The Best Time to Buy Home Appliances So You Can Save 40% or More: Savings Experts
Plus, how to cut costs when you need to make a purchase right now
Two-thirds of U.S. households replaced a major appliance (from dishwashers and stoves to washing machines and dryers) within the past five years — mostly due to emergency situations — according to a recent survey. But since the average large appliance typically costs hundreds of dollars, buying in a bind, when you don’t have as much time to research and compare prices, can cost you big. “The worst time to buy an appliance is when you’re desperate and don’t have time to do your research,” says consumer money-saving expert Andrea Woroch. So we asked experts to tell us how long your appliances will last, what to do if you find yourself in a last-minute buying situation, and the best time to buy appliances to try and time your purchase to save 40% and sometimes even more!
The best time to buy appliances when you’re not in a rush
1. For the newest models: Holiday weekends
“Generally speaking, any long holiday weekend is the best time to buy appliances,” says Woroch. This includes President’s Day, Memorial Day and even Labor Day. “Retailers know people aren’t really going to be out spending money on those days, so it’s become custom to offer sales to get people in the door,” Woroch says. This is when you can expect to find some of the best prices on appliances — up to 40% on some models and anywhere from 20-30% off of others. “You still need to do your homework, though, and decide on the brands you like and the features you can’t live without,” says Woroch, but you’ll save big by shopping these holiday weekend deals. Often the deals will begin on the Friday morning, though, so go early in the sale to get the appliance you want, she advises.
Learn more about the benefits of holiday sales in this YouTube video from a sales expert at Colorado’s Appliance Factory & Mattress Kingdom :
2. For older models: When new models come out
Another best time to buy appliances [older models] is when manufacturers are coming out with new models, say Trae Bodge, smart shopping expert at TrueTrae.com. “This timing can vary depending upon brand,” she says, “but many times you’ll see new models in the fall and in early February after January’s Consumer Electronics Show.” And spring is another time you’ll see new appliance models. Retailers lower prices to get older models off the floor and make room for the newer versions. “Often the model changes are just small design elements and don’t make a difference in functionality,” Bodge says.
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3. For all models: Special retail holidays and the holiday season
Retailer holidays like Black Friday or Cyber Monday can also be the perfect time to score a great deal on appliances, says Woroch. Black Friday kicks off the biggest shopping week of the year, and retailers are trying to grab their portion of those sales, so they lower prices to make products more appealing. In the past, you could expect to see better in-store discounts on Friday for big-ticket appliances and bigger online ones for smaller appliances on Monday; however, in recent years, the sales have sort of just become all weekend long, says Woroch. “But you don’t need to rush your purchase this time of the year because the sales have remained through to the holidays in recent years.” In recent years, Prime Day in July has become another great time to score appliance deals, as has Maytag’s “Day Day.”
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This ApplianceAdvisers video explains the extension of sales days in recent years:
4. For seasonal appliances: Off-season
For certain smaller appliances, like grills, small heaters or air conditioners, timing your purchase in the off-season could save you 20% or more. “Like purchasing air conditioning units at the end of summer,” says Woroch. Other off-season times to buy smaller appliances include picking up grills in the fall or patio heaters at the end of spring. Even having air conditioning or heating installed out of season can save you money on those larger appliance system purchases, as installers will often pass manufacturer savings onto consumers.
Related: Prolong the Life of Your Fridge, Dishwasher, & More
5. At mom and pop shops: At the end of the month or quarter
If you plan on shopping your local family-owned appliance store, the best time to buy appliances is at the end of the month or quarter when salespeople have quotas to make can save you money as well, says Woroch, “but keep in mind that this would only apply to smaller, local stores where sales staff are earning commissions, and be sure to do your homework ahead of time to make certain you’re getting a good deal.” Smaller stores will often go the extra mile to earn your business, such as offering free delivery or installation, and these can also be big money savers, Woroch notes.
How to save on appliances when you have to buy right away
Always compare prices among retailers, especially if you’re forced to buy during a time when there’s not a sale being offered, advises Bodge. If you are stuck in that situation, use the tips below to make sure you score the best deal possible. Klarna Shopping and PriceRunner are two sites that can help with price comparisons. “Coupon Cabin is one of my favorites,” says Bodge.
1. Buy scratched or dented models or a floor model/open box model
“If I was in a pinch, I would first of all get a sense of which brands and models I was interested in and then I would go to stores and ask about floor models or open box models,” says Bodge, who also advises looking into scratch and dent models. “Sometimes retailers are anxious to get rid of that fridge with a large scratch down the side and will offer a deep discount,” she notes. “And if that scratch will be hidden against the wall, no one will ever notice it.” Expect to save up to 40 or 50% on badly dinged or scratched appliances, with discounts for less damage typically in the 15-20% range.
2. Take advantage of cash back offers or financing specials
“It’s easy to spend over $1,000 on appliances these days,” says Woroch, who advises looking into cash back deals and zero interest purchase deals on credit cards to make your purchase. “While I don’t recommend carrying a balance and paying interest, you may be able to earn cash back and have a few months to pay off the purchase.” Woroch uses CardRates.com to search for these kinds of deals. Just be sure to pay off the balance within the offered time period or the interest could eat up your savings. Home Depot and Lowe’s will also frequently offer a percentage off and/or zero percent financing for a specific period of time if you open a credit card. Finally, cashback sites like Rakuten or Ibotta may also offer cash back at certain retailers.
Related: 8 Overlooked Credit Card Perks Experts Say Will Save You Big
3. Bundle your purchase
Whether you’re buying at a sale time or not, retailers will frequently offer a discount if you’re buying more than one appliance at a time. “If you can, time it so that you’re buying two or three appliances at once, and you’ll earn at least 5% off just by doing this,” says Bodge, who notes that some retailers or manufacturers may even advertise bundle deals.
4. Look at warehouse club prices
If you’re forced to buy during a non-sale time period, and can’t follow the best time to buy appliances, check out warehouse clubs like Costco or Sam’s Club over big box home improvement stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s, advises Woroch. “And they typically offer free delivery and have great extended warranties.” And skip the haul-away fee if you can, says Woroch. Many times you can give a still-working appliance away for free by listing it on Facebook or CraigsList rather than paying a store $50 or $75 to haul it away for you.
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How long should appliances last?
According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors this is how long your appliance should last — if any of your appliances are nearing the end of their lifecycle, experts say you can start using the above times to look for deals.
- Refrigerator = 9-13 yrs
- Electric Range = 13-15 yrs
- Gas Range = 15-17 yrs
- Dishwasher = 9 yrs
- Washing Machine = 5-15 yrs
- Dryer = 13 yrs
- Microwave Oven = 9 yrs
- Air Conditioner (window) = 5-7 yrs
- Freezer = 10-20 yrs
- Gas Oven = 10-18 yrs
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