Weed Eater One

My first Weedeater One purchased in March, 2010 was replaced with a new one this Spring at no cost after it had totally failed.  I had paid over $300 for a battery replacement and transportation but the original mower failed again when the transmission broke.  My new one, received about six weeks ago  (supposedly with the redesigned transmission) has the problem of a loose belt that has broken a hole through the plastic mandrel cover.  The repair organization was not of much help when I called them about the problem.  So far the belt has stayed on at low speed, after about five uses.  At medium speed the belt had come off.  This riding mower needs a number of design (and asssembly) improvements and is a fragile piece of equipment overall.  Other issues include the uncomfortable ride, steering that is rough and seems likely to break down, and difficulty of accessing the battery located under the seat.  The mower engine is very efficient in use of gas but somewhat underpowered.  A mower of this size, if well designed, built and assembled could probably be a hot seller if it was rugged and reliable.  Too much emphasis appears to have been placed on low cost and not enough on quality.  A qualified designer of riding mowers could probably incorporate significant belt/blade drive, steering, comfort, and structural improvements at a reasonable cost for a next generation design.  If a revised design eliminated the electric start, the battery issue would go away and the design could be simplified.  The recoil start is fairly easy.  If the mower design is not significantly improved, and better sources and closer access for repair are not established ( I had to ship my mower nearly 70 miles to Baltimore), I suspect that there will eventually be a major class action suit and the mower will be taken off of the market.  The images of Walmart and Kmart, major sellers of this mower in the Northern Virginia, may be tarnished unless the design and service problems are resolved.