I hate giving bad reviews to local businesses, but this shop is a total rip off. After asking to service my snow blower and having paid $320 (half the price of snowblower), I had to pay extra $30 for oil change as it was not included. When I asked to check that snowblower starts, the owner, Sue, made condescending and rude remarks. I will never go there again and would not recommend anybody else to use their services. I have to say that the person I interacted with after Sue, Mat, was really polite and nice. I wish I have read well-deserved 1 start reviews before hiring the service read more

I have used Fred's Small Engine for over 20 years for the annual tuneup of my lawn mower. Fred has a passion for what does. Fred knows his stuff, provides honest service and fair pricing. What more can you ask for? I recommend Fred's Small Engine without hesitation... read more

This review is long overdue. I'm very grateful for Fred's small engine. I have been going there for at least 10 years. Every time I walk in or call, I feel like Norm from Cheers. (Danny) I buy 90 percent of my equipment there. They take the time to explain every detail about the machine, paperwork, and maintenance and answer every question I have. I take all my equipment to get repaired there, and I never had any issues with any repairs. Overall, I highly recommend going there. read more

a very money hungry business, had horrible experience with them they take eons to even pick up the phone telling you when my snow blower its done to pick up. once i did the wheels broke off not even the right hardware to secure it. read more

Being a local landscaper in Livingston, I need to depend on a local repair shop. Fred's Small Engine has always come thru for me for the past decade and a half. Before being a landscaper, i bought equipment and had it serviced there since 1970 and they treated me the same way as they do now. Excellent! read more

Great service! I go to them for all of my landscaping supplies and I'm never let down. Fred Sue and Christian are great people along with the other gentleman working there. They always explain everything to you when they fix your equipment and teach you all about the new equipment if you are interested. Keep up the great work guys!!! Love Heinz Landscaping read more

DONT COME HERE. THEY WILL NOT FIX YOUR MACHINE AND WILL JUST TRY TO SELL YOU A NEW MACHINE. July 2022 i took a weeder for repair, was told ignition module needed replacement and part was no longer made. This cost $30. THey also offered to junk the item for me. (Meaning they will just keep it for themselves? :) I declined and took the weeder home. Was surprised that I was able to start it by replacing the carburetor. I then complained that they MISDIAGNOSED my weeder and evefn spoke to the owner. BUt he was very arrogant and told me he stood by his workers (who misdiagnosed and lied to me about the availability of a part) a part that is soooooo common from major parts stores, MTD etc. Luckily my credit card is going to give me a refund and they will investigate further. BUT i dont want this business to keep on making money off of people by lying. SO DONT GO! OR YOULL BE SORRY YOU DID. read more

Every single time i bring something in this rip off shop they screw me out of my money. (They hold your item hostage because they know this is the only place in area for small engine repair - and they know it) the family owned and operated cheats will screw YOU and take you for a ride and rip you off. Service is horrible, they make you wait more tun a week, lie and say few days, and then at last minute to repair your machine, overcharge you, nickel and dime you with prices at the end ...give you a BAD attitude and send you on your way....just aint worth it. I recommend youtube, and doit yourself, or if your item is old throw in the garbage! before dealing with these cheats, liars and thieves read more

Third generation small engine shop like no other!! Personal old school attention from the owners for all of your lawnmower, snowblower, generators, chain saws and any other gas powered yard tool and small engine need. Honest and fair guys!! One stop shop for tools for your home!! Convenient for landscaper needs also, located in the heart of Livingston's heavily landscaped areas!! Give Freddie or his son Christian a try, you'll be happy with the result!! read more

I really like Fred's since it is not only really important to support the local business community but to also get access to quality products and service. You just don't get that at the big retailers these days. For me, it was helpful to actually speak with someone right away and get advice based on the specific project. They also provide the first fill which I find to be a nice touch. Overall, Fred's illicit that feeling I can only describe through the show Tim Allen was on where he grunted like an ape when he held power tools...yeah, that's right! Feeling like a man! (Or badass woman who likes power tools and who might have the urge to grunt. All good.) Big plus is the fact that they offer repairs, especially when said man screws up the chain on his chainsaw fist time using it and can't get it to work. Respect. read more

