[KathysLGC]

You hear many dealers tell you that the home depot stuff is nothing like the commercial stuff and why you should buy from them and not HD but when you can buy spark plugs for all your equipment at HD for about $3-$4 less then your dealer there's a problem...

I don't run Echo but HD has them and so does a local dealer. Same products, cheaper at HD. Yeah part number for part number. In the winter I was pricing the Toro single stage blowers. Cheaper at HD, again, same model number.

Comp is getting tuff..

 

[mnms0562000]

Yes, things are more expensive at the dealer. Although, good luck finding anyone at HD or Lowes that knows their product inside and out, and can also service it. Oh, and parts that you need that HD or Lowes that they dont carry; God speed trying to get them NOW.

 

[msbgwlz]

HD and Lowes MAY sometimes offer a cheaper price on the same product as a dealer. That's their business plan...sell cheaper and run the independent dealer out of business. How does that help the lawn maintenance professional? If you depend on your equipment to make your money, HD or Lowes is your "dealer" yet do not offer parts or service, when your equipment is down, so is your business. Independent dealers are more than worth the small percentage more they charge for the product. You spend a lot more on equipment than you realize if you factor in your down time trying to find a dealer to work on the product, searching for parts, etc... In the long run, the dealer is the answer. When shopping at the box stores, consider that a lot of dealers WILL NOT work on equipment bought from them...some won't work on anything that isn't purchased from their dealership. Do you blame them? I don't, I am one of them. My advice...weigh the options considering more of the factors than just the cheap price for the initial purchase.

 

[EcoGreen Services]

Around me, The Echo / Toro / B&S dealer Loves home Depot.
Does all the assembly and ton of repair work and has a good relationship with the local HD.
All the products he's authorized to service HD puts his dealer sticker on.
He's added 2 mechanics. He also builds those relationships with customers and when they want to upgrade to a better machine, Guess who they go to see ?

Now the Exact opposite is anything with a Honda engine.
The Honda dealer wants nothing to do with them. They have to do warranty work because of their dealer agreement with Honda. Take a machine in there that's not a Honda and on top of them giving the customer crap for not buying a Honda it will wait until Everything else is done.

Guess who's doing better ?

I'm not agreeing with it and I personally buy my equipment from one Ferris / Toro / Sthil dealer and because I do a lot of business with them they drop everything to take care of me and give me great service. I need my equipment running to make living

But the realities of mass merchandising are what they are, Dealers can adapt and prosper, Or they can fade away. Homeowners have show they prefer to buy at big box stores and buy on price. They don't generally think about the long term.

 

[KathysLGC]

Most dealers will fix anything now. why would they turn away a repair just because you didn't buy it from them? Doesn't make sense.

Now if your against buying from HD or Lowes then you should also be against buying online which is still cheaper then HD and Lowes. A repair is a repair and I never mentioned repairs being needed from HD but if you maintain your own equipment then there will be a big savings buying parts at HD vrs the local dealer. HD sells Champion and NGK spark plus and they even sell Kawasaki and Kohler oil filters.. They have some air filters but nothing for the donaldson *(spelling) type canisters and the bigger engine air filters but they do have the older style Kohler air filters.

Like I said, I don't run Echo but HD has a lot of parts for them on the shelf. The dont have carbs and engine parts but I saw replacement covers, tune up kits, trimmer heads, etc. Small do it your self stuff. It was just an observation of mine that shows the big stores trying to get a bigger peice of the pie. HD even had a parts book so you can look up your equipment to see what spark plug it takes. The books wasn't 100% accurate from what I could see because I couldn't find the plugs for the 17HP Kawi even though I knew it takes NGK BPM6A or Champion RCJ8Y, I still wanted to see what the book said.Less the $3. compared to $7. for a plug..... Sorry but I'll but what I can at HD.

I support my dealer and buy many things from them, but that doesn't mean I have to spend every $ on equipment related stuff with them.

