Top positive review
3 people found this helpful
Very pleased with Snow Wolf wheeled snow shovel and Customer Service
By ken on Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2015
I purchased the Snow Wolf wheeled snow shovel in January 2014. It looks a little different from the design currently in the description, but I believe that this is due to improvements made in the product from earlier versions. That it now includes the protective plastic wear strip is a very good decision on the part of Structured Solutions since it helps to reduce the likelihood of early damage to the plastic shovel. During assembly, stretching the rubber tire wheel on to the wheel frame was also the most difficult part for me, but I found, as others did, that if the temperature where you are doing the assembly is warm, this part of the assembly goes much more smoothly. There were about 6 or 8 times that I used Snow Wolf during the winter of 2014. As others have written, small to medium snowfalls are no problem with Snow Wolf, but once the snow amount is greater than 10 or 12 inches, one learns to use the Snow Wolf a bit differently because of the height, weight, and volume of snow to be moved. As an example, one snowfall was about 14 inches. Before using the Snow Wolf, I used a regular snow shovel to move piled snow that had been shoveled high to the side from previous storms away from the area because I knew that I would not be able to throw newly shoveled snow from the Snow Wolf high enough or far enough to keep the snow from falling back on to the driveway or sidewalk. This was definitely added work, so now I will intentionally move shoveled snow further away from the driveway and sidewalk than I used to early in the season in order to have enough room to put more snow from later snow storms. I have found it a good idea to periodically re-tighten the bolts holding the shovel to the frame as well as the bolts for the wheel. The bolts do tend to loosen slightly over time. During our first big snow fall this winter, 2015, which was approximately 10" of moderately heavy wet snow, I heard an audible "crack" sound as I was shoveling snow with the Snow Wolf in my usual manner. It did not strike ice or a rock, and I do have the protective strip on the shovel blade edge. After I finished shoveling, I inspected the shovel and found a 4" crack that was not splintered or separated, located at one of the bolts. The shovel worked perfectly, as far as I could tell, but I decided to call Structured Solutions II, the maker of Snow Wolf, just to see if I should order a new shovel or if it might be covered under the warranty. My main purpose for calling was that I wanted to make certain that the Snow Wolf would be in good working condition for future snow storms. Customer service was very courteous and informative. Fortunately, my Snow Wolf shovel part was covered under warranty, and after explaining what had happened, they sent me a brand new replacement shovel part at no charge. They also instructed me how to remove the protective wear strip from my cracked shovel and place it on the new replacement shovel, which went smoothly. I won't repeat what others have written about the product saving your back and making shoveling so much easier than using a regular shovel, which I agree with completely. I have lent the Snow Wolf to two neighbors who weren't able to "get the hand" of using it properly. That may simply be because they did not look at the instruction video before use. But some of the reviewers also mention difficulty using it. I was able to use it well from the get go, but find that with more use and practice, one tends to get better and more efficient handling it as well. I highly recommend Snow Wolf. Perhaps my only concern with it is the durability of the plastic shovel part, but I also do not mind purchasing a replacement on occasion due to breakage because the price is still well worth saving my back and time. I believe that the maker of the product is conscientious and responsive to customer complaint issues, and found first hand that their customer service department is excellent. I would, and do, recommend Snow Wolf to my friends.
