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

A few weeks ago I posted about how impressed I was with Simplicity's new 208cc SS unit, looked well built and much more appealing over the Toro. Anyway long story short I was just looking for some tools at Sears.com and noticed the Craftsman  88782 thou I would probably never buy a craftsman again this thing looks really nice! Anyone have any insight on this machine?

while i dont have experience with that particular model, but l will say that SEARS parts department at least where i live in canada do a VERY poor job.. and trying to get replacment parts means long wait times... and i mean long, like i have to wait 3-6 months to get parts sometimes.. which is complete bull$#%*...and with sears products dealers have a very hard time getting specs as sears does not relaese it to dealers as the other brands do.. so if i go to my local dealer he cant look up a part for craftmans machine..now dealer know by experience what parts a what but still another drawback that sears does.. so something to consider when buying a craftmans snowblower, other than that there machines do hold up pretty well in my experience.

Yeah I was only curious, imo sears blowers are crap! Even the Toro/Simplicity dealer service manager mentioned how crappy they are. He mentioned if he had to buy one that he would tear they thing apart and put it back together again. He stated that these things come poorly assembled, things not adjusted properly which result in premature wear. I recently dropped off my my ex neighbors 9/28 craftsman, less then 4 years old and needed 400+ bucks in repairs!

the older craftsmans were built alot better, like 20 years old... but everything of that age seems to be of better quailty than there producing now. it is what is...

Sears' business model is structured so the lowest bidder wins the contract to build "fill in product here" for that year or timeframe. While it may reap high profits, it reduces the quality of the product they sell and tarnishes their reputation. Just my opinion...

The Craftsman 88782 is a MTD 31AM2T6D799 selling for around $600 US.  Parts should be easy to get.

 

21 in. 208cc* Single Stage Snow Thrower w/Electric Start

 

Performance

208cc* 4-Cycle OHV Craftsman® Engine provides more power, longer life, and improved fuel economy - no mixing of gas and oil required. Move more snow with a more powerful engine and save time out in the cold

Push button electric start allows for easy and sure starts in cold temperatures

21 inch clearing width and 13 inch intake height lets you clear more snow with each pass, ideal for small to medium paved driveways, decks, and sidewalks

Snow Claw® auger technology reduces clogs and throws snow farther, with rubber paddles engaging the ground to clear pavement clean

Auger-Propelled forward speed - the ground engaging auger paddles pull the unit forward reducing effort to maneuver unit

 

Design

2-way Remote Chute Control - 190 degree chute rotation with ease of a joystick to discharge the snow where you want it, quickly and easily without leaving the operators position

In-dash headlight illuminates the clearing path

8" x 2" wheels allow for easy mobility when not throwing snow

 

Convenience

Mitten-grip starter handles - easy to grasp and turnover recoil start while wearing gloves

Ergonomic gull wing handle designed for a more comfortable grip and better control

 

Warranty

2 Year Limited Warranty backed by Sears Service

niper99 wrote:

I have been buying my snowblowers , lawn mowers, chainsaws, tractors  etc .from Sears for over 30 years.   I have always found that these machines have been assembled properly with no adjustments required

They stand behind their warranties and their service department is excellent.  Their parts service is also excellent.   all  I have to do is give them the model number and  serial number , They are very helpful in finding

the parts that I need. They have always had the parts in stock, even parts for my older machines  . They ship the parts out the same day and I receive them in a few days.

Also , their prices  for parts.are amazingly  inexpensive.

I find that their snowblowers etc are  well built and last for many years without having any problems.

Be sure to check out Craftsman before looking at anything else

trouts2 wrote:

Also available in Cub Cadet exciting race yellow and black paint scheme, and remote deflector adjustment.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202937354/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

Don't buy a Craftsman if you have a choice.   As previously mentioned Sears parts are criminally expensive.   Insultingly expensive.  Outrageously expensive.

Case in point:

Bought a used Craftsman SS machine last January.  Motor mount cracked causing misalignment issues which ate the belt.   Priced a belt from Sears, brace yourself.....

$47.00 plus shipping plus tax worked out t around $54.00.   Bought a suitable belt from NAPA for $7.00.   Fit perfectly and was flogged mercilessly all last season and has seen all of the snow removal chores so far this year.  Don't forget, I've got that old Craftsman humming along at 6000 to 6500 rpm.  If the $7.00 belt even last for one season, it's worth the price.  If it lasts longer.....bonus!

borat wrote:
A little off topic, but several years ago, I had Sears quote on replacing a sliding patio door.  $5000 !  Just for one.  Not that the door was anything special, just the standard vinyl clad door, and the job was subcontracted to an installer.  I wonder what was Sear's profit on this deal.

Never bought anything expensive from Sears again.  Sears has lost it, I don't understand their business model.  A time ago, it was your one place shopping for clothes, appliances, electronics, and car service.  Now, it's just a department store occupying expensive retail space in a mall. 

