Lowe's Wheel Horse Tractors

[mae 28]

I just posted my first post in the Introduction section and was thinking.  I seem to recall Wheel Horse made a decision in the 80's to sell their units to Lowe's which upset their dealer base.  The product seemed the same but were not red but as I recall were gray in color.  This did not last long because the independent dealers threw a fit.

I'm wondering if anyone recalls this or may have one of these Lowe's units.  Forgive me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure I'm remembering this correctly.

Mike

[lynnmor 7,313]

23 minutes ago, mae said:

I just posted my first post in the Introduction section and was thinking.  I seem to recall Wheel Horse made a decision in the 80's to sell their units to Lowe's which upset their dealer base.  The product seemed the same but were not red but as I recall were gray in color.  This did not last long because the independent dealers threw a fit.

I'm wondering if anyone recalls this or may have one of these Lowe's units.  Forgive me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure I'm remembering this correctly.

Mike

Wheel Horse made a gray line of tractors named Work Horse, I don't know if they were ever sold at Lowe's, maybe someone on here knows if that line of tractors were ever sold at other than Wheel Horse dealers.

[Racinbob 11,100]

The gray units in the mid 80's were the GT series. I bought a new 84 GT-1100 at a dealer. I basically grew up a stones throw from their plant in South Bend and never heard of them being sold at a big box store. That talk comes up every now and then. 

[wfrpalm 218]

I do not think Lowes was around in the 80's, not in Ohio at least.

[lynnmor 7,313]

1 hour ago, wfrpalm said:

I do not think Lowes was around in the 80's, not in Ohio at least.

They were around and it was a place you could buy an entire home, unlike today where it is a holiday decorations and patio furnishings store with some pieces of twisted lumber.

[pfrederi 17,741]

By 1962, Lowe's operated 21 stores and reported annual revenues of $32 million.^[

[rmaynard 15,518]

Lowe's was founded in 1921.

[WHNJ701 4,165]

1 hour ago, lynnmor said:

They were around and it was a place you could buy an entire home, unlike today where it is a holiday decorations and patio furnishings store with some pieces of twisted lumber.

Come on, for 12.97 a twisted pressure treated 2x4x8 is a deal.  Thankfully we have 2 local yards close.  Wood is straight and actually cheaper than Lowes or depot

[rmaynard 15,518]

18 hours ago, lynnmor said:

...unlike today where it is a holiday decorations and patio furnishings store with some pieces of twisted lumber.

I know we have gotten off the track here, but I don't know what has happened with framing lumber of today. My father-in-law was head of construction for a large firm in Baltimore. From around 1960 on, he would bring home unused supplies from job sites that would otherwise be thrown away. After he died in 1993, we cleaned out his old chicken house. There was a stack of lumber that was at least 20-25 years old. Each 2x4 was as straight as an arrow with no twisting. You won't find that today even if you pick through a whole pallet.

[WHX?? 48,833]

Back in the day lumber was properly dried. Can't be doing that today that costs lumber makers money! 

 

Back on track here Lennox and other brands started selling furnaces & ACs in big boxes. The buyer then had to or were supposed to contact bona fide contractors or dealers to install it and that's where the the buyer got taken to the house.

Us dealers were gonna make our margin no matter what so it didn't tick us off. 

Joe home owner would get a price for me and then look at what he could buy it for at a big box and DIY. What lovely installs I have seen. Then Joe would want me to warranty it! Same with internet sales.

I would get those calls and told people flat out I can't help them. I got enough problems with the crap that went through my doors.  I  did throw the manufactures under the bus and give the guy their customer service number. Suspect big boxes did the same and referred people back to the dealers so an endless circle of headaches for the buyer. 

Lennox always told me they would never sell at big boxes or the the internet but they were liars. They make their money by moving boxes so go figure. 

It was always their low end stuff that was junk even if it was installed correctly. 

 

I don't know if  did this with their low end gray tractors or not but it wouldn't surprise me although big boxes were not nearly as big in the early 80's as they are now.

Can you say super Walmart?!?!? You want that new chainsaw go to a outdoor power dealer who can service it. 

Edited April 4, 2022 by WHX??