Perhaps your stove burners are acting up or your refrigerator is no longer spacious enough for your household. Alternatively, you might simply be ready for an upgrade. When shopping for new appliances, your primary objective is to secure the right features at a competitive price. However, choosing the right retailer—whether local or online—can help ensure the process is far less stressful.
Ratings from Consumer Reports, which draw on a survey of over 20,000 members regarding more than 30,000 appliance purchases, provide a clear look at the shopping experience across 27 national retailers, as well as manufacturer websites and independent shops. We evaluate these outlets based on pricing, customer service, delivery, installation, and other vital factors to help you minimize potential issues both during the purchase and after the appliance is installed in your home.
Our survey also highlights effective bargaining strategies used by our members. We have outlined these below to assist you in shopping more efficiently, whether you need an immediate replacement or have the luxury of waiting for a great deal.
Before comparing offers, verify that your chosen appliance is a worthwhile investment. Review Consumer Reports’ appliance ratings to see how specific models performed in our testing, and check our brand reliability ratings to understand how dependable different manufacturers are across various product categories. While many consumers prefer certain brands, our research indicates that no single manufacturer offers top-tier reliability for every type of appliance.
When your refrigerator compressor fails and repairs aren’t cost-effective, you cannot wait for a sale. Here is how to reduce costs if you need a replacement right away.
Head to an independent dealer first. These shops can often match the prices of big-box retailers and frequently have inventory levels that are just as strong as the major chains. Because they typically avoid relying on third-party delivery services, they can often provide more precise delivery windows. They may also offer extra benefits, such as in-house repair services or a loaner unit while you wait for your new appliance.
Hone your search on big-box-store websites. If you prefer shopping at a major chain, utilize their online search tools and mobile apps to quickly identify which items are in stock locally and available for immediate delivery.
Consider substitutions. When we recently researched options for Bosch dishwashers—many of which perform well in our tests—we discovered that a popular stainless steel model was unavailable for three weeks from the online retailer Appliances Connection. However, a comparable model was available for $100 more and could be shipped immediately.
While the supply chain disruptions that followed the pandemic have largely subsided, certain brands and models may still face backorders. Be patient, and consider these steps:
Get on an independent dealer’s waiting list. If your preferred model is out of stock, a local dealer may be willing to notify you once it arrives. In our survey, some respondents noted how helpful their local stores were in communicating when desired models finally became available.
Hold out for a seasonal sale. Prices for large appliances typically drop during three-day holiday weekends like Memorial Day and Labor Day, with the most significant discounts often appearing in the weeks leading up to Black Friday. If you can wait for these periods, you may find savings of 25 percent or more. Since manufacturers, rather than retailers, set these promotions, you may find them on both manufacturer and retailer websites.
Certain times of the year are also known for markdowns. “Prices tend to drop on specific models when retailers want to make room for new models that replace them,” says Mark Allwood, a senior market analyst covering major appliances for Consumer Reports.
New laundry appliances, Allwood notes, usually arrive in March and April. Refrigerators are also released during that time, as well as in June and July. New dishwashers are introduced throughout the year, making it more difficult to time a sale. Other tactics include:
Compare prices online. If an appliance is rated by Consumer Reports, its individual model page will display comparative pricing from dozens of retailers. You can see where the item is sold locally—and online by smaller retailers or third-party sellers—by entering the model name and number into Google Shopping. The price-comparison site PayPal Honey also offers similar functionality.
Monitor an item’s price history. Several websites and apps allow you to determine if a “deal” is truly the lowest price of the year, rather than simply taking a retailer’s word for it. Camelcamelcamel tracks price trends for items sold on Amazon over the past year or longer. If you sign up for the Droplist on PayPal Honey, you can view historical pricing for up to four months across various national retailers. Droplist will also notify you when a product’s price drops.
Price-match. Local independent dealers may match the prices of nearby competitors. Big-box stores certainly do, though with some restrictions: Best Buy and Lowe’s, for instance, match prices from local competitors and some major online retailers, provided they are not third-party sellers. They also match prices from local warehouse clubs. This does not work in reverse, however; Costco does not price-match. (Note that Best Buy, Home Depot, JCPenney, and Lowe’s do not offer price-match guarantees if a competitor is holding a liquidation sale. You can find full details in the “what’s-not-covered” section of their respective websites.)
