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

Hi all,
     Went upstate this past weekend to Cortland County (near Syracuse) to visit my mother. While I was there I swung by an old Ariens dealer to see if he had any of those snow cabs for my Ariens 8526LE. When i walked in I was greated with lots of nice machines....Simplicitys all over and a bunch of Toros. But no Ariens...so I just wondered around and was really digging Toro's new quick aim snow shoot! Pretty cool! But lots of plastic.... The Simplicitys look rugged and well built. Then the salesman/owner came out to ask if he could help. He didn't have any of the cabs but they were due in a week or so....then I asked him "where are the Ariens machines?" His reply.... "Ariens really cheapend their product to get it into Home Depo" Is there any truth to this? He went on to say that warranty work was killing him...his shop was full of repairs...and mainly all with the same problems. He said that the tranys were a major problem....plastic bushings causing problems and some other things that I can't remember. He said that after the last 2 years, he gave up.

Clarks garden power supply
They carry Simplicity, Ferris, Echo, and Toro...and no longer Ariens:(

Cheapened the machine? NO..

Cut the profit margine for small OPE dealers?  YES.....

Only difference between Identical stock number machine purchased from Agent Orange or a small OPE dealer is the quality of setup and experiance. Once Home Depot sells a machine, thats it. The OPE dealer will set the machine up properly and service after the sale.

"His reply.... "Ariens really cheapened their product to get it into Home Depot"

I also wonder if the allegation is true. But if you're HD, what do you do? You want to offer a quality snowblower to your customers. Maybe you're tired of having to deal with customer dissatisfaction over the MTD/Yard Machine/Poulan/AYP-type product. So you go looking for a manufacturer to supply you. There's really only three viable choices (Ariens-Toro-Simplicity). I didn't count Honda because of their likely price point. Of the three, only Ariens has the high marquee name recognition as a maker of snowblowers. Toro and Simplicity are good products, but those names are more associated with lawn equipment. So you court Ariens. I probably wouldn't buy a snowblower from HD but many people do, and if Ariens can get more of their machines into customers hands than the competition by selling through HD that's probably okay with Ariens...as long as some of the dealers stick around to service them.

AZ

FYI - HD DOES sell the small, single stage Honda HS520A snowthrower, but thats the only Honda model they offer...

Marty

cleanmaxx_brian wrote: If you look at the upgrades to the Ariens line for this season, they have added steel in some critical areas that increased the thickness of the drive unit. Where are the plastic bushings located?

I don't suppose the dealer mentioned that all the warranty work that's "killing" him will become service work once the warranty is up?

 Don't know if they are cheapened because my 1128LE is the first and LAST ARIENS I will own.

I bought from HD. They do not know how to set up anything. Had to re-work drive right away & still has one reverse speed only.

Machine is in repair shop now. Went in Nov. 16th & is now Dec. 14th. Auger worm gear stripped on first storm 14"

A month to fix? Might be an OK machine until it breaks, then good luck with repair & warranty. Ariens doesn't care, HD doesn't care, nobody cares. Now my driveway is so screwed up I'm sure 1128LE will break again trying to regain my now full snow storage. Hand shoveling 11' of snow in the last month has taken It's toll on me. When it breaks I will fix it myself which will cause "cancellation of warranty" But, what good is it? I not only have a worthless snowblower but a worthless warranty as well.

If I had to do it again I would buy 2 machines @ half the price so at least I would have a machine if one breaks down.

I am surviving using one of those little Toro electric power shovels. It is a joke but has hung in there better than ARIENS. Heck, go buy 10 power shovels & save yourself the trouble.

From Colorado, Summit County, which by the way has record/great skiing I hear. I am too busy hand shoveling to find ski time. Thank you ARIENS.

sounds like your problems is Home Depot, not Ariens.  just reinforces that the best place to buy is your local OPE store, not a big box.  around here, there was no price savings, and the local guy would deliver an assembled, fueled unit ready to go, and give you a quick lesson in the driveway.

jcco wrote:
Just curious - since HD has a 30 day return policy why didn't you just bring it back?

You say Ariens doesn't care, did you call Customer Service, or?

I bought 2 Ariens machines the last 2 years from my local OPE dealer. One is a 1128DLE the other a 8526LE. I COULD have saved a bunch on the 8526LE with a 10% HD coupon...but....when something breaks that I bought from HD, I know this OPE shop will fix it but ........I will be at the back of the line.

In previous years I did notice that some of the Ariens blowers were slopped together. Well, just look at their help...these folks just come and go out the revolving door. You had better be handy if you purchase one from HD IMO.

That auger should not have broke so soon even if it was a 2004 as it is an improved version over the 2003 model. Maybe just bad luck.