[Rona] Craftsman snowblowers (up to $400 off)

Jan 4th, 2018 11:29 am

#1

Tha DraGun [OP]: Deal Addict; Aug 19, 2003; 4810 posts; 1605 upvotes; Kingston

Jan 4th, 2018 11:29 am

[Rona] Craftsman snowblowers (up to $400 off)

Deal Link:: https://www.rona.ca/en/2-stage-snowblow ... d-40135002
Price:: $899
Savings:: $400
Expiry:: January 17, 2018
Retailer:: Rona

Rona sells craftsman snowblowers now. Pretty good deals. Get one fast before the next storm comes.
Sale ends Jan 17

2-Stage Snowblower - 250 cc - 27"
$899 reg $1299
Model #1696576
https://www.rona.ca/en/2-stage-snowblow ... d-40135002

2-Stage Snowblower - 208 cc - 24"
$699 reg $899
Model #1696574
https://www.rona.ca/en/2-stage-snowblow ... d-40135005

1-Stage Snowblower - 208 cc - 22"
$449 reg $699
Model #1696784
https://www.rona.ca/en/1-stage-snowblow ... d-40135007

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Jan 4th, 2018 2:12 pm

#2

Smittybit: Newbie; Oct 3, 2016; 18 posts; 5 upvotes

Jan 4th, 2018 2:12 pm

With Craftsman being a Sears brand, and Sears Canada having bit the dust, I'd be very concerned about warranty, and ease of playing obtaining parts without having them shipped.

+1

Jan 4th, 2018 2:14 pm

#3

Guest45693838: Deal Addict; Jul 7, 2016; 2980 posts; 3331 upvotes

Jan 4th, 2018 2:14 pm

this is where saving a couple of hundred bucks on such a expensive product is probably not a good idea. especially being sears and all their products are overpriced right now to give the illusion of a sale.

Jan 4th, 2018 2:24 pm

#4

dakdar: Member; Nov 9, 2009; 250 posts; 75 upvotes; Toronto

Jan 4th, 2018 2:24 pm

MTD makes the craftsman stuff, so parts in the future shouldn't be a problem

https://movingsnow.com/2012/whats-the-difference/

+3

Jan 4th, 2018 2:29 pm

#5

kramerz80: Deal Addict; Jan 8, 2008; 2518 posts; 933 upvotes; Halifax

Jan 4th, 2018 2:29 pm

Even though Craftsman is under the Sears umbrella it is still a separate company/entity that may continue on for long after Sears is gone. MTD is the company that makes the snowblowers for Craftsman anyways. The $900 one actually looks exactly like (just different colours) the Briggs & Stratton I picked up from Lowe's for the same price (w/ pressure washer) on Black Friday.

+2

Jan 4th, 2018 2:37 pm

#6

tebore: Deal Guru; Feb 9, 2006; 12219 posts; 6756 upvotes; Brampton

Jan 4th, 2018 2:37 pm

The sad thing is you used to be able to get parts cheaper for your MTD blower via craftman(Sears Parts Direct) than getting actual MTD parts.

Jan 4th, 2018 2:44 pm

#7

Hotdiggety: Member; Apr 3, 2010; 463 posts; 485 upvotes

Jan 4th, 2018 2:44 pm

The single-stage snowblower is actually a Briggs &Stratton, with their snowshredder attachment:

https://www.briggsandstratton.com/na/en ... edder.html

The chute control looks a bit different, but otherwise, it's the same machine.

+1

Jan 4th, 2018 2:51 pm

#8

NinjaOrbs: Newbie; Dec 27, 2017; 6 posts; 3 upvotes

Jan 4th, 2018 2:51 pm

Craftsman brand was bought by Black And Decker last year.

+1

Jan 4th, 2018 2:57 pm

#9

Neo_ZX: Sr. Member; Nov 8, 2007; 582 posts; 248 upvotes

Jan 4th, 2018 2:57 pm

As long as Stanley Black & Decker doesn't kill the brand due to poor sales, I imagine they will slowly take over parts and warranty.
Anything can happen so it's always a risk. I'm hoping my Craftsman lawnmower will last as long as my previous one.
Debating if I want to take a risk on the single stage... my 2-stage Briggs & Straton carb still gums up even after stabilizer and seasonal flush.

Jan 4th, 2018 3:10 pm

#10

Tha DraGun [OP]: Deal Addict; Aug 19, 2003; 4810 posts; 1605 upvotes; Kingston

Jan 4th, 2018 3:10 pm

Craftsman is now a Lowes/Rona brand. They partnered with them last year. Im not sure if they bought exclusive rights to the brand but every Lowes and Rona store will start carrying the brand this year. They will sell more then just the snowblowers too. Lawnmowers, tools etc. The warranty will be fine. It is obviously not going through sears anymore.