 

[jason_2005lawnman]

well it seems that ur stuck on the box stores but guess u dont really do that much either; for one hd does not carry commercial grade echo go buy a 651t at hd and see what happens; good luck; go buy a 261t at hd and see what happens; um go buy high lift blaldes; or now i need a low lift blade go try and buy it at hd; now i need high lift mulch blade; good luck; oh now i need a recoil assy for my 651t; go try and buy it at hd; good luck; well thats just a start; and i bet u still dont get the point; but thats ok because while ur waiting on your parts ill have mine because the local dealer will keep me up and running because he knows if im out there making money then im gonna come to him and spend money and my local dealer gives me fleet discounts try getting that at hd; good luck

 

[KathysLGC]

Does your dealer carry the "home owner" version of echo? Look around and see what landscapers are using them. I see a lot of 210's running out there and guess what?............ HD has them. Now for some strange reason you clearly missed the few times I stated I do NOT run echo. That means I don't own a single echo product. So you can say I'm "stuck" on the box stores if you'd like.

How about I state this again for all the people that only read every other word in posts, HD sells tune up parts for equipment and chances are they're priced less then your dealer.

Happy now? HD has sold Lesco grass seed for a long time but did you see me say that HD is cheaper then Lesco (JD)?... No I didn't because I know HD doesn't sell the same quality/quantity per bag as Lesco (JD).

 

[mowerman11]

echo green,
I didn't realize honda engines ever needed work. lol Honda engines are simply superior to all other engines. Honda is the only engine iv'e used that really does start on the first pull. Thats just my opinion.

 

[jason_2005lawnman]

Does your dealer carry the "home owner" version of echo? Look around and see what landscapers are using them. I see a lot of 210's running out there and guess what?............ HD has them. Now for some strange reason you clearly missed the few times I stated I do NOT run echo. That means I don't own a single echo product. So you can say I'm "stuck" on the box stores if you'd like.

How about I state this again for all the people that only read every other word in posts, HD sells tune up parts for equipment and chances are they're priced less then your dealer.

Happy now? HD has sold Lesco grass seed for a long time but did you see me say that HD is cheaper then Lesco (JD)?... No I didn't because I know HD doesn't sell the same quality/quantity per bag as Lesco (JD).

interesting u couldnt answer anything i said ; do u even know what 651t is; and no hd does not sell the parts for it; i can see how much u really do; lol lol lmao oh and by the way a 210 will run for a while out there but see we do so much with our equip that they will not last; there is a big difference between 21cc and 28 cc motor and the 210 will not hold a disc on in and does not have the torque needed to perform the jobs we do so once again shows how much u really know;

 

[KathysLGC]

interesting u couldnt answer anything i said ; do u even know what 651t is; and no hd does not sell the parts for it; i can see how much u really do; lol lol lmao oh and by the way a 210 will run for a while out there but see we do so much with our equip that they will not last; there is a big difference between 21cc and 28 cc motor and the 210 will not hold a disc on in and does not have the torque needed to perform the jobs we do so once again shows how much u really know;

Is the 651T an Echo product?..... I couldn't answer anything you said because all you did was make you statements. Nothing to answer... Personally I use the homelite brand because it rocks! We usually can trim a complete yard faster then our Yardman and Murray riders. Lil more you can lol at or if you read every word you can use ROTFLMFAO............

 

[EcoGreen Services]

interesting u couldnt answer anything i said ; do u even know what 651t is; and no hd does not sell the parts for it; i can see how much u really do; lol lol lmao oh and by the way a 210 will run for a while out there but see we do so much with our equip that they will not last; there is a big difference between 21cc and 28 cc motor and the 210 will not hold a disc on in and does not have the torque needed to perform the jobs we do so once again shows how much u really know;

I guess I've been lucky the SRM 225 trimmer I have with the 21cc engine hasn't blown up yet. I better sell it now. It's a trimmer , not a brushcutter.

 

[jason_2005lawnman]

I guess I've been lucky the SRM 225 trimmer I have with the 21cc engine hasn't blown up yet. I better sell it now. It's a trimmer , not a brushcutter.

that about like saying i have a murry with 25hp and mow yards; lol; lol

 

[EcoGreen Services]

that about like saying i have a murry with 25hp and mow yards; lol; lol

Are you 10 ? or developmentally challenged ? Has to be one of the other.
And learn to compose a halfway coherent sentence would you.
Another fail for the US public education system.

