Toro 38361 Power Shovel 7.5 Amp Electric Snow Thrower
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List Price: Our Price: $79.00 You Save: $70.99 (47%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $48.95 (click here) Category: Kitchen See more product details |
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Toro 38361 Power Shovel 7.5 Amp Electric Snow Thrower
Customer Review: be aware of limitations
Summary: 4 Stars
PROS:
* Throws snow farther and higher than can be done with a regular shovel.
* Light and compact like a vacuum cleaner.
* Easy to maneuver in tight spaces. Narrow enough to be used on stairs.
* Inexpensive.
* No maintenance.
CONS:
* Anything above 6" of snow becomes 4 times harder, longer, and more complicated. Don't kid yourself, this will not work well at all for deeper snow.
* It can only throw snow FORWARDS. Hence, you need a strategy of covering the area such that you throw snow into intended direction.
* It works poorly on packed snow.
TIPS:
Get a 100 ft 14 gauge or thicker electrical extension cord that can handle cold.
Don't step on the snow you going to shovel. Snow must be loose.
Pay attention to the wind direction. Throwing snow into the wind has the same unpleasant effect as spitting.
As a last resort, to clear the snow deeper than 6", 'somehow' clear an area to be used as a launching pad. Use a sleigh shovel to move deeper snow onto the clearing and then shoot it away with the Power Shovel. This works best with 2 people. Better yet, get appropriate snow blower for the job.
If you don't know what a "sleigh shovel" is or how to use it (I didn't), then you live in the region with not enough snow in the recent past ;-)
Customer Review: Good little snow-thrower
Summary: 3 Stars
Although I've given this handy little thrower only a 3-star rating, I should say that it is easy to handle and launches the snow quite well. I purchased this unit to keep my deck clear. The deck can be quite a job to clear after a good Maine snow storm and there is no way I can get my 10 horse Toro up those stairs. So you see, if anything, I'm brand loyal.
The little Toro is easy to move around and certainly launches the dry-powdery stuff very well. Haven't had an opportunity to try it on the heavy-wet stuff we sometimes get.....but that day is coming.
Although it's bite isn't a big one, if you take the drifts in segments, a layer at a time, you will soon have the snow cleared. Trying to force the unit to work faster will only make a mess and probably damage the unit. Make sure the direction you are launching the snow is clear of anything you don't want taken down. I made the mistake of launching towards a nearby birch. The birch was home to a couple of bird feeders. One held its ground. The other I'll find in the spring I'm guessing.
Once you get comfortable with this unit you actually start having fun with it. One piece of advice....always blow with the wind! Unless you wish to come out looking like Frosty.
I would recommend this unit for anyone looking to replace that ancient shovel and save the wear and tear on their backs. It works well and the price is right.
Customer Review: Great little power shovel
Summary: 5 Stars
Snow, lots of snow over the last two weeks, 54 inches. I hand shoveled the first 24 inches, didn't think my little power shovel could handle it. Then came the second storm and another 20 inches, and I hand shovel a while, back hurts, so I pull this thing out.... feel stupid for not using it during the first storm!!!! Third storm comes, another 10 inches and shoveling is no big deal using the power shovel!!!
Got to be smart when using this machine.... just like with hand shoveling you don't want to shovel all 24 inches at once, you have to keep up with the snow as it falls.... but it is no real effort using the power shovel. It is reasonably fast, beat my neighbor who hand shoveled and my other neighbor with the industrial gas engine, self propelled-walk-behind snow blower (I didn't tire as fast and this little thing was more manuverable) . Don't try to use it on a really long driveway, 2 car drive about 75 feet long is about it; it is not an industrial machine, it is a little home small job machine.... this thing is great for side walks, decks, patios. Remember to think about where the snow is headed as you shovel, don't want to go over the same spot twice Make sure you buy a long extension cord (100 feet or better). Don't leave it out in the cold so the parts freeze, if you do you have to wait until it thaws, but it will work again just great after the thaw (yes I did this).
Customer Review: Very Disappointed
Summary: 1 Stars
I received the item on Friday Feb 4th. As luck would have it we got 5 inches of snow on Saturday. I went out to use my new Toro power shovel, made two passes and it completely stopped working. A personal note: When I received the item there was a couple of large blemishes on the item and it was packed in the actual Toro box very strangely. This would have me believe that this item was refurbished but it was listed as new from Amazon. Also on another peculiar note: I called the Toro customer service line first to see if they could help me but on Saturday all I got was a recording, but they did give me the phone number of a local Toro dealer. When I talked to the Toro dealer and told him I got the Toro Power shovel from Amazon, he told me it was illegal for Amazon to sell Toro products. (I have my doubts if this is true but I still found it to be strange).
I have purchased many (many) items from Amazon and this is the first item I had to return. I must give credit to Amazon in that, so far the return procedure has been very easy. In less than a minute they had me setup for a UPS pickup for the item for this coming Monday. I will update this review on how the rest of the return transpires.
I can't say that the Toro Power Shovel is a bad investment. It was probably just the luck of the draw that I got a defective one.
Customer Review: Looked great, once tried --too much effort !! (shovel's better)
Summary: 1 Stars
With all these positive reviews I was really excited about having this unit since I watched the video online and couldn't wait to use it, seemed so effortless. My mom mentioned that my sister owned one already and it sits in the corner of basement, doesn't use, Yet, she revisited it with us to try hers, cause i was arguing with her must not be same n that i saw video online, she brought over, compared model # n was same, we all tried it and we all agreed that it is far too much effort then it's worth. It strains back, and hand that has to keep holding button down, and have to hunch over and push with resistance forward and can't just walk down a row, have to keep push'n forward with every step. Drag'n it around and was more effort then it's worth. So it's like, more effort then shovel, and using electricity, which wouldn't mind if it worked well, and if was less effort and convenient. CAN THE COMPANY BE POSTING ALL THESE POSITIVE REVIEWS TO ADVERTISE? I CAN'T SEE HOW THIS MANY PEOPLE LIKE THIS UNIT, MY SISTER AND MYSELF WORKOUT, ARE IN OUR 30'S AND MY MOM IS 60'S AND SHE'S ITALIAN AND SHE SAID, "YOUUU MUSTA BEEE KIDDING MEEE, JUST USE-A A REGULAR SHOVEL." THAT SUMMED IT UP. SORRY TO BURST ANYONE'S BUBBLE, BUT MINE BURST. $100 FOR A MIRACLE IT SEEMED BUT NOT SO. SORRY GUYZ. EMAIL ME IF NEED ANY MORE INFO MGMOOSE@YAHOO.COM