Junk Drawer

2212 Sullivan Trail Forks Township Pa. 18040 610-258-2963

!!! This is a very important update !!!

Leiser’s Bethlehem

We have been separated from Leiser’s Bethlehem in 1995. Since the passing of Don Leiser in 2006 Leiser’s Bethlehem has been on a lethargic downward slide. In 2009 I cut all ties with the Bethlehem Store as survival of that business was unlikely under the management in place. In 2015 most of Leiser’s Bethlehem’s construction equipment was sold to raise operating funds. In January of 2018 Leiser’s Bethlehem was evicted from there long time location after years of unpaid rent. Another large auction in April 2018 was held when they moved.

In January or 2019 management announced they would go 100% Party Rental and no longer rent Tools and Equipment.

September 30 2019 Management would shut the doors and sell the assets including rights to online sites and phone numbers.

The Real Leiser’s

The Management of Leiser’s Bethlehem has been spreading trash about our business. This includes statements like “They Stole our Name” The truth is my father and his attorney legally gave me the rights to use the Leiser name and to associate my name with my business. The documents and signatures required have been registered in Pennsylvania since 1995.

Since the closing Leiser’s Bethlehem there has been some confusion over the phone number

What’s new for 2021

Retirement 2022 ?

After 55 years in the business it is time to face retirement.

We have been fortunate that we have continued to grow and update equipment.

However I must face the fact that this business can’t survive after my involvement ends.

37 Years in Forks Township now what?

The past 55 years has been a fascinating journey however it is time to look toward the future. Without family or employees willing to lighten my 60+ hour work weeks it is time to start preparing for retirement.

I have never had a 2 week vacation. With a slimmed down business I will spend more time in the shop less time behind a desk. This new plan will allow me to lock the doors when I need to and unlock them when I want to.

Propane Tank Update 2016: We have switched propane suppliers for the third time in 40+ years of pumping propane We dumped our last supplier for the same reason we fired the previous supplier over those companies refusal to address safety issues. One consumer benefit of the change is the lower cost of propane that will be passed onto our customers. Propane costs do fluctuate however the lowest prices can be found during the grilling season.

What is the benefit of a weekend propane price special when your tank isn’t empty.

Exchange tanks from cages are only 3/4 fill.

A 20# grill tank can be safely legally hold 20 pounds of liquid. If you read the fine print on the tank or cage you will notice the tanks only contain 15# of propane.

The Winter of 2018 and its challenges

This is a letter we wrote during the snowy winter of 2014

Dear Snowthrower Owner

When it snows we are at our best. For 65 years we have provided service and support for the Lawn equipment industry. I am disappointed that our servicing of your Snow thrower did not live up to yours or our expectation. Changes in our industry over the last decade meant our hands were tied by manufactures and retailers that have little concern for product support. This was the best we could do.

As the largest storm of 2014 approached we had 20 Snow throwers in our shop that were waiting for parts.

When we sold Toro and Ariens Snow throwers we knew what products were in garages of our customers and our parts stocks were sufficient to handle stormy winters. During snowstorms we extend our hours and in the past I personally have spent nights in the store just to make sure we were able to open the next day. As most consumers now purchase Snowthrowers from discount retailers that don’t provide parts or service, we are asked by owners of the discount equipment to provide service.

During the winter of 2014 we lived up to our promise of addressing service needs in less than 24 hours. However this winter we saw dozens of different models from 10 different manufactures. In trying to provide service we were slowed by manufactures that have gone out of business, suppliers who would not sell us parts directly, and Snowthrowers and engines imported from China. After the first storm many of the manufactures of discount store Snowthrowers were completely sold out of common parts.

Fortunately for our Toro customer’s parts were on our shelf or only a few days away. In my customer letters I have explained the benefits of purchasing name brand equipment from a dealer that stocks parts and provides service, unfortunately most consumers only see the price. Before you purchase a Snow thrower look up the manufacture make sure parts and service are available locally. Check the country of origin of both the Snow unit and the engine. If the parts needed for a repair are on a slow boat from China it can take weeks or months to receive replacement parts.

