One source for affordable chainsaws can be on line auction sites. Often you can save quite a lot of money shopping the auction sites for a chainsaw. First, try to know what you are looking for. Research the brand and what the retail price is. Decide whether you want a gasoline or electric chainsaw and what size chainsaw you want or need. At the same time you need to be flexible. If you are looking for Brand A, but a comparable saw from Brand C is on an auction site for less money, grab it.
You can really get bargains at these sites but there are a few things you need to watch. You may find a new in the box chainsaw and the starting bid is low, however it can quickly rise well above the retail price. People get caught up in the bidding and will just keep raising the ante in the quest to win.
Even if you win a bid at or close to the retail price, you still have to pay shipping and there is also almost always a no return policy. If however you are not satisfied with your purchase and think you can prove they buyer deceived you, you can file a complaint with the site and they will attempt to resolve the situation.
At least one of these sites has sellers that run “stores” on that site and some of them will allow you to return items that are unsatisfactory. We bought a factory reconditioned saw with full factory warranty at slightly below retail price. Recently we found a similar offer for a gasoline chainsaw on one of these auction sites. Keep your head, compare prices at the auction sites with retail prices and stick to what you budgeted for a chainsaw.