 

[jason_2005lawnman]

Are you 10 ? or developmentally challenged ? Has to be one of the other.
And learn to compose a halfway coherent sentence would you.
Another fail for the US public education system.

ah another great laugh; lmao; lol

 

[zak406]

I make some purchases at my local dealer (trimmers, blowers, oil,, service on my equipment, blade sharpening, chain sharpening, any repairs, fuel filters). I also rent alot from my local dealer. I buy some things from hd mostly grass seed and stuff along that line. I am a very small company (starting back into landscaping/lawncare part time) but my dealer treats me like I own a fleet. I really can't thank them enough. Getting back to the original question, i can see were taking a short cut and saving 3 dollars can be benificial. However I believe establishing a solid relationship with your dealer, can some day make or break your business. Its a your scratch there back, they will scratch yours type of situation. How you develop one of those and how solid you make it, is up to you..... Ps. The reason i did not add mowers onto the list of what i buy from my dealer is because im trying to buy new, with starting up again and all.....

 

[KathysLGC]

Dealer support is fine but if you need to cut your expenses and work on your P&L and you have an option to save money on OEM parts compared to your dealers aftermarket parts then why not?

Your dealer will not care what equipment you are using or where you got it from. A repair is a repair and an equipment purchase is just that. $3-$4 X's 12 spark plugs starts to add up.. Now add the savings of the oil/gas filter. Then add the savings of buying your oil from an auto parts store or even walmart. Now go to Napa and see the price of every belt your mower takes and compare that to your dealer and be sure to price out the hydraulic oil and filters as well. The bottom line is it's your bottom line.

 

[zak406]

Dealer support is fine but if you need to cut your expenses and work on your P&L and you have an option to save money on OEM parts compared to your dealers aftermarket parts then why not?

Your dealer will not care what equipment you are using or where you got it from. A repair is a repair and an equipment purchase is just that. $3-$4 X's 12 spark plugs starts to add up.. Now add the savings of the oil/gas filter. Then add the savings of buying your oil from an auto parts store or even walmart. Now go to Napa and see the price of every belt your mower takes and compare that to your dealer and be sure to price out the hydraulic oil and filters as well. The bottom line is it's your bottom line.

I have had times were i have taken my mower to the dealer, they have ripped it apart and put it back together for free... Once again I am just starting back into the business and i am very small, they treat me like a big shot because i buy mostly from them....... I try to stop in and talk to them as much as possible, sometimes paying the extra money may be worth it in the long run.... Another point when my mower is in for service, for instance its in right now, the wait is 3 weeks. I however bet you my mower will be back in my hands by wensday and i dropped it off on wensday of this week.....

 

[LawnGuy73]

Are you 10 ? or developmentally challenged ? Has to be one of the other.
And learn to compose a halfway coherent sentence would you.
Another fail for the US public education system.

Ouch!!!! :laugh:

 

[jason_2005lawnman]

Dealer support is fine but if you need to cut your expenses and work on your P&L and you have an option to save money on OEM parts compared to your dealers aftermarket parts then why not?

Your dealer will not care what equipment you are using or where you got it from. A repair is a repair and an equipment purchase is just that. $3-$4 X's 12 spark plugs starts to add up.. Now add the savings of the oil/gas filter. Then add the savings of buying your oil from an auto parts store or even walmart. Now go to Napa and see the price of every belt your mower takes and compare that to your dealer and be sure to price out the hydraulic oil and filters as well. The bottom line is it's your bottom line.

guess ur getting lost; stick to the topic; and once again hd does not carry the oil filters i need or the oil and they sure as hell dont carry the hydro side of it; oh by the way guess u need some schooling ur self cause u just cant answer one ? that i posted; and yes if u read you would answer those ? in ur head but that just isnt possible for u is it; good luck; lol another great laugh

 

[zak406]

In my mind shopping for parts at hd or lowes rather than your dealer is kind of like me hiring the 14 year old boy down the street for 10 bucks a cut. I could hire the insured liscensed lco but i dont want to spend the extra 10 bucks