Keeping cost down would be nice but more importantly, what is easiest for an arthritic older woman with a bad back to start, push, and turn, and still get the job done? If it's a gas mower, it has to be key-start and power assist. Would an electric mower with or without cord be better?

Got any brand/models you could suggest, please? Thanks!

Either do it yourself or hire a lawn service. Not joking.

Tom, I would love to find an end-of-the-season deal. Thanks for the info on the electrics -- more and more I'm thinking tht's the way I should go. I do have good electrical outlets, as my weed eater is electric. Do you have any brand/model recommendations? Do you have an electric?

That is most likely a dealer problem and not a Snapper company problem. You have to find a good caring dealer no matter what brand you buy. Like Tom said, an electric may be the thing for you with a small yard. Be sure you use a GFCI outlet to plug it in, or buy a power cord with the GFCI built in. Good luck.

I found what was said about Snapper:
"My old electric Snapper was a trickle charge...plug in and forget, but it would not cut the heavy lawn like the Earthwise does...and Snapper is a crap company as they no longer make the battery so you have to throw away a perfectly good lawn mower because there are no batteries to be found and nobody will rebuild it. DON'T SUPPORT SNAPPER PRODUCTS BECAUSE THEY WON'T SUPPORT YOU."

(emphasis by original author)

Source

Maybe my next one after this will be robotic. Now that everyone is talking green-this and green-that I hope we'll see advances in that area and prices coming down. Eventually, maybe nobody will actually mow lawns. :o)