Spent $600 on a sod cutter and wish I'd rented it instead

I bought a used sod cutter off Craigslist last spring thinking I'd save money on my backyard reno in Phoenix. Paid $600 for it, used it for one weekend to strip out my whole lawn... and then it sat in my garage for 8 months taking up space. The kicker is I moved to a new house and had to sell it for $150 because the guy who bought it knew I was desperate. If I'd just rented one from Home Depot for $75 a day, I'd have been done in two days for $150 total. My back still hurts from hauling that thing around and I barely saved anything. Anyone else buy a specialized tool and regret not just renting?

2 comments

2 Comments

carr.brooke27d ago

Why do people always think buying the tool is gonna be cheaper than renting? I made that same mistake with a tile saw a few years back. Paid like $400 for it, used it once, and now it's just taking up space in my shed. At least you got something back on yours I just gave mine away to a neighbor. Renting is almost always the smarter move unless you're gonna use it multiple times a year. The storage hassle alone isn't worth it plus you don't have to worry about maintenance or it breaking down. Live and learn I guess.

kim.xena27d ago

Wait wait wait, you just GAVE it away?? @carr.brooke I woulda at least tried to sell it on FB Marketplace for like $50 lol. But fr though that storage thing is so real, my garage is basically a graveyard of "one time use" tools now. Like why do we keep telling ourselves we'll definitely need it again?