We want everything yesterday!

Orange home center store sure is funny. hahahahahahahaha lawnmower delivery date changed and even later, but it is in VA somewhere per the tracking....Order something ship to store, takes 2-4 weeks. Order it ship to home, takes 2-7 days.

The latter costs much more imho for the corporation, and not everyone is willing to wait 1 month for something. meanwhile every store in New England has 10-25 lawnmowers of this make/model, everyone around here has zero.

For kicks checked LA and Seattle, those places have zero as well. Boston always gets the best of everything. Need a tunnel? We'll dig and pay. Want a super bowl....

Went to get a cordless 20v long hedge trimmer and hated to do it. Ordered 3rd party amazon because nobody else could deliver it by the weekend for free. I truly hope I don't get a used product because it stated 50% restocking fee if you return a used item, 0% refund if you return an item that is not what was shipped to you (can you even imagine this with amazon). This is authorized DeWalt, so if they send me a used item, I likely have little recourse other than to complain. They even have only an 88% approval so it's dicey.

Going back to the subject, I want this item by the weekend so I can do our hedges...fell off the ladder last year reaching, not worth it.

I too hated amazon starting around 2008...but caved in. Owning the stock took the sting off of some of their bad practices...now I use them first again, like 2000...went through a phase where I avoided them...

edit p.s. I think amazon goofed. The item I ordered showed as Prime, so I was even thinking how can they say could be 0% refund, etc. Prime items follow amazon. I think that was an error.

Now, if ordered, the item would take 7-10 days to arrive, or, express shipping is $31 more. I already got UPS tracking with express shipping for $0. That is one of the perils of selling online.

I also learned that an amazon seller has the right to cancel an order at any time for any reason. There was once this amazon 3rd party whose tools were all like 90% off? So I ordered 6 sets of pliers, only to find my order was canceled. Then, negative feedback poured in, and positive feedback saying buyers are trying to rip off the seller who had a pricing error...nuts.

p.p.s. I saw that another 74 lawnmowers became available this AM. 18 have sold. Man talk about us being in a first world when these Hondas sell like hotcakes given the price, huh? I was this far from getting the one with the hydrostatic trans because I like the blade brake feature.

How close is the nearest depot that has your mower in stock? Maybe worth the drive to pick it up?

In the case of the stupid skillet, I get an email from UPS late last night that a package is on its way. Macy's still shows back ordered. Macy's logistics sucks! Clearly no communication between their distributor and the inventory/order system.

Demand is up for everything due to pandemic.

When this all started a location in Lawnside, NJ, had it, like 5 of them. then, only 2 more locations in PA, about 30 miles away had 2 and 3. But in Boston, every single location has 10-20!

I ordered Sta Bil and a knock off Weber premium grill cover, and I get a status sorry, "undeliverable" (money gone but supposed to be refunded and sure it will be) I always try to spin them in a positive way. I reordered the Sta Bil and no longer want the grill cover, I'll duct tape the one I've got! $17 savings lol

p.s. still 35 lawnmowers available to order, online. That means only about 44 sold all day nationwide. The last time 150+ came in, they all sold in the course of the day. What I find weird is that Lowe's has last year's model. When one is spending that much, imho get the latest/greatest....unless there was some cost cutting applied and it's not as good...

Is there a difference between last years model and this years?

When I got ours (hrn217vka), it seemed like it's been out for at least a year or longer, at least with the 200cc engine. If there's no [significant] changes and its cheaper and available, go with last year's model.

Years ago (march of 2010), I was buying a motorcycle, yamaha fz1. Dealership had both 2009 and 2010 models available. Only real difference was the color scheme. Mechanically both were identical. Price wise, the 2010 was $400 more (maybe it was $300). Guess which one I went with.

Served me well for ~3 yrs and nearly 40K when I sold it. In fact it was the first bike I did multi state trips on (as far as GA from chicago).

