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?

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.