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

A Home Despot ad came with my newspaper today saying "10-25% off all snow throwers".  While running my errands, decided to stop in at my local HD to see what they were offering (Holland, OH). Turns out they had many Toro electric power shovels, two Toro 3650's still in the box (**all assembly required**), and one Yard Man 10.5 hp 2 stage (just like the one pictured in the ad). Nothing else that I could see. This Yard Man had a chute control that didn't work, and a chute that really was PLASTIC. Understand, I'm not knocking the Yard Man. It might be perfectly fine for an average winter in, say...San Diego. But this would be the wrong machine to buy if you lived in Buffalo, Bangor or Boston. It was only $100 less that the Toro 726 I purchased a year and half ago.

Moral of the story: Shop the Depot and the other big box stores if you wish, but don't neglect your local dealer. Any Simplicity, Ariens, Toro or Honda would run rings around the Yard Man machine I saw today, and last a lot longer.  My $.02 .

AZ

Got the same ad here too...

Dunno' what blowers are left at the local Depot...


Dave...

AZinOH wrote:
I here ya. Your local dealers are paying high prices to put these machines in their shops and its not like they make a billion or more a year you know. I fully support my local retailer. They are also a service center and I think that they do a good job. In these days, its hard to find such good service!

Same ad here in the Albany, NY paper today.  About two weeks ago the HD about 6 miles from my home had alot of Ariens-compacts up to 1336LEs-and some Toro one stagers. I took a look at the Yard Man and was not impressed either.

The HD in Concord NH like two or three weeks ago on Loudin Road was loaded with snowblowers of all shapes sizes and brands except the lowest priced ones.  I was in the area today but was tired and wanted to get home but I wish I had stopped by now to see what they had left.

C

I too like supporting the local guy. Unfortunate for me; I had "purchased" a 3650 from my local dealer where I get my Deere parts, and he tagged it with my name and "sold". Long story short, I told him that I was coming in on a specific Saturday to pick it up. When I got there he told me they had no more electric starts left (which is the one I bought). I told him that mine was tagged so it should be there. As it turned out another salesman cut my tag off and sold it to some else that morning. Hence, I REALLY didn't want to go to Depot, and I also had no choice. Although the 3650 from Depot had to be assembled, it was only 3 screws for the chute, two knobs/bolts for the handle, and two bolts for the chute adjustment shaft. Toro did do a good job of making it easy so it only took about 15 minutes to assemble. I have been back to see my dealer since and we re-hashed it with no hard feelings. He also sent me home with a $25.00 JD tractor for my older son. We each know we will see each other again. Walt

Dave___in___CT wrote:

Hey Dave, our local HD had  plentyof 8hp and 11HP Ariens models, the small Honda 4 stoke single stages, and a few Toro's. But with the storm predidtion, this might do it for the season as far as having anything left after today.

I had to stop at HD this morning and it was a riot. Snow blowers were flying out the door. People were actually gaurding units until they got paid for and out the door. That was about 10 AM. The snow started about noon. About 7 inches out there now, and still coming down heavy. Should be a fun day tomorrow.
                                                                                                                         Kevin

Vangellis wrote:

LOL...Just gotta love it.....

C

    That is why my friend went to HD at 7 AM, beat the crowd and buy a Ariens 1332LE for $1316.00!!

                                                                             Fred

The crowds...

Ahhh... yessss...

Wait  'til the last possible day to get what you shouda' gotten months ago...  


Dave...

watertown  MA was also a zoo.  with the sale and the storm they sold everything.

Advice from Terminator20 for year 2005.

When buying new OPE this year, please buy from and support your local dealer. You will be glad you did.

I wouldn't worry too much about HD or Lowes having snowblowers during this coming week.  Seeing how poorly they were assembled on the floor models, says it all.  I have no doubt a good percentage of them will be returned Monday morning after the storm because they failed for one reason or another.  Individuals may also assume that this is the one and only storm we'll get this year, which is a mistake.  If you're still sitting on the fence trying to decide if you want a new snowblower, I'm sure some really good deals will come up this week on slighly used machines, unless HD and Lowes have to return them to the manufacturer.  My neighbors laughed at me when I was testing my new snowblower during the last week of September, especially when I had to drive it up and down the driveway to check that the scraper wasn't going to impact any high areas.  Well, I know who is laughing now.