I've clearly seen the same model# on Youtube and even the engine cover looks different, or, the same. But the one in Lowe's is a 216. There was a box on the webpage "new this season" or something to that extent.

the mower arrived in the store, ordered 4/15, delivered early 4/29 ready right before closing 4/29. They said ready for pickup like 10 minutes prior to closing--I bet there are stats and since the target was 4/30, they beat the target. I'm very weird I know, one would think it's exciting to pickup the mower after 2 weeks of thinking about it, but now my mind is on installing a trailer hitch on my wife's SUV! The Draw Tite is only $106 and coming tomorrow. I got under and all the weld nuts are severely rusted from 9.5 years on the road. I have to chase the threads and I hope it works, one looks really bad...M12 1.75....I don't own a thread chaser it's coming too, and I want it yesterday!

we are gonna get the mower tomorrow, but I'm getting used to my 2003 Craftsman...when I put the bag on, the spray out the front isn't as bad. Funny, this was $200 in early 2003, which is $287 today, and has ball bearing wheels. A Honda needs to be $600+ to have that.

p.s. my model is HRX217VKA. It does not have the blade stop nor hydrostatic transmission. It's entry level for the HRX line.

Power is not shown anymore becuase it is rated in metric units and most people in the states would not know what it meant. Hell, many would not know if it was in horsepower!

That engine has a maximum output of 4.2 kW or 5.7 PS at 3600 RPM. PS is for Pferdestrke, literally, the strength of a horse. 4.2 kW is about 5.6 HP. Note these are numbers for maximum output.

The rated output is 2.8 kW, 3.8 PS at 3,000 RPM. 2.8 kW is 3.75 HP.

John you are a wealth of knowledge, and I mean that in a good way! Imagine how HP sells, not torque? When I (well I've only done it 4X) shop for a car, I look at torque. Nobody is fooling me with the 330 HP/269 ft. lbs. deal. The implication to me is the peak hp is at some unusable rpm, because we all remember 5252 from HS physics...

On my 2006, it's rated 278/312, while the 2005 was 290/320, so I was looking for a 2005 in 2016 thinking why not get the extra torque. I then found out they are identical only the rating system had changed.

Btw I credit you with my knowing what water hammer is! Never thought twice about it, now I am careful to open the valve slowly...

And don't forget, 1hp is 746 watts.

…just doing it inch by inch.

to pick up the lawnmower today, was chatting with my mom. She says I have a Honda, it's about 10 years old, your brother won't use it says it's not any good. I didn't say anymore my dad told me you used to be the favorite but not anymore hahahahaha Guess I just never noticed what mower she had, I know she has a Toro snow blower...

About wanting everything right away the stars aligned and the trailer hitch and chasers and marine grease will be delivered today so my mind is really on the rusted weld nuts. I wonder if the chaser will work or will I need a tap? I saw online the last resort is to break the nuts off and then insert a bolt from above. Well I don't see any access to do that so I really hope I can get the threads cleaned out and the hitch installed. Like I said, we want everything yesterday, because there's only so much time! Got news that we're going back to the office in July...

Always thought v=ir is meaningful. Like say the headlights have 25000 volts to start them (3 of our cars), it kinda means be careful! Funny 2 of the cars have warning stickers, the GM does not. I always got a kick out of labels with stick figures getting electrocuted. But then when lit, they use only 35 watts to conventional bulbs' 55 watts. Of course this is pre LED.

btw remember I installed LEDs for the GM's DRL's dropping the wattage from 27 to 3.7? The right side started flickering already dang can't catch a break on the GM. But the bulbs were 10 for $20 so I just put a new one in....

Where did you come up with 25000 volts needed “to start them”, referring to and LED on a car?

He's referring to HID which has a starting voltage of 20-30K volts.

OK, so HID bulbs do not run on low-voltage DC current, they require a ballast with either an external or internal ignitor, which controls the current given to the bulb. Cars use a 12-volt electrical system for their lamps and the HID lighting requires over 20,000 volts to ignite the bulbs and then 85 volts to keep them running. These voltages are provided by the ballast system, not generally accessible by inadvertently coming in contact with some cabling.