Jerks. Enough said, but I am compelled to give you some solid advice. Please be smart and listen to the 1-star reviews on this site. Fred's Small Engine in Livingston is arrogant, insulting, completely over priced and not even worth a visit. This is not the "old" Fred's when the original owner (ie Fred Sr) ran the place. Go elsewhere. You've been warned. read more

I have grown up in this town and known people who have gone to Fred's small engine for years. They to have had some problems but not as awful as ours. We bought an item there to be looked at and they not only stole parts from us, but they belittled us and told us we purchased pieces of garbage. We paid them for a service that they did not do and if they felt our item was not to their standards they should not have taken it in the first place. To top it all off they tried to make a sale after telling us they kept our parts because they felt the item was a useless piece of garbage. read more

Brought my mower in for tune up and replacement part. Had to call twice during the week to get an update on when it would be done. Finally almost 10 days later phone call to come pick it up $200 for everything. Home 15 minutes, mowing the lawn and a wheel falls off!!!! WTF?!! Not the best experience to say the least. Owner gave me 20.00 towards future service- probably wont use THAT read more

04/09/2016 - I have not visited Fred's since last entry in 2014. The Timecutter/Zero turn I purchased from them run into performance issues. As mentioned from my 2014 entry I took my business to Morris Plains Small Engine. On 04/06/2016 I took mower to Plains, and I'm very satisfied with the result. The prices they charge were fair. First, their pickup and delivery was $45.00 not $100.00 from Fred's (2014 rate). Plains charged me $12.00 for oil filter not $22.00 (2014 rate), fuel filter $6.48,spark plug $3.45. Took note I purchased an oil filter from AMZ for $17.00 including S&H. It seems Plains just pass on the cost of the part.If that is not the case, the cost is very reasonable. The end. read more

I'm a self admitted PIA. Fred's is awesome. I moved into somerset county 3 years ago and still bring all my equipment to him. The drive is 45 minutes 1 way for me. Well worth it! Fast and honest shop. Don't bother with any other small engine shop because Fred's is the best. read more

Performed a difficult service on my snow blower with short notice. Just in time! I prefer going to a local business for any and all of my needs. I will return to these guys. read more

Have been using Fred's for a few years now and have nothing but good things to say. It's hard to find a family owned business these days that is still owned by the same family who's name is on the sign. I have brought small engine products from weed wackers to chainsaws to generators to lawn mowers in to get worked on. They have all come back better then they came in. When dealing with Fred of your honest with him he is honest with you. I have dealt with the "woman on the phone" and she has always been polite and helpful. They have always been more then accommodating when it comes to pricing and that goes along way these days. I will continue going to Freds so long as it's family owned and operated. I believe that these days a smile and a laugh while doing business is a must. read more

Great customer service, spoke to sue on the phone told her I needed my snowblower tire fixed asap the day before the 1-23-16 blizzard. Not only did they fix it they had it ready for me in a few hours even with all the madness prior to the storm. They even stayed open an extra several hours just to assist every customer so that they were not with out a generator or snowblower. Not to mention I got out of work late and they stayed at the shop so that I could come get my tire after hours. I have used then before with lawn equipment and will continue to use them. This family owned business is not close to my home, but they are worth every extra min for the service. read more

I needed a hustler dealer so I had to deviate from my local mower shop and drive an extra 15 min to freds. Prior to heading up I spoke with sue on the phone who was super friendly. Upon arrival I met sue and fred, who is also very friendly (not just to me but to other customers as they came and went). From memory fred knew the exact parts I needed to tune my mower up and was very helpful in explaining how to do it myself.... unlike the owner of mri in linden who doesn't spend 1 extra second with you. From now on ill drive the extra distance to deal with knowledgeable and personable people. read more

I've dealt with Fred's for more than 30 years. Mostly for snow throwers including service. Fred really knows his products and they provide great customer service. During busy season (e.g. right before or after a snow storm for snow throwers) they will prioritize supporting people who bought their machines there. Seems fair to me. A couple years ago my Ariens gobbled up a rubber welcome mat that jammed the auger. Fred's picked up the machine the next morning, had it fixed within a day, and returned it to me in time for the next storm. Superb service under difficult times. They have always been that way. Good service does cost. Their prices are somewhat higher than Home Depot, etc. But you can speak with someone who really knows the products and can help you make a really informed choice, who can assemble the machine and show you how to use it, and who can provide quality service. You just don't get that type of customer service at a big box store. Very highly recommended. read more

