Echos @ Home Depot

[scottb]

Im sure this fine group can answer this. Im going to need a new trimmer before spring. I currently have an Echo SRM1501
it is almost 10years old still runs great but need to relagate to backup duty. Are the Echos at Home Depot for commerical use are any of you buying from there. I will be using everyday please advise.

[Likestomow]

Scott,

From your own experience you can see that Echo's are tough, but I would recommend that you consider moving up to Echo's commercial equipment. The ones at HD are heavier and weaker than, say a SRM 2601. That is a very popular trimmer for commercial lawn care. I have one and have been very well pleased with it.

Next year, however, I plan to buy a couple of Kawasaki trimmers. They seem quite powerful and a bit quieter - all for about the same price.

Don't worry about saving a few dollars at HD. Go with the better equipment because you will be using it a whole lot and really enjoying it so much more.

[scottb]

Thanks for the advice I had been toldthat they were the same but had not been there to see for my self. I really do like my Echo so I will definately check out the Commerical models.
Thanks
Scott Brumley

[Stinger]

Personal experiance has taught me that OPE and other products sold at HD are not the same grade as the local power equipment dealers carry. Ask a Echo rep and I'm sure he can find out or tell you the truth. Echo and other products are mass manafactured. Therefore when HD wants this brand name product in the store they have it made to their specs so it can be sold at a lower price. It may walk like a chicken, talk like a chicken, even look like a chicken, but I'ts not allways a chicken.

[John DiMartino]

ScottB,I know you like the echo-but just try a Kawasaki demo first.I bought one and they are very nice and powerful,quite and light.I love how smooth it is too.Lesco will be selling them under their name soon too.I tried an echo,and I like the kawi much better,more refined,almost no vibration fatigue at all,even after 2hrs use.

[little green guy]

I have 2 echo smr 2400's that I bought at Home Depot. They have been pretty good to me. I am going to have to retire them for next year though because they have been pretty well abused. I think that the echo's are good but I want to try the Redmax trimmers out, I have a redmax blower and I raely like it. i have heard good things about remax trimmers so I am going to try them. i don't think there's anything wrong with the echo's though, I like the way the echo's are balanced. i never realy had any major problems with them thoughout 2 years of abuse.

[HealthyLawns]

It would be illegal for Home Depot to sell trimmers with the same echo model numbers that are of different quality. The SRM2400 should do fine, wherever you buy it. The 2601 has more power, but is also heavier. I don't know about the quality of the Kawi's, but they are lighter, and that's a big consideration for me.

[Nathan]

Yes, home depot is selling 2 versions of echo commercial trimmers. the only difference is the engine size. I have experience with both and unless you do a lot of tall grass cutting the srm 2100 will last a long time the 2400 and 2600 are great but the money isn't really worth the extra power unless you have a track record of overheating units from tall brush. I currently am running shindaiwa 260's with stihl cutting head/brush guards. The shindaiwa is very light and easy starting and long lasting it has a poorly designed head. The stihl has an almost uncloggable head design, but I hate how hard they are to start, so I compromised and made the best of both. One other option is honda's new four stroke trimmer. I have heard great things about ease of starting, lightweight, no gas mixing and long life. the cost is very comparable to most other pro models but the benefits are worth even a higher price, it will be my next purchase.

[HealthyLawns]

Nathan, I haven't seen the honda's, are they heavy?

[WALKERMOW]

i have bought srm 2400's at home depot and are great light weight trimmers, but the 2601's are more cc's and are a little bit lighter (not sure how they do that) but they do!!
hope this helps!

[chrisbolte]

Dont buy from home depot buy from a dealer. When that trimmer breaks ome depot doesnt give a crap. Buy from a dealer he will take care of you when you need service in the future!

[jaclawn]

HD sells the two lower end Echo units, the SRM 2100 and 2400. These are the same units that you can purchase at your local dealer. They also make a larger 2600 trimmer that HD does not sell.

INteresting, the HD price was the same as at my dealer.

[chrisbolte]

I bet your dealer will give you much better service if you purchase from him rather from home depot.

[Lawn Cruiser]

I would stay away from HD product line. You do get the better quaility and service from an authorized dealer. HD will never sell the heavier commercial units that a dealer will.

[eslawns]

If you get one from Home Cheapo they can't help you at all if you need service. You'll end up taking it to the dealer for warranty work. My dealer won't even accept them. Besides, HD sells the SRM2100 for $219, my dealer sells the for $195. I never looked at the 2601's before. I assumed they were heavier than the 2100. The Kawi at Lesco is awesome! Demo'd them in KY. It will be that or the 12lb Robin 4-cycle next go around. The Honda is HEAVY!!!!

