Decided to buy Z-Force 44. Need further advice...

MesquiteMan · Apr 13, 2005

OK for all who have been following my purchase decision. I went today to the Cub dealer 1+ hours away and looked at the Zforce 44 right next to the RTZ50. LOML and I both agreed the Z-force was the one to get. Now the delima...

The independent dealer only has an 04 Zforce 44 in stock with the B&S Intek engine. He is only willing to deduct $200 for the 04 model. That will make it $3399 instead of $3599. This dealer is over 1 hour away and would not be doing any of my normal maintenance due to the hassel og going through Austin, TX to get to him with bad traffic. I would only use him for warranty work.

I can order a Z-force 44 from Lowes who is 3 miles down the road. They will give me 10% off on an 05 model with the Kohler Command engine. That will make it $3239 and ALOT more convenient for me to pick up. It will also support my local community, at least with sales tax and jobs. Now I am the first one to like to support the mom and pop shops but there is a limit. What would you do?

04 with B&S engine and help a mom and pop or 05 with Kohler engine and save $160 and a LOT of hassle?

Is the Kohler a better engine all else being equal?

Thanks a bunch for all the advice so far.

DmansPadge · Apr 13, 2005

From what I've gathered... if you buy from Lowe's and need warranty work you take it to them and they take it to a dealer. That might work out good for you. I'd rather spend money (mom and pop or chain store) in my city rather than spending it an hour away. I would check into the warranty aspect of it if you buy from Lowes... but that is the way I would go. I'd also rather the Kohler and an 05 model. Chances are you will not need any warranty work anyway and if you plan on doing the regular maintenance I'd save my money and get the newer machine at Lowes.

Moon · Apr 13, 2005

The Lowes deal sounds better to me. I would ck to see if they will connect you with whoever they use for warranty work, so you can contact them direct if needed. But ...like DmansPadge said, chances are you will not need any warranty work done.

Moon of Ohio

Nasty135 · Apr 13, 2005

MesquiteMan, Hmmm? Convenience and savings VS. Headache and more money . That's a no brainer, but I do understand the Mom & Pop thing , look at it like this somebody else will buy the mower sooner or later. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Just because you found a better deal, You shouldn't feel bad about not buying from Mom & Pop.

gamble77 · Apr 13, 2005

I agree...if the dealer had been in your area then I would have strongly recommended buying from the dealer. However, since they are too far away and Lowes is right around the corner then I would buy from Lowes...as much as I hate to say that it makes sense in this situation. Good luck and post some pics when it gets in!

NCTarHeel · Apr 13, 2005

MesquiteMan I'm thinking about buying either the Z-Force 44 or 50 and didn't realize that you could get them at Lowes. Every place I've checked around town has them at the same price and will only come off $100 off the sticker. Was the 10% discount due to price matching?

MesquiteMan · Apr 13, 2005

The Z-force are special order through Lowes. They actually have a salesperson at our store just for mowers and I developed some rapport with him. I told him I wanted to buy from him but he had to do better than anyone else. I told hime I would open a Lowes account if he gave me 10% off and threw in an extra set of blades. He talked to the manager and it's a done deal! I doesn't hurt to ask.

gamble77 · Apr 13, 2005

Yeah I wasn't aware that you could buy them from Lowes either...me and my sales rep will have to have a "sit down" about this one!

texbaylea · Apr 13, 2005

MesquiteMan

I would go with the 05 from Lowes. Avoiding the drive through Austin on I-35 is worth maybe a little hazzle to get service if it came to that.

Vernon

DmansPadge · Apr 13, 2005

Gamble, I have two Lowes within about 20 miles of me. Last year I was looking at the riding tractors. One of the stores stocked units that the other one didn't... and they had a few units they could order that the other store couldn't. I talked to the managers of both stores so I assume that was the case.

BTW, Lowes will negotiate prices if you push them.