Craftsman Lawn Mower

Oh, and of coursed they should service your mower in a more timely
manner. If they're going to sell an inferior product for $200, they
should take their chances and perhaps even learn a lesson or two
(gasp!).

Um, $200 for a gas mower? I think there's your problem. That's like
buying a $70 vacuum. You know, there should be a minimum benchmark
for most items, and if basic performance levels can't be met below a
certain price, then don't even bother making it cheaply and selling it
cheaply.

For considerably less than that, you can get a human-powered reel
mower and live without the (1) exhaust and (2) noise! When I had a
yard, I LOVED my reel mower! I used the gas mower only when the grass
got too tall for the reel mower to work (like after a lot of rain or a
very busy time for me).

Clearly this man paid for something that would actually mow his lawn.
Now if he were complaining because the mower didn't corner well or
didn't cut the grass specifically to his liking I would totally agree
with you that he shouldn't expect that from a cheap mower. But he's
complaining because he can't even get through cutting his lawn once
with out the thing crapping out. He deserves a refund or an actual
working mower.

Actually $200 for a non-propelled push mower is not all that cheap of
a price. Not that Lowes sells Craftsman mowers but their push mowers
start at $89 for the cheapo no frills model and go on up-$200 is about
midlevel. Over on craftsman.com it appears their mowers start at
about $179-so yes, $200 is a cheap craftsman. However, many of the
mowers Craftsman sells priced far above the $200 mowers share the same
engine-so spending more $$$ may have not helped this guy any since the
engine is what he is having trouble with, not the actual mower frame,
handles, or blade.

For the record I have a $129 Bolens push mower with a Briggs+Stratton
6HP engine that faithfully mowed my 1 acre lot for 5 years without a
hiccup. So it is possible not to spend a lot for a decent mower. I
now have a house with several more acres and still use the push mower
for trim work, but had to upgrade to a riding mower.

"On April 23, 2009 I purchased a Craftsman Lawn Mower from K-Mart."

I was a fan of Craftsman and Kenmore before the whole K-Mart
collaboration, now, I wouldn't touch one if they paid me.

I suppose it is too late to take it back now, right? Are they 30 or
90 days?

You might try contact Sears Repair Central since it is actually a
Craftsman model. I don't know that it will get you anywhere because
the suckiness of Kmart has denigrated any value in the Sears brand
now.

I do not know what happened to customer service in circumstances such
as this.

In a similar story, my parents bought a new refridgerator at a well
known home supply store. ( I have feeling their letter may be showing
up here on PFB any day now). From day one it had ice build up in the
freezer and the bolts where the doors are installed are rubbing into
the actual frame of the fridge. Plus the seal does not appear to close
tightly.

This store is giving them a hard time about having it fixed or
exchanged. (they paid cash, may have been a mistake) A repair person
came over and shimmed the doors of it up with some cheap wood. It
still has ice build up and the doors do not seem to be any better.

Again, where is the customer service? Was this fridge a return and
they resold it? Or is just a lousy product? I cannot recall the brand.
No one wants to help and it is really disappointing. I hope the OP
gets a refund and/or a new mower.

Might be ethanol % gas being used.
Take the plug out, clean or replace it.
Water in tank..
choke and or float stuck.
better to do your own repairs, or a local repair shop.. it's called
peace of mind!!

Is it bad gas, maybe? Did you use the same gas as before?

Bad gasoline can cause these problems. I suggest getting new gas and
seeing if that fixes the problem.

Anyhow, yes, even though Kmart sells Craftsman, they do not service
the products. This is done through Sears Repair Services.

Is there a reason that they will not take the mower back? Don't they
have a 60 - 90 day return policy on their lawn mowers and such? Why
should you be out a lawn mower while its being sent out of state to be
repaired??

This is exceptionally poor service. It sounds like the motor may
simply be inferior.
You should suggest that they exchange it for you.

I also agree with what has been said below, and that a local shop may
be able to do the trick.

Margaret T.,

I have a Craftsman too and once it got tuned it works like a breeze.

You don't want to hear this but have you considered taking it to a
local mower repair outfit asking them to check it. Of course you won't
get it done for free but at least you will have a mower.

Stop back when you hear back.

BillR.

wow kmart sells craftsman now?

learned something new. it's kinda weirding me out to think of a
non-sears store selling craftsman but... i guess they ahve a deal or
something now.

tho i'm not really surprised at the notion of sears handling repairs
on a brand name they own.

i take it they won't exchange it then?