I bought one of these earlier this season for $420 and it is great.

Sears: Online department store featuring appliances, tools, fitness equipment and more

I also have a lower-end Sears model that is 5 years old now and it still runs fine. The rear wheel drive mechanism needs a little work but it it is otherwise in good shape. With 2 lawnmowers my twin sons should be able to get the lawn done in 1/2 the time, right? I've always had good luck with Craftsman power equipment. It's the same as Murray, MTD, Noma, etc.

I was thinking about buying a new 32" Ferris hydro mower for $2400. It would make short work of my 1/3 acre lot I am sure, but I just couldn't justify the price. I had no trouble buying a $32K boat and a $36K truck in the same year but I couldn't see spending big money on a mower.

I had no trouble buying a $32K boat and a $36K truck in the same year but I couldn't see spending big money on a mower.[/QUOTE]

cutting by the moon sign:

theres an exact science to it... and that is..........

if you want a perfect lawn ...thats lush and green you cut it
just before its going to rain when the moons in a water sign
of cancer picses or scorpio for example...
preferably before the full moon to ensure the hydroscopic pressure is building same as the tides.

but if you want to minimize growth and not have your lawn
growing GANG BUSTERS where ya have to cut it each week so you have more fishing time.

you cut it during the waning (loosing light) after the full moon
during a barren sign (air or fire) say of LEO , when theres no rain. :uhuh:
and slow down on the friggan Scotts fertilizer
for crying out loud.

I don't know where you guys get this info from...I bought mine through Home Depot. They are actually sold through HD by a local company called James R. Rosencrantz & Sons....which is located in Kingston NH (I purchased mine out of Seabrook NH)...same exact mower I could buy at their shop I got at HD....not a "cheapened down" version.

What exactly is cheapened down? Any examples I can look for? It has the exact same motor that is listed on the JD website, it is all solid steel frame. Thing has run flawlessly for six years....and I'm not exactly easy on equipment.

cutting by the moon sign:

theres an exact science to it... and that is..........

if you want a perfect lawn ...thats lush and green you cut it
just before its going to rain when the moons in a water sign
of cancer picses or scorpio for example...
preferably before the full moon to ensure the hydroscopic pressure is building same as the tides.

but if you want to minimize growth and not have your lawn
growing GANG BUSTERS where ya have to cut it each week so you have more fishing time.

you cut it during the waning (loosing light) after the full moon
during a barren sign (air or fire) say of LEO , when theres no rain. :uhuh:
and slow down on the friggan Scotts fertilizer
for crying out loud.[/QUOTE]


:eek5: Huh??????? What the hell are you smoking? Weed? Grass? Lawn? It's all the same. Put the peace pipe down for a little bit there Raven.

I also have an old Lawn Boy. Getting close to 20 years old now. It's a 4 stroke motor though. I want a new mower, but this one won't die. The only thing not original is the spark plug and a new blade this year.

Dad, good question and I hope someone answers. I was told years ago when I was shopping for a snow blower not to buy one from HD. The reason is that HD has agreements with these companies and they manufacture cheaper, mass market products to sell at a low price at HD. Specifically, I heard this about Ariens.
I always assumed its true. From a business perspective, it makes no sense. Like in my case I think Toro sucks, not HD. So how does Toro really profit from this in the long run? Anyone?

:smokin:

answer: Guaranteed sales

How is it Guaranteed sales if the word of mouth about their product is that it is crap.

because not everyone hears the local or community gossip
about home depot's merchandise being crap

they have a huge customer BASE ...Toro has to keep the lights on,
their employees paid on time....and all that, so when they sell a huge chunk of
lawnmowers to one customer even at "almost" a loss
it brings in revenue that acomplished that objective.

doesn't matter if they sell slow or fast at home depot
it's not TORO's problem once they (HD) takes delivery
nation wide.

But thats not HD making them give them inferior models....if Toro's are junk they are junk

i have no direct knowledge of how Home depot or any other retailer
requests a cheaper version of the real McCoy http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/ravenob1/WB.jpg

i have a feeling though that they (HD) only sell some mowers to appear as a complete garden and lawn supplier so they can sell you all their other stuff for the outdoors....

I googled the question and came up with not credible info to support it.

i bought a toro reconditioned used mower from home depot
in may for less money than brand new and it runs perfect.

Most of the good brands now carry two lines. (Ariens, Honda, Toro, Lawnboy,John Deere.Echo, Husky, etc etc)

Home Depot grade
Commercial grade.

Don't buy anything at Home Depot. For example the same model of Ariens snowblower (900 series) from HomeDepot has a solid transaxle that results in a %$%$%$%$ty turning radius. The same model in commericial grade has the limited slip differential doodad, that allows you to turn easier. Yes you pay more, but it lasts longer and works better.

These equipment manufacturers get taken to the cleaners with Home Depot and Wal-mart, so they have their chinese manufacturers skimp everywhere on their Home Depot lines.

Go to a good Power Equipment retailer, buck up the extra money and get commercial grade.