and is not only proficient in all repair work but is able to offer expert advice on the proper care and upkeep of your equipment.  In our completely stocked repair center, Ron is able to handle whatever repair or service needs you’ll find yourself in need of utilizing specialized Stihl repair tools. And thanks to the fact that Ron is on our staff, Costa’s Ace Hardware has now achieved the highest level attainable by a dealer – Stihl MasterWrench Service Certified Dealer.  By definition, “an Elite dealer has made an exceptional investment to provide customers with a comprehensive line of Stihl equipment and accessories along with superior service” 

      Got any questions?  Stop in and see Ron and our attractive display of Stihl accessories and equipment.  Even if you don’t have a need for a chainsaw they stock some of the finest weed and grass trimmers, garden tillers, power blowers, shop vacs and pole trimmers you’ve ever used.