Yep - once needed a 1" left threaded replacement bolt for a Sears fridge - they wanted TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS for it.  Found another solution.  Now I hear Sears is closing over a hundred stores in North America - wonder why  LOL.

Dr_Woof wrote:
Yeah the bolt must have been hand made by Leonardo DaVinci.  A real freaking masterpiece!!  I heard that Sears/KMart will closing down 120 or so stores in the USA but none in Canada.  I guess we're still dumb enough to keep them in business up here.  I buy nothing from Sears and wouldn't miss them if they closed down up here.  They're masters at gouging people yet fools still drop their money there.

There are definitely things I don't buy there. OPE as an example, though that's not limited to them, since I prefer to try and buy better-quality used stuff, nowadays. But our fridge has been working well, for instance, and they had the best deal (our Kenmore is made by Whirlpool, as I recall, and I found the same model for more at other stores, sold under a different name).

I have been quite happy with the hand tools I've gotten there (sockets, wrenches, etc). And when I have suddenly needed a tool quickly, they've been there to help (mail order doesn't help when you need it today). They have also replaced the few tools I've had issues with, under the lifetime warranty. I have not interest in seeing them go away. Competition helps us as the consumers.

Even if you or I don't patronize them for Item X, I'd still rather they stay in business. As much as I like Harbor Freight for some things, I don't want my two choices in stores to eventually just be Wal-Mart and Harbor Freight.

Good points.

But if they want to survive, they have to smarten up.   I used to own Craftsman tools but have since switched over to other outlets for anything I need now.  I haven't bought anything from Sears since probably 1999 or so when I needed a scraper bar and skids for my snow blower.  I was astounded at the ridiculous price they wanted for cheap junk.  A strip of steel and a couple of stamped skids was something like eighty bucks.   The real value of the parts should have been around twenty.
They're obviously gouging when it comes to  parts.   

I've gotten by without Sears for twelve years or so already and will likely never need nor use them again for anything.   In my mind, they're already gone.

That's true, that there are things they should do differently/better. I bought a used Craftsman lawn tractor that had a bent sheetmetal-style front axle. Before I bought it, I was pricing out the cost of the required parts to get it back in shape. I looked up the axle on Sears' site, it was $75, IIRC. Did some more looking around, and eventually bought the same part, new, for $20-25 on another site. That was a significant improvement.

For parts, maybe it's something of the nature of the beast. The Craftsman part number for your expensive belt/bolt/whatever will be somewhat more difficult to look up elsewhere. They presumably rely on the fact that you need to be more motivated before you'll find another source for their part. So hopefully you'll just overpay through them. I presume that helps the rest of their business. Like the person buying the $20 extended warranty on the $40 DVD player. I wouldn't do it. But if it helps the store, which then helps keep it open, then the other person is kind of helping me out. Put differently, I benefit from the $20 warranty/overpriced part being available, even if I'm not buying them. And some people are willing to go for it.

Sears built their reputation on Craftsman tools and they do have decent appliances for a decent price (got a couple small freezers there, and washer/dryer combo).  They are losing their reputation because of their OPE business model.  They subcontract to the cheapest manufacturer from year-to-year, so you're never sure of what you're getting without a lot of homework, and parts lookup is a nightmare.

That being said, I did get my lawn tractor and 2-stage blower there.  My wife's Dad always liked Craftsman, so she wants Craftsman stuff (I've slowly been educating her on their downfall), so we ended up getting stuff there.  BUT, I did my research, discovered the lawn tractor was made by Husqvarna and it was a few hundred dollars cheaper than the same exact Husqvarna's down the road.  Same deal with the Craftsman/MTD snowblower, cheaper than the clones down the road.  If I need parts, I go to Husqvarna and MTD.  I tried Sears once for parts, won't be fooled again - they have a BAD business model.  So, if you do your homework/research, and plan to do your own maintenance and get parts from other places, you can often find good Craftsman OPE deals when they have their sales on.

If/when they do go under, hopefully a third party will buy out the Craftsman tool line and keep it going.  It's the only thing really worth saving.

longboat wrote:  
If you look closely at the components used on the Husqvarna and MTD you'll most likely see that they are of a better quality than what is found on the Craftsman product. Not all of the components but certain items that allow the price of the Craftsman product to be chiseled down enough to lower the sell price and the overall build quality and longevity of the product. Older Craftsman OPE (like a lot of OPE these days) was solidly built and made to last. The overwhelming factor these days is cost of goods sold and the subsequent profit margin and nothing else.

Thus far, the parts that I've repaired/replaced have been identical.

I could see the Husqvarna tractor having nicer seats, pedals, wheels, paint job, etc., but I imagine the frame is the same, the B&S engine is the same and the Tufftorq tranny is the same.

