The Little Engine the Couldn't

Just a fair warning, one of my reasons for setting up a web log was to vent about companies. You might say I was pushed into this when I had to file with the Atorney General over something circuit City did. But that's in the past and another story. I'll sub title these - First hand complaints about Companies/Products.

I have my brand new snow thrower. Its a Yard Machine bought at Home Depot. This monsters a 7HP 24in clearance that's ready to beat the snow into submission. This was last weekend, after the first big snow fall. After firing this bad boy up, engine sounded good, and was ready. Choke down, engine revved, I throw it into gear. It limps forward. Hmm, maybe it needs more gas, so I crank up the propelltion. oh ... oh I'm hitting snow, oh ... so ... slowly. I kick on the Auger and ... and ... I have a big mess in front of me. I confirm the auger is not spinning.

Okay, manual time. Damn my fingers a cold. Manual says to adjust engage cable, may not be tight enough. Cable tight. Manual says open her up to check cable hookup. So I open her up. Inside I find the belt off the rollers and its all chewed to sheds.

Time to exchange it, that's what returns are all about, right? That and I can't feel my fingers. Luckily Amanda is finishing up the driveway with the shovel (I'm not gonna hear the end of this). So I get to Home Depot. Wait in line to swap it out. I'm taken to the lawn guy, who says, their out of stock. He takes me to repair, well, more like goes to, and I reluctantly followed. Maintenance guy is out because its Sunday, so I can have it fixed Monday, but with the shredded belt, as they don't have new belts.

I figure, belt came off for a reason, so I'm gonna go for a new one. I go back to exchange where the line now goes out the door. I do the one thing that any ass would do. I Push my self in front of the line, demand to be next, and hope the very big black dude I just cut in front off will be sympathetic to my cause. Considering he was having to return a toilet, I could only guess he was having a shitty day too. I'm told, mid week they'll have restock.

So its Thursday. Home Depot, still has nothing on stock, and snow is a coming tonight. Too think, I bought the tool in November to avoid all this. The lesson - test your equipment before you need it, and skip Home Depot.