Things You'll Need:
- Garbage Disposals
- Consumer Reports Annual Guide
- Product Brochures
- Clothes Dryers
- Dishwashers
- Gas Ranges
- Measuring Tapes
- Range Hoods
- Vacuums
- Washing Machines
- Compact Refrigerator
- Convection Ovens
- Electric Stove Tops
- Microwaves
- Oven
- Refrigerators
- Small Refrigerators
- Toaster Ovens
- Toasters
- Credit Cards And Loans
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Step 1
Click in the boxes to the right for the appliances you need and then click the 'shop now' button at the bottom of the list. You can also type the appliance you are looking for into our product search box or enter the words 'major appliances' in a search engine such as Alta Vista or Yahoo.
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Step 2
Scan the search results. You'll find major retailers such as Sears, as well as discounters.
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Step 3
Look for Web sites that offer product evaluations, product comparisons or price comparisons.
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Step 4
Browse the sites and read all you can about membership, warranties, cancellation policies, shipping and handling, taxes, delivery, installation, discounts, removal of old appliances and returns.
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Step 5
Use the search engines on various sites to search for a specific appliance and model, if you know what you want, or simply search by category for the appliance you want.
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Step 6
If comparisons are available on the site, compare several models for features and prices.
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Step 7
If you think you have found a good price for the appliance, add costs for delivery, sales tax, installation and removal of your old appliance (if applicable). Recheck the total online price against a local retail price.
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Step 8
If you are satisfied with the price, order the appliance online using your credit card.
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Step 9
Arrange for delivery. In most cases, the company will notify you of the approximate day and time of delivery. Someone may need to be home when the appliance is delivered.
Comments
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 As frugal as I am, there are some appliances that I just want to buy new - a refrigerator is one of them. If a friend, neighbor, or colleague was moving and luck would work in my favor that they were selling newer model, I would have seriously considered buying it. However, I wasn't interested in looking for a second-hand unit from someone I didn't know.
If you really are tight on money and need the appliance now, some of the national rental centers in your town may sell used appliances.
What price range are you willing to pay? Here are the price ranges of what you can expect to pay for the different types of models:
Top-Freezer: $350 to $2,000
Bottom-Freezer:$650 to $2,000
Side-by-Side: $800 - $2600
Cabinet Depth: $1,500 - $3,000
Built-In: $4,000 - $6,000
Don't forget to measure the space that you have for a refrigerator in your kitchen before buying the new appliance. This may help you eliminate a lot of your choices depending on the size space you have.
For the features I wanted, I knew that my hope of paying $700 was going to be unlikely. I was astounded to find out that mainstream refrigerators can cost upward of $3000 with the average retail cost settling around the $1400 mark. I decided I was willing to pay up to $1000, but anymore would not be within my budget. I just don't need all the bells and whistles that come with these high-end units. I figure the more gadgets it has, the more likely something will break down. I want it to be functional and a good investment.
Buying last year's car model can be a tremendous bargaining tactic, and buying last year's appliances can save you a bundle too. Shops are looking to move merchandise, especially when the new models are coming into the marketplace. Research the competition in your neighborhood versus buying the appliance online. Sears Outlets are cashing in on selling appliances that have been discontinued, refurbished, or damaged, but unfortunately, my city doesn't have such an outlet. Although the choices are more limited at these types of outlets, the appliances are discounted between 15%-50% off the retail price.
Be a savvy bargain-hunter and inquire at your local appliance store if they have a scratch and dent section of their store. If you don't mind a little cosmetic blemish on your appliance, you could save some money. The scratch and dent section I uncovered had appliances reduced at 10% off the retail price. I wasn't impressed with the price reduction so I began looking at their sale items. Although getting the appliance on sale is good, I wanted to find a new refrigerator at a much deeper discount. I scoured the appliance stores for one-of-a-kind 2005 floor models that they were trying to unload since the 2006 versions were filling the showrooms. As luck would have it, I found one; exactly what I was looking for, a stainless steel side-by-side unit with a filtered water and ice dispenser. The retail price was $1200, and I was able to negotiate it with a locally-owned appliance store for $881.95 with free delivery -- there are definite advantages to working with a locally-owned appliance store!
I was assured by the sales associate that if I found the same unit advertised by one of their competitors within the next 30 days, they would refund me 110% of the difference. He was convinced that I wouldn't be able to find one but I will continue to look! After you make the purchase, be cognizant that the appliance store you bought it from doesn't put the item on sale. If they do, make sure that the store will reimburse you the difference.
Buying extended warranties is always a challenge for me. Of course I don't want to have any problems in five years, but I also think that paying the appliance store $99 for this insurance is a waste of my money. This topic is very controversial. Do what you feel most comfortable with but be sure to submit the manufacturer's warranty information right away since this doesn't cost you any additional money.
Remember to apply these cost saving strategies to any appliance purchase you make. By searching for the best price on these items, you can spend your money on getting out of debt or begin saving for a rainy day.