Posted on Sep 8, 2022

Dishwashers, washing machines, and refrigerators are hugely important to our everyday lives. After all, these appliances keep your clothes and dishes clean and prolong the life of your perishables, so those leftovers stay tasty, even on day three. Manufacturers and retailers know how important these machines are, so you can expect to spend a good chunk of change when it’s time to replace or refresh your appliances. But we can help you find the best price. Here are our tips on how to keep some money in your pocket while still finding the best appliances for your home.

Prices have gone up, but tentpole sales like those on Labor Day will still offer discounts

The pandemic and related factors like inflation continue to mess with the prices of many of our favorite products. Large appliances aren’t any different. But rest assured: You can still find discounts during sale events on Labor Day from Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and members-only warehouse stores like Costco.

Expect gift card offers from Best Buy, special financing offers nearly everywhere, and the usual package savings deals from all retailers that come with buying multiple appliances and totally refitting your kitchen. Look out for savings on dishwashers, fridges, ranges, and even washer/dryer sets. Big appliance sales happen at predictable junctures, so Presidents’ Day and Memorial Day will be the next to see focused sale events like this, but we often see solid large appliance pricing during October as well, just on a more limited slate of