Just had my snowblower serviced and delivered before the snow storm. Go to start it and it doesn't start. Received a call today and they are literally blaming me!! read more

I wish i could review on how i was treated in the store but the woman i spoke to didnt even let me get that far. I have an Ariens snow blower which was given to me as a gift and broke in this last snow storm (what timing with 15 inches on the ground) I contacted Ariens to find out what proper protocol was to file a warranty claim and they lead me here. When I called i spoke with a woman on the phone who explained to me that i could bring the snowblower in the next few weeks as i was not her customer or it sounds like a priority. I have worked in retail my entire life and if i ever turned a customer away like that I would fire myself before my boss got ahold of me. I now understand why they are called fred "small" engine they might be able to get to that large engine if they helped out new customers who are new to the area! read more

I have purchased mowers, blowers and snow removal equipment over the 24 years I have lived in Livingston. The service is always professional and Fred stands behind everything he sells and services. Today's visit was one further illustration of the commitment to service above and beyond that separates this "mom and pop" shop from the big box stores and online retailers. Last week I had an issue with a broken bolt on one of the wheels. Fred looked for a replacement amongst boxes of assorted parts to no avail and ordered a new one. The part came in and I installed it myself. Unfortunately, there was a small spacer that must have fallen out when the bolt snapped. I brought the mower back and showed Fred and Christian. They immediately recalled a similar model with a blown engine in the yard, found it and removed the needed part, installed it on my mower and sent me on my way. Try getting that done at Home Depot! 5 stars gentlemen! read more

I am very disappointed with Fred's Small Engine Service. I had very good and consistent service from them over the past six years. I found them after my husband's death, when I was much more reliant on services for the "traditional male" household chores. Though there seems to have been no management change at Fred's, there was definitely a change in attitude. There is a snow storm on the way tomorrow and I brought in my snowblower to be repaired. It needed new paddles and perhaps other things. They told me they'd try but there was a backlog. That's understandable. However, late in the afternoon, I called and asked them if the machine would be ready. I was told it had not been examined. I asked if they could plug it in and try to start it. In my experience, the first start is always hard, even though I clean it at season's end. If it did not start, I would leave it there to be repaired. They told me they didn't have a repairman available. I told them I just wanted them to try and start it, no repairman needed but somehow, just trying to start it was too much for them. I told them I'd pick it up and try to start it at home. I told them I'd be there in 10 minutes. Ten minutes later when I went to get my machine and again tried to get them to start it, they refused and yelled at me, telling me I was difficult. They told me they'd have it tomorrow. I explained that since around 5 inches is coming tomorrow morning, that really didn't help. I was (past tense here) a faithful customer and also recommended them to neighbors who purchased snowblowers from them. What an incredible disappointment. I will never use them again. I have never been spoken to in such a rude manner, by anyone. It's especially shocking for a service to insult loyal customers in the age of the internet when everyone is so easily replaceable. Definitely not smart. read more

Fred is a great salesman, with a big smile and can talk the talk; but that's where his skill set ends. Neither he nor his mechanics know their machines. He tuned-up my mower less than one year ago and it hasn't run smoothly since. It began cutting out after I pulled the start cord so I went back to Fred. "It needs a tune-up, he said"; but I just had one last year? He insisted, so I again let him tune it; next day, same problem. It needs a new carburetor, Fred opined, but that will be another $150, on top of the tune-up ($81) that obviously never fixed the actual problem to begin with -- No discount for the unnecessary tune-up either. Very dissatisfied, I took my mower to a real mechanic, who told me that he would clean out the gas line and clean (not replace) the carburetor and that should solve the problem. He also asked me where the air filter and its cover were; apparently, Fred forgot to install an air filter and did not replace the cover during his "tune-up." Not only that, but the real mechanic told me that all that had to be done during the tune-up was to flush out the gas line (no new carburetor was needed, in fact, on a Toro lawnmower, he said, they rarely need replacement, just a good cleaning at a fraction of the cost.) The whole job with the new mechanic cost me just $79, and that included replacing the air filter and outer cover that Fred neglected to do. Hopefully, you, the customer, took the extra time to read this somewhat long, but informative, narrative; let the buyer beware, purchase or fix your mower at Fred's Small Engines at your own risk!!! read more