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: Don't see the hype
Summary: 2 Stars
So I bought this last year for my husband but we never got to use it because of the lack of snow. However this year, with two major snow storms (so far) we were able to put it to work. First, I was kinda upset that my husband tried it out and then threw it back into the garage. After all, I bought it to help us out. Then I tried it thinking I would show him. After strutting my stuff out onto our drive way, turned that baby on only to get sprayed entirely with snow. OK, so maybe I wasn't paying attention to the direction of the wind that time. But every time after that, the same thing happened over and over again. It didn't matter which way the wind was going, the snow went straight back and sprayed you. I thought maybe I had the angle of it all wrong so I tried holding it differently. Nope. Our neightbor who has every gadget available for yard work came over and tried it out...(I must have looked like 'Dances with power shovel' out there with this thing for him to wonder on over) and even he said it was a piece of crap. He said he was thinking about getting one for his wife incase he wasn't home to do his drive way with a real snow blower and refused to get this one after trying it. I thought it was just me, but after my husband and neightbor gave it a try, it did not clear snow. Maybe I just got a defective one?Customer Review: Inexpensive Snow-removal-helper
Summary: 4 Stars
As our driveway is fairly small (fits two cars) I did not want to spend hundreds of dollars for a snowblower. The Toro Power Shovel is a great, inexpensive helper to remove snow in small areas. It is fairly powerful and throws the snow a good distance. I also like that it does not make much noise, so you can also use it early in the morning without upsetting your neighbors. It is great for smaller amounts of snow, as it easily removes up to 6 inches.
It does have a few restrictions, which are made clear in the product description. If there is more than 6 inches of snow, you have to remove it in layers, and here is the little downside. Even though the handle is adjustable, it gets heavy after a while and you have to watch your back. We just had a northeaster here in Massachusetts, and even though the snow was heavy, it worked great, but I can feel my back from lifting it over some time, and my wife, who also used it, got quickly tired and preferred the manual shovel. Another little disadvantage is that it blows the snow straight ahead and not sideways, which makes clearing tricky if you have to maneuver in tight spots around a car, for example.
Due to its little disadvantages, I gave it four stars, but otherwise I think it is a great product, especially for its price, and would recommend it.
Customer Review: Chute-less Mini-blizzard maker
Summary: 2 Stars
Unless used either on the rare completely windless day or when the snow is pretty wet, it's chute-less indiscriminate full machine width spray of snow is converted to a mini-blizzard redepositing the snow on the operator and the surface you've "cleared of snow" with it. Somewhere in the last 2 decades this sort of chute-less design was abandoned by Toro on their small gas models. I'm certain the blizzard creation potential was the reason. I guess the Power Shovel design team never got the memo? It has saved some back stress (no lifting the snow) on the 2 occasions I've used it in zero wind or wet show though. Also it's power control is designed for right hand use only and has excessively stiff trigger tension. The thumb activation positioned trigger safety release is on the left side of the handle making right hand thumb the only practical way to use it. I've contacted Toro about these serious shortcomings via their facebook page. Maybe next year's model will have a small controllable chute and a different on/off control if they have any capacity to respond to real customer reported design faults. I'm sure they did exactly that with their leaf blower /vac products. I love my new one, not my old one. The trigger locks are the weakest part of most electric yard equipment items that have them.Customer Review: This is an awesome shovel
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought one of these from a home store website after we had an overwhelming snowfall last month because I had heard that we would be having more snow. After hurting my back and paying someone with a snowblower to clear my sidewalks and driveway, I figured this would pay for itself if we had many more snow falls over the course of the next couple of years. I made a wise investment in my back health! The handle is totally adjustable, so, standing 5'9" tall, I can comfortably shovel standing upright on the right or left of the machine. The most important thing I learned about this machine is it is called a SHOVEL for a reason. If you approach snow removal as you would a snow blower, you will be terribly disappointed. If, however, you tackle small areas in a methodical way, you will find this a valuable tool. Some things to note: It doesn't work as well on packed snow, so try to clear before too many people walk on the area you are trying to clear. Work with the direction of the wind or it will blow back in your face. Always try to make sure the snow is blowing onto fresh snow and not previously cleared surfaces because it's harder to clear after it's been through the machine once. While there are some things to consider when using this machine, it is still worth every penny you spend on it!Customer Review: Old 2003 model and New 2008 model...LOVE THEM BOTH
Summary: 5 Stars
I am in Boston, and we are having the snow season this year that I would have never imagined. We had the Old Toro model purchased in 2003; and then I love it so much that I was afraid that one snow day it would chuck out...and then I would be flat out in shoveling. So, I purchased the new model in 2008. My husband said you are crazy there is nothing wrong with the old one. I said I know but you can never be too prepared. I have to tell you today, January 27, 2011. We used both models to move and remove snow from the last 5 big storms we have had this year. I am so proud of my electric Toro. We have the 100 power cords, and these Toro babies really work. One of my neighbor and I have decided to save money and purchase a bigger model and share it during the winter.
The kids in our neighborhood are asking where can I buy one of those. My mother needs one....LOL...I told them that she has you for the shoveling.
I am actually going to take a picture of the two family favorites of the house -Old and New Toro) and send a letter to Toro about the wonderful hardworking snow shovel we have. No retirement yet from the old model. It is a much purchase if you plan on having any sanity by spring...and you want to still have a love for snow angels and snow ball fight.