Waterhead
08-04-2009, 01:19 PM
Hello,
I just recently purchased a 2006 HustlerZ 52/19. I have to say that after looking at the other machines on the market, the Hustler is the best for the money spent in terms of workmanship, design and warranty. HOWEVER, I have found it VERY discouraging to deal with Hustler on the Dealer side of the business. I bought mine used and if I had to purchase one new from the dealer, I would have made the choice to go with a different brand. I am sure there are great dealers out there, but in my area, I think the franchise sold to the highest bidder without ANY consideration for product support or marketing.
Upon getting my mower, I wanted to do the full servicing from end to end. I get a manual, I read up on the mower, I make an approximate list of things I would need, and I head to the nearest Hustler dealer (who has been carrying the Hustler line for 6 months). I walk in the shop and proclaim to be a proud Hustler owner.... The owner/counter man said "I'm sorry... you should have let me sell you a SCAG....." This is when I knew the 20 mile trip was going to be bad. My list consisted of inner and outer air filter, engine oil filter, hydro filter, Hydro oil additive, a hydro breather cap, a spare set of spindle bearings to have on hand, and a set of blades.
Of the items on my list, the engine filter and the air filters were all that they had. That was $85. The other items (except blades) were "order only" for an additional $118. I was also told that if I wanted to bring the mower to them, they would see if they could match it up to a filter in the SCAG line to save me some money. As for the blades I was told that the blades I had on my mower were not in the catalog and had been discontinued. They said that the "wavy blade" idea just didn't pan out for Hustler, but they would be glad to try to help match up something that would work. They handed me some flat Oregon blade that matched the length and hole size. Oh, and the spindle bearings would have to be crossed over ....if I would dissassemble the spindle and bring the bearings to them.
To be totally honest, I left there with my head held low and I was feeling a little ashamed that I had bought a Hustler. What was I thinking? ... I had purchased a 3 year old mower that was basically obsolete and the manufacturer had abandoned parts for..... and the parts that were available were way too expensive. I was really kicking myself now. To add insult to injury, I had pulled the filters and the mower was on the jacks draining while I was gone for parts. Now I was headed home without enough parts to put it back together to cut my grass. I had not even taken the first pass around the yard and already the mower was stranded, I was $200+ poorer, I had a 2 week wait for the rest of the parts and my nice mulching mower had been reduced to a flat bladed resemblance of the mower it once had been due to the factory dropping the blades..
I now turned to the net to see if I could locate some old stock replacement blades on ebay. LOW AND BEHOLD, I find blades and I find filters, and I find belts and I even found this forum. I fould out that the Hydro additive that I had just paid $40 for, was no longer being used and the weight had been changed on the hydro oil. ..... I found tech tips. I found that nothing is obsolete unless superceeded by a better version of the same. I found customer support for the masses even if it was remote. I also found that the customer support network was WAY different that my first exposure.
My mower is fabulous. Call me Forest Gump, cause I could cut all day and most of the night(if I had a light kit). The quality is great. The maintenance is easy. BUT, If I have a question, I either figure it out on my own, or I hit the net. If I need parts, I go to my local Exmark dealer (who does not sell Hustler, but can get parts from aftermarket sources... they aren't factory parts, but I can get them without waiting 2 weeks and draining my bank account).
Hustler will never have a market share in the Central GA area without having the dealers to promote, support, and to back up the product. Shame on you for not ensuring ownership, product knowledge, and loyalty within the dealer network.
I just recently purchased a 2006 HustlerZ 52/19. I have to say that after looking at the other machines on the market, the Hustler is the best for the money spent in terms of workmanship, design and warranty. HOWEVER, I have found it VERY discouraging to deal with Hustler on the Dealer side of the business. I bought mine used and if I had to purchase one new from the dealer, I would have made the choice to go with a different brand. I am sure there are great dealers out there, but in my area, I think the franchise sold to the highest bidder without ANY consideration for product support or marketing.
Upon getting my mower, I wanted to do the full servicing from end to end. I get a manual, I read up on the mower, I make an approximate list of things I would need, and I head to the nearest Hustler dealer (who has been carrying the Hustler line for 6 months). I walk in the shop and proclaim to be a proud Hustler owner.... The owner/counter man said "I'm sorry... you should have let me sell you a SCAG....." This is when I knew the 20 mile trip was going to be bad. My list consisted of inner and outer air filter, engine oil filter, hydro filter, Hydro oil additive, a hydro breather cap, a spare set of spindle bearings to have on hand, and a set of blades.
Of the items on my list, the engine filter and the air filters were all that they had. That was $85. The other items (except blades) were "order only" for an additional $118. I was also told that if I wanted to bring the mower to them, they would see if they could match it up to a filter in the SCAG line to save me some money. As for the blades I was told that the blades I had on my mower were not in the catalog and had been discontinued. They said that the "wavy blade" idea just didn't pan out for Hustler, but they would be glad to try to help match up something that would work. They handed me some flat Oregon blade that matched the length and hole size. Oh, and the spindle bearings would have to be crossed over ....if I would dissassemble the spindle and bring the bearings to them.
To be totally honest, I left there with my head held low and I was feeling a little ashamed that I had bought a Hustler. What was I thinking? ... I had purchased a 3 year old mower that was basically obsolete and the manufacturer had abandoned parts for..... and the parts that were available were way too expensive. I was really kicking myself now. To add insult to injury, I had pulled the filters and the mower was on the jacks draining while I was gone for parts. Now I was headed home without enough parts to put it back together to cut my grass. I had not even taken the first pass around the yard and already the mower was stranded, I was $200+ poorer, I had a 2 week wait for the rest of the parts and my nice mulching mower had been reduced to a flat bladed resemblance of the mower it once had been due to the factory dropping the blades..
I now turned to the net to see if I could locate some old stock replacement blades on ebay. LOW AND BEHOLD, I find blades and I find filters, and I find belts and I even found this forum. I fould out that the Hydro additive that I had just paid $40 for, was no longer being used and the weight had been changed on the hydro oil. ..... I found tech tips. I found that nothing is obsolete unless superceeded by a better version of the same. I found customer support for the masses even if it was remote. I also found that the customer support network was WAY different that my first exposure.
My mower is fabulous. Call me Forest Gump, cause I could cut all day and most of the night(if I had a light kit). The quality is great. The maintenance is easy. BUT, If I have a question, I either figure it out on my own, or I hit the net. If I need parts, I go to my local Exmark dealer (who does not sell Hustler, but can get parts from aftermarket sources... they aren't factory parts, but I can get them without waiting 2 weeks and draining my bank account).
Hustler will never have a market share in the Central GA area without having the dealers to promote, support, and to back up the product. Shame on you for not ensuring ownership, product knowledge, and loyalty within the dealer network.