Imagine doing a bunch of online research on an expensive (ZTR) mower. Something that will cost you almost $6k. Like many consumers, that's real money to me, so I shop pretty hard. After finding this place -- Mowers4Less -- online, and comparing their pricing to others, it looked like I could save about $700. Score, right? Wrong. It was simple to pay, although oddly enough the rep advised me to put the charges on two cards, claiming that the limit on my cards could be a problem. (Not so, but I'll get to that twist later... if indeed it was a factor in one of my cards getting hacked!)

We needed this mower to be delivered within a specific interval, during which time we would be visiting the property for which the mower was purchased. The delivery, per Mowers4Less, was "guaranteed". Which turns out to be as meaningless a guarantee as you will find anywhere. We booked plane tickets to the new place, specifically to accept delivery of a tractor and the mower. The tractor arrived on time, perfect, and only after it was explained and unloaded and demonstrated were we expected to pay. We paid for the mower, in full, 4 weeks ahead of the scheduled delivery. Never once in that time did Mowers4Less keep in touch unless I emailed or called them. And then they missed the guaranteed delivery date, and blamed it on the trucking company, who apparently doesn't get paid once the date is missed, so they have no incentive to ever deliver, right? Mowers4Less was apathetic until I complained, and then their supervisor tried to get it resolved. The trucking company (DSL) was the worst. Begged me to not cancel the order, and we even extended our stay for a day which cost us money (to revise our plane tickets back). Then promised to pay my cousin (who lives 45 miles away from the delivery site) to drive up and accept delivery on our behalf. And they NEVER called him, and we never got the mower. Sure, I got a refund. But the hassle and all the time wasted was ridiculous, and I would never recommend this outfit to anybody unless you don't care if/when you get your equipment. A terrible transaction. Adding insult to injury, the last day we're at the site where we needed the mower, I get a call from my credit card company saying one of the cards I provided to Mowers4Less was used to make $1,200 in unauthorized purchases (in Houston, TX area). I had the card in my pocket. WTH? Coincidence? Maybe, or maybe not. Mowers4Less, shame on you.

A follow-up, based on MFL's attempted explanation and rebuttal: Their VP didn't have ANYTHING of value to offer us. He only apologized. We made it clear from the moment we discovered this wretched company that we had to fly ACROSS THE USA to be at the property where the mower was wanted. If MFL cannot deliver when they promise, then their guarantee is worthless. As to the tractor, which cost almost $30k, it was delivered from KENTUCKY, by a company that didn't ask even for a deposit. Their driver phoned us to let us know he was en route, offered to deliver it early -- which we couldn't arrange because we hadn't yet arrived at our destination -- and then met us the following morning at 7:30 with a smile, a perfect tractor, some freebie stuff (pink Kubota hat which my wife loved and looks great wearing), and only after instructing us thoroughly about the tractor did I finally pay him. A perfect transaction. Mowers4Less was the complete opposite. A total failure, wasted hours of my time, and all they can offer is excuses. Do yourself a favor and buy from a reputable company who puts their money where their mouths are. If MFL wanted to redeem themselves, they should have offered to knock $500 off the previous price, pay my cousin $500 to meet them at our house, and then actually DELIVERED the goods on time.