In my experience, the "in home" services aren't that at all. Before you sign it, READ the contract very carefully, from start to finish, and get whoever answers your questions about it to put his answers in writing. The ONE contract I ever bought, it turned out we were "outside" the area for that service but I could bring my mower to another city nearby (turned out it was 55 miles one way) and they'd fix it when the guy got to that area, which no one could determine his schedule. OH, and of course, I could have shipped it! Yeah!! I made enough noise I got my money back; but wow, what a hassle! Oh, and I got it fixed for $20 plus parts. It was an air conditioner motor. One of the best things Sears does, and why I go back to them, is provide nearly complete parts lists and assembly diagrams.
Your mileage may vary of course, but, my advice is Read. Read carefully.
My OPINION is, let someone local fix it if/when it breaks. If I can't do it myself, there's usually someone around that can if I look hard enough. Also, $150 is an awfully expensive contract for an $1100 dollar piece of equipment. I think, anyway. I like Sears, I hate their hype and crappy useless contracts.
Pop
| > As I use the Honda web site "dealer locator" in search of the beloved | > Honda HS724TA track drive 2-stage, | >
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| > it appears that they cannot be found within an hour's drive. Driving | > that far to buy it would be fine, but is it sensible, cost-wise, to | > have the unit transported that far (there and back twice = 4 hours) by | > a dealer for service? The Honda track sounds wonderful, as long as | > the handles aren't too short for us 6-footers. | >
| > But, I wonder if I would be better off getting a wheeled Toro or | > Ariens (I can't find any Simplicity) that are said to be of good | > quality and can be serviced locally. I could also get local service | > for the tracked Craftsman or Troy-Bilt; both made by MTD. But reports | > about MTD reliability scare me. Would you expect the MTD/Craftsman to | > be about as reliable as the MTD/Troy-Bilt? This weekend, at a local | > Sears, the Craftsman is on sale for $1110. | >
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| > It looks like I have three choices: | >
| > *** I could give up on the tracks and get a Toro or Ariens that could | > be serviced locally after the 2-year warranty period. | >
| > *** I could buy a Honda from afar or via the Internet, and hope that | > I don't need to get it to a Honda authorized service center while | > under warranty. Then have it serviced locally after the 2 year | > warranty. | >
| > *** I could go snag that sale price on the Craftsman tomorrow at | > Sears. | >
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| > What you think? | >
| > Thanks for the help! | > Teffy