Here I go again....
I would check out an Ariens dealer. If they offer up the same model as HD and it's significantly more $$ then you do what you gotta do. IME dealers can go toe to toe with the big boxes on price for the exact same models (compare model numbers and make sure they match up). The question is, will they? Smart dealer will educate you the consumer, match the big box price if at all possible, and most likely try to up-sell you into a higher quality product unless you've already got your mind made up. Doesn't leave you much of a reason to buy elsewhere now does it?
(regardless of which model you choose)
As far as the big boxes getting an inferior product line, well, that did used to be much more common but many manufacturers have ceased doing that now that they know we're on to them. But it still happens. Check model #'s carefully. Sometimes the difference is only one letter/number. More common these days, manufacturers build a line of product available to both big boxes and dealers but is intended to be entry level. Dealers will have access to more expensive and higher quality product than the big boxes but the entry level line is identical in both venues. Deere and Husqvarna both use that model. Deere's Select Series tractors (X300 and up) are only available in dealerships and Husqvarna does not sell the XP line of saws in Lowes.
Deere does not build any of the lawn/garden tractors they sell in the US, overseas. The D100 series you see in HD/Lowes is built by Deere, in Tennessee.
Haven't seen any of the best snowblowers on the market (dual-stage that is) in a HD/Lowes yet. Closest they came were the Deere's which were built by Simplicity/Briggs and Stratton Power Products but those are gone forever now.
