Purchasing Parts

Do you have a parts catalog?

Not for mailing. Our parts catalogs that we use at the store are scattered among several dozen CD-ROMs, hundreds of microfiche cards, and tens of thousands of paper pages. A complete copy would weigh several hundred pounds so it's not something we're likely to reproduce and mail out. We are working hard to put the most commonly requersted parts on our web site, and we are continually adding items, but we'll never have everything up.

How long does it take to have a part shipped to me?

That depends on several factors. For parts we have in stock, we normally ship the next business day. We don't ship on holidays or weekends. If you order on Monday, we usually ship on Tuesday. If you order on Friday, we usually ship on Monday. There may be an additional day or two delay before shipment during the busy spring (March-May here).

For parts we don't have in stock at the time, we cannot ship until we receive them from the manufacturer. The delay may be as little as 2-4 days for things like Honda, Echo, Stihl, and Toro parts, or as long as 6-12 weeks for Honda manuals or Wisconsin parts.

Shipping time is primarily determined by your location and shipping method.The transit time for UPS Ground ranges from between 1 business days for addresses acress town to six or seven business days for addresses in rural areas in the Northwest.

If you're in a hurry, you can choose to have your parts shipped Second Day or Next Day air. Keep in mind, though, the weekends and holidays do not count for figuring Second Day or Next Day Air transit times. We also need a little time to fill the order. A Next Day Air order placed on the Thursday afternoon before Labor Day may not be filled until Friday or delivered until Tuesday.

How do I order parts that aren't listed online?

While we are constantly adding new parts, we will never have a complete catalog online. If you are using a credit card, you can use the order form on our secure server:
https://plus14.safe-order.net/planopower/store/secure_form.html
We also accept credit card orders by phone (972-423-5220), fax (972-423-5825), or e-mail. We accept check or money orders by snail mail. Don't forget shipping costs and please include name, email address, street address, zip code, and phone number. The phone number and email address you give us will not only allow us to contact you if there is a problem, but it is also your the information with which we keep a record of the transaction. Your information will not be used for marketing purposes or sold or given away to other companies.

I live overseas (or in Alaska, or Hawaii). Are there any options less expensive than UPS?

The only methods we have the shopping cart software configured for are for UPS in the United States. However, we can also ship to Hawaii, Alaska, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, etc. via USPS. Using a credit card, you can order online through our order form here:
https://plus14.safe-order.net/planopower/store/secure_form.html

It does take us longer to ship, though. A trip to the post office leaves one less person to answer the phone or wait on customers at the counter. We normally wait until we have enough orders together to make standing in line for an hour or so worthwhile. Also, the shipping charges for orders delivered outside of the US are often 2-4 times what they would be to US addresses due to the required customs paperwork, not including any VAT required.

Purchasing Equipment

Do you have an equipment catalog?

Not really. The closest thing to an equipment catalog we have is our web site. Much of the information on specific products is directly from brochures. We will send a brochure to folks who live in the area if asked nicely, but if you live 1000 miles away, you should look for a local dealer. They may not be on the internet, but they can serve you as well as we can, and probably better. We get hundreds of requests every month for catalogs and brochures. If we sent them out to everyone in the world who wanted one, we wouldn't have any left for the customers who actually walk into our store.

Why don't you have prices on all of your pages?

There are several reasons. The primary reason is that the industry is constantly changing. It is enough difficulty just keeping current information on models and specifications. Keeping current prices would just cause more problems. Another reason is that we see many people that use the internet to shop solely on price. They spend hours looking for the "cheapest price" without considering that what they purchase may cost hundreds of dollars to have shipped and they still have to assemble the equipment when it gets there. We don't want to get into a price war with your local dealer. We believe it is usually worth paying an extra ten or fifteen percent to buy from your local servicing dealer around the corner. That way, you know the people, and you know they'll be there to help you out with parts and service should the need arise.

What kind of mower should I buy?

That depends on the type of grass you are mowing, the size and layout of your lawn, and what you expect from your lawnmower. There are two basic types of mowers used for residential lawn care, the rotary mower, and the reel mower. Rotary mowers cut the grass with a horizontally spinning blade. Their chief advantage is their relatively lower cost. They are also better than reel mowers at cutting tall grass. Reel mowers are generally better for dense lawns that are relatively smooth. They provide a much finer cut than rotary types because they cut the grass with a scissors-like action rather than tearing it off. This also reduces stress on the grass during hot weather.

Reel Mowers
You can buy either powered or push-type reel mowers. The push-types are light weight, inexpensive, and nearly maintenance-free. No oil changes, carburetor overhauls or air filter cleanings to worry about. They are very quiet and don't pollute. If your lawn is less than about 1500 square feet, you might look into purchasing a push reel. They also provide a great, low impact workout.

Powered reel mowers provide the same great cut as the push-type but they have a motor to turn the blades for you and are usually self-propelled. They are great for larger lawns when you still want the clean, manicured look.

Rotary Mowers
Rotary mowers are the most popular. This is mainly due to their lower price, but they do have some advantages over reel mowers. They don't follow the contours of your yard as well as a reel mower, so uneven lawns look less uneven. Bagging rotary mowers can be used to vacuum leaves and other yard debris, not just grass. A quality mulching mower cuts the clippings finer than a reel would. Rotary mowers do require sharpening more frequently, but sharpening a rotary mower blade is a simpler process.