If you purchase a Snow thrower from a discount or online retailer you need to prepare yourself for emergencies. One is make sure your Snow thrower has fresh stabilized fuel and is ready for a snow storm by mid-November. When snow is in the forecast recheck the Snow thrower by running it for a few minutes. In your garage you need to stock common parts for uncommon models and brands. This should include extra shear bolts and extra belts. Even if you can’t do the repairs yourself you can provide the parts needed to the service center.

Toro introduced the first affordable Snow thrower for homeowner use in the early 1950’s, and Leiser’s offered the first Toro snow throwers to the homeowners of the Lehigh Valley. We sold and serviced both Toro and Ariens Snow throwers until 2006. The Snow thrower business became unprofitable as the discount retailers under-priced us. The discount retailers were able to do this by selling a stripped down version of what we sold and by eliminating product support. When you purchased a Snow thrower from Leiser’s it was assembled tested and delivered free of charge. Our customers were instructed on the Snow throwers use and if our customer had a problem we would brave any snowstorm to take care of it.

During a blizzard in 1966 Linden Street in front of our Bethlehem Store was closed by 8’ snow drifts. We cleared Linden Street to a passable side street so our driver could make deliveries. During the next few days our driver was out on the road past 10 at night delivering new machines picking up equipment that needed service. Many times this meant clearing the street with the Snow thrower to get to the customers house. Everyone in our business was selling and assembling new machines or repairing customer breakdowns. This would include us kids and our friends.

Generators; have been a product of interest since the storms of a few years back Unfortunately if you tried to Rent or Purchase a Generator during a storm they were almost impossible to find and at a premium or price gouging price. Many of our Generators are rented out before the big storms hit. Some Rental Stores double there prices during storms, we don’t. A few Big Box Retailers flooded the Market with Chinese knock-off’s, these generators are a problem. For the most part they are cheaply made knockoffs of Honda and other Brands. They do not have Warrantees, a Servicing Dealer networks and Parts are not always available. For the most part we have been able to Service these Generators. The Purchaser should understand paying 1/2 the price of a name Brand unit, you got what you paid for. If you feel a Portable Generator is all you need simplify it’s use by installing a Generator Switch to control items like the Refrigerator, Water Pump, Heating System and of course the TV. Purchase a correct size Generator from a servicing dealer who can supply Parts and Service. A Generator needs to be exercised occasionally to protect the electronic components and fuel system. Never Ever run a Generator inside a building, or try to connect the generator into the Breaker Box without a Generator Switch.

Trailers; We also rent trailers. We do our best to insure that customers understand the operation of Trailers. In the end the Driver is 100% responsible for following the laws. It is the customers responsibility to inspect the Trailer before leaving our lot. If we ask a lot of questions it is because we want to make sure you are using the right equipment. Before using a trailer improperly just be aware the fines for overloading or not having brakes on heavier loads can get expensive The Fine for incorrectly hooked up safety chain is $150.00 other fines are higher.

Why aren’t we open Sunday; This is a small business with a very small staff. To open Sundays we would need to add additional staff. Unfortunately as hard as it is to hire qualified people trying to find reliable people to work Sundays has been impossible. Rather then open Sundays with a staff unable to serve our customers needs we will remain closed.

Homeowner Life Skills; Last winter a customer received bill to remove a chunk of ice from his Snowthrower. The bill for this service that required us to pick up and re-delivery and labor was over $50.00. If the customer would have used a little common sense or read the Troubleshooting section of the owners manual he could have solved this problem in a few minutes. When we sold Toro equipment these little nuisance repairs were handled free of charge. However our people deserve to get paid to work on equipment sold by other retailers. Before you request service step back review the Owners Manual and look for simple problems.