To all who have followed this forum for a long time, you will know that I have been a strong supporter of the Toro 21” Super Recycler cast deck mower. I am now changing my mind and can no longer do so. Over the Labor Day weekend I went to the local county fair and was talking to the owner of the business I retired from when COVID struck. He informed me that they were no longer stocking or selling these models. For the past three years their quality and backing by Toro has decreased drastically and this spring they returned almost every model in stock to Toro. He told me Toro is trying to resolve these problems, but has seen no progress. I worked for this business for 12+ years and have known this owner for 40 years, whose business is over 75 years old, and fully trust in what he tells me. My apologies to anyone who has used my support to purchased one of these mowers in the passed 3 years, I’m going to try to keep up on this subject, but as I said, I cannot and will not recommend anyone purchase a Toro Super Recycler cast deck mower. Rivets
Changed my mind
- Thread starter Rivets
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It's not just Toro. It's everyone else too. Got to make more profits for those CEO's. They got to have that fourth summer home in Figi you know....... They are all trying to cut costs and charge more. And the customer is paying for it all.
Hammermechanicman
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Something to add to the list like cub cadet troy bilt and husqvarna
sgkent
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sorry to hear, thank you for your honesty. Covid and the inflation that followed was a double whammy. People lack the money in general to pay for what it really takes to make a quality product, and all the hard working baby boomers retired out. It has been discussed many times. Stats today came out that one political party in particular now believes with a majority that everything should rely on socialism and it would solve these issues. The 1% will just move their assets somewhere else, and people who aren't willing to work hard won't have much to share. We met two couples from Denmark a few years ago while camping. Had some interesting discussions. Simply put, when a society is really hard working and frugal, there is a lot to go around so sharing it works. When people refuse to work because it is no fun and they believe they have earned more, there is little to share. These couples both told us that Denmark brought in so many immigrants who wanted to participate in receiving but not working, that socialism in their country was showing signs of failing. In the USA, with the 1% taking their huge cut, and those who won't work wanting their share, the middle is really going to get squeezed. Toro is one of those companies being squeezed. If they raise their prices their product is unaffordable for many. But if they continue to let the quality fall - and the hire people who can't or won't do the jobs they were hired for - well that won't work either. I am not at all happy with the Toro products we have purchased in the last five years. They are expensive and are wearing out too fast. At the same time, a 21" mulching rear wheel drive mower from 2006 just keeps going strong.
Tiger Small Engine
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Toro makes one of the best self-propelled mowers on the market. Everything from mowers to measuring cups have cheapened in quality and raised in price, especially the last 20 or so years.
While we were talking the one thing that really surprised me was when the owner said that Toro support was very poor on these mowers. I started dealing with Toro in 1980 and never really had any problem dealing with them, but nonsupport in my mind means I can no longer recommend them. They used to make the top product on the may, but not any more.
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Unfortunately I think that's every brand since 2020.....
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Instead of focusing on quality a durability that has kept them alive and well all these years, many are leaning towards "options and electronic gadgets" that fail in a very short time.
I think we will suffer from this for quite some time to come.
The term I hear quite often is "shrinkflation". Everyone is paying more and getting less. In the past 4 years, the world economy has tanked.
Quite frankly, we need to go back to basics. If you are not willing to work (and are able to) you don't eat.
https://www.openbible.info/topics/he_who_will_not_work_shall_not_eat
I think we will suffer from this for quite some time to come.
The term I hear quite often is "shrinkflation". Everyone is paying more and getting less. In the past 4 years, the world economy has tanked.
Quite frankly, we need to go back to basics. If you are not willing to work (and are able to) you don't eat.
https://www.openbible.info/topics/he_who_will_not_work_shall_not_eat
Guess you’ve never read my previous replies to what is the best push mower to purchase. I used to say that even the cost of the Toro Super Recycler was high, it was a 20 year mower and worth paying the higher price. I no longer can say that. Honda used to make a quality mower, but they have gotten out the that business. Toro Recyler steel deck is a good mower, but not close to the Super Recycler. For me to now say this is the mower I would now recommend, I would to say “it’s a crap shoot, get what you feel comfortable with”. If you really want an answer, start watching FleaBay, garage sales, Craig’s List, etc. for a Super Recycler built before 2020, and treat it like your first born. As with everything nowadays “They don’t make them like they used to”.