Hi Jeff, I don’t write a specific article on the Costco/Sam’s Club “Specials.” But I’ll give you an answer I gave someone else last week.

Jonsered is one of the brand names owned by Husqvarna. The other name they use on inexpensive snow blowers is Poulan Pro. That said,

Every year Costco talks a manufacturer into selling them a snow blower they can sell cheap – yet make tons of money on. It’s usually a brand you recognize but there is always something weird about it. In this case, it’s a standard snowblower – very much like your normal Craftsman or Cub Cadet – with an oversized engine.

So, if you buy it you will get a snow blower that will blow snow farther than your old machine but it will have no more capacity. You may also have more problems with breaking belts on that machine because the engine has much more power than what the snow blower was designed for. Since you bought it at Costco it will have no support. If it breaks you will have to find a Jonsered snow blower dealer to get parts or have it repaired. Costco may have a great warranty but does that warranty cover gas powered equipment? Will the replace it if it doesn’t start? Will, they repair it or is it farmed out to someplace that will let your snow blower sit out back for 6 months before it gets fixed?

Good Luck with that.

This is great information. It’s a huge help to have all the detail. Thanks for spending the time.

I do have one question I didn’t see answered on your site… Costco is carrying a 305cc Jonsered/Poulan two-stage for $699. Are the extra 100cc’s (compared to most other ~$700 blowers) helpful for medium weight 12-18″ snows?

Thanks Again, Jeff