Powering the bulb happens in three phases. HID bulbs are usually Xenon gas, so initially a high voltage pulse (the 20000 volt mentioned) is used to produce a spark which ionizes the Xenon gas. The temperature in the HID capsule rises rapidly at which time 85 volts (more or less) maintains the lighting function. Obviously that 85 volt source doesn’t exist natively in a car with a 12 volt battery. It is generated electronically within the bulb assembly.

to report we picked up the mower yesterday. The HD was packed it wasn't looking good for a curbside pickup. Took my son in to the restroom and saw the mower in an area where they would deliver it, but based on another person waiting I knew it was going to be a long time. Hey, we're not the only folks from PA buying in DE! Saw a woman with VA tags getting a sweet Weber.

Later that afternoon running errands, I said hmmm...the label/barcode on the box, doesn't seem to match my model?

The barcode affixed at the factory said HRX21K6VKA. In my mind that looked like HRX216? The printing on the box all said HRX217VKA and GCV200 engine blah blah blah. So I tore open one flap, and I could see the engine said GCV200. I said I think it's good but even if not, it's clearly not returned or anything.

Finally when I got home (it's still in the box) I looked at the factory label and took a pic. It says HRX217K6VKAA. Odd, the label placed on the box is missing the 7, and the last A.

Now, interesting, remember I said Lowe's sells an old model? Their website, although none are available, say the same thing as my label on the box, HRX21K6VKA. Not sure what gives!

Since everything got delivered, the Draw Tite from Walmart, the thread chasers from amazon, and I swung by Harbor Freight to get the tube wire brushes, I started the hitch install about 6 PM last night. Got done at almost 11 PM. I was really surprised that I started with 4 holes that would not accept a bolt starting into them due to massive corrosion, to having 4 holes where I could finger turn the bolts all the way into them. Really, I never did that before but it defies common sense almost. So now we have a trailer hitch and I ordered after research a $111 Allen 4 bike rack...I mean let's be honest I'll get Thule or yakima maybe in another lifetime! If I wanted to wire for towing, there's a $23 kit made by Curt where it just sits inline with the factory tails. I read the reviews and nobody said anything about fast flashing...I remember in the old days people just spliced into the rear lamps and when signaling with a trailer the car would flash really fast since there was an actual flasher back then...

It's amazing how happy I am over a $106 hitch install. I get a lot of satisfaction out of knowing I did it...

The Honda website for that mower clearly states

"Full model name HRX217K6VKA"

"Carton Label HRX2176VKA"

See https://powerequipment.honda.com/lawn-mowers/models/hrx217vk...

I had a worse reaction to this than the vaccine.

https://powerequipment.honda.com/support/warranty and scroll down.

I looked before I replied. To me it sounds purposefully ambiguous and confusing. I can't see an upside.

What if they had an actual purpose? How could this be used? They could have e.g. three actual model names resolve to one carton label or the reverse. Is there any good that can come from that? Is this capable of improving anything? I can only see this as an intentional source of confusion.

I'd like to be wrong.

Similar questions have appeared on a bos store website and American Honda has responded that the labeling changes are sometimes due to a change in the UPC code.

In answer to the question "The manual says HRX217VKAA, the sticker on the mower reads HRX217K6VKAA" American Honda responded "Hello, there is no difference. The official long model name for the mower is HRX217K6VKA and the short model name is HRX217VKA as shown on the box."

What matters is the label on the mower which should read HRX217K6VKA.