Top critical review
1 people found this helpful
My Kingdom for a Cotter Pin!! Novel Product, Awful Manufacturer
By Viva-Tonal on Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2016
I bought this nifty device a few years ago and it worked as a bit of “Green," non-gas or electric help on snow days that were voluminous but powdery. Even on wetter days, so long as you got to work before the snow reached unmanageable heights (and weight), it did manage to do its job. The handle’s adjustable height only results in so much leverage for those vertically challenged (such as my wife), but it still allows them to tote snow and wheel it away from the path. For those of use closer to the sky, the design allows for easy throwing over the side (wherever that might be). The much more reliable performance of this device came in the inordinate amount attention it brought by others driving by, always leaning out their car windows despite the cold, bellowing with steam-breathed puzzlement “What IS that???”(quotation necessarily censored for Amazon). The only defect in the design is its heavy reliance on a small locking pin (aka “Cotter Pin” or sometimes listed on hardware sites as a “Tow-pin” – more about this multiplicity of names later) at its fulcrum where the folding handle is locked on angle to the other bar which holds the shovel. This is the "weakest link" in the chain. From what I have seen, the manufacturer has since abandoned this design, but for early adopters, we are left at the mercy of this tiny bit of steel surviving the torque inherent in its work as well as the elements. After a few seasons (where occasionally it would pop out in mid shovel / throw, getting lost in the snow), the pin on my “Wovel,” or so it was called before being rebranded/reclassified in the Lupine family, (or genome, or class or whatever the KPCOFGC scientific classification is) finally succumbed to fatigue and rust. (I guess “Snow Wolf” is sexier than “Wuh – vuhl.”) I’d read other glowing if not patriotic reviews here about other owners getting help with replacements from this US manufacturer ("Yay America!"), so I contacted them likewise hoping to secure another one. Being at the time of this writing "mid season" I let the manufacturer know of my pressing need. Thus began a long frustrating and eventually impotent courtship dance between myself and “Pat” of Snow Wolf (a nootools, llc — a structured solutions llc company, the owners of SnowWolf (.com), LeafLoader (.com), Raxstars (.com), PaintGards (.com), BallMagnet (.com)). S/he gladly provided me the specifications to go out and find my own at Home Depot (her recommendation). Promptly looking on the non-Amazon web site, I could not find any “Cotter Pin” or “Cotters Pin” or “Hairpin” or “ Tow-pin” or what have you matching the company’s requirements. I tried other very well known hardware supply web sites (such as the one beginning with “Mc” and ending like a Pirate with “arr” or even Amazon) but STILL could not find anything to match what “Pat” assured me was simply at HD. Frustrated by my inability to find the pin matching the required specs, I wrote back and asked quite frankly if they no longer had pins available, citing the reviews posted previously here on Amazon (where I had bought mine). The reply was "Yes, I still do. There is a charge plus shipping, Much cheaper to purchase at Home Depot." “Yay America!” I then volleyed back, reported to my good friend how I had searched the HD and found nothing like the original part at the specifications provided / required. I noted how, despite their apparently exorbitant fee and postage, it might be more fruitful if I ordered theirs. I also provided a graphic showing the only pin even remotely close to the specifications provided, a pin that was definitely NOT like the original. To this I was frustratingly lectured by expert “Pat” that the pin photo I had sent her/him “Was NOT a Cotter Pin” to which she then sent me pictures and pdfs of the original “Wovel” manual with an illustration of what I already knew. It would appear that “Pat” is so determined to save me their shipping and handling fee, I must be re-educated about what I already know. Apparently, for those in corners of this great land, where asking for a “Cotter Pin” will result in something unlike the “hairpin” looking piece “Pat” believes is universally known as such, you are just wrong. “Yay America!” Though I can respect frugality, at this point it is beyond ridiculous. Let it be known that in no way am I trying to weasel a freebie as I simply want to buy what will allow me to get more use out of this $100+ teeter-totter snow shovel. I am now of the belief that the real “frugal interest” for “Pat” is not an altruistic one, but a self-serving one. Methinks the mighty Snow Wolves are guarding their precious stock to the teeth! What a ridiculous state of corporate frugality and “Customer Service” All I need is the accursed pin, whatever the name may be, but I guess I’ll just have to give up on this and banish my “Wovel” to the scrapyard. Yes, I could merely rig this device to function with a cheap nail, but given my aforementioned recent experience with “frugality” and this device, I think not. UPDATE: After all the above detailed wrangling with the manufacturer for the privilege of buying the accursed "Cotter Pin," I was finally permitted, with "Pat" providing me the buried location on the company web site with which to order the correct replacement (as listed on their page) "HITCH Pin." "Hitch" indeed!
Sort by:
Filter by:
By -
Verified Amazon Purchase
Vine Customer Review of Free Product
Sorry, no reviews match your current selections.
Try clearing or changing some filters.Show all reviews
Show more reviews