A little miffed

[Grumpycat]

Unless the lawn is a small in size, I can't see why anyone would buy a rider lawn mower from Low's/Home depot. They are the lowest quality mowers IMO..

Agree. Built to sell on price.

Just consider the number of lawn tractors sitting beside the road free for the taking. Mower deck disintegrated. Found repair to cost about the same as a new mower.

We are starting to see "welded mower decks" on the box store products. That doesn't mean they are tough enough. Doesn't mean they use quality spindle bearings, or idler pulleys. But a welded mower deck is something a buyer can see.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Went to a Deere dealer the first time I was looking to buy a tractor, they wouldn't give me the time of day. Kubota got my money ever since.

 

[jyoutz]

Am guessing the O.P. has purchased his mower by now. But I'd suggest others look hard at the multitude of zero-turn mowers and independent dealers.

Bad Boy mowers appear to be of very high quality and good value. Not as cheap as box store mowers but built better.

Country Clipper is another excellent brand but perhaps the most expensive. My 42" Avenue has 18HP Kawasaki and Interstate battery, right off the showroom floor. And joystick steering (twin stick is same price option). But it was $4800.

One Country Clipper option I have not seen elsewhere is a hand rail. If you have ever mounted a ZTR with a handrail you would never want to do it again without.

I recently bought a Stihl ztm. It has four wheel suspension and shocks. Really makes mowing rougher ground comfortable. Also, good service and parts availability at local Stihl dealers.

 

[paulsharvey]

If a dealer matters for a riding mower; shop your Husqvarna or other small engine power equipment dealer, not a tractor dealer. It's short sighted on their part; that mower could very well lead to $50k of sales over the next 5 or 10 years; but they clearly don't see it that way.

Now, to defend the dealer just a bit; if he was working on your quote, then get a call from a major client; I have no doubt he dropped you off the agenda; as would anyone; his commission off you is probably $75; vs several thousand of something else.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

I bought a JD lawn tractor from Home Depot in 1998. Had dealer sticker on back.
Used the hell out of it. 3/4 acre of lawn, surrounded by trees. Double mulch the bag. Pulling cart full of all sorts of heavy stuff, aerater.
Not sure how long they are suppose to last, with or without the abuse I dished out, but at 790ish hours, with routine maintenance, still runs fine. 1belt, many oil changes, and a bath every now and again.
Either I or my wife, most likely me, hit something hard enough to crack the deck at a deck support. It was very hard to realign the deck to weld. This was NOT a cheap deck, very thick. Maybe things have changed since then...

 

[tacticalturnip]

If a dealer matters for a riding mower; shop your Husqvarna or other small engine power equipment dealer, not a tractor dealer. It's short sighted on their part; that mower could very well lead to $50k of sales over the next 5 or 10 years; but they clearly don't see it that way.

Now, to defend the dealer just a bit; if he was working on your quote, then get a call from a major client; I have no doubt he dropped you off the agenda; as would anyone; his commission off you is probably $75; vs several thousand of something else.

You don't want a Husqvarna lawn tractor these days, their frames are terrible.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

You don't want a Husqvarna lawn tractor these days, their frames are terrible.

Mine is good, but the deck lift is made weak and will bend, resulting in uneven deck.

 

[etpm]

usually the ones you get from John deere and spend over $4000 on are commercial duty, the ones you get from lowes & home depot are not,one of the differences is the spindle shafts on the home depot ones are 5/8 inch,the commercial ones are 3/4 inch. I bought my 1993 JD 320 hydro used 7 yrs ago off craigslist,18 hp Kawasaki liquid cooled with a hydraulic deck lift. I give $1300 for it and had to replace the radiator screen & side panel trim,they were missing. the 1993 JD 320 went for $5300 new @ JD in 93. I coulda got one from lowes but I wanted

usually the ones you get from John deere and spend over $4000 on are commercial duty, the ones you get from lowes & home depot are not,one of the differences is the spindle shafts on the home depot ones are 5/8 inch,the commercial ones are 3/4 inch. I bought my 1993 JD 320 hydro used 7 yrs ago off craigslist,18 hp Kawasaki liquid cooled with a hydraulic deck lift. I give $1300 for it and had to replace the radiator screen & side panel trim,they were missing. the 1993 JD 320 went for $5300 new @ JD in 93. I coulda got one from lowes but I wanted a tank

I am shopping for the same exact model from the Deere dealership, Lowe's, and Home Depot. The same exact model. People are talking about different models. I don't care about a model that is $1000.00 more. I'm not buying it. So it doesn't matter in this conversation. It has also been implied that Lowe's and Home Depot sell a different version of the same model. I find this hard to believe. Can anybody show me that this is factual?
Eric

 

[etpm]

John Deere as with most manufacturers has chased most small independent dealers out of business. The standard answer was it cost too much to support them. They have encouraged these huge multi store dealers. My son works for one of those multi store dealers and tells me of how the big boss sets the policies and usually don't care if the customer get taken care of. Besides JD is the elephant in the pool, he thinks the pools is his and doesn't care you might want to swim too.

It used to be with independent dealers there were a few close enough you could go between them and dicker a lower price, but with the multi store dealers or big box stores it is take it or leave it.

The dealer I worked at was required by the manufacturers to uncrate, setup, and test the unit before it was picked up or delivered.

Most big box stores either refer you to a local dealer or they "collect" units in need of repair for a few weeks until they have enough to send to a dealer. The dealer may be busy before he can look at them, then until parts are ordered and come in, then the tractor is repaired can be weeks or even months. Yes I worked at a dealer (not JD) where we had a contract to repair big box store sold units.

If you want a dealer that offers you personal service and good service seek out a local independent dealer. They will be happy to serve you and give you personal advise on the best mower, tractor, and attachment for your needs. That said it may not be JD, or other "main line" consolidated dealer.

There are no independent dealers in my area. The Deere dealers are not owned by John Deere but they cannot be called independent. They are all the same company. In Washington and Oregon. So I either buy from them or the big box stores. The Deere website only steers me to the one company. Anybody in western Washington will know what I am talking about.
Eric

 

[etpm]

If a dealer matters for a riding mower; shop your Husqvarna or other small engine power equipment dealer, not a tractor dealer. It's short sighted on their part; that mower could very well lead to $50k of sales over the next 5 or 10 years; but they clearly don't see it that way.

Now, to defend the dealer just a bit; if he was working on your quote, then get a call from a major client; I have no doubt he dropped you off the agenda; as would anyone; his commission off you is probably $75; vs several thousand of something else.

I think your defense comes from someone who has never owned a small business. In the 40 plus years of owning a small business I NEVER slighted a small customer in favor of a big customer. Never. It is just not ethical. Bad business too.
Eric