Also whether or not the sears stores have bad liquidation prices has nothing to do this sale. This is not a Sears sale and Craftsman no longer part of sears. I know the prices are not amazing drop everything and go. But the prices are good. Almost at cost.

I know very little sbout snowblowers but for what it's worth the one I saw did seem well built. Solid build all metal, well balanced, easy to tip back, easy to roll. Briggs and Stratton motor.

Jan 4th, 2018 6:51 pm

#11

Headbeancounter: Deal Addict; Oct 21, 2009; 2125 posts; 1005 upvotes; Ontario

Jan 4th, 2018 6:51 pm

Unless there is a huge discount, I would rather wait for Toro or Ariens to go on sale.

Currently happy customer with Telus and Freedom Mobile

Jan 4th, 2018 7:30 pm

#12

sy005: Newbie; Aug 18, 2008; 18 posts; 52 upvotes

Jan 4th, 2018 7:30 pm

Looks like Lowe's has the craftsman snowblowers on sale too. The 1 stage is going for 399 - specs look the same but different model number?

https://www.lowes.ca/snow-blowers/craft ... 83067.html

Jan 4th, 2018 7:37 pm

#13

jed: Deal Addict; Oct 12, 2001; 3621 posts; 96 upvotes

Jan 4th, 2018 7:37 pm

Thanks op! If I was in the market, I'd definitely be giving this a look.

I had priced out parts on my MTD built single stage craftsman last year, through Sears and online, it ended up I would be paying about a 35% premium to deal with Sears and get the parts through them.

What the H E double hockey sticks have I done now?

Jan 4th, 2018 9:03 pm

#14

kallankunji: Newbie; May 4, 2006; 81 posts; 3 upvotes; Toronto

Jan 4th, 2018 9:03 pm

The price is good for the features you get..I checked the 250cc single stage craftsman before I bought it and it looked well built. I was talking to a neighbor who has a craftsman snowblower and said his has no issues. As someone mentioned earlier these units are all the same just made under different brand names..I believe Brute also has a similar unit. Personally I opted for the 250CC unit to tackle the end of driveway snow..the extra power will come in handy.

Jan 4th, 2018 9:07 pm

#15

Katsiki: Member; May 8, 2016; 294 posts; 328 upvotes

Jan 4th, 2018 9:07 pm

dakdar wrote: ↑ MTD makes the craftsman stuff, so parts in the future shouldn't be a problem

https://movingsnow.com/2012/whats-the-difference/

Good luck getting service from them though. I had a Sears snowblower with maybe 30 hours of use after 7 years and started to leak near the transmission. Because it was out of warranty, Sears refused to service it.

Jan 4th, 2018 9:11 pm

#16

CaptSmethwick: Deal Fanatic; Oct 12, 2007; 5246 posts; 2612 upvotes; Ottawa

Jan 4th, 2018 9:11 pm

My Craftsman snowblower is 15 years old and works like a clock. Power steering and joystick chute controls still work as new. I replace belts and oil regularly and have had to replace a cable as well but I would absolutely not hesitate to buy another one - provided that they stick with B+S or Tecumseh.

Jan 4th, 2018 9:38 pm

#17

Netjunky69: Newbie; Dec 27, 2012; 79 posts; 42 upvotes; Barrie

Jan 4th, 2018 9:38 pm

My Craftsman snowblower is 10 years old. Tecumseh 9hp. Easy to find parts online for less. Most shops have cross reference part catalogs for local part buys.

Jan 4th, 2018 10:31 pm

#18

dakdar: Member; Nov 9, 2009; 250 posts; 75 upvotes; Toronto

Jan 4th, 2018 10:31 pm

Katsiki wrote: ↑ Good luck getting service from them though. I had a Sears snowblower with maybe 30 hours of use after 7 years and started to leak near the transmission. Because it was out of warranty, Sears refused to service it.

Refused to work on it at all ? ( at your cost) Or refused to cover it under warranty ?

Jan 4th, 2018 11:29 pm

#19

TLSRULZ: Deal Addict; Apr 18, 2005; 2516 posts; 902 upvotes; Mississauga

Jan 4th, 2018 11:29 pm

dakdar wrote: ↑ Refused to work on it at all ? ( at your cost) Or refused to cover it under warranty ?

I'm sure a local small engine repair shops would look at it. Your expecting Sears to cover warranty on a 7 yr machine?

Jan 5th, 2018 7:56 am

#20

kallankunji: Newbie; May 4, 2006; 81 posts; 3 upvotes; Toronto

Jan 5th, 2018 7:56 am

TLSRULZ wrote: ↑ I'm sure a local small engine repair shops would look at it. Your expecting Sears to cover warranty on a 7 yr machine?

I agree..its a bit unrealistic to expect a company to cover warranty on a 7 yr machine unless you have some type of extended warranty.