Would you recommend I buy a snowblower from Home Depot, Lowes, or True Value?

[shortylickens]

I learned my lesson a couple years ago: Do not buy large heavy equipment from Amazon. If you dont like the thing you're gonna have a pain returning it.

Also, Virginia is most likely gonna be not so nice this year.

https://patch.com/virginia/annandale/s/g8x1j/winter-forecast-virginia-dc-what-expect-2017-18

I just wanna get a jump on things.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

What you buy is more important than where you buy it.

 

[shortylickens]

What you buy is more important than where you buy it.

I already know what I want. The Where is important because I need a place that will help me out in the unlikely event I have a bad snowblower and need to return it.

 

[bbhaag]

What brand are you looking at buying? All three of the places you listed have a pretty standard return policy so I would say pick which ever is cheapest/offers the best perks for buying from them.
Have you considered buying local vs big box? I've purchased all my large lawn equipment from our local dealer and don't have any complaints. They usually are pretty close on price compared to the box stores especially if you pay cash(always ask if they offer a cash discount!)and if I ever have to take it in for service they always put me to the front of the line because they know I buy from them. Not sure where you're from but it's always nice supporting local business' versus large corporations who have no stake in your town.

 

[shortylickens]

Well if you support local then that would be the True Value.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Home Depot sells Ariens which are considered a pretty good brand, that's what I ended up going with a few years ago when I bought mine. Make sure you buy it now, they don't keep them in stock very long for some reason. That said, most consumer products now days are built down to a price more than ever so like even the good brands are not as good as they used to be. I had to get mine repaired already and it's only been a few years. Was a minor thing though but I did not want to deal with that in -30's and my garage is not insulated so got it fixed by a shop.

 

[boomerang]

Well if you support local then that would be the True Value.

There's no dealer that sells lawn and garden equipment near you? They typically sell snow blowers too.

 

[NetWareHead]

I prefer to go to a local outdoor power equipment dealer. I have husqvarna, honda, stihl and other dealers near me and most of them carry snowblowers.

The home center snowblowers most of the time have sub-par parts ir order for them to meet the store's price point. If you ever need service, you need to bring the snowblower to home depot and one of 2 things will happen. Home depot will have to ship the entire machine somewhere for repair so you are left without a snowblower for weeks. Or they have a contract with somebody local, usually one of the local power equipment dealers. So I like to cut out the middle man and go right to the dealer himself

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Ace hardware has always had very good service.

 

[paperfist]

If snowblowers are anything like lawnmowers I'd steer clear away from Lowes or Home Depot. I've heard many local and internet stories about the stuff they sell being inferior. Even though they are from major manufacturers they're apparently 'cheapened' to meet the price points of the big box stores.

I never really believed that till I bought a self propelled John Deere lawn mower from Lowes. The thing was almost $500 so I thought this would be the last mower I'd need for 10 years. Not so. What a steaming pile of *bleep*! The battery was shot in 1 season. The carb had to be rebuilt after 1 season. It was and continues to be a hard starter. In the 3rd year I had to replace the carb.

So for me personally I'd never, ever buy power equipment from either of those 2 stores ever again. To make it even worse the local dealer would have matched the price of Lowes.

 

[Elixer]

Actually, they are pretty much all built in the same engine plants in China.
I think Honda still uses *some* engines made in Japan.
Some bodies are made in the USA though.

The best you can do is buy one that has the longest warranty.

For example, the toros you see at the "lawn & garden" place are pretty much identical to the lowes/HD/Menards places, but cost a few hundred more. Warranties are the same, all engines made in China.

These days, they just don't build anything to last.