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ELECTRONICS & APPLIANCES -
Appliances (continued)
not reliable at all. Or Brand “A” may make great washers and dryers, but very poor quality stoves, etc. Check the various brands and models with ConsumerReports.org or with other sources on the Internet. There is plenty of information and customer reviews available to help you make your decision.
b. Keep in mind, that when appliances do break there can be a major difference among
brands with respect to how much repairs cost. Standard appliance makes, such as Kenmore,
GE, etc. will generally have “reasonable” repair costs. However, some of the more
expensive brands, like Sub-
c. Try to purchase appliances that are energy efficient. The cost of operating various major appliances can really add up over the period of a few years, and different appliances have different levels of efficiency. Most appliances will have an “EnergyGuide” rating sticker or notice readily apparent at the appliance store, which will give a rating and also an estimate of the annual cost of operation. Pay attention to these labels when making your decision. The more energy efficient appliances will often also have a label indicating that the appliance is “Energy Star” qualified.
d. Avoid paying extra for a bunch of features that may seem great, but will end up being used very little. Most of the extra features on appliances are not used by their owners. And, generally, the more features on an appliance the higher its cost and the more things that can break. So, start out considering the most basic energy efficient model available, and just go up in price to add features you know you really will use. Once you find that model, don’t upgrade any more.
2. Once you decide what make and model is best for you, make sure you get the best price.
a. Visit several appliance stores and vendors. This includes dedicated appliance dealers, as well as larger stores that also sell appliances like Sears, Home Depot and Lowe’s. See what is available and the prices.
b. Unless the appliance is on sale, do not buy. Appliances are always on sale, and your make and model either will be on sale, or will be on sale in the near future. Be patient.
c. Make sure you bargain for the best price. Most vendors, including large stores like Home Depot, will give you a better price if they think they need to in order to close the deal. This is particularly true if you are buying several appliances at the same time. If you would like, go to the Internet and print out some prices and see if the store will match. Or, you might even consider buying your appliances from an Internet store if the price is right.
d. You should also try to get free delivery with your purchase. Stores try not to do this, but generally will if they need to in order to close the sale. Also, if you are getting rid of an old appliance, make sure they take it away at no charge to you.
3. If you really want to save some money, consider buying scratch and dent appliances. Some stores specialize in appliances with mars, but most appliance stores have some in stock because of damage that occurred during delivery, etc. Sometimes “store return” appliances that are barely used are available for very low prices. These appliances were delivered to a home but were returned for any number of reasons. Whether it is a scratch and dent appliance or a store return, the appliance usually still comes with a full factory warranty.
4. You can really save money by buying used appliances. If the appliance is coming from a known owner, like a relative or friend, you will probably know what kind of condition it is in. Sometimes used appliances are almost like new, and are available just because the owner wanted something else. However, if you find a used appliance at a garage sale or at a used appliance dealer, you may be taking more of a risk. But, you can get major appliances for a fraction of their new cost by buying used.
5. When something does go wrong with your appliance, repair costs can be very expensive. But if you buy a good quality appliance, and you have researched the appliance’s reliability as suggested, appliance breakdowns should be an infrequent occurrence. However, consider the following to avoid or lessen the cost of repairs.
a. Once your appliance comes off warranty, any repairs will come out of your pocket. If you need an appliance repairman after your warranty expires, make sure you shop around for a reasonably priced and honest repair company. You do not need to use a repair company designated to service your particular brand by the manufacturer. Any competent and honest appliance repair company will do, as long as they say they can repair your brand. Charges for both parts and labor can vary considerably between repair companies, as can whether they are honest. So, get some recommendations and choose wisely.
b. Sometimes, a repair can be done by the homeowner. If you need a specific part for your appliance, most of the time the appliance’s manual will have a schematic that will show parts and list part numbers. Most all of these parts can be found on the Internet at one or more companies selling appliance parts. Make sure you shop around, since prices for the
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