August 2008
Best ways to buy
Good prices determined where survey respondents bought major appliances for about half of all purchases. That makes our Ratings (available to subscribers) of appliance stores a reasonable starting point. Then, consider these strategies:
Study the market. Almost all the survey respondents who read product reviews, browsed in stores, or visited relevant Web sites found the time they spent at least somewhat helpful in making the purchase.
Time major purchases. In September and October, look for price breaks on cooking appliances as retailers put the previous year’s models on sale to free up floor space. Around May, the same goes for refrigerators, and sales after the winter holidays are common. Good timing, however, includes shopping for major appliances when a store is least crowded and you’ll have the salesperson’s ear. Lines are also much shorter on weekdays or early on weekends, so shop then if you can.
Plumb for deals. Look for rebates, coupons, and related discounts in the store and online. Weeks before a planned purchase, in fact, sign up on a store’s Web site to receive e-mail with coupons and similar promotional offers. Such pitches include rebates, free shipping, and notification of so-called VIP sales with discounts on selected products. Also, look up specs at manufacturers’ Web sites to compile a list of choices before you hit a store. Combine special offers, say, from store and manufacturer, when possible.
Skip the extended warranty. In general, we have found extended warranties to be a bad deal for the customer. Our reliability surveys have found that most appliances do not break during the extended warranty period.
When appliances do break, the repairs do not cost much more than the cost of extended warranties. If you’re especially cautious, or opt for a repair-prone brand, and decide to buy extra coverage, make sure that the warranty is inexpensive (no more than 20 percent of the product’s purchase price) and comprehensive. For heavy items, ask whether the extended warranty includes pickup or in-home repair.
Study the market. Almost all the survey respondents who read product reviews, browsed in stores, or visited relevant Web sites found the time they spent at least somewhat helpful in making the purchase.
Time major purchases. In September and October, look for price breaks on cooking appliances as retailers put the previous year’s models on sale to free up floor space. Around May, the same goes for refrigerators, and sales after the winter holidays are common. Good timing, however, includes shopping for major appliances when a store is least crowded and you’ll have the salesperson’s ear. Lines are also much shorter on weekdays or early on weekends, so shop then if you can.
Plumb for deals. Look for rebates, coupons, and related discounts in the store and online. Weeks before a planned purchase, in fact, sign up on a store’s Web site to receive e-mail with coupons and similar promotional offers. Such pitches include rebates, free shipping, and notification of so-called VIP sales with discounts on selected products. Also, look up specs at manufacturers’ Web sites to compile a list of choices before you hit a store. Combine special offers, say, from store and manufacturer, when possible.
Skip the extended warranty. In general, we have found extended warranties to be a bad deal for the customer. Our reliability surveys have found that most appliances do not break during the extended warranty period.
When appliances do break, the repairs do not cost much more than the cost of extended warranties. If you’re especially cautious, or opt for a repair-prone brand, and decide to buy extra coverage, make sure that the warranty is inexpensive (no more than 20 percent of the product’s purchase price) and comprehensive. For heavy items, ask whether the extended warranty includes pickup or in-home repair.
