Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

I've been looking for a backpack blower for a while.  So, Thursday I get a flyer in the mail from Sears Hardware.  It lists 30% off all ceiling fans.  We want a fan for my son's room and the guest room si I figure I'd check them out.  On friday, I head over to a local store at lunch.  Not a lot to choose from and nothing that looks all that good so to kill some time I wak over to the OPE section.  Good selection, better than most "regular" Sears stores I've been in.  Nice day for browsing.

Next to the OPE section, there's a couple of shelves of clearance items.  On the shelf are some small pet supplies.  As I am looking at the turtle food (wondering why there is turtle food in a Sears Hardware store...and yes, I have a turtle...which is another long story...and six goldfish...and three dogs), I see a Husqvarna backpack blower.  145BT...which sells for $300 at Lowes and regularly goes for $250 or so (plus shipping) on eBay.  Good performance numbers, nice 40.2cc Kawasaki engine.  It's not in a box and missing a few parts - two pieces of the blower tube, some clamps, and the owner's manual.

I find a salesman and ask how much and if it's returnable if I don't use it (actually, I was sure Sears would take it back even if used).  Yes it was returnable and after checking the price...$179.03 (don't know where they got the $.03).  So I buy it figuring if I couldn't get the missing parts, I would just take it back.  The salesman also threw in a bottle of Husqvarna 2-stroke oil.  It runs on 50:1, same as my little Mantis tiller and line trimmer.

I called Sears Parts this morning, spoke to a very pleasant young lady in Mobile, Alabama and to make a long story short, the missing parts (except the manual which I downloaded and printed off the Husqvarna web site) will be here Thursday.  No charge.

LL