Save Big Bucks on Home Appliances When You Shop Online
By Elizabeth Wasserman
When Ron LaPierre and his wife, Marcia, were remodeling the kitchen in their Los Angeles area home a year and a half ago, they researched appliances on the Internet, compared prices from different vendors and ultimately purchased everything from their new refrigerator to microwave oven online -- saving thousands of dollars in the process.
“We wound up buying all our appliances online from a place in New York, and yet we live in California,” says LaPierre, who is also president of the online comparison web site PriceGrabber. “We found that the shipping was really cheap, and between tax, shipping and the prices, we ended up saving well over $3,000 on the group of appliances.”
More and more families are using the Internet to research, compare and buy big-ticket items via the web, such as stove ranges, dishwashers, washer-dryer combos, and yes, even refrigerators. A survey last year by PriceGrabber of 1,945 shoppers found that unease about making such big purchases online has dropped since a similar survey in 2006. Twenty-four percent of shoppers would be willing to buy a major appliance online today, while only half that number would have done it two years ago.
Before you click and buy large household appliances, however, consider using the web to find these shopping resources:
Tip No. 1: Use online buyer’s guides
Not sure what features or options you should look for in a dishwasher? Most major manufactures of appliances -- GE, Kenmore, Whirlpool, Maytag, Bosch -- provide buying guides for a variety of appliances on their web sites. The consumer electronics web site CNET also just launched appliance buyer’s guides. These guides help fill you in on the basics of appliances. For example, when it comes to dishwashers, there are two basic types: under the counter and portable. A buyer’s guide often provides a checklist of features you may want to review on your shopping trips -- such as the types of finishes, dimensions and performance features that are available.
A variety of web sites, such as the home-repair chains Lowe's and Home Depot, maintain advice and tips about buying large appliances. Home Appliance magazine has a searchable web site that lists not only tips for buying but descriptions of new models and their manufacturer-suggested retail prices as well. When it comes to comparing different brands, Consumer Reports magazine, published by the nonprofit Consumers Union, offers some free advice and also maintains a searchable web site for paying customers (starting at $5.95 per month) that might be worth the investment, considering how much money you’ll plunk down for a professional chef stove, for instance.
Tip No. 2: Review energy-saving or “green” ratings
Between the sluggish economy, the soaring price of energy and concerns about global warming, many families are now focusing on saving electricity. Using the Internet, you can find out about energy efficiency or “green” appliances before buying. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy sponsor a joint web site for information about the government’s Energy Star rating program. The web site points out that an Energy Star-qualified washer, for example, can save you $550 over its lifetime in energy and water costs and can also be better for the environment. You can search the site by make and model to find out ratings of appliances and what they mean.
Another source of information about buying “green” is GreenerChoices, a free web site from Consumers Union that shows you how to buy products that minimize environmental impact. “There are other things to measure, like performance and reliability, in addition to energy efficiency,” says Urvashi Rangan, senior scientist and director of GreenerChoices. “One dishwasher doesn't use a lot of water, but it doesn't wash dishes well, either. You want to make sure it meets your performance requirements before you buy.” Replacing an appliance early creates more environmental impact than buying one that may use slightly more water but will last you 10 years, she says.
Tip No. 3: Browse user reviews
One of the benefits of shopping for appliances online is that there are web sites where you can hear from other consumers about what they think of their air conditioner or espresso maker or clothes dryer. Epinions online lets consumers share their experiences with products -- both good and bad. So you may find out that a clothes dryer you’re interested in has a defect and broke down after only a year. Some shopping web sites, such as PriceGrabber and MySimon, also provide consumer reviews. While user reviews are often like asking friends for recommendations, the process can be subject to abuse so check to read a variety of reviews and/or see what your reviewer says about other products.
Tip No. 4: Compare pricing
In addition to the shopping comparison web sites already mentioned, Yahoo, Google and MSN have also gotten into the act of letting you compare appliance prices as offered by different online and offline retailers. When buying large appliances online, however, it’s important to factor in tax and shipping costs into the bottom line. “The more expensive and heavier the product, the more expensive the shipping can be,” notes LaPierre, of PriceGrabber. “But as things have evolved online, retailers know that if they want to be able to sell really heavy stuff, they have to offer good shipping deals.”
One more calculation you need to make these days, LaPierre advises, is what it would cost you in terms of gasoline to drive from store to store to store to do the same price comparisons that you can do via your home computer -- and on your own time.
Elizabeth Wasserman is a freelance writer and editor based in Fairfax, Va. She writes for a variety of publications including Congressional Quarterly and Inc. magazine, and she edits the online publication CIO Strategy Center.
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