[exmarkman]

i started out by buying a homelite blower and weedeater from home depot. sorry but i just started the business and didn't have money. they both broke and i took them back no questions asked brand new blower and i upgraded the weedeater to an echo 2100 which worked flawlessly.

[Vibe Ray]

Yup, that's how Home Depot is down here. They may not fix it, but they take it back no questions asked! I just recently took back an ECHO PE-2000 Stick Edger that I had bought months before I returned it because I had ordered the PE-3100. If you have the reciept they will give you cash back and if not you just get store credit.

[Sharp Services]

I have 2 echo smr 2400's that I bought at Home Depot. They have been pretty good to me. I am going to have to retire them for next year though because they have been pretty well abused. I think that the echo's are good but I want to try the Redmax trimmers out, I have a redmax blower and I raely like it. i have heard good things about remax trimmers so I am going to try them. i don't think there's anything wrong with the echo's though, I like the way the echo's are balanced. i never realy had any major problems with them thoughout 2 years of abuse.

I have been using the Redmax trimmers for a long time and have found nothing better. You can't go wrong with a Redmax.

Good Luck,

[Fubba]

I bought an Echo PE 200 edger from HD. It's not the highest quality, but it's all that I need right now. An echo is an echo is an echo. It will be fine. However, you will be paying about 230 or so. Save a little more, and buy a Stihl FS80R for around 300. Will last longer and will outpower the echo's at HD. I too had a SRM 1501. Old as dirt. Found it behind my grandad's house. He said if I could get it running, that I could have it. Said the dealer couldn't get it running back in the day, so he just set it aside. Got it running after some tuning and have been running it since until I bought my FS80R which runs circles around it. By the way, I locked up the old Echo, squirted some PB blaster down in the cylinder. Cranked it right up. That's what I call a weed eater. Don't make them like they used to that's for sure.

[Oldtimer]

Home depot sells Echo products for the same price as the dealers. The difference is getting service from the dealers when you have a problem. The products purchased at box stores don't get the same priority as the products sold by servicing dealers.

Oldtimer

[QualityLawnCare4u]

I have been running echo since my second year and the older stuff I got is fine. The last two new pieces of equipment I purchased 3 months ago (BP blower and edger) has NOT been good. Constant carb problems. My older echo equipment has never had a carb problem or been in the shop ever.

[Soupy]

It would be illegal for Home Depot to sell trimmers with the same echo model numbers that are of different quality. The SRM2400 should do fine, wherever you buy it. The 2601 has more power, but is also heavier. I don't know about the quality of the Kawi's, but they are lighter, and that's a big consideration for me.

I think what the other guys mean, is the dealer will get the best production units, while the other guys asking for cheap prices might get trimmers that barely pass inspection, or were rushed through production.

As for Kawi's. I bought one and it is more powerful and maybe slightly lighter (not enough to notice), but I don't like the way it trims compared to Echo. I have been using Echo in the past. I believe the Kawi may have a smaller swath then the Echo, and the guard is a lot different. I tried to put an old Echo guard on the Kai to see if it would help, but it won't fit. They do both have the same kind of heads on them.

Oh, I'm comparing both companies entry level commercial straight shaft trimmers. The bigger units might have a larger weight difference. I think the larger units are a waste for regular maintenance trimming on a lawn route. Maybe if your trimming ditches once a year, but for general maintenance why do you need anything larger then an Echo 2100. My Echo's last 3 years a piece, and could probably go a little longer. I have a couple in the garage that a carb tune up would probably get them going strong again.

I can't say much on the longevity of the Kawi trimmers, but I did put a Kawi back pack blower through hell and it still starts on one pull. I ran it all last year without a air filter, because the filter cover would not stay on, and I was just trying to see how long it would take to blow it up. I finally stopped trying and replaced it with a Redmax (wanted more power) anyway. The abuse the Kawi BP took is why I decided to give the Kawi trimmer a try.

[Eddie B]

wow... I was reading the posts wondering why I didn't recognize anyone. Then I realized this post is 5 years old.

[nriddle77]

wow... I was reading the posts wondering why I didn't recognize anyone. Then I realized this post is 5 years old.

Yeah, I think the original question has been answered by now.

[topsites]

Thanks for the advice I had been toldthat they were the same but had not been there to see for my self. I really do like my Echo so I will definately check out the Commerical models.
Thanks
Scott Brumley

If the model number is NOT srm-260s, then it is not the same as my srm-260s but don't tell that to the guy getting paid commission, it won't do you any good :)

[topsites]

Dont buy from home depot buy from a dealer. When that trimmer breaks ome depot doesnt give a crap. Buy from a dealer he will take care of you when you need service in the future!

