When we started renovating our home-turned-office-to-our-home we decided early on that we would try to avoid cheap/temporary because in the end it can definitely end up costing more. It isn't always possible, but we like to think of it this way, "Okay, $5 toaster is crap, $50 toaster is amazing but not necessary. $30 toaster is rated/reviewed well." Then (and this is important) we get a coupon and then if we can, we combine that with a sale for the deepest savings. Then we check for rebates, see if floor models are available for purchase, and check for defects that might give us more money off. The stars don't align themselves when it comes to sales, you have to do the work!
1. Research which stores near you are generally cheapest for your appliance, or offer price matching, and then begin researching those stores constantly. Check websites and sale sections in store often; their websites will often show you what is in stock at your particular store.
2. Start early. I started months before needing our fridge because I knew Lowe's/Home Depot would delay my shipment for a long time, so I wouldn't even have to store it. There are certain times of the years particular brands roll out new models and the old ones go on sale. Ask store associates if they know when this happens for their store.
3. Scour clearance sections and look for floor models.
Don't be afraid of a floor model, especially if your store doesn't even plug their models in. We snagged our fridge as a floor model that had never been plugged in and received an additional discount for it! Sure, it has been touched by a million hands, but so has every other thing we touch while out in public. Disinfect and enjoy the savings.
4. Pay attention to holiday weekend sales.
Labor Day scored us an automatic 10% off of our appliances as this is the standard home improvement store sale. It clears out old inventory for newer models and everything was game. Everything from Martin Luther King Day to President's Day can snag you good deals on appliances. Black Friday is more tech geared but there can be good deals. Again, ask around in your local stores!
5. Look for rebates.
There is a rebate section for all appliance selling stores on their websites. Lowes' had a sweet tiered rebate (rebate section of Lowe's website) going where if we bought two of their appliances we got $100 back, and if we bought 3 we got $200. It took a couple months to get the check but it was easy savings!
6. Look for scratches.
I forgot to mention this but when we bought our floor model, I mentioned the big scratch across the front (it was five inches long and ultimately I don't care about that kind of thing but it was a new fridge...) our salesperson overheard me mention it and took another 10% off for the defect! Which brings me to...
7. Never be afraid to ask for a deal, just be nice!
No one is going to think you're being cheap (and if they do? Who cares!) if you show a bit of indifference and then say, "Are there any deals that could get the price down a little bit? Rebates? Coupons?" A good salesperson is happy to work with you! And that brings me to...
8. Find your sales person.
There's an episode of King of the Hill where Hank is teaching his son Bobby to have a salesperson for everything, "This is my car-guy, this is my appliance-guy." I actually do that! I will ask questions I know the answers to in order to size up my sales people and see who I can trust with info later on. Do some research, ask some basic questions while browsing to a few different people, then go straight for the one you like the best and make them your person. Look for someone willing to help you and who seems knowledgable and professional, not just friendly. Our sales person when we bought a washing machine recently made sure to personally call and hop on the internet to price match for us.
9. Coupons, man!
We signed up online with Lowe's a while back and they send us great coupons. Sometimes $10 off of $50 but often $50 off $300 which is obviously helpful with appliances. Sidebar: If we know we're doing a project soon and have a $50 off of $300 but only need $100 in supplies, we might go ahead and buy some things we know we will need and usually do not go on sale (nails, wood, etc.) in order to use it.
10. Is Stainless necessary?
This is something I didn't realize at the time and am starting to think about more for our next set of appliances, which will hopefully be in 8 million years. Stainless looks clean and polished and industrial, but I really like white. The newer finishes of white look incredibly good and futuristic with the LED lights and modern styles; white isn't what it used to be. It is also quite a bit cheaper, sometimes saving you $200 or more. Black looks nice as well. Our stove is a double-oven (the top is a mini-oven with normal two-rack oven separately beneath it, and there's no broiler) glass top and was FREE from a friend of the family redoing their kitchen. They rarely cooked so it was in pristine condition, but it is white. It doesn't bother me at all and sometimes I wish my other appliances were white to match!
Our Receipt:
$1,636.00 Whirlpool French Door refrigerator (On sale from $2,036)
- 10% Labor Day Sale on all appliances at Lowe's)
- 10% additional for 5 inch scratch
- 10% for floor model
- $50 ($50 off $300 Lowe's coupon mailed to us)
- $66.67 (1/3 of the $200 rebate for buying 3 Whirlpool Gold appliances)
______
= $1,075.97 (roughly, plus taxes)
I made a selection of a fridge, hood-microwave and dishwasher that were all within our budget but were very good quality. It was what we would have purchased without dealing with sales/coupons/rebates. Our three appliances would have been 3 different brands, not as nice, and a side-by-side fridge, which isn't what I wanted at all. In the end, we actually spent less money on my higher end Whirlpool Gold appliances with rebates and discounts than the sensible list.
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