Go for a floor model. These items often feature minor cosmetic flaws but can be significantly cheaper. On Best Buy product pages, for example, you can sometimes find open-box versions of an appliance in conditions ranging from excellent—looking and packaged like new—to fair, which may include noticeable scratches, dents, or chips. All are discounted and function as intended, though models in fair condition might be missing some essential accessories.
Wait till you need more than one new appliance. You may be able to secure larger discounts by purchasing sets of two or more matching items.
Compare delivery and other fees. Consider whether there are charges for delivery and the removal of your old appliance, and check if basic hookup services for items like washers are included for free. When prices are similar at two different stores, these details can be the deciding factor. Home Depot and Lowe’s, for example, charge for the installation of dishwashers, wall ovens, cooktops, gas ranges, and more, so be sure to read the fine print. Check manufacturer websites as well to see if they are offering free installation as a purchase incentive.
Consider buying a used appliance. When we researched this, we arrived at some key takeaways: Avoid most online marketplaces, estimate the remaining useful life of the appliance you are considering, and—as with new machines—choose a reliable brand. If you are looking for something specific, check used-appliance stores frequently. You can save as much as 75 percent off your ideal appliance by doing so.
In our appliance store survey, only 22 percent of major-appliance shoppers attempted to negotiate the price; among small-appliance buyers, only 3 percent did so. When we asked others why they didn’t try, 38 percent stated they were already happy with the price, and more than 20 percent said they didn’t know they could or that it simply never occurred to them.
They may have left money on the table. Among successful large-appliance hagglers who shopped at Best Buy and Lowe’s, the median savings exceeded $140; at Home Depot, it was $114. At independent dealers, the median savings reached $123. Among small-appliance hagglers, 78 percent were successful, saving a median of $57.
“It can’t hurt to try,” says Tian Wang, who managed CR’s appliance-store survey.
The strategies here are quite simple, provided you are willing to use them:
Just ask for a better price. This was the most common tactic among successful hagglers in our recent survey. About half of those who successfully negotiated used this approach.
Inquire about group, veteran, or senior discounts. Sixty-two percent of our members who asked about these when buying a major appliance saved money. Lowe’s offers a 10 percent discount to those who are currently serving or have served in the military. Kohl’s provides 15 percent off on Wednesdays to shoppers “aged 60 or better,” as the company describes it.
Invoke the competition. Our members frequently referenced prices from other retailers, informed salespeople that they intended to check prices elsewhere, mentioned deals found on comparison tools, or used a smartphone to search for a better price while standing in the store.
Request discounted or free services. These include installation, delivery, and haul-away—if they are not already included. (Costco stands out among major retailers by generally including delivery and basic hookup in the price of its large appliances, and it does not charge to remove the old unit.)
Ask for free accessories. Services are not the only thing you can negotiate. Retailers may be willing to provide free accessories necessary for installation, such as a dishwasher hose or the electrical cord required for a dryer.
Read about which large appliance stores were easiest haggle with—and which gave the biggest discounts.
You can often secure even more savings through smart research and planning.
Search for utility rebates. The websites and apps for big-box stores may display available rebates for Energy Star appliances from your local utility provider. You can also find rebate information on the websites of some utilities and on the Energy Star website. Amounts vary, but we have seen rebates ranging from $25 to $100 for major appliances.
Use your own truck and/or install the appliance yourself. This can save you money on delivery and installation fees, provided you have the necessary equipment and expertise.
Skip the extended warranty. We have found that purchasing an extended appliance warranty is rarely worth the cost. Additionally, your credit card may automatically extend the warranty on your purchase, meaning you don’t need to buy extra protection. American Express cards offer this benefit, as does the Costco Anywhere Visa card. If you still choose to use a retailer’s warranty, remember that coverage periods vary by retailer, and the cost of the warranty may fluctuate accordingly.
Use a credit card that offers cash back or rewards. You won’t necessarily pay less for the item upfront, but you may earn other benefits. The Costco Anywhere Visa card provides a 2 percent cash-back rebate on appliance purchases at Costco and 1 percent on purchases elsewhere. Holders of Home Depot and Lowe’s credit cards may receive additional discounts on purchases from those retailers; since these promotions change seasonally, be sure to check their websites.
