I don't understand the mindset of the buyers today. The major big-names of yesterday are running on fumes and the buyer's think they can buy them in the Box store for $59 or whatever, and they'll last for the rest of their life.

OR, they've been conditioned to think that $59 is an alright price to trim the lawn for one year and buy a new one the following year. For about $180 you can buy a decent Echo that will last for many years and be trouble-free.

One thing I know is that these same people balk at spending the $59 for the new machine every year. They bring them to me and I used to change the gas and plug, try to start them, and then give them back at no charge, because I couldn't fix them. I took back the gas and plug. Starting this year, I don't work on any 2 stroke handheld unless it costs $200 when new. My life is a lot happier since I decided to refuse all that sort of work.

And I'm not bashful about telling them that they bought a piece of junk and what do they expect?

Yup I have Huskavarna weed whacker that is about 8yrs old. Last summer, I replaced the fuel line. That has been it. I have noticed that 2 strokes seem to have less carb varnish troubles than the 4 strokes.
Last month, I got a Stihl chainsaw going that hadnt been started in 10 yrs. I added some B12 Chemtool to the fuel and after running it for a few minutes, it starts on the 2nd pull now. No carb rebuild needed.

What I find most disheartening is that companies that once built quality products have allowed their good names to be used on low quality, bastardized products today. I won't buy them no matter how cheap they are.

Well, I have Stihl I paid a lot of money for that never gets used and a cheapo Homelite that I use all the time (for 4 years). I just spent a total of $4 replacing a fuel line and filter on the Homelite.

But I generally agree with what you all are saying...my Honda HRX has been worth every penny I paid for it, after buying crappy mowers for a good number of years.

I just bought a Stihl from the local JD Dealer (that is their "house brand" now). Couldn't be happier. John Deere has never built their own string trimmers to my knowledge, always just rebadged other brands, and it seems they changed OEM's every once in a while. Hopefully they stick with Stihl.

Spunds like everyone is saying....you get what you pay for??

Found a nice, almost new, straight shaft weed wacker, on somebody's garbage pile, so i liberated it, took it home, and it runs great!???!!
The string end was missing, so, after trying it to start, i bought the new style string holder end, installed it, and now i have a good machine! UMMM!