When Consumer Reports evaluated e.g. TVs they would make their recommendations. (I’d bet things are the same now but I haven’t looked in years.) They would announce that in the category of 14 inch TVs with brown cases that the very best was the AcmeAnvil XLU125. But, but, by the time the magazine was published and distributed AcmeAnvil only made the XLU225. Well, InternationalTV Stores still sold the XLU125. EasternTV on the other hand sold a XLU127 and WesternTV sold a XLU123 both of which seemed the same as the XLU125. SEEMED THE SAME. The XLU225 also seemed the same as the XLU125. If EasternTV or WesternTV had a better price than InternationalTV was it a better deal or not?

In an ideal world sales-peeps would be trained to understand and communicate the characteristics of their products (and maybe understand their competition). Most of their training seems to be “customer management”. Within the realm of customer management is the tool called FUD, fear, uncertainty, and doubt.

So,,, now we have an inside-the-box model name and an outside-the-box model name. My fearless forecast: more FUD ahead.

Good luck with the mower.

Everytime I see the title of this thread I think, yeah, I know what I want yesterday, retirement, 3 more stinking years.

This topic reminded me of a particular piece of networking equipment from ~15 years ago.

The linksys wrt54g/gs/gl. Linksys came out with at least 17 different versions/revisions according to the wiki page.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linksys_WRT54G_series

IIRC, everything up to and including v 4.0 was decent. Starting with 5 they reverted to some crap to save money. One could no longer flash third party firmware.

Some of these were indeed incremental updates, but version 5 and onward really should of been a totally different product sku.

Consumer beware.

Let me comment on the UPC.

The 12-digit UPC code is made up of three groups of numbers with different purposes. In a product UPC, the first six numbers indicate the manufacturer, the next five digits are an item number, and the final number is the check digit.

The manufacturer's section of the UPC unique to the manufacturer. So for a Honda lawn mower, lawn tractor, or snow blower, those initial six digits are the same.

The second group (five digits) of numbers is the item number, is assigned to each individual product by the manufacturer. For example, the item numbers for a lawn mower, lawn tractor or snow from the same manufacturer would all be the same.

The last digit is called a check digit and is there to help ensure that the right number has been scanned or hand-entered. To check whether the correct numbers are in the code, the computer ringing up a sale uses an algorithm to add up all of the odd digits in the code and multiply the result by three. The computer then adds up all of the even digits and adds them to the result. The amount you'd need to add to that amount to reach a multiple of ten should match the check digit. If it doesn’t the UPC may have been altered.

haven't fired it up but the 7 in HRX217K6VKAA, which is the label on the mower itself, means GCV200, the 200 cc engine, which is printed on the box, the label on the engine cover, etc. etc. I believe if it had a 6, it would mean GCV190. K6 is a mfg date, but does not translate to an actual date.

The label glued to the box clearly is missing the 7, and it is missing the 2nd A, but I guess I'm going by the sticker on the mower itself. Also puzzling is the serial numbers match. Again maybe it's a label used in the warehouse management system. It's rather haphazardly slapped on, unlike typical labels that have model and ser#, which is why I suspect it's for handling in the warehouse?

I've heard stories where say this were a DC where they are getting loaded onto 53' trailers potentially bound from a Honda DC to Lowe's DC, HD DC (their distribution center, not the stores themselves), etc. There are checks put into place where a team member cannot finish say unless HRX217K6VKAA is put in, but maybe this number doesn't match a item master x ref and so a supe or ops mgr overrides it. Now it gets to HD and instead of having 26 palettes it has 24 and 2 were lost at the DC...well HD isn't going to accept that and the 3PL is penalized. And the items could be a lot more expensive that $629 retail, say they are washer dryers, fridges, or something. I've heard shrinkage is not usually around these types of items, but rather small valuable items. In the old days, razor blades are an example. Today, people have to be in cahoots for these items to "fall off a truck." So in a sense it does matter and it could be the white label worked around the WM system that's being used...

On the hitch job I noticed because I read Curt's instructions to compare to Draw Tite, hmmm, oh **** I left out the gold washers at the tongue where the bolts go into the handle nuts! Thinking to myself, 1--does it matter (yes) 2--can I do it without removing everything to include dropping the mufflers? (not sure)

Luckily I didn't have to remove anything but the bolts. Which implies a thief could loosen them for fun too. The ones that go to the frame rail are not accessible due to the mufflers. So I was glad I fixed that.

