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:(

 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.

I agree. I don't know how many times I have called and spoken to someone mentally retarded(It is good they are giving them jobs, but it is annoying when you are trying to find something) or someone who speaks virtually no english. Also I find people are too lazy to check stuff for me. I have been at HD and Best Buy and heard the phone ring and the guy just hits the mute button, or says forget it and walks away, its very annoying when you are the one on the other side of the line.

I also hate going in and asking for something and I show it to them and they just don't get it. Or they say they don't have it(I check anyway) and they do, or vice versa.

My blower had a few loose nuts and bolts but besides that it is working fine.

Hi Folks

Today 12/20/05 & still no Ariens fixed. Had to finally borrow neighbor's Yard Machine 8/26 [Wal Mart].

Ariens service is quite casual about my concerns. They don't care.

I had asked to upgrade shipping to Fedex overnight and I would pay the difference. They did not do it. UPS ground.

My machine is in a small town shop. Not my town. I bought @ HD 2003. We have been in drought last 2 years and 1128le sat virtually unused. So much for 30 day return.

I will simply fix it myself from now on. Forget their warranty, it does nothing.

BTW, the WalMart 8/26 actually did a darn good job, plenty of power & easy to handle. Half the price -- Hmmm.

All you skiers - We are drowning in Colorado Mtn. snow. Central & North.

Good luck wAriens 

Oh, I forgot my HD comment.

I used to be a HD stockholder. Sold it because the service in stores is horrific & I generally need to believe in the product to own the stock.

I don't go to HD with much expectation. You have to know exactly what you want or trust the "name brand" attached to product.

I have no local dealer any where close for Ariens. I had to trust the brand & go with it.

No one want's the 1128le to be  good more than me. So far, Ariens customer service is that of only lips. They are real nice, but nice isn't removing my snow.

In the shop Nov. 16. Now Dec. 20 still not fixed because Ariens is committed to providing service center with prompt parts.

It's the worm gear [stripped] in the auger gear case.

JC

Whoops,

Last thread should have read Ariens NOT committed.

& how can you edit a post?

JC

I bought my Ariens 11528 a month ago and it works great. One morning I went out to start it started hard and wouldn't run right.  I called my OPE dealer and a service guy was at my door in 1 hour . It turns out it was my fault , water got in my gas jug !