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joed


Joined: Sep 1, 2008
Points: 84

Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Original Message   Dec 24, 2009 9:23 am
I was at a local Honda dealer yesterday and I was stunned by the prices on their snowblowers. In Canadian dollars, they were: 928 wheels: $3000 928 track: $3400 724 track: $3400 1132 track: $3500 I know they have tracks, hydro tranny, honda engines, etc. but they're at least $1000-1500 more than equivalent toro and ariens models. Is it gold, they re making?
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steverons


Joined: Dec 23, 2009
Points: 5

Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Reply #11   Dec 25, 2009 8:28 am
superbuick wrote:
So...you think the 8 garage bays at the local Honda dealership are for weekend oil changes??

LOL





My neighbor works for Honda and I raced a Honda in SCCA, so I have some good Honda info/insight in that regard.  He often has new Honda cars and OPE and I have a chance to use them.  Like anything with a "premium" image, you pay a price for that image.  Part of what you're paying for is engineering, and another part is brand.  Thats just the way those things work.

One of our cars is a Porsche, which we bought used.  I've worked on it extensively and by all accounts, it fits the same category.  The engineering is "meh", its difficult to work on, parts are expensive, and they often break.  Does it drive nice?  Yep, sure does.  Is it worth 2x a Corvette when brand new?  Definitely 100% no.  Do people think it is cooler?  Yep :-)
aa335


Joined: Nov 29, 2008
Points: 2434

Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Reply #12   Dec 25, 2009 9:17 am
joed wrote:
Dollar for dollar, which of the two, HS724 with tracks or the HS928 with wheels is the better machine or best bang for the buck?

I would pick HS928 with wheels and a light kit.
This message was modified Dec 25, 2009 by aa335
borat


Joined: Nov 10, 2007
Points: 2692

Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Reply #13   Dec 25, 2009 2:59 pm
aa335 wrote:
The HS724 (6.5 HP, 24 inch) by my standard is underpowered and hardly a fair comparison to your Simplicity (9.5 HP/ 11 HP, 28 inch).  The HS724 engine displacement, blower / impeller section is sized significantly smaller than your Simplicity.   It is designed with lower volume capacity.  In fact, Honda had to step down the bucket intake height on track equipped models.  A reasonable compromise to prevent self destruction, typical conservative Japanese engineering.  I would guess that the hydro transmission and the tracks higher power requirement was taxing the small engine.

A fairer performance comparison would be the HS928 (9 HP, 28").  Even with that model, the Honda is biased towards throwing distance while trading for lower volumetric capacity.


Yeah. You're right it's not a fair comparison. However, neither is the $3400.00 vs $1500.00 in price now is it? So, from that point of view, comparing dollars to dollars, the comparison is more than fair. By rights, for that money, the Honda should be more than twice as good. My driveway is 110' x 18' with a 35'x35' turn around at the top. It also has a 10% grade. We get ice, slippery, wet snow, heavy deep snow, wind blown concrete snow and lots of it. The Simplicity does it all and does it well. So, my driveway is always clear. I do like Hondas, and I do not have Honda envy. That's for sure. However, I also like my Simplicity and really like the two thousand dollars still in my wallet.
aa335


Joined: Nov 29, 2008
Points: 2434

Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Reply #14   Dec 25, 2009 5:51 pm
Even if the Simplicity was $3400 and the Honda was $1500, the performance comparison would still not be fair. 

Even if you have or not have the money to spend, seldom you get 2x the performance for 2x the price.  The law of diminishing returns applies.  Also, the customer base rapidly decrease.

It may be foolish to spend $120,000 or more on a Porsche 911 GT2 when a Cadillac CTS-V offers similiar performance and carries 3 more passengers with a useable trunk and costs $40,000 less.  For the price of 1 Porsche, you can get 3 Buick Enclave, 40 cupholders, carries 21 people, and pull 3 trailers.  If someone gave me 3 Buick Enclave, I'd trade them all in for a Porsche 911.  Rational?  Not really.  Personal?  Yes.  Emotional?  Wholly yeah!   Or put that money towards a house, pay off loan sharks, have a blast in Vegas.  Choices.

