"...runs at one speed only"
Believe the one-speed-only aspect, as found on my Toro, is due to the pollution laws in some locales (one being California) that is met, in part, by having the engine run only at full throttle. Another regulation (I believe it may be federal) limits blade speed for safety purposes.
Sheeesh, even mowers are getting complicated.
As with many products, a manufacturer can and will build/market separate classes of products with the "lower class" products sold at mass marketers and the higher-end products reserved for retailers who specialize in a product line and may have a contract with the manufacturer.
One exemplary example, anecdotal to its core, is when a certain cootish shanty dweller who will remain anonymous, purchased a Toro mower.
Ample on-line research conducted. Queried the mower fanatics at:
Mower mavens massed together
After much thought and visits to local retail outlets of all types, our anonymous potential purchaser ended up within the confines of Little Engines 5717 North 90th Street, Omaha, NE.
"Factory Certified Technicians, We Service All Types Of Outdoor Power Equipment, Country Clipper, Dr Trimmer, We Service Equipment Sold By These Retailers, K-Mart, Menards, Lowe's, Home Depot, Walmart, Sam's Club, TSC, Target, Sales & Service, Pick-Up & Delivery."
Golly, more space devoted to service/repair and a multitude of parts than new and used mowers. Yep, a specialized retailer for powered lawn equipment.
Noted was the differences in the mowers compared to the mowers sold by the non-specialized retailers such as Dome Hepot, Belowes and Mart-Wall. Model numbers differed along with how the different models varied in a few to many ways. This specialized dealer sold mowers with model numbers not to be seen on the mowers at the BIG box stores and vice versa.
The differences in the products may not have been major but did exist. Our potential buyer decided to spend a little more to obtain an extra three years of warranty (included by manufacturer with this model) and a seller where redress of problems included the on-site availability of technicians and parts.
Since one intent of mower usage was to continue mowing the neighbor's lawn for fun and profit, an extra expenditure for quality would be paid for from for-profit mowing. Zooming into the future, three years of part-time profit mowing has paid for a good portion of the mower's cost; a wonderful thing.
Seller tossed in three free mini-jugs of oil and an air filter. Noting a sale on Stihl eaters of weeds, purchaser X procured a mid-grade model and began charging fee-paying users of lawn chopping services an extra 10 bucks when Stihl was used. Doing so paid for the item. Another marvelous thing. Three years later the eater of weeds still starts quickly with minimal effort and runs like the wind or Forest Gump. Seller tossed in 5 bottles of 2-stroke oil and what appears to be a lifetime supply of the highest-quality top-of-the-line eater of weed string colored high-impact orange so as to apparently make a statement about the persona of the user. Sadly, females do appear to be impressed.
Eater of weeds was an impulse purchase so no research done; trusted the apparently very knowledgeable sales human. After three years usage with 100-percent reliability the subjective determination that the seller was qualified to make recommendations rings true.
If money is the proverbial object, yes, buy at the mass market retailers. If quality and other perks is important and affordable, consider the specialized retailer who may have models not available at the BIG box stores and that can offer advice, service, free add-ons to "sweeten the deal" etc.
In addition, if your BIG box mower needs repair, you may end up at the local specialized store anyway since that retailer may have a contract with the manufacturer to perform warranty work.
A possibility; you arrive with your semi-sub-par model that the repairer knows was purchased at a BIG box seller due to the model number and/or how that model is made/outfitted/etc. Then, our anonymous one wanders in with his mower purchased at that retailer. Who do you think may get their mower fixed first? Who may possibly obtain that wee bit extra service? Who may depart with a repaired machine clutching a freebie or two such as a bottle of oil?
Y'all are so lucky the shanty-bound one has the time to convey this valuable info and advice. Just hoping the plumber-type people can get it right THIS time and that they actually do arrive today.
