In Fergus, snowblowers are as rare as warm days

By Susan Larson | The Daily Journal

Published Wednesday, December 5, 2007

With the advent of winter storms, snowblowers have become a hot — and temporarily scarce — commodity.

“They sold out Saturday,” Sears sales associate Rick Garner said. “It’s been a while since they’ve gone that quick. We’re getting more this Thursday.”

It’s going to be first come, first served to get one, however. Of the 15 ordered, six are already spoken for “and we’ve had 15 or 20 people come in looking for one,” Garner said.

At Home Depot, only a few light-weight machines remain until the next shipment.

“All of the two-stage snowblowers are gone,” Gary Snaza, a Home Depot sales associate, said. “There’s a couple single-stages left.”

Some were sold Saturday, but Sunday was the day the two-stage machines sold out. Single-stage snowblowers are usually light-duty machines. All but the lightest-duty snowblowers are typically two-stage machines.

“More will be coming in soon,” Snaza said, “but we’re not sure when because everyone else is trying to order them right now too.”

Interstate Inc. sold out its snowblower inventory Monday; more are on order. Some of the larger, commercial variety for farm tractors are still available, though, Ryan Rogness, Interstate employee, said.