Found a generator, just one minor problem

[Scott P]

I was walking into my local Lowes the other day and they had some clearance generators outside. This one really caught my eye:

It's basically from the Land of Misfit tools. A generator that does not generate electricity. It has one job and purpose and it can't even do that. It might be an easy enough fix, but that discount isn't nearly enough.

I have a 5,500 Watt B&S Storm Responder that we bought during Ike back in 2008, so I don't need another unit collecting dust in my garage. I thought it would have been discounted a bit more than $200.

 

[zkling]

Really. I would walk, no run in the opposite direction from that thing. $200 savings, yea it may be something simple, OR it could be something extremely expensive.

I wonder if they know the real story behind it?

 

[FJ 432]

What a bargain!!!

Why can't I find a deal like this?

 

[TAMPAGT07]

I think if it were marked at $300 I'd jump on it....LIke you said, for $200 less, Hell No...... Do what I always do....Call the manager over and say, "I know you want to get rid of this thing, what if I offered you $200?" He'll say, "Make it $300 and you got a deal." Done....Everybodies "Happy, happy, Happy."

 

[TAMPAGT07]

What a bargain!!!

Why can't I find a deal like this?

You're not the Mayor of Toronto, are you?

 

[bigbubba]

You're not he Mayor of Toronto, are you?

 

[TAMPAGT07]

Quick catch Bubster....I really thought it would take hours for someone to get it...

 

[Scott P]

I would only put into what I could get out of my current generator. This time of year is a buyer's market for generators in Houston. Hurricane season has passed and people look to unload them. I'd be hard pressed to get $400-$450 out my current one. It gets used maybe once a year around here.

I was thinking of $300 myself as the most I'd pay. It has one of those digital control panels, so a repair might get expensive quickly. Then again. it could be a simple loose connection or circuit breaker.

 

[FJ 432]

You're not he Mayor of Toronto, are you?

You always make me laugh real hard.

 

[TAMPAGT07]

You always make me laugh real hard.

Thanx......

 

[kbs2244]

Look into "flashing" a generator.
If it has been sitting unused for a while that may be all it needs.

But offer a lot less.
It is now a liability on the stores inventory balance sheet.
The store manger needs to dump it.

It is marked at 30% off.
That is down to cost and he breaking even.
If it runs I would offer 50%.

 

[gorilla]

I would only buy that generator if I wanted it for spare parts and i wouldn't pay more than $100.00.
This is off topic, is this type of generator a alternator or a dc generator with a inverter?

 

[brownbagg]

i see a lot of use tools at lowes and hd that look like they roll around in a truck for two years, never cleaned, cover with paint, and all they discount is $25. not worth it. saw a riding lawnmower with the whole front clip rip off, $15 off

 

[bigbubba]

Quick catch Bubster....I really thought it would take hours for someone to get it...

Just saw him on the news at work last night

 

[xyster101]

Talk to the manager, they might work with you. I picked up a huge rolling tool box that was $400, marked to $300 and I offered $200. Someone backed into it with a fork truck, top drawer did not work great, only opens about 60% before it falls off the rollers because the insides are bent.
Anyway, he said sure and they did it.

 

[Scott P]

I was there over the weekend and it was still there at the same price. There was a nice looking Generac pressure washer next to it marked down by $150. That tag said "Does not run".

 

[Interex]

That's the exact generator I'm looking at since the extend-a-panel would be nice to mange the unit from inside.

Like others have said, I would have expected that unit to be priced way under. I've done the talk with a manager and had even more money knocked off clearance items. I'd go down that route before I even thought about paying what they want for it.

 

[Scott P]

The thing is, my offer would be $200 and no higher than $300. That's a big discount over their $700 price. Plus, it doesn't exactly fit in a MazdaSpeed 6, so I'd need my neighbor with his truck or steal the wife's CX-9. If it is still there next weekend and the wife and I have time, I might do just that.

I already have a generator and manual transfer switch, so I do not know how much work the panel would get.

 

[lametec]

So offer them $200. Worst thing is they tell you no.

You'll never know unless you ask.

A friend of mine used to work at Lowe's, and he said that the prices on anything clearance is highly negotiable. This is especially true if you offer to buy the rest of something.