Appliance Store Buying Guide

When your refrigerator’s compressor conks out and it’s not worth repairing, you can’t wait for a sale. Here’s how to save money on appliances if you need a replacement immediately. 

• Head to an independent dealer first. Independents often can match prices at big-box stores and have a bead on supply that’s at least as good as what the major chains have. And because they typically don’t depend on third-party delivery services, they can often be more exact on when you’ll get your machine. They also can offer perks such as in-house service or a loaner while you wait for your new appliance.

• Hone your search on big-box-store websites. If you want to shop at a major chain, take advantage of any search tools online and through the retailer’s app that let you quickly find what’s in stock locally and what’s available for delivery now.

• Consider substitutions. When we recently researched options for Bosch dishwashers—many of which do well in CR’s tests—we found that a popular stainless steel model couldn’t be delivered for three weeks from the online retailer Appliances Connection. But a similar model, for $100 more, was ready to be shipped right away.

Supply chain issues that delayed many appliance deliveries after the pandemic began have for the most part been resolved, but certain models and brands still may be on back order for a while. So be patient, and:

• Get on an independent dealer’s waiting list. If your appliance model of choice is out of stock, an independent dealer may very well be willing to call you when it arrives. In CR’s appliance-store survey, some respondents volunteered how helpful their local stores were in communicating when preferred models finally arrived in stock.

• Sign up for digital alerts. Some chains, such as Home Depot and Lowe’s, let you set up notifications that will be sent to your smartphone or email when your favored model arrives.

• Hold out for a seasonal sale. Large-appliance prices typically drop on three-day holiday weekends like Memorial Day and Labor Day, and take their biggest dive in the weeks leading up to Black Friday. If you can wait for those sale weekends, you can find discounts of 25 percent or more on individual items. Manufacturers, not retailers, determine those promotions, so you may spot them on both makers’ and retailers’ websites.

Certain seasons are also known for appliance 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 says, usually debut in March and April. Refrigerators come out then, too, as well as in June and July. New dishwashers roll out throughout the year, though, so timing a sale may be harder to do. Other tactics:

• Compare prices online. If an appliance model is rated by Consumer Reports, its individual model page will show comparative prices from among dozens of retailers. You can see where the item is offered locally—and online by smaller retailers and third-party resellers—by typing the model name and number into Google Shopping. PayPal Honey, a price-comparison website, gives you the option to do a similar comparison.

• Monitor an item’s price history. Several websites and apps let you see whether a "deal" really is the lowest price of the year—as opposed to taking a retailer’s word for it. Camelcamelcamel displays price trends on items sold on Amazon for the past year or longer. If you sign up for the Droplist on PayPal Honey, you can see historical pricing for up to four months among different national retailers. Droplist also will send you notifications when the product’s price drops.

• Price-match. Local independents may match the prices of local competitors. And big-box stores certainly do, with limitations: Best Buy and Lowe’s, for example, match the prices of local competition and some major online retailers, as long as it’s not a third-party seller. They also match the prices offered by your local warehouse club. It doesn’t go the other way, though: Costco does not price-match. (Note that Best Buy, Home Depot, JCPenney, and Lowe’s do not offer a price-match guarantee if a competitor has a liquidation sale. You’ll see all the details in the what’s-not-covered section of their sites.)

• Go for a floor model. These items often have minor imperfections but can cost significantly less. On Best Buy product pages, for instance, you can sometimes find open-box versions of an appliance model, in conditions ranging from excellent (looking and packaged like brand-new) to fair (significant scratches, dents, or chips). All are at a discount and operate as intended, though the models that are in fair condition may be missing some vital accessories.

• Wait till you need more than one new appliance. You may be able to bag bigger discounts on sets of two or more matching items.

• Compare delivery and other fees. Take into account whether fees apply for delivery and haul-away of your old appliance, and whether basic hookup of an appliance, such as a washer, is free. When prices are basically the same at two stores, these details can make a difference. Home Depot and Lowe’s, for example, charge for installation of cooktops, wall ovens, dishwashers, gas ranges, and more—so check the fine print. Scour manufacturers’ sites, too, to see whether they’re offering free installation deals as an enticement to buy. 

• Consider buying a used appliance. When CR researched this, we arrived at some key takeaways: Avoid most online marketplaces, calculate what useful life an appliance you’re considering may have left, and—as with new machines—opt for a reliable brand. And if you’re looking for something specific, check used-appliance stores often. You can save as much as 75 percent off your dream appliance by doing so.

In CR’s appliance store survey, only 22 percent of major-appliance shoppers haggled over the price; among small-appliance buyers, just 3 percent tried. When we asked the others why they didn’t try, 38 percent said they were already satisfied with the price, and more than 20 percent said haggling never occurred to them—or they didn’t know they could.

They may have left money on the table. Among successful large-appliance hagglers who shopped at Best Buy and Lowe’s, the median amount they saved was more than $140; at Home Depot, it was $114. At independent dealers, it was $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 gambits here are remarkably simple, assuming you’re willing to give them a go:

• Just ask for a better price. That was the most common practice among successful hagglers from CR’s recent survey. About half of successful hagglers used that approach.

• Inquire about group, veteran, or senior discounts. Sixty-two percent of CR members who did so when purchasing a major appliance saved money. Lowe’s offers 10 percent off to those who have served or are currently serving in the military. Kohl’s offers 15 percent off on Wednesdays to shoppers "aged 60 or better," in the company’s words.

• Invoke the competition. Our members referred to prices offered by other retailers, told salespeople they were going to check prices at other stores, mentioned deals found on price-comparison tools, or used a smart device to search for a better price while in a store.

• Request discounted or free services. These include delivery, installation, and haul-away—if they’re not already provided. (Costco distinguishes itself among major retailers by generally including delivery and basic hookup in the price of its large appliances, and not charging to haul away the old one.)

• Ask for free accessories. Services are not the only factor to haggle on. Retailers may offer you free accessories that are needed for the installation, such as a hose for a dishwasher or an electrical cord required for hooking up a dryer.

By the way, haggling success apparently doesn’t depend on being face-to-face with a salesperson. In prior member surveys, we’ve found that online shoppers who try bargaining are just as successful as their in-store counterparts. For online purchases, we found the most successful bargaining medium was email; whether shopping for major or small appliances, consumers who emailed a website to bargain on the price were successful 90 percent of the time.

Read about which large appliance stores were easiest haggle with—and which gave the biggest discounts.

You can often get even more off your purchase with smart research and strategies.

• Search for utility rebates. Big-box stores’ websites and apps may show what’s available for Energy Star appliances from your local utility. You can also find rebates on some utilities’ websites, and on the Energy Star website. Amounts will vary. We’ve seen rebates of $25 to $100 for major appliances. 

• Use your own truck and/or install the appliance yourself. That can save on delivery and installation fees, assuming you have the muscle and the know-how.

• Skip the extended warranty. We’ve found that it’s rarely worthwhile to purchase an extended appliance warranty. In addition, your credit card may automatically extend your purchase’s warranty, so you don’t need to buy additional protection. American Express cards do this; so does the Costco Anywhere Visa card. If you still want to take advantage of a retailer’s warranty, keep in mind that the period of coverage can differ from retailer to retailer. The cost of the warranty may vary accordingly.

• Use a credit card that gives cash back or rewards. You won’t necessarily pay less for the product this way, 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 for purchases elsewhere. Holders of Home Depot’s and Lowe’s credit cards may receive extra discounts for purchases from those retailers; the promotions change seasonally, so check those retailers’ websites.