DunkVT

Don't purchase a Craftsman snowblower. Period!  I have owned one for 9 years (largest one they sold at the time).  The problem is this: their belts are NOT standard sizes (isn't that just plain stupid) which means that local repair shops generally do not carry them.  The second reason is that because they are not standard size you must purchase from Sears at a greatly inflated price.  Local repairs shops don't like to stock them because of this. So I've had shops place a belt on that is close in size but does not work for long.  You'll have to lug the machine back for further repairs --- after buying the belt yourself  from Sears. An all around frustrating experience.  Do yourself a favor -- don't buy from Sears. 

This is an example of a company that has it all backwards and as a result is in financial trouble. Rather than accommodating customers and making it easy to repair their products, instead they want you to repair Craftsman products only through their repair shops and only using their parts which are greatly inflated in price.  The result is such an unsatisfactory experience over time it leaves the customer heading for another product once the Crafstman dies or they get rid of it out of frustration. Doesn't sound like sustainable business practice to me. If their stock price and rumors of the company's troubles are true, many customers head for the hills after one experience with Sears.  It's a shame given the need to support American products.

Don't purchase a Craftsman snowblower. Period!  I have owned one for 9 years (largest one they sold at the time).  The problem is this: their belts are NOT standard sizes (isn't that just plain stupid) which means that local repair shops generally do not carry them.  The second reason is that because they are not standard size you must purchase from Sears at a greatly inflated price.  Local repairs shops don't like to stock them because of this. So I've had shops place a belt on that is close in size but does not work for long.  You'll have to lug the machine back for further repairs --- after buying the belt yourself  from Sears. An all around frustrating experience.  Do yourself a favor -- don't buy from Sears. 

This is an example of a company that has it all backwards and as a result is in financial trouble. Rather than accommodating customers and making it easy to repair their products, instead they want you to repair Craftsman products only through their repair shops and only using their parts which are greatly inflated in price.  The result is such an unsatisfactory experience over time it leaves the customer heading for another product once the Crafstman dies or they get rid of it out of frustration. Doesn't sound like sustainable business practice to me. If their stock price and rumors of the company's troubles are true, many customers head for the hills after one experience with Sears.  It's a shame given the need to support American products.

Don't purchase a Craftsman snowblower. Period!  I have owned one for 9 years (largest one they sold at the time).  The problem is this: their belts are NOT standard sizes (isn't that just plain stupid) which means that local repair shops generally do not carry them.  The second reason is that because they are not standard size you must purchase from Sears at a greatly inflated price.  Local repairs shops don't like to stock them because of this. So I've had shops place a belt on that is close in size but does not work for long.  You'll have to lug the machine back for further repairs --- after buying the belt yourself  from Sears. An all around frustrating experience.  Do yourself a favor -- don't buy from Sears. 

This is an example of a company that has it all backwards and as a result is in financial trouble. Rather than accommodating customers and making it easy to repair their products, instead they want you to repair Craftsman products only through their repair shops and only using their parts which are greatly inflated in price.  The result is such an unsatisfactory experience over time it leaves the customer heading for another product once the Crafstman dies or they get rid of it out of frustration. Doesn't sound like sustainable business practice to me. If their stock price and rumors of the company's troubles are true, many customers head for the hills after one experience with Sears.  It's a shame given the need to support American products.