OT.What happened to the companies we grew up trusting?

[LC-88]

There was a time Thinkpads were the greatest machine made.

Now I have been through 2 in a year.

Yep. When they were made in RTP, NC. After Lenovo took over they went to crap.

One of the worst days in my life is when I went to Sears about five years back to by a Craftsman wrench. Made in China. Haven't been back since. I will pass on all my Made in USA Craftsman tools to my son. I still have my Dad's Made in USA (1977) Craftsman Circular Saw. Runs like a champ.

 

[Ole Cabbagehead]

The snow blower in question is made by MTD for Craftsman. MTD is a huge company that has bought up many of the old brands (Yard Machines, Troy-BIlt, etc.). On the good side, MTD is a USA company. On the bad side, they make crap. People need to learn to research these purchases on the way in to see who is making the models they are buying, and what their reputation is. Appliances and lawn equipment has all undergone a huge consolidation, and most of the old "brands" are kept alive only for name recognition purposes. There are only a handful of companies still making the equipment, trading on people's illusions of quality with respect to certain brands - Craftsman, Kitchen-aid, etc.

The one's that do still exist are doing what they have to do to survive in a world in which price is the only thing most people care about. Everything is disposable now, because people won't pay for quality. Many brands also have cheapy models that are outsourced, whereas the top of the line stuff is still made in USA by the actual company. So if you don't do the research, you think you are getting a quality product, when in reality you are getting crap. This is what Briggs and Stratton does I believe.

My $0.02, when you have to replace it, go Arien's. Sold through dealers or at Home Depot, USA made, and a much better machine, IMO. Also Toro is great. Honda are great, but really pricey.

 

[MYHATINTHERING]

you guys are doing this all wrong, buy a Murray. If it's good enough for Canadians, it will be fine for us:) My Murray has never given an ounce of trouble in 7 years

 

[Andy117]

Sears doesn't even make a lot of the parts for the blowers any more anyway. Mine has a Briggs & Stratton engine and a bunch of parts with different names. If I was buying a new blower, I would spend a little more and get a Toro at the local small engine sales/service place in town. Everything about Sears sucks, including the employees who don't know or don't care about anything - couple of years ago I bought a shop-vac there, opened it at home, and it was clear it was purchased and returned previously (attachments missing, box in disarray, etc.).

I worked at Sears when I was in college, Sears mowers were made by American Yard Products (Poulan, Husqvarna, Yard Pro) My Kenmore refrigerator is made by Samsung.

 

[theRU]

China happened...we allowed the 1% to build their factories overseas, continue charging the same or slightly lower price while they stuffed their pockets with profits.

 

[Abro1975]

My small engine mechanic, a retired engineer, said that even with the name lawnmowers and snow blowers like Honda, there is a big difference between the ones Home Depot and Lowes sells and the ones a shop that sells to professionals have on their floor. He says the ones at Home Depot/Lowes are lower quality with plastic parts in places where the professional ones have metal or a better material. He said you have to research by model number even for those name brands like Honda/Snapper/Toro, etc.

 

[MYHATINTHERING]

China happened...we allowed the 1% to build their factories overseas, continue charging the same or slightly lower price while they stuffed their pockets with profits.

no the 1% but the democrats and especially Clinton.

 

[bac2therac]

Remember as a kid I would literally get goosepumps when the Sears Christmas Catalog came in October and you would get to circle everything you wanted for Christmas

 

[rutgersdave]

My mom brought a Whirlpool range/oven for about $1,000 at Best Buy a couple of week ago and had it installed. She didn't use the oven the first 2 weeks and when she did, realized it wouldn't get hot enough. A repairman came 1.5 week later and told her to get a new one from the store since any parts needed would take another 2 weeks. After going to the store, the new Whirlpool oven was delivered and installed again but the installer couldn't get the oven to work, told her to order another model. I went on line for Best Buy and noticed the $1,000 oven was now on sale for $500 for Thankgiving Sale. After looking at new ovens, decided to go with a Samsung for $1,500 on sale originally $2,200 because there were no other American manufacturer. I looked the next day on line again and noticed the Samsung model lower their price to $1,400 and I was able to get it. Now, the Korean range/oven works great even though I didn't even know they manufacture appliances . Best Buy did a great job accommodating us for quick deliveries of the appliance but Whirlpool was a disappointment.

 

[theRU]

no the 1% but the democrats and especially Clinton.

WHo do you think owns them? the 1%... The older I get the more i realize what is up. I work for a very progressive company, they all say the right things but this pc world is exactly what they want to establish control over the rest of us peasants. Take away our guns, take away our freedoms, meanwhile they lay off whoever they want, whenever they want, while they celebrate 30% margins and record profits. Yeah....they really care about us.