That, more than anything is why I ALWAYS buy from the dealer, even if I buy home-grade stuff. My edger is home-owner grade and when it broke, I walked in the store and 'hey huh my stuff is like broken' and no questions asked: They looked at it, tried a couple things and: Yup, you're right, come back in 2 days.
2 days later - Fixed edger.
I tell you, dealer warranties RULE!

[topsites]

If you get one from Home Cheapo they can't help you at all if you need service. You'll end up taking it to the dealer for warranty work. My dealer won't even accept them. Besides, HD sells the SRM2100 for $219, my dealer sells the for $195. I never looked at the 2601's before. I assumed they were heavier than the 2100. The Kawi at Lesco is awesome! Demo'd them in KY. It will be that or the 12lb Robin 4-cycle next go around. The Honda is HEAVY!!!!

Yeah, I forgot to mention: At my dealer's, if you did NOT buy it from him, he will not even look at it. He will, however, give you directions to the place where they fix ALL home-owner's equipment (and they ARE good) and you can expect wait-times of 2-3 weeks and longer, OR the ONE dealer in town that WILL service it so long you don't mind driving 60 miles further out.

[topsites]

I think what the other guys mean, is the dealer will get the best production units, while the other guys asking for cheap prices might get trimmers that barely pass inspection, or were rushed through production.


Now this I disagree with somewhat. It is possible (but unlikely) the dealers get top-of-the-line equipment where HD gets the lower end but I can NOT see echo or any other manufacturer doing this to themselves when the price is the same.

Far as I know, ALL equipment is made on an assembly line and really it matters how good a day the workers were having, it is as likely you get the BEST from Home Depot as you might get a LEMON from the dealer.

There isn't much I can do about hand-held stuff because I don't know enough about them, but I do know my wb's and when I buy a new wb, I go over the ENTIRE machine piece by piece and check EVERYTHING before I even run it through the first cut - This I learned over time, assembly line work isn't always perfect.

[Varsity L&G]

HD gives a 2 year extended will not start warranty for 20$

For the first year you have to send it back to the Echo and for the 2nd and third year they replace it on the spot with receipt.

[milo]

i used to run the echo's 260s they feel nice but dont last as long as the stihl's. stihls are easily the strongest and most powerful out there. and they are $10.00 cheaper compaired to any echo they are in the same class as.. i had tried red max and shindaiwa and tanaka and honda 4 strokes.. as for all of theM the stihl best period.. here is order
1 STIHL
2 ECHO
3 TANAKA
4 HONDA 4 STROKE.. VERY HEAVY LIKE 2 POUNDS MORE THAN OTHERS
5 RED MAX AND SHINDAIWA
stihl and echo's parts everywhere for them and both perty light. but echo heads pour out the string alot and you wear out heads faster to.. all perty good, cant go wrong with any i listed. go with how it feels for you and price..

[Soupy]

Now this I disagree with somewhat. It is possible (but unlikely) the dealers get top-of-the-line equipment where HD gets the lower end but I can NOT see echo or any other manufacturer doing this to themselves when the price is the same.

Far as I know, ALL equipment is made on an assembly line and really it matters how good a day the workers were having, it is as likely you get the BEST from Home Depot as you might get a LEMON from the dealer.

There isn't much I can do about hand-held stuff because I don't know enough about them, but I do know my wb's and when I buy a new wb, I go over the ENTIRE machine piece by piece and check EVERYTHING before I even run it through the first cut - This I learned over time, assembly line work isn't always perfect.

There used to be a store (small chain) that had good prices on TV's and stuff. Well come to find out everything was reconditioned. I believe they would have to state that is was recondition though, so it's unlikely this applies to HD Echo's.

Do you know for a fact that HD pays the same price as a dealer? Some were on this site I read that Husky had some changes on their Lowe's stuff. Something about a completely different engine, but with the same cc. I would have to do some digging for that thread.

[dcplace2004]

a good commercial trimmer, then I took it back for a full refund! Man was that thing carboned up...thanks HD :waving:

[True Cut Lawn Maintenance]

The JD tractors are the same at HD and the Dealers showroom, worked at a dealer when they started this and almost bought one, but i like my simplicity better

when i start farming my shed will have nothing but JD in it ( only exception will be a Bobcat brand skit steer)

[lawnprosteveo]

When I started in the biz, I bought two Echo's from Home Depot...the SRM210. They were fine for small residentials but mowing 40 yards a week that first year just about did them in. I still have one of them, it is a backup....I like Echo, but I would suggest looking at the 260.