Why do you hate MTD?

Spiffy · Apr 5, 2005

And I wasn't going to get sucked into this... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Note sure if the blue font took on the 4 points I'm responding to:
 
 1*This practice is deceptive or at least misleading to consumers.
2*By using badges which imply that their product is something it's not.
3*I found it to be just the opposite of that.
My MTD Wards PowerCraft with mower deck cost $1300.
My Real Bolens (before MTD got a hold of them and trashed them) cost $728 including the mower deck; and was ten times the tractor that the PowerCraft is.
4*The proper thing for MTD to have done was to continue production of the tractors wearing the badges
 

 1. Of course it's deceptive... just like the consumer "wants" [give me a CC or JD for the "Walmart" price; I don't care how you do it]. Anybody intelligent enought to be on this forum is probably sickened by great names on lesser machines, but....to "hate MTD", they have to be more deceptive than JD, craftsman, etc.

2. Again we're all disturbed by what the big corporations are doing, but you can't hate them for doing what a bunch of moronic (but very lucrative) consumers are asking for.

3. The econimcs of inflation, material, etc makes this one enough fodder for another thread if not another site, but one thing should be mentioned: the average consumer is no longer drawn to simple & ruggged, they want sleek looks and "bells&whistles" (some of which are really nice), but this adds price or subtracts value somewhere else (i.e construction).

4. Oh do I wish for an honest world where things were proper and where nameplates still meant something. In many cases (maybe most) the quality line [granted few real "workhorses" are left, refer to 3] wasn't dropped, instead they expanded the cheap end. But to answer the title of this thread, is MTD more deceptive than JD or Craftsman, etc?

Your not going change corporate until you change 75% of the consumers... I've tried to no avail, so instead I just relish in the fact they're the ones paying for the nameplate on my [better quality] machine!

Chad

slowrev · Apr 5, 2005

You must have never owned a Fiat...
//
Good point. And I have not owned a Fiat, learned from others mistakes on this issue.
I believe the FIAT ( Fix It Again Tony) is so full of problems it becomes nearly impossible to single them out. I guess this is the closest to a lemon brand that I know of. Work on all week to drive on the weekend.

Ben

GerardC · Apr 5, 2005

When you take in to the shop and they clean the fuel system and fill the tank with new fresh gas and you bring it back unload it and mow for an hour or so and it goes right back to doing the same thing how could it be a bad gas or a water in gas issue?
I did not do any maintenance of a poorer quality on the MTD than I do on any of my other equipment and they never give me such problems as the MTD does.
As far as the low oil issue you can't run it low as it keeps increasing the level on the dipstick.
The tractor has always bellowed blue smoke from the exhaust when first starting.
It has done this from the day I got it and first started it. 

I'll say it again, B&S IS NOT a part of MTD manufacturing!! Your statement is still FOUL!

GerardC · Apr 5, 2005

A good small engine mechanic would have found this. There is a cause for everything, no mystical lemons that cause unfindable problems. Engines can be replaced .

That is what LBrown 59 should have done.

He states, "The tractor has always bellowed blue smoke from the exhaust when first starting.
It has done this from the day I got it and first started it." Enough said.

GerardC · Apr 5, 2005

Brian:

 I always chuckle a little when I see Cub Cadet. The Cub Cadet used to be a model in the International tractor line, as was the Cub (larger). 

You can without a doubt tell the difference. I noticed the 'IH' on the back of the one unit. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I also understand and realize that they aren't built like "back in the day".
Example: Like the Jaguar built today, that is now owned and built by Ford. People need to stop expecting things to be today as they were in the past.
Don't get me wrong, as I do understand where you are coming from, but times change, people change and products change! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

AndyM · Apr 5, 2005

He states, "The tractor has always bellowed blue smoke from the exhaust when first starting.
It has done this from the day I got it and first started it." Enough said. 

Mine did that, and I took it back... There's no reason it keep it more than a day if it's not working right the first day!

I bought a "Bolens" push mower from Lowes last year. It didn't making it through one full cutting of the 50 x 100 area that I have fenced for the dog. I took it back the next day for a refund. They were more concerned about the fuel in the tank than why I brought it back.

JDGREEN4ME · Apr 5, 2005

( Like the Jaguar built today, that is now owned and built by Ford )
Is your point that this is a good or bad thing? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif If you like owning a car that now has a better reliability record, won't bleed oil all over your driveway and you can trust to drive it out of the site of your house then you must mean this is a good thing! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

GerardC · Apr 5, 2005

If I remember correctly, I believe you posted about it here on TBN, right?

CUMMINS · Apr 5, 2005

hey how bout this you buy a mtd product and then you will know why we all hate mtd

LBrown59 · Apr 5, 2005

( *hey how bout this you buy a mtd product and then you will know why we all hate mtd )
============*I think he's had more than one of them and has been satisfied so this won't work on him.