It could be the entire world selling them and still with only 2 winters and one being VERY mild for everyone there's no one who could provide an accurate review given no Sno-tek is outside warranty yet.
Again last year's winter was only mid for the Northeast. The rest of the USA got normal snowfall. But yes only 2 winters worth of use it may be too early to tell. Then again my "junky" Craftsman is still going after 6 years. Only issue is the finicky emissions compliant Tecumseh carb. But that's probably due to my poor storage habits early on.
It could be the entire world selling them and still with only 2 winters and one being VERY mild for everyone there's no one who could provide an accurate review given no Sno-tek is outside warranty yet.
Again last year's winter was only mid for the Northeast. The rest of the USA got normal snowfall. But yes only 2 winters worth of use it may be too early to tell. Then again my "junky" Craftsman is still going after 6 years. Only issue is the finicky emissions compliant Tecumseh carb. But that's probably due to my poor storage habits early on.
Let's add in some facts about last Winter since you're stuck on it being only for the NE part of the US. Only 9 states had an average winter last year.
I don't think there's anything inhenently wrong with the SnoTek machines - looking at them, they are very similar to the MTD built (Toro, Canadian Tire, lower end JD, etc) machines...
They just aren't an upper-end machine, either; despite being built by Ariens...
MTD snowblower engines are made in China. Parts availability is not an issue, and the quality is good. They aren't Chinese designed, they are designed in the US and built to specs. I would assume Snotek is similar. That said, I still like my Ariens.
I finally wound up getting the Ariens Compact 24 from the Home Depot site for $799.99. I did a Live Chat with a rep who added in the 10% off Lowe's mover discount bringing the subtotal down to $719.99 plus 7.75% sales tax bringing it to $774.83. I ordered it through the Citi Bonus Cash Center site and hopefully will get 3% off of the $774.83 bringing it down to $751.58. It should be delivered to my home in the next week or two by a local Ariens dealer.
I just kinda felt uneasy about the Sno-Tek with its no-name Chinese motor. Are the Ariens Compact 24's and the Briggs & Stratton motors on these still made in the US?