Not sure how you could "chisel down" an MTD any lower than it already is...

longboat wrote:

You have a point there, but that's the market share they're after!

borat wrote:

Big article in the newspaper today concerning the dismal last quarter Sears and their sister store Kmart had. They are said to be looking for financing which if not found will spell the demise of the company. The article stated that the public"finds nothing positive about the Sears shopping experience". Another piece of America about to be lost-Very sad! Marc

FrankMA wrote:

I think one of the biggest differences is in final assembly.  I've had to make a few adjustments to my OPE as delivered by Sears.

My lawn tractor has nearly 100 hours on it - think I will drop the tranny this spring and add synth fluid and a parts kit, although Craftsman/Husqvarna are not to blame for the low-end tranny, as nearly all sub-$2500 lawn tractors with hydrostatic transmissions are afflicted with the same malady (search for TuffTorq K46 Repair Guide on the tractor by net forum).

The K46 Hydro is designed for light duty use on relatively flat ground. Most folks get into trouble when they start to use their lawn tractor (LT) as a garden tractor (GT) by pulling heavy loads or using ground breaking implements. I had a Craftsman YS4500 that I purchased with the best of intentions but then started to overwork it by using it like a GT. I could feel and hear the K46 being overworked so I sold it and bought a real GT. Yet another example of using the right tool for the job.

mml4 wrote:
What make it particularly sad is that it could have been totally prevented had Sears management opened up their eyes, listened to complaints and did something about it.  After all, what does it take to get the point across that your customer base is eroding due to arrogance and hubris and insensitivity?  

Sears is just as bad as Toro when it comes to arrogance.  The difference between the two is that Toro have very good products.  Despite their condescending attitude toward their customers, Toro survives.   However, that too could change.

I hate to see Sears go, it was a store that I spent a lot of time when I was growing up and it has corporate presence in my state.  I bought some Craftsman hand tools and a few major appliances over the years, but nothing since 2000.  Everything seems to go downhill with Sears when Walmart and Target gained steam on them.  Sears was too slow to catch up or change direction to retain customers. They insisted that their department store should be tied to a high rent mall space.  Big mistake !!!

Every once in a while, I would peruse the store to see if there's any new interesting OPE pieces.  Nothing exciting, just the same watered down stuff with their black and red paint on it.  They never had something out that was unique, always a generation behind in innovation.  Sometimes an OPE with a "Professional" banner would catch my eye, upon closer inspection, I was dissapointed.  I also had little confidence in their product line because I never knew who makes what year after year.  When I buy brand names, I expect evolutionary refinement and reliability, not fancy banners and unknown lineage.  I came to conclusion that Sears only practice badge engineering and cost control.

FrankMA wrote:

Agreed.  I have a DYS4500 (2442); however, the lawn I have now is hilly.  I don't pull ground-engaging equipment, but the hills take their toll.  What bugs me the most is that you have to pay double the price for a tractor to get a transmission upgrade that likely costs the dealer one or two hundred dollars more.  AFAIK, you cannot buy a new tractor under $2500-3000 with an upgraded tranny.

What about the poor sucker who buys an expensive JD X300/304.  If the dealer doesn't guide him correctly, the end-user can get royally screwed.  By upgrading to a JD X320/324, the end-user can get a MUCH stronger tractor for not a lot more cash.  I'm not sure how to classify the X300/304 ("expensive lawn tractor, do not use on hills!?!").

Anyway, my point is, it would be nice if at least one mfr. would offer the K66 hydro in a budget (<$2k) lawn tractor.  No, you don't have to pull ground-engaging equipment with it, but maybe you could mow on hillsides with some peace-of-mind, and have enough $$ leftover to buy a pull-behind leaf sweeper.

aa335, " I hate to Sears go."

Sears are not going out of business. It was a poor choice to buy the over 100 K-Mart stores  and now they are closing or selling these K-Mart stores

 and keeping and improving the Sears stores.   

In Canada there hasn't been any K-Mart stores for many years so there is none to sell.

Sers Canada is once again   showing a healthy profit.

aa335, " I hate to Sears go."

Sears are not going out of business. It was a poor choice to buy the over 100 K-Mart stores  and now they are closing or selling these K-Mart stores

 and keeping and improving the Sears stores.   

In Canada there hasn't been any K-Mart stores for many years so there is none to  close or sell

royster wrote:
Sounds like it was a poor decision for a failing business to buy another failing business.

Like I said, I hate to see Sears go away.  Let's hope they can turn around and improve their business.

My local Ace Hardware now sells Craftsman hand tools. I stopped using their power tools in the 80's, but the sockets, etc. still seem as good as my old (60's & 70's) ones. They'll outlive me easily.

Bill_H wrote:

Believe it or not I use to think the same thing, both Sears's that I frequent said they see more broken sockets that ratchets....While I never had an issue with even one socket they said its an everyday occurance. IDK