Then, the next day, the bike rack dropped $10. So I canceled, and reordered. This is a really nice bike rack for $101. It's an Allen 4 bike deluxe locking. It's selling for cheaper than the non locking, not sure why. For once it paid that Walmart sat on an order!

The analogy with the Honda, is K6 is a mfg date....but the missing 7 is the engine, so in a weird way it shouldn't be missing. In other words there should be HRX217K6VKAA, K7, K8. Imagine if they were sitting on the shelf, a savvy consumer might say I want the K8, not a K6. I mean if I get a car battery at Costco and one says 3/21, another 5/21, I'll take the 5....

Honda mowers don't use model years. They have a "version number" that is called a K-code that is part of the model number. In addition to the regular model designation, there are variations in model number such as K0, K1, K2, etc. These represent design changes made in the product line from time to time. The changes may be cosmetic or mechanical, but are not enough to warrant a completely new model designation. Some K-codes can be in production for years.

If your Honda push mower is equipped with a Honda engine, the model and serial numbers may be found under the product housing, or sometimes on the right side of the engine. If your mower is a Honda HRM model, then the identification numbers are found on the back side, near the bagging system.

To get a P/N or order a part, go to https://peparts.honda.com/powerequipment#/browse and input the requested numbers. You will get the exact P/N needed. In my case the system even handles my snow blower which is over 35 years old.

net net, what do you think the significance of the 2 labels affixed to the box saying HRX21K6VKA means? It was clearly for this physical mower, because the ser#'s on the two labels were placed by hand, into a white area on the box where they were supposed to be placed. And, the ser# on the two printed labels matches the ser# on the physical machine? In my mind I'm saying physical label on the machine overrules anything else.

Box label says HRX21K6VKA

Mower label says HRX217K6VKAA

I tend to want an explanation for things, but probably am willing to let this one go. They're likely just too lazy to make some sort of IT change?

Where this kind of stuff absolutely matters is when shopping for a classic car claiming numbers match. In that case, I wouldn't accept the seller saying, "Well, there really should be a 7 after the 1 and before the K, and another A after the A, but they wore off because you know this car is a 1970..." lol

Great!

I was ordering a light and lock from Amazon, for the new bike, was about to check out, but went up to get my son instead to take him out.

When I got back to my pc, the lock became a lightning deal for $19 off of the $36, so I got it and it came in about 6 hours.

Since the deal was so good I asked my wife to also get one using the lightning deal for when she gets her bike. Odd timing.

The bike rack came after more than a week. Assembled it, only 3 bolts, had the main shaft in backwards so finger tight worked here. Then as I was gonna recycle the box a piece fell out. It was too strong of a plastic to be shipping materials. Yep, clip for the 4th bike broke and now we'll have to wait for a Walmart replacement. They sure can be slow.

This is the lock, I understand that no lock is gonna stop a thief when they want the bike, but around town should be ok

$16.03 due to sale

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KD9AQ92/ref=ppx_od_dt_b...

Got this rack which imho is bang for buck, does the job at $101. Shame a clip was broken in the box

Main thing over the more expensive are the clips, and how the mast folds is just a pin...again? Does the job!

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Allen-Sports-Deluxe-Locking-Quick...

So I bought a new Garmin DriveSmart 61 several weeks ago and this past Monday, Nov. 29th, I ordered an AC adapter wall charger from Charger City. The order confirmation said it would be delivered anytime from Dec. 3rd to Dec. 7th. Okay, I can live with that. Today's now Dec. 4th so I tracked the package. It was picked up by the USPS (U.S. Postal Service, not to be confused with UPS) on Monday and arrived at what's called a carrier facility in Walnut, California, Tuesday afternoon. So far, so good. From there it went to another carrier facility, this time in City of Industry, CA., arriving there Wednesday afternoon at 2:26 p.m. Okaaay. It's now three days later and there it still sits. As of right now, I'm betting that I won't be getting it by the 7th. On the other hand, the USPS promised that they've resolved last year's delivery debacle so I guess I shouldn't be worrying, right? (This last sentence is dripping with sarcasm.)

