Two years ago, my husband and I had to purchase the trifecta; a new refrigerator, washer, and dryer. Now, we are in the market for a new dishwasher, and I’m amazed at the cost of new appliances.
As we were skimming through the refrigerator section recently, it was hard to find a fridge that was not over $2,000, unless you wanted the most basic and smallest model they had.
The prices of appliances are consistently going up, but there are ways to get brand new items for an affordable price. Here’s how:
Search for Barely Used
I am happy to purchase almost anything used and be able to save the difference. However, I’m not a big fan of used appliances, because it’s often difficult to find the specific model you’re looking for.
My husband spends a lot of time researching on Consumer Reports and reading through customer reviews before he decides on which brand and model to get. And, in my experience, those brands and models aren’t usually the ones on Craigslist for sale.
So it can seem impossible to find the exact model you need without purchasing it brand new. But there is hope! Instead of buying used, look for barely used, or like new appliances.
Find the expensive models that happen to be at a cheap price point. You may have to stumble upon a close-out deal, or drive an hour or two to pick them up, but the savings could be worth it.
Pay with Discounted Gift Cards
Knowing how much we were going to pay for appliances allowed us to buy several discounted gift cards. We went through eBay and only bid on the highest level of gift cards we could find.
Usually people don’t want to purchase a $500 gift card, which allows us to purchase it for about $450-470. Multiply this by how many gift cards we need, and the savings is already at $100 just by purchasing discounted gift cards online.
Additionally, you can earn cash back (or in our case, eBay bucks) on these purchases, so your gift card buy leaves you with some free money to spend later. Just do a quick online search for discounted gift cards and you’ll see several reputable sites pop up.
Shop Sales and Price Match
Consumer Reports states that December is the best time to buy home appliances, but I’ve found that the majority of big stores, such as Lowe’s or Home Depot, tend to have a sale for Memorial Day or President’s Day.
For our washer and dryer, we had all of our Lowe’s gift cards in order, but it turned out that Best Buy had the set for $400 cheaper. With a call to the customer service at Lowe’s, they were able to price match Best Buy’s offer, which allowed us to pay with gift cards. The sales person was also able to take an additional percentage off because we were planning on using a coupon and a cash back site.
Don’t forget to mention to the sales person that you were wanting to shop online to save even more (for example, Ebates offers 3% cash back on online purchases for Lowe’s), as they might take that extra 3% off of the price. It never hurts to ask!
Buy the Floor Model
For our fridge, we ended up picking a floor model that was already on sale. It had a pretty minor dent in it, that we were quick to point out for an additional discount.
We also got an even better deal on the fridge because the Lowe’s team gave us some trouble with our washer and dryer install (read about that in my next post).
In the end though, we ended up paying about $1,200 including free delivery and installation for a stainless steel fridge that was originally marked at $2,800. That’s a savings of $1,600!
As you’re shopping for new appliances for your home, be sure to use these tips to get 50% or more off your purchase! Then use the saved money for something else you’ve had your eye one.
What’s another way to save money on appliance purchases? Share your ideas for getting the best deals.
{ read the comments below or add one }
I’ve been wanting to buy a new fridge since my old one is no longer working, but the thing is I’m on a budget. I guess your idea of buying a slightly used product won’t be that bad. But as much a possible I’m looking for a brand new appliance which I can get at the lowest price.
Good tips. Recently I just need to buy some new appliances for my new home. You give me some ideas and help to save much money. I really like the ideal of buying several discounted gift cards. Similar to you, I don’t like to buy barely used appliances.
Great article, Most of my used appliance I bought in the store where they sell only used appliances and the price is way cheaper than buying in stores like Lowe’s or something like it, even without gift cards.
This has been super helpful. I am looking at moving some, and getting all new appliances. I have been really nervous about the cost of everything, but it is good to know that you can still find inexpensive items!
I have had good luck at Home Depot. And their extended warranty has worked well for me too. I also agree with reading Consumer Reports reviews.
This is a well-written article, Ashley! I’m glad that I stumbled upon it because I’ve been thinking about buying some new appliances for my newly remodeled kitchen. I think you’re absolutely right: it’s important to consider buying used appliances. I’ll be sure to follow your suggestion by looking for sales and price match. Thanks for the great tips; you’ve been very helpful!
Perfect tips! “Pay with Discounted Gift Cards” – I love this. And right now, I will search for gift cards when I buy new appliance
Hi,thanks for the tips! I’ve been having a lot of trouble with my old refrigerator. I love that it’s an older fridge, because it has that vintage look that I like, but it uses a lot of electricity. It would be nice to have a new fridge that’s more energy efficient
Buying the floor model along with discounted gift cards is my main method for saving on appliances.
I sometimes buy a return product as well. I always love finding a deeply discounted product that was returned because it has a scratch. The kicker is that the scratch is on the side where no one will ever see it!
I hadn’t thought of grabbing a floor model before. Sometimes to save you have to think outside the box like that. Great tips!
We never bothered with these strategies and this costs us a lot of money, as you can guess. Will clearly look for more opportunities in the future, there is money to be saved if you are smart. Really cool deal on the purchase!
We purchased a floor model washing machine a couple of years ago and we were able to buy a far better machine than we would have gotten with a brand new version out of the box.