Stephanie Nelson | 

12 Tips and Tricks I Use to to Save Money on Appliances

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The price tags on kitchen appliances make buying a new one feel like a major life commitment. Not only that, but sometimes you can plan ahead to buy a kitchen appliance, but sometimes you just can’t. Planning ahead will save the most money on a new appliance because you can time your big purchase right in order to get the best deals of the year. I’ll tell you all about that.

But I’ve also got some ideas to help you save on appliances if your refrigerator went out today and you need a new one, stat.

Whether you’re a planner or you’re in an emergency situation, I can guarantee you can find an appliance for at least 20% off. (Maybe even 30% off or more if you’re a planner).

Download the KCL app for deals on kitchen appliances, or text HACKS to 57299 for more money-saving tips.

 

1. Buy last year’s kitchen appliance models during late spring or early summer.

A group of people shopping in the appliance section at best buy.

Timing is key if you want to save money on a large appliance. Shop last year’s model at a discount when the new version hits the sales floor. I’ve noticed that dishwasher models can show up at any time of the year, whereas new-model washers and dryers, along with refrigerators usually appear in March and April. Manufacturers also release new-model refrigerators in June or July.

This makes shopping at the end of spring a really good idea.

RELATED: Check out these Home Depot Deal of the Day & sale hacks you’ll regret not knowing

 

2. Aim to save $600 – $800 (or up to 30%) on a new mid-level refrigerator model.

This is assuming you’re buying a single kitchen appliance and not getting a bundle deal, which I’ll talk about later. Also, you won’t find this steep of savings on the cheapest freezer-on-top fridge, but you can find it on something in the middle. Think: French Doors, an icemaker — not the low-end model, but also not the fanciest one with all the bells and whistles.

In 2022, I saw $800 off a Samsung refrigerator at Home Depot that fits this description. I also saw an LG model (no ice maker) for $600 off at Lowe’s. Based on what I’ve seen, you can also expect to see $200 – $300 savings for dishwashers and $150 off ovens.

 

3. Plan your kitchen appliance purchase around President’s Day, Memorial Day, or Labor Day.

In 2023 during their President’s Day Sale, Lowe’s offered up to 33% savings on Frigidaire refrigerators (up to $900 savings, depending on the model). In 2022, Best Buy offered $250 off certain kitchen appliances during their Memorial Day Sale. Home Depot offered up to 30% off kitchen appliances during their Labor Day Sale. Home Depot’s Sale was a bundle price, so you’d get that discount only when you bought four kitchen appliances (refrigerator, oven, microwave, and dishwasher).

 

 

4. Shop at Costco to save on haul away costs.

One thing we tend to forget about is the fee for hauling away old appliances. In most cases, companies will charge upwards of $50 to haul away your first appliance — on top of delivery and installation fees for your new appliance.

The above graphic was taken from a recent Costco newsletter. It illustrates the actual costs of installing a new Maytag dishwasher in May 2023. While Costco’s total price of $579.99 costs more than the average competitor, its fee includes delivery and installation, haul away, installation parts, and a 2-year warranty. Other companies will charge you extra for all of the above.

Additionally, shoppers can find bundle deals year-round on Costco.com. Plus, Executive members can save 2% back on their purchases.

 

5. Buy an “Open-Box” appliance from Best Buy online and save up to 40%.

A laptop displaying the Best Buy online website page of open box appliances

If you need a working washer or dryer today and you can’t wait around for a sale, shop Best Buy Outlet where you can find kitchen and other large appliances for up to 40% off. These are refurbished or returned items, but Best Buy guarantees that Open-Box items will work properly, are covered under warranty, and that you can return or exchange them.

There are 27 Best Buy outlet locations across the US, but the best selection is online.

RELATED: 10 Things to Know About Wayfair Open Box Before You Shop

 

6. Check out Lowe’s Scratch and Dent appliances in-store.

Man pointing at dent on damaged appliance

Lowe’s Scratch and Dent appliances are another excellent option if you need a replacement today and you don’t want to pay out the nose.