Phil

Last item I ordered on ebay with walnut ca as the origin turned out to be an item sold by a chineese seller. Still unclear if the item originated state side or was shipped from china to CA then to me.

Either way, it took about 10 calendar days to get here.

I sell on ebay too. Shipped an item from chicago (suburb) to gary IN, less than 50 miles away. It was shipped on the 29th via usps first class parcel. The last scan was 11/30 in warrendale, PA. I expect the buyer to his item no later than next saturday (12/11). That's usps for you. A complete crapshoot. Sometimes they get it on times, others can be delayed by a week.

For a while now (last 2-3 months), shipments have been timely, but after blackfriday, everything is messed up again.

and there are tablets that I ordered at work in May, that are starting to ship now.

So in a way I've changed my expectations too, in wanting something immediately.

I also followed my link to that bike lock--it's $38.86 today, when I paid $16. How do people simply just say OK, I'll pay....lol

on eBay I got this Lego set "new sealed in box" that was missing pieces and has extra pieces. Bag #1 was clearly opened.

It's easy enough to peel the tape off and put it back.

The seller said he would make good and now won't respond.

I tell myself don't feel bad, just give the person negative feedback. They do have 100% positive, but hey, whatever.

Did you ever get your pickup? Honestly, I'd like to order a new car to my spec....only did that once in my life. Yet, it was more common in my dad's times.

What I found out from Japanese car dealers, when you "order" a car, it's really their car. The "order" is between you and them. With Porsche, BMW, it's between you and the mfg. You do have to pay the selling dealership, but it can be trucked to wherever you want and your name is on file with the mfg, unlike Japanese cars (at least in 2007). Wonder what it's like with Chevy or Caddy, etc.

Looks like I underestimated the USPS. Over the weekend my package went from California to here in Cleveland and was delivered today, the 6th, right in the range Charger City predicted. Sorrry!

Phil

I find the USPS tracking "info" to be the worst of all the carriers. Many times I have seen an item show as stuck somewhere only to show up unannounced, as it were. Have the item in my hand but tracking still shows it 'stuck' in transit.

On the flip side I've had items show as delivered, but wasn't, only to show up a couple days after it was supposedly delivered.

When I ride my bike in the morning, usually in the 6 AM timeframe, USPS delivering packages out of a RAM. I do get concerned when anyone ships USPS because they seem to take bizarre routes where they've already reached Phila., then head back out west, come back, adding a few days.

The vans I see look like this, only about 43X as big

https://www.diecastmodelswholesale.com/2018-ram-promaster-25...

p.s. as an aside I routinely ship UPS from PA/NJ to CA. Many many times, I send 3-4 packages all at once, and they separate path-wise, and rejoin.

Many hit Hodgkins, IL mid route. But some have no tracking for 5 days, and appear in CA.

.

I originally placed the truck order back in April. The dealer called in late June and said the factory (GM) had cancelled the order due to part shortages. He said to wait until the 2022's become available and re-order.

He called again a week ago and said I could place a new order. I reviewed the options for the 2022 model with him and was told
there were no prices available yet. He also said some of the options, including the color I wanted may or may not be available. The truck could ship from GM without some other options but the dealer could install them at a later date.

I wasn't about to place a firm order and pay a deposit when the price & option configuration were a big unknown.

To make a long story short, the dealer agreed to place a "stock" order for the truck I wanted. If I didn't like what GM actually shipped, I was under no obligation to buy.

The shocker came when he said to expect delivery in late spring or early summer!!

Buying a new car sure isn't as simple as it used to be!