"Charlie Morgan" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 22:09:38 -0500, "EXT"
wrote:

Don't buy your snowblower from a big box store. Go to a garden equipment
supplier. I have an 8 hp Airens 2 stage. It clears 2 feet of heavy wet
snow
in one take. The specialty supplier will set it up, probably deliver at no
charge and teach you how to operate it and be there if you have problems
or
need maintenance. The big box store will not do any of that and just tell
you to take it (as if you could carry it) to a repair shop.


And the pricing is surprisingly similar. I picked out the Ariens I liked
by
comparing features on their website. It was a year when Home Depot was
carrying
the brand as well. I went to my local tractor store and got the same
machine for
the same price as Home Depot. I didn't have to negotiate that price
either. That
was their normal price. The big difference is that the tractor store
carries
Ariens EVERY year, and has mechanics that go to Ariens training seminars,
so
parts and service will never be a problem. That's good, because Ariens
have a
reputation for last 30+ years. Home Depot and Lowes change vendors
constantly,
depending on who they can squeeze the most.

CWM

That pricing thing - it's true for a lot of product categories. I recently
bought a Weber gas grill from a BBQ specialty store. It was ten bucks LESS
than Home Depot, and included any bottle of BBQ sauce or marinade from their
selection, as well as a refrigerator magnet with their phone number on it.
They offered to assemble the thing for free (small grill - would've fit my
vehicle when assembled), but I didn't need the help.