Some items are quite damaged (and also quite inexpensive), but wear and tear varies. It might be a visible scratch, or it might be an item someone returned because it didn’t fit in their home but has no problems.

Expect to save up to 30% on a Scratch and Dent appliance.

 

7. Shop the Rebate Center online at Lowe’s or Home Depot and get up to 15% savings.

Lowe’s offers rebates on bundles where you choose a certain number of a specific brand of kitchen appliances and receive either 5% or 10% back in the form of a prepaid Mastercard.

Typically, the more appliances you buy in the bundle, the higher your percentage of savings will be. For example, “Buy two qualifying LG appliances and get 5% back” or “Buy three qualifying LG appliances and get 10% back.”

This process is similar to Home Depot rebates, except Home Depot offers 10% savings for four appliances (brand varies, but Samsung is a current example). You can get 15% savings when one of the appliances you add to your bundle is a specific refrigerator.

 

 

8. Trade in your old appliances for an Energy Star Rebate.

an old oven on the driveway in front of someone's garage

Most stores offer an instant rebate if you’re buying an Energy Star appliance. In this case, they’ll apply for the rebate on your behalf and give you the discount right there at the register. But the U.S. government also offers a few bucks back in the form of a rebate when you trade in your old large appliances at an Energy Star partner. No reason not to take advantage of this and put the savings toward a new appliance. You can get $15 – $75 for refrigerators and freezers, depending on your area.

Enter your zip code to see what sort of appliances qualify for rebates in your state.

 

9. Use price matching at Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Best Buy.

A woman and employee at the checkout register.

This is a great trick especially if inventory is low at the store with your dream dishwasher on sale. Find the identical item at any other retailer that price matches and ask for the competitor’s lower price. Usually, you can just show an employee the competitor’s price from your smartphone. Don’t plan on combining coupons or bundle offers with a price match. In that case, go with whatever offers the biggest discount. Also, most stores won’t give you the sale price if it’s part of a special event sale, like a Labor Day sale. Just if the item is marked down.

 

10. Don’t be afraid to haggle!

Man's hand pointing at dent on damaged appliance

According to Consumer Reports, 73% of customers who ask for lower than the list price on a large appliance are successful. Average savings hover just below $100. Might be worth a little speaking up.

This goes for Lowe’s Scratch and Dent items too. I once got an additional 20% savings just by asking for a deeper discount.

 

11. Consider buying directly from a manufacturer like Whirlpool.

Whirlpool owns KitchenAid, Maytag, and Amana, all of which are heavy-hitting brands in the kitchen appliance space. And they all offer rotating sales on large kitchen appliances.

In fact, Whirlpool offers a sale section on their website where you can save about $250 on refrigerators, $125 on dishwashers, and a little over $100 on washers and dryers. These savings aren’t earth-shattering, but it’s good due diligence if you can’t find something you like at a retail store in the 30% – 40% off range.

TIP: Sign up for Whirlpool emails and get 5% off your next purchase.

 

 

12. Sign up for ABT Electronics’ newsletter and get a coupon for $25 off a $250 purchase.

Someone signing up for the newsletter on the ABT website to get a coupon

ABT Electronics is based out of Indiana and ships appliances nationwide. You can get free shipping and even avoid paying sales tax (if your state allows it). They offer price matching with competitors and rebates as well.

 

13. Can’t find a kitchen appliance sale? Pay with discounted gift cards to create your own.

A person holding a cell phone with the Raise app in front of a wall display of physical gift cards.

Third parties like Raise buy unused and unwanted gift cards from people, then turn around and sell them at a discount. So, you could end up with a $10 Best Buy gift card that you only paid $9.37 for. That’s a 6.3% discount, instantly. Stock up on those and you’re golden.

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