Spiffy
Veteran Member
<font color="blue"> I wonder how many of the premium priced mowers have some of the same parts as MTD has in them ?
How much of the value of the premium priced mowers is real and how much is perception ?
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"Premium brands" and "expensive machines" are not necessarly the same thing; however, the "lesser brands" often do not bother to compete in the more high end markets, thus creating a bit of that perception.
Of course, if you decide you have enough acres, applications, or abuse to warrant a "expensive machine" is a bit of a different topic.
On the other hand, if you're looking at two machines with identical specs & different paint jobs, the overlapping parts count is probably amazing, but the price will be much closer too. Just to put some [completely random] numbers to it you might pay 10% more for the premium brand, half of which may [or may not] be unseen things like more welds, better bearings, or some gimmick feature.
There's a good example of Lesco [noted in a few Zturn threads] who subcontracted CC for some commercial mowers; no marketing and pathetic website, but looks like over 10% savings compared to CCs near identical machine; now there is some serious savings, and the one guy who's used it already sounds very happy.
Back to the more common [but semi-fictional] example, if that 5% is worth giving either you or your favorite dealer a warm fuzzy or if there are certain "premium" parts worth the whole 10% to you: hey go for it. Else it's $100 in your pocket. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
Chad
How much of the value of the premium priced mowers is real and how much is perception ?
</font>
"Premium brands" and "expensive machines" are not necessarly the same thing; however, the "lesser brands" often do not bother to compete in the more high end markets, thus creating a bit of that perception.
Of course, if you decide you have enough acres, applications, or abuse to warrant a "expensive machine" is a bit of a different topic.
On the other hand, if you're looking at two machines with identical specs & different paint jobs, the overlapping parts count is probably amazing, but the price will be much closer too. Just to put some [completely random] numbers to it you might pay 10% more for the premium brand, half of which may [or may not] be unseen things like more welds, better bearings, or some gimmick feature.
There's a good example of Lesco [noted in a few Zturn threads] who subcontracted CC for some commercial mowers; no marketing and pathetic website, but looks like over 10% savings compared to CCs near identical machine; now there is some serious savings, and the one guy who's used it already sounds very happy.
Back to the more common [but semi-fictional] example, if that 5% is worth giving either you or your favorite dealer a warm fuzzy or if there are certain "premium" parts worth the whole 10% to you: hey go for it. Else it's $100 in your pocket. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
Chad