How to Purchase Discounted Major Appliances
When it comes to purchasing major appliances at a discount, a major retailer may not be the answer. Major retailers don't offer the best prices out there, even in their close-out stores. If you really want to save big, you have to consider buying a major appliance that isn't perfect -- a little scratched, a little dented, or a fully refurbished used model that is marked down to a fraction of the price you'd pay in a retail store. These appliances are warrantied and new -- dishwashers, microwaves, refrigerators, washers and dryers, stoves -- at a fraction of the cost. All you have to do is be willing to shop creatively and accept a few minor flaws to save big. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Consult the local business directory for appliances. Call and ask if any of the stores offer "scratch-and-dent" discounts or are a "scratch-and-dent" retailer. If so, ask if their products are warrantied. Go by and see what they have to offer and make a notation of the prices. Tell the sales manager that you are going to look through a few more discount stores locally and see if he would be willing to match or beat the competition's prices. The best appliances to look for are those that have a scratch or dent on the side of the unit that is not located anywhere near the electric controls of the appliance. Standard warranties are 60- to 90 days. Many major "bent-and-dent" appliance centers also have websites with individual listings for each appliance for sale.
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Call your local appliance repair shop or independent repairman. Many local appliance repair shops or independent repairmen resell perfectly good appliances for a fraction of what you'd normally pay for a new machine. Many also have have access to "bent-and-dent" appliances straight from the manufacturer, especially if they are located near a distribution center. Many of these small businesses will take perfectly good used equipment off the hands of someone who is replacing their washer and dryer with newer models that have more bells and whistles. These items also come with a 30- to 60- and sometimes 90-day warranty. You'll be surprised at what you find at a fraction of the cost.
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Search in your local directory to see if there is a distribution center for a major appliance brand such as Whirlpool, Kenmore or Maytag in your area. Contact the center to see if they sell "scratch-and-dent" items to the public. Often they do, but if they don't, they will tell you a local store who takes their items for them and resells them at a low cost. This means that you can get a new, top-of-the-line appliance for a fraction of the price.
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Search Internet listings such as Craigslist and eBay to see if you can find "bent-and-dent" items in your area. Stick with new appliances if at all possible. If you find one at an incredible deal, do yourself a favor and call the local appliance repair shop and talk with a service tech and ask questions about that particular model. Ask whether the manufacturer has had problems with the design and how expensive they are to maintain. Ask if they have a comparable and reliable model of which they can match the price.
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Call a major brand appliance repair center and ask if they have any models in their shop for sale. Often a customer will drop off an item for repair and will not pay for the repair. In most states, after 90 days they are able to sell the item for a fraction of the cost you'd normally pay. This is usually the case at most Sears service centers where the technicians have refurbished and serviced the model for resale. These items also come with a limited warranty, usually 60 to 90 days.
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Tips & Warnings
Use the information you gather to haggle on a price. If you have your heart set on a particular brand that is at a retail store, inform the sales manager that you have found a comparable item at a "bent-and-dent" seller. More often than not, they will lower the price of their item significantly rather than lose the sale. It never hurts to ask.
If you are looking for a particular color that is not available, ask the store to give you a call when one becomes available and if they will be willing to match the price of the wrong color model, available in their store.
Do not purchase a used washer, dryer or dishwasher from an individual online until you talk to your appliance repair shop. Some brand-name models make design mistakes on a new line of appliances and often people are anxious to get rid of them. Your appliance repair serviceman will be honest with you about the appliance, can save you a costly mistake and can usually offer you a better appliance at the same or a lower cost.
Buying a floor model from a box store seems like a good idea, but consider how much abuse the floor models take from kids playing with the knobs, hanging on the doors and how many customers have handled the equipment. Buying used and refurbished appliances will give you a fully serviced washer that has not been exposed to the rigors of a curious public.
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