There are both push and self-propelled models on the market. In determining whether you want self-propelled or not, you must consider the size and slope of your yard, the weight of the machine, and how easy the machine is for you to push. On a level yard, a 120 pound mower with large ball-bearing wheels may be easier to push than a 70 pound mower with small wheels and no ball bearings. If you use either mower on a steep slope, however, you may find yourself wishing you had spent the extra hundred bucks for the self-propelled.

What size generator do I need?
That depends on the type of equipment you want to run. You can look at our handy wattage requirement guide to see what many common appliances need. Simply add up what you want to run from the generator. Remember that motors and compressors require more power when starting than when running.

Where should I purchase my equipment?

The best way to find a good power equipment dealer is to ask your friends and neighbors or a local landscape contractor. Find out which shops in your area they have had good experiences with. When choosing a dealer, make sure they are a servicing dealer. That means they service what they sell. Even the best quality products eventually break down, and with the right dealer, you will have someone to turn to for advice, repairs, and parts for years to come. They can also provide you plenty of information up front so you can make a better decision about which machine is right for you. We do not recommend shopping for power equipment from the mass-merchandisers such as Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Lowe's, and others when buying power equipment. You might find cheaper prices there, but cheaper doesn't mean better. They don't service what they sell and are usually far less knowledgeable than your local servicing dealer. Most of the most of the power equipment found there is either a low-quality brand, or a low-cost version of brand-name equipment built without the quality features in order to compete solely on price. Remember, the cheap ones aren't good and the good ones aren't cheap. 

How much does it cost to have ________ shipped to me?

That depends on the weight of the equipment, the size of the equipment, and most of all, your location. About half of the people who ask this question by e-mail neglect to tell us where they want it shipped. We mostly ship parts and accessories and usually the cost is under $10.

For equipment, small items like low-wattage generators, hedge trimmers, chain saws, most short blocks, and engines can be sent UPS. This is usually only about $10-$50, even when sent halfway across the country. Problems arise when shipping larger equipment. Dealer set-up obligations do not allow us to ship many types of equipment. We are required to assemble, service, and test run the equipment before purchase. In addition, UPS will not take large or heavy items. They must be sent motor freight. This can easily cost $100-150 for something a small as a lawnmower, more if you are far away from the major freight hubs. Something like a 12KW generator or a garden tractor may cost $500-$700 to ship. Something to think about before you look all over the country to save 50 bucks on a piece of equipment.

If you want to estimate shipping costs for yourself, you can visit the UPS Rate Calculator. Set the from zip code to 75074, and the pickup type to daily pickup service. You will have to estimate package size and weight and enter your zip code, but you can get a pretty good idea of what to expect. Remember to add ten to twenty percent to the weight of equipment to cover packing materials.

Can you tell me where the closest _______ dealer to me is?

No. Well, sort of. You have the right idea in looking for a local dealer, but we don't usually have information on all the dealers that sell the same brands we do. Many manufacturers have web sites now, but many don't. Usually the best method is to ask around or use your Yellow Pages and your phone. (I know, that's so 1980s.) Here's a list of some of the manufacturers we carry and how to contact them. They will be happy to provide you with the location of the nearest dealer.

Billy Goat Industries
Box 308
Lees Summit, MO  64063
(816) 524-9666
(816) 524-6983 FAX

Briggs and Stratton
P.O. Box 702
Milwaukee, WI  53201-0702
(414) 259-5618

EarthWay
P.O. Box 547
Bristol, Indiana  46507
(800) 678-0671

Echo, Inc.
400 Oakwood Rd.
Lake Zurich, IL  60047
(847) 540-8400
Dealer Locator: (800) 432-3246
Consumer Support: (800) 673-1558
or prodinfo@echoincorporated.com

American Honda Motor Company
Construction, Lawn and Garden, Generators, Pumps
Honda Marine
American Honda Motor Company, Inc.
1919 Torrance Rd.
Torrance, CA 90501-2746

Kohler Company, Engine Division
444 Highland Drive
Kohler, WI  53044
(800) 544-2444

Little Beaver
P.O. Box 840
Livingston, TX  77351
(409) 327-3121

Little Wonder
(800) 366-3268

Manco
Manco Products, Inc.
4404 Eagle Ridge Drive
Fort Wayne, Indiana  46804
(291) 432-1596

Red Max
1505 Pavilion Pl., Ste. A
Norcross, GA  30093
(800) 291-8251

Scag
Metalcraft of Mayville, Inc.
1000 Metalcraft Drive
Mayville, WI  53050
(800)-387-4575.

Stihl, Incorporated
536 Viking Dr.
Virginia Beach, VA  23452

Tecumseh
100 East Patterson Street
Tecumseh, Michigan  49286
(517) 423-8411

Toro-Lawn Boy
8111 Lyndale Ave
South Minneapolis, MN  55420-1196
(800) 803-8676
(800) 348-2424

Whipper-Clipper
Rt. 3 Box 67
Bonham, TX  75418
(903) 583-3289
whiclico@texoma.net

Yard Shark
Tilton Equipment Company
Southwest Division
(800) 447-1152

Echo® is a registered trademark of Echo, Incorporated

Plano Power Equipment
1414 N. Central Expressway
Plano, Texas 75074
(972) 423-5220
FAX (972) 423-5825
parts@planopower.com