There are many good reasons to spend a little more and purchase a known brand from an established reseller. Image Credit: Author

Brands

When choosing a mower, today there’s a bigger choice of models and brands than ever before.

Among them you’ll find brands that have been around for generations, such as such as AL-KO, Ariens, Flymo, Hayter, Husqvarna, Ryobi, and TORO… together with brands you may never have previously heard of.

There are many good reasons to spend a little more and purchase a known brand from an established reseller. Image Credit: Author

Brand Premium

Unsurprisingly, you can expect to pay more for a well-known brand, than a lesser known one. And sometimes, that premium can be substantial. Is it a premium worth paying? In many instances, the simple answer is yes.

Lawnmowers are a manufactured product. Like any manufactured product, mowers can and sometimes do go wrong. Buy from an established brand, and you can expect access to an established repair network, and a readily available supply of parts. Buy an unknown brand and you may find yourself without access to either.

It’s not just the mower itself, where paying a premium for a brand can be worth it.

If you’re choosing a petrol mower, you’ll almost certainly want to choose an engine from either an established lawnmower manufacturer, or a known powertrain manufacturer, such as Briggs & Stratton, Honda, Loncin, or Subaru. Choosing a known manufacturer, provides you with access to an established, nationwide, service support network, together with assured spares and parts availability.

Choosing an established brand is also an important consideration when purchasing a battery powered machine too:

• Well-known brands, usually offer cross tool compatibility. So, purchase a cordless mower from a well-known manufacturer such as Ryobi, and you can use the same battery in over 200 home and garden tools;
• Because batteries are rarely interchangeable between brands and manufacturers, if you need to replace the battery, it’s important to ensure spares are readily available. Replacement battery availability can be limited, for some lesser-known brands.

The Same, But Different

Contrary to what you may read on some internet discussion forums, just because a company owns multiple brands, does not mean that differences between products are limited to branding. In most instances, companies tailor their product and brand offering, to best cater for different consumer needs.

Take Techtronic Industries (TTI), whose subsidiaries include Milwaukee and Ryobi Tools. Ryobi machines are primarily designed for homeowners and householders, whilst Techtronic's US headquartered Milwaukee brand, caters for the requirements of prosumers and professional users. These two brands have developed very different - and especially well regarded - product lines to cater for the differing needs of their respective user bases.

This M18 FUEL™ Dual Battery Self-Propelled 46cm Lawn Mower from Milwaukee has been engineered around the requirements of landscape maintenance professionals. Image Credit: Milwaukee Tools

This MaxPower mower from Milwaukee's sister company Ryobi, delivers discernible benefits to consumers seeking a powerful cut and a great finish. Image Credit: Ryobi Tools

Retailer Brands

As well as manufacturer and distributor owned brands, many national retailers in the UK and overseas, also offer lawnmowers and garden machinery under their own brand.

At one time, machines sold under a retailer’s own brand, were considered by some, to simply be cheaper imitations of products manufactured by an established brand. Today, any such accusation is unfair. There is some excellent own brand machinery available, frequently the equal of manufacturer branded machines. It’s no accident that Lidl’s Parkside brand is the #1 selling DIY brand in Europe. The company’s grass and garden care products in particular, are widely praised by consumers.

Some own-brand mowers originate from the same (frequently Chinese) factory, as products sold under some proprietary brands. And some own-label machines come with no quibble warranties too, which sometimes can be longer than those offered by some branded manufacturers - especially at the lower end of the market.

A favourite with Lidl customers, Parkside mowers combine a low price point, with a conditional, 3-year, product warranty.  Image Credit: Lidl Stiftung & Co. KG

As well as battery electric, corded electric and even petrol mowers, the Parkside range also includes one of the UK's most affordable robotic mowers. Image Credit: Lidl Stiftung & Co. KG

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