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

I’m a long time fan and customer of the Ariens Company...in my experience they always produced tough hard working products, engineered to last, and built from quality components.   But right now I’m having trouble figuring out exactly what an Ariens product is supposed to be. 

I was in Home Depot and noticed two Ariens roto-tillers.  At first glance I was impressed when I saw that they were powered by a Subaru engine, which in my experience, has proven to be a very reliable brand. But on close inspection I saw that the tines were stamped out of the flimsiest metal one could imagine.  When I went to play with the gear shift lever the rubber grip cover came right off in my hand.  All in all they seemed cheap and very shoddy”.

I’d really like to know what a current Ariens product is.  Is it a top line product worthy of a premium price that will last a long time?  Or is it a mediocre product with planned obsolescence that will fail in short order and need to be purchased again in a few years.

The perceived value of the brand name "Ariens", and therefore the entire Ariens line, is only as good as the "worse built product" that they choose to put their name on.