The '909 Petrol Mower 40cm' $178 ( http://www.masters.com.au/product/900033472/909-petrol-mower… ) was about the cheapest petrol mower I could find and since it's from Masters, if you got one of the EOFY $25 vouchers that would make it $153.20
So I went into the Dandenong Masters shop and next to the $178 mowers they had even cheaper one on clearance special:
'909 98CC 16" Petrol Mower' $134.10
They appeared to have a few in stock, and it's very cheap for a petrol lawnmower … but ….
It's not listed on the website so I presume you can't use the $25 off voucher
Even though "909" is Masters 'home brand' they DO NOT stock parts, blades or accessories for ANY of the '909' brand mowers. According to the shop guy I should buy one of the Troy Bilt or McCulloch mowers (all $400+) mowers because they are the only ones they stock parts for and you get what you pay for and the lack of parts/service is why the '909' mowers are so cheap.
The $134 mower has a single bar-type blade, which (according to the shop guy) is good because it can be resharpened, but bad because it's more expensive.
When I asked about buying new blades/parts he gave me some vague details about a shop that would sell them, but after consulting Google and then telephoning them, they don't stock 909 stuff.
However, as I was filling in the 'complaint form' (I thought it was stupid they don't stock parts for their own 'home brand' mowers) the lady at the front counter made a few calls and found the number for the '909' company (which is in Frankston) and when I telephoned them they said new blades would cost about $40 but are not in stock and have to be ordered, or bring the mower in to see if they can find different brand blade to fit.
Wake me up when you're done.