There is a premium price for exclusivity.  Honda will continue to gouge customers, as long as Joe Irrational, Joe Rich, Joe I Need It, and Joe whatever continues to buy.  Apparently, they are doing well enough not to revert to cheapening their product.  Its lonely and vulnerable at the top.  Simplicity was at the top of their game, but not big enough not be bought out.  Can B&S let Simplicity to continue to deliver and target product and services to their customer base with higher expectations and deeper pockets?  Or will they keep milking the brand until people realize it is just marginally better than A, C, or T brands, and sold in the same showroom, presented by the same sales person?  Then Larry customer is going to decide based on paint colors, steel thickness, use of plastics, and features.  How is it that Toro command higher prices and still makes good sales numbers?  I don't know for sure, but I like their products.
This message was modified Dec 25, 2009 by aa335
mikiewest


Joined: Dec 29, 2007
Points: 262

Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Reply #15   Dec 25, 2009 8:04 pm
Doesnt Toro pickup and bring back ur snowblower during the warranty period if something is not working free of charge?Maybe that is factored into the price of the blower.Around here they charge $60    5mi. or less for p/u and delivery.Even though the chance of it breaking down in the first 2 yrs is nill.
This message was modified Dec 25, 2009 by mikiewest
amazer98


Joined: Dec 7, 2009
Points: 46

Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Reply #16   Dec 25, 2009 10:00 pm
It's interesting that Honda charges so much more for their snowblowers.  I don't quite understand what makes them substantially better than other brands.  My Ariens seems very solidly built and the new B&S SnowMax engine runs strong and smooth.  What more could you ask for?

Certainly Honda doesn't get away with charging big premium bucks for its lawnmowers.  They seem priced on par with brands like Snapper and Toro.  I had a Honda mower for 6 years until last summer.  The drive mechanism seized and the local OPE  (the only one in the area that agreed to do the job) estimated the fix at $300, so I decided to junk the mower.  Not a great testament to enduring quality, though it did perform quite well up to the moment it stopped working.

Anyway, let's say Honda makes good mowers and good snowblowers.  How do they justify or get away with charging almost double the going rate for a blower, while not pulling that stunt with their mowers?
mikiewest


Joined: Dec 29, 2007
Points: 262

Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Reply #17   Dec 25, 2009 10:09 pm
Part of the high price is for the "legendary" Honda engine and the hydrostatic transmission as opposed to a simple friction disc setup.
borat


Joined: Nov 10, 2007
Points: 2692

Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Reply #18   Dec 25, 2009 11:01 pm
mikiewest wrote:
Part of the high price is for the "legendary" Honda engine and the hydrostatic transmission as opposed to a simple friction disc setup.


That's true. Their drive components are more sophisticated. Can't argue with that. Their build quality is top notch and engines are great. But the total package isn't great enough to get me to spend that kind of dough on a snow thrower. If and when my existing Simplicity is no longer up to the task, I may have no choice but to look at a Honda or a Yamaha. The way all the domestics are going, I can see nothing but mediocre machines from them in the future. Until that day, I will make sure the Simplicity is kept in good running condition. Have to agree with AA335 too. As long as there is a market and people are buying Hondas at that price, they'll continue to produce and sell them. I'm glad that people are buying them really. Somebody has to keep them in the snow thrower game. I certainly wouldn't want to see Honda get out of the snow thrower manufacturing business. Down the road, it looks like they might be the last place to go for a top notch machine.
mikiewest


Joined: Dec 29, 2007
Points: 262

Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Reply #19   Dec 26, 2009 3:03 pm
AA we r comparing snowblowers.Comparing a sports car to suv's is ridiculous.who cares how many enclaves u can buy for the price of a sports car.If you want to compare similar cars and you just like a Porsche better than a vette even though a vette is cheaper thats understandable.But I have never heard anyone say oh a Honda looks better than a Simplicity or Ariens.The bottom line is Honda is overpriced and overrated.My Simp Pro costs less than a honda 724,lt will last as long,cost less to maintain,easier to operate and kick the snot out of that little machine.It can keep up with a 928 which is really overpriced.
Knee_Biter


Wicked Pissa

Location: just outside of BOSTON
Joined: Dec 14, 2008
Points: 147

Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Reply #20   Dec 26, 2009 3:47 pm
I will put my Honda hs624wa up against you Simplicity next storm if you live local.  I have used all brands and own several Hondas , Ariens, Toro etc.   I like my Ariens 1128dle best but my little Honda 624 will give it a strong run for its money.  Why is it that some people are DIEHARD for the brand they own and against all others?  I like them all.  They all have pros and cons.  Honda is very expensive but worth the price you pay.  You get what you pay for. 
This message was modified Dec 26, 2009 by Knee_Biter


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