Buying a snow blower

WWW · 08-30-2002, 8:35 AM

Does anyone know where I find the best price for snow blowers? I'm looking to buy either a Honda or a Toro single stage. The cheapest price I can find for the Honda is $519 with recoil and $599 with an electric start. Is that a good price? Does anyone own one?

2000 TL · 08-30-2002, 9:43 AM

WWW, My bud owns a Honda, manual start and he raves about it. He bought it at a place in Elgin, which matched Home Depot's price.

If you find a Honda at good price, let me know. I'm in the far western suburbs.

WWW · 08-30-2002, 10:54 AM

I didn't know Home Depot sell Honda brand. I'll check it out. Like I said, $519 is the lowest I can find so far. There are some places that charge as much as $650 for a recoil model. And they are less than 10 miles apart from each other.

jdone · 08-30-2002, 7:36 PM

Snowblowers are not a hot item in Louisville but since I am old and lazy I bought one several years ago at Sears. It cost 40% less than the Honda model. I have been pleased with it and durability is not really an issue since I use it about once a year.

rogerscr · 09-01-2002, 11:13 AM

Always buy an electric start, take it from me. I've owned 4 snowblowers, and there is nothing worse than pulling that damned recoil cord about fifty times to get it going, especially when you've ran it out of gas and have to pull it repeatedly to pull fuel back to the carb.

Toro or Honda? Both good brands. I've owned 2 of them. The small Toro's run 2 cycle engines, so it means another gas can in the garage. What ever you buy, get a can of Sta-Bil to treat the fuel.

As for the price...cheapest is not always best for this type of equipment. Bought mine from a local dealer who specializes in outdoor equipment. Price included assembly and delivery. For me, that was important, since I don't have access to a truck.
First year, I caught a rock that did a number on the auger. When I called the dealer, the first question they asked was "Did you buy it here?" They came right out and picked my unit up and took it in for the repair, and delivered back the next day.If I had purchased from Home Depot, I doubt that I would have gotten that kind of response.

This is the type of equipment that when you need it, you need it now. The lawn can wait another week if the mower craps, but that snow is for the most part, not going anywhere soon. And when it snows enough to justify using the snowblower, everyone who has snowblower problems is calling and wondering why they have to wait a week for service.

But, if you really want to save some money, watch the auctions and garage sales. I've picked up more than a few good, servicable pieces of outdoor equipment really cheap.

BLEXV6 · 09-01-2002, 6:51 PM

Now we get snow like you do in Chicago, well you may get more, but not much, and I like you, was looking @ Hondas. The problem I have is that they are way too expensive for the # of times you use it. I remember 10 years ago pricing an 8 HP unit Honda was $1800 Canadian.

I ended up getting a Sears 10 HP model, with electric starter for $900.00 Canadian. Although its no Honda, and I love Hondas, I could not justify the extra for something I use 10 times a winter. The Sears unit has been problem free as an added extra bonus.

BTW, I broke the bank and bought a self propelled hydrostatic lawnmower from Honda. Its great, but I use it a lot more than a snow blower.

08-30-2002, 8:35 AM	#1
WWW Papa Bear Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Chi-town Age: 34 Posts: 284	Buying a snow blower Does anyone know where I find the best price for snow blowers? I'm looking to buy either a Honda or a Toro single stage. The cheapest price I can find for the Honda is $519 with recoil and $599 with an electric start. Is that a good price? Does anyone own one?

09-01-2002, 6:51 PM	#6
BLEXV6 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,508	Now we get snow like you do in Chicago, well you may get more, but not much, and I like you, was looking @ Hondas. The problem I have is that they are way too expensive for the # of times you use it. I remember 10 years ago pricing an 8 HP unit Honda was $1800 Canadian. I ended up getting a Sears 10 HP model, with electric starter for $900.00 Canadian. Although its no Honda, and I love Hondas, I could not justify the extra for something I use 10 times a winter. The Sears unit has been problem free as an added extra bonus. BTW, I broke the bank and bought a self propelled hydrostatic lawnmower from Honda. Its great, but I use it a lot more than a snow blower. __________________ 2002 Anthracite TL OEM Spoiler 1998 Black Accord EXV6 OEM Spoiler

08-30-2002, 9:43 AM	#2
2000 TL Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Posts: 195	WWW, My bud owns a Honda, manual start and he raves about it. He bought it at a place in Elgin, which matched Home Depot's price. If you find a Honda at good price, let me know. I'm in the far western suburbs.

08-30-2002, 10:54 AM	#3
WWW Papa Bear Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Chi-town Age: 34 Posts: 284	I didn't know Home Depot sell Honda brand. I'll check it out. Like I said, $519 is the lowest I can find so far. There are some places that charge as much as $650 for a recoil model. And they are less than 10 miles apart from each other.

08-30-2002, 7:36 PM	#4
jdone Registered User Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Louisville Posts: 1,431	Snowblowers are not a hot item in Louisville but since I am old and lazy I bought one several years ago at Sears. It cost 40% less than the Honda model. I have been pleased with it and durability is not really an issue since I use it about once a year.

09-01-2002, 11:13 AM	#5
rogerscr Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Age: 52 Posts: 11	Always buy an electric start, take it from me. I've owned 4 snowblowers, and there is nothing worse than pulling that damned recoil cord about fifty times to get it going, especially when you've ran it out of gas and have to pull it repeatedly to pull fuel back to the carb. Toro or Honda? Both good brands. I've owned 2 of them. The small Toro's run 2 cycle engines, so it means another gas can in the garage. What ever you buy, get a can of Sta-Bil to treat the fuel. As for the price...cheapest is not always best for this type of equipment. Bought mine from a local dealer who specializes in outdoor equipment. Price included assembly and delivery. For me, that was important, since I don't have access to a truck. First year, I caught a rock that did a number on the auger. When I called the dealer, the first question they asked was "Did you buy it here?" They came right out and picked my unit up and took it in for the repair, and delivered back the next day.If I had purchased from Home Depot, I doubt that I would have gotten that kind of response. This is the type of equipment that when you need it, you need it now. The lawn can wait another week if the mower craps, but that snow is for the most part, not going anywhere soon. And when it snows enough to justify using the snowblower, everyone who has snowblower problems is calling and wondering why they have to wait a week for service. But, if you really want to save some money, watch the auctions and garage sales. I've picked up more than a few good, servicable pieces of outdoor equipment really cheap.