If you’ve just settled on a new home, or if you’ve just signed a home improvement contract, you probably don’t want to spend big bucks on appliances. Here are some ways you can save on your appliance purchases.
New Appliances
If it’s important to you to have the latest appliances, or if you’re worried about buying a used appliance that might not have as long a lifespan, there are ways to get new appliances more cheaply.
Clearance
Check multiple stores, like department stores, home improvement stores, and small businesses that sell appliances. See if they have a clearance section, or a section for scratched or dented appliances. You might be able to save a significant amount.
Negotiate
You might not even have to pay the sticker price on appliances, either. See if a local store will match lower prices that you find online. Ask what discounts they can offer you, and see if they’re willing to negotiate.
Used Appliances
In many cases, however, you can save quite a bit more on used appliances. Let’s be honest, not all of us need the Wi-Fi connectivity and the latest bells and whistles of the latest appliances on the market. You may need to shop around until you find the best prices and quality, but the amount of money you save may be well worth the extra time spent.
Consider Your Transportation
When you buy a used appliance, you may or may not be able to find a seller who will deliver and install the appliance. So you may want to have a way of transporting it. Purchasing a hand truck or dolly might be helpful if you don’t have a friend or neighbor who will help you move the appliance. And you might want to invest in a utility trailer for easier transportation, since lifting an appliance off a truck will be pretty hard on your back. You can find a utility trailer at your local trailer dealer or Tractor Supply Company.
Local Used Appliance Shops
Search for the used appliance shops near you and check out their inventory. Since they can’t just order whatever they like, they might not have a complete inventory of all the appliances you need. However, see if there’s a certain day of the week that they get a shipment of appliances, when you’d have more choices.
Be sure to check what warranty they offer. They can’t guarantee as much as a manufacturer can, because they just fixed the problems they knew about—they aren’t making new equipment. There’s always a certain amount of risk that the appliance won’t last much beyond the warranty date. However, typically they are repairing their own inventory, so they may have valuable knowledge on how much you can trust the appliance that you buy from them.
Thrift Stores
Sometimes, thrift stores can have used appliances. They probably won’t have as many, so you might need to visit the stores multiple times to check what’s there. The appliances may not be fixed up, and you may not be able to test them, but you might be able to find lower prices.
Facebook Marketplace
One very helpful platform for finding used appliances is Facebook, where you can search Marketplace or join buy and sell groups. If you go this route, you might even be able to pick up a working appliance for free.
However, you’ll need to be flexible. Watch Marketplace or your feed regularly, and reach out to the seller as quickly as possible. Make sure you have a vehicle on hand and can pick up the appliance soon—that will make your offer more appealing.
Do remember that you can get scammed if you’re buying an appliance on Marketplace. If at all possible, be sure to plug in the appliance and test everything. And don’t pay anyone any money until you have the appliance.
Buy in Person
When you’re buying a used appliance, you don’t want to be scammed. Be sure to see the appliance in person and test it if you can. The quality of used appliances will vary hugely, and buying them is always a risk. However, buying used will generally save you money in the long run, if you buy smart.
