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Replies
Thanks Richard
You were using it so I'm sure your opinion is a valid one.
What was the problem, cheap components, badly put together, not up to the job?
Richard Matthews said:
mowdirect are currently doing a self-propelled 18" for £200. When i went out xmas shopping with my sister i saw one in a cheapo shop. just ask yourself is £200 worth of mower going to last enough to make money. My old boss used alko mowers and they use to last 3 yrs at £450, they earnt him a fortune
If your looking for a mower to use say less than 10 hours a week, look at second hand etesia / Hayter and Honda mowers - A second hand pro grade mower will last much longer than a new Domestic specification machine.
A cheap domestic petrol mower is the worst possible IMO, it'll be so flimsy it won't last 5 minutes without something letting you down. I'd just add to David's suggestions above that you are best off finding a good lecal trade supplier and taking their recommendations. If it goes wrong it's working time lost, and you want to know that it can be repaired quickly. They will usually have part-ex mowers in as well, which can be a bargain.
I bought a self-drive Etesia for a whisker over £100 from a guy in Aylesbury who services and sells on well-used machines. It's a bit smokey when you start it, but it's a phenomenal machine for that money. It's only for a couple of small gardens and wet conditions, and it wouldn't do for all-day-every-day work, but streets ahead of the DIY-store machines costing hundreds.
Thanks for your replies, given me food for thought :)
Paul wonders if that's a compliment or not, lol! I thought about googling the expression, but I'm too scared what I might find!
neil aldridge said:
i love my honda pro mowers.
ive been doing day rate gardening for ages now and cut acres of grass every week with my employees mowers. if there is one thing i have learned from this site it is not to do day rates! so im setting up a simple mowing service in spring as a gateway into gardens where i can begin to charge per job and for other routine gardening maintenance or additions. i dont want to put myself in debt so i have gone the route of buying second hand pro equipment that has been used domestically and i would recommend anyone buy a lightly used pro mower over a brand new domestic job. just looking now and and ebay has an Einhell for the same price i paid for a HRC216 and HRH mowers that i bought, both with faults but easily sorted.
quite keen on picking up a used 2 stroke victa but the girlfriend is becoming jealous of the attention i give them already..
Of course you can ask (£300)
Hadn't thought about pre loved so am planning a trip around the local dealers to see what they have to offer.
Once again thanks to everybody for their help
neil aldridge said: