Abby’s Guide > Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) > Discussions > ariens has lost my respect
Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions |
|
borat
 
Joined: Nov 10, 2007
Points: 2692
![]()
|
 |
Re: ariens has lost my respect
Reply #28 Dec 20, 2009 10:25 am |
|
Borat, I think that there is a difference between the snowthrower market and the automobile market based on where you live. Consider this...I live in a area where I can go two years without ever needing to start my large snowthrower. We just got 10 inches of snow in SE PA today and this is the first time in years that I needed to start my large 2 stage Ariens snowthrower. (For the last few years all I needed was my smaller single stage Ariens 722...and on some years I didn't even need it) However someone living in the North American snowbelt or Canada needs a machine that's built well enough to handle 10 snowfall with a much greater frequency. If manufacturers only built snowthrowers with premium components, top of the line engines, cast iron everything, and engineered to exacting standards then I'd be forced to buy a lot more machine than I need...and for a lot more money than I may want to spend. I can get by for many years with an MTD POS if I wanted to, while you really need a snowthrower that can take a much more frequent workout...and that's the difference.
As for how the Japanese can product quality and thrive while we can't all I can say is that I once worked for a German company where long range planning was 20 years...just like the Japanese. I now work for an American company and long range planning is 3 months...or until the next earnings update to the investment community.
MM42, there is no excuse for knobs falling off the machine that you bought. And there's REALLY no excuse for Ariens not replying to your email. I became an "Ariens man" years ago when their customer service was tops in the industry. It's troubling to learn that it's fallen off that much. Not buying that argument. The point is that the manufacturers are not only supplying low grade, inexpensive models, even their premium products are being built to a lesser level of quality. I have no problem if a company wants to make a cheap snow thrower for the "occasional user". However, when their so called premium units start to show signs of compromised quality and prices remain high, I certainly do have a problem with that. No excuse for building lesser quality products and still demanding top dollar for them. So, companies that cannot develop a business plan longer than three months can use that excuse to build cheap? I don't get the connection. Sounds to me that any organization with a three month plan doesn't have a plan. That sounds more like shoe string survival. As I've said in the past, a company can rest on it's laurels until enough loyal customers realize that their loyalty is not being rewarded with the quality products they had once appreciated. Customer, by customer, day by day, week by week, their market will slowly evaporate. When that happens, even China won't be able to save them.
|
flange
Joined: Dec 10, 2009
Points: 6
![]()
|
 |
Re: ariens has lost my respect
Reply #32 Jan 5, 2010 10:26 am |
|
This post is for screen name MM42 I may have a trick that could fix your cable problem.You may have to wait till next season to try it but if you can get the cables dry on the inside or get a new set of cables so you could have a spare set. Let the cables soak in automotive antifreeze use antifreeze straight uncut., if you can see the antifreeze is compleatly thru the cables you shuold be good for a year of two. Using lube may work, but oil and water will still freeze inside the cable.
This message was modified Jan 5, 2010 by flange
|
|
|
