Comparing Gas Lawn Mowers: How Important Is Price?It isn't bad to think about price when shopping for a lawn mower. In the middle and upper ranges, price is less useful than it is at the lower ends of the price scale. When we use simple price to price comparisons, however, we discount a lot of important factors that should be considered. Before you buy your next mower, you should think about the following things when comparing prices to get a better idea of which mower is really going to save you money.
Sometimes, paying a little more saves you a lot more later. Generally, you should expect a lifespan of eight years from a quality mower. Cheap mowers can clunk out after a few years, and sometimes even faster.
When you buy solely on price, you're not considering what that "savings" at the beginning is actually costing you. Take, for example, the difference in price between a 300 and a 400 dollar mower. Your instinct might be to pay less up front because that extra hundred dollars seems like a lot. Paying just 100 dollars more for a mower now, though, could mean the difference between a mower that you have for eight years and one you need to replace during that same time period. Over the eight year time span, you'll end up spending 600 dollars, not 400, to get the same amount of years out of the mowers.
Another thing to consider is the warranty on the mower. Good warranties save you money in repairs. The better the warranty, the more you stand to save in repair and replacement costs over the life of the mower. While you can find mowers with five year warranties, two to three year warranties are more common. Some mowers also have deck warranties that differ from the whole-mower warranties discussed above. A deck warranty can give you some insight into overall quality, but isn't as important as the whole-mower warranty.
Of course, sometimes, the extra cost is worth it. There is nothing wrong with giving more value to time saved than cost, for example. Any feature that makes mowing less of a chore can be justified, as well.
Consider an electric starter, which costs about an extra 50 dollars. Experts often suggest making this extra investment because it can save so much effort. Even though it may not be strictly necessary, it does make the job easier enough that it becomes worth the cost. If 50 dollars saves you weekly aggravation, it's worth the investment, especially when you consider you'll likely have to start the mower more than 2,900 times over eight years. It's good to remember that when comparing prices.
About The Author: David Corbley is industry magazine contributor and expert. He enjoys attending industry events, learning & writing, and watching old movies. You can find more related information by visiting the following site: garden dad You can find more on the author's site.
