Industry Q & A

Rural Lifestyle Dealer asked readers how much interest they're seeing in "green products," such as lawn mowers that use alternative power sources. Here's what you had to say:

Q. HOW MUCH INTEREST ARE YOU SEEING IN "GREEN" PRODUCTS AT YOUR DEALERSHIP, SUCH AS LAWN MOWERS THAT USE ALTERNATIVE POWER SOURCES? WHAT PRODUCTS ARE CUSTOMERS INTERESTED IN?

A. "We're seeing a lot of inquiries on our web site for the Stihl electric handheld trimmer. None of the interest is local or even in our state. In our rural area — and even in cities of over 5,000 people, where we have stores — there is no interest in alternative power sources. Gas power still provides the most user-friendly devices for the OPE items we sell. As an Ariens dealer, we're somewhat interested in the Ariens electric riding mower. The concept and build were great, and the price isn't terrible. But our rep said not to stock the machine because it's only selling in the suburbs on the East and West Coast.
--James L. Taylor, vice president, Hillsboro Equipment Inc., Hillsboro, Wis.

A. "We've had no interest in alternative power products, but our main sellers are high-horsepower, big-deck mowers — hardly any walk-behind mowers."
--Ron Hegel, sales manager, Corn Belt Equipment, Everly, Iowa

A. "I don't have people asking for green products, but if I point out green characteristics, I see a light come on. I think most of my customers are too "macho" to reveal their caring side. However, I think they secretly do want green products and will choose, and even pay more, for an environmentally friendly option."
--David McKeeman, president, Grove Equipment Service, Bartow, Fla.

A. "We have some mower products that are propane or electric, but we won't stock them because there's not enough interest."
--Jeff Sallans, secretary/treasurer, Kitchener Tractor Center, Kitchener, Ontario

A. "Not a single sale. It just stinks. I'm sitting on $20,000 worth of Husqvarna Automowers."
--Scott Haman, G&H Distributors, Bensalem, Pa.

A. "Our lawnmower business is very limited. 'Green' hasn't been an issue with our customers here in southeast Arkansas."
--Doug Abel, sales manager, Prairie Implement Co., Stuttgart, Ark.

A. "Nobody has asked for green products and in this economy nobody is willing to invest in it."
--Andrew Berry, owner, Mount Blue Agway, Wilton, Maine

A. "About the only thing we have noticed is some increased interest in mulching attachments, as opposed to baggers in our CP line. I'm sure the move will pick up momentum as time passes."
--Dick McCormac, sales, Elder Implement Co., Muscatine, Iowa

A. "There is a lot of talk about green equipment here (John Deere) but not much about equipment that might be environmentally friendly. One or two are looking for an electric lawn mower or a push reel."
--Doug Easterlund, salesman, Midwest Machinery Co., Sartell, Minn.

A. "If anyone says something about a product being a "greener" choice around here, it's a sarcastic remark. I wish I could leap into the future and see people scratch their heads trying to figure out why our leaders wrecked the economy because they were so arrogant to imagine they could have an impact on Earth's climate. If my fifth-grade science teacher was correct, Earth had an ice age a few thousand years ago. The climate must have cooled. Then sometime before I was born, the ice melted. The climate must have warmed. Both of these climate changes happened before cow farts were doing the catastrophic damage they're doing now. I don't get it."
--Dan Booth, manager, Booth Machinery, Crawfordsville, Ind.

A. "No one has inquired about green products at our store."
--Randy Nicolai, manager, Country Side Implements, Cannon Falls, Minn.

A. "No interest as of yet and I'm not aware of any we have to offer."
--Gary Faircloth, owner, Fairway Tractor Sales, Cleveland, Texas

Posted October 2, 2009

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