Sears Lawn & Garden

You have to hand it to Sears. The fading legend has a remarkable ability to alienate some of its oldest and best customers. There are also some interesting questions about the warranty on Sears' garden equipment.

Bob of Rathdrum, ID September 20, 2009

I purchased a Craftsman 24 HP Lawn Tractor with a Briggs Engine - Model #446677, and almost exactly following the 2 year warranty period, the engine quit. It appears the nuts on the connecting rods on the pistons came loose and ruined the interior of the engine. After spending a lot of money on a Sears product, we are very disappointed. I've talked to other people who have experienced the same type of failure. This is really a bad situation when the tractor only has 108 hours of operation.

Randall of Columbia, SC September 16, 2009

I purchased an electric trimmer in the Lawn and Garden area. Salesperson tried to sell me an extended warranty, telling me that the warranty only covered 90 days. On the box it says the warranty covers 2 years. Either the salesperson was poorly trained, or was lying to me in order to make an extra sale.

William of Philadelphia, PA September 13, 2009

In May 2009 I went into the Sears in Northeast Philadelphia off the Roosevelt Blvd at Cottmon Avenue. I went to the Lawn & Garden Center to look at and price of riding mowers. I was interested in a riding mower to cut my daughter's lawn. The salesperson showed me some riding mowers and told me various prices. I returned to the store a few days later (a Saturday) with my daughter to look at the mowers and dealt with the same salesperson as earlier in the week. There was a sale plus an additional percentage off if I opened a charge card. The deal sounded very good. I decided on a mower and then asked the salesperson to give me the bottom line flat out actual cost I would have to pay to get the mower. This is when the salesperson started hemming and hawing about discounts etc. He said he could only give me the price after entering all my details into the computer. Over and over and over again he kept entering my details and cancelling them out ... he obviously did not know his job, the merchandise or how to use the register because I waited and waited for him to come up with the price. After he quoted me a price higher than the sales price I reminded him that I was to get an extra 15% off if I opened a charge card. He then proceeded to take all my information again, put it all into the computer then went to his supervisor to find out if I could get the extra percentage off for applying for a Sears card. He came back and said that I couldn't get the percentage off because the amount he quoted me was the lowest price and he couldn't go any lower. The price he quoted was 1500.00 (higher than the sale price). I was disgusted and told him to cancel everything I was no longer interested and left the store with my daughter.

Brenda of Waynesville, NC September 12, 2009

Bought lawn tractor 9/2006. Kept it maintained and oil changed. 9/11/2009, almost exactly 3 years after purchase, block cracked. Motor still runs,but throws oil out of crack. Technician came out looked at crack, did not look at anything else and stated, since no warranty, would have to replace motor for 1500. That is more than was paid for lawn tractor.

Technician stated that I could take elsewhere and get block for motor much cheaper but sears did not fix it, only replace it. Customre service rep at 1-800-, Emily, stated nothing sears could do. Offered 10% off of new mower. Dead end, no consideration. Rude representative. Seems wrong for mower to get crack in block after only three years and company like Sears will not even consider that is is flaw in their motor.

Was willing to pay for repair but not pay price for a totally new lawn tractor after only three years. Had to buy new lawn tractor after only three years. Big economic problem since single parent household. Saved for Sears tractor and it was a huge purchase for us. Thought Sears was a company we could count on.

Janet of Livonia, MI August 20, 2009

I had Sears Repair and Service come out to service my lawn tractor. This was a simple tuneup and check. While cutting my lawn, the 1st time after the repair, the engine started smoking and locked up. My neighber, who is a master machanic, said that the repairman never put oil in after draining it during the tuneup.

I called Sears Repair, both local and the main office in Chicago, several times to complain. They said that could not happen because the engine would have never started. My neighbor said that the engine ran on the remaining oil in the crankcase, then froze. Sears finally sent a repairman out, who again said that could not have been the problem. Whether it was or not, the tractor was only 2 years old. Sears refused to do anything about it or help me purchase another one.

I am 62 years old and a female. I can not cut the acre of land I have by hand or afford another lawn tractor. Fortunately a friend of mine bought me a tractor for Christmas. Unfortunately, it was another Sears tractor. Now a year later, I am having problems with the lawn tractor cutting off after I use it for awhile. I have to leave it sit for about an hour before it would turn back on, then it cuts for 10 minutes and cuts off. My neighbor thinks it is the carburator since we changed the fuel filter and oil, but it keeps acting up. The old Sears who always stood behind their products, doesn't exist anymore since Kmart became involved.

John of Racine, WI August 19, 2009

My Sears 23.0 HP Electric Start 48" Mower Automatic - Garden Tractor has developed a very dangerous condition., The gas tank started leaking (steady dripping onto the floor) and it is situated under the seat. This design flaw will soon be the cause for serious injury, or potentially death, to an unaware owner.

The price of a new "plastic" tank is outrageous. I believe that this product flaw is a legitimate reason for an instant recall to preclude the potential injuries to owners of Sears tractors. Will I buy another Sears electic or gas driven product - of course not! I do not want it to be "shame on me".

cody of dalhart, TX August 18, 2009

I bought a riding lawn tractor in may i mowed my two lots in town takes 3 hours. It used 1 quart of oil so i called the home service to get it fixed. I explained the situation and they said the tractor wasent ment to mowe large areas and for so long at a time so it voided me warranity it had 19 hours on it. They said the mechanic in the air refused to come look at it. I was not to happy so i sold the tractor and bought somewhere else.

Jen of Mount Pleasant, PA August 15, 2009

Purchased Garden Oasis Augusta Hills Collection patio set with glass top table September 2008 (11 months ago). Today our glass top table spontaneously exploded into millions of pieces of glass. Thank God no one was near the table when it occured. No where on consumer information for product is there any type of warning about the possibility of the glass exploding spontaneously.

Kim of Fountain Green, UT August 13, 2009

3 Years ago my husband and I bought a craftsman Riding lawn mower LT3000. The second summer it broke down. It took 3 repairmen to come out and fix it. Well 3 motors later total off 6000.00 which thank god we did not have to pay for because it was under warranty. Things started working fine again with it.

Now this summer it has broke down again. Our warranty was ended last month and we did not receive a call letting us know that our warranty was up. I asked what possibly could be wrong with it and the lady said sorry I cant even give you advice on whats wrong with it. In other words no warranty no troubleshoot. I feel like this mower is a lemon and we are being treated as if this mower was 15 years old. I will never shop at Sears again let alone buy even a craftsmans screwdriver. I feel that was horrible service for a 3 year riding lawn mower. Seriously I thought craftsman had a good reputation.

John of Mooers Forks, NY August 3, 2009

I purchased a craftsman tractor 5/30/07 delivered 6/5/07. The product had a 2 yr warrantee. 7/30/09 the tractor wouldn't start. I determined it to be a faulty starter. I called Sears and was told the starter part would cost app. 220. The tractor has only been used about 12 times. Since I am only here in the summer. This part must have been defective, yet Sears will do nothing to compensate me for it.

Upon checking my manual I discovered the warrantee was 2 mos. past. I never received a renewal offer from Seaars before the warrantee ran out. When I called about reinstating the warrantee I was told since the tractor had broken they wouldn't renew the warrantee. I now have a 2yr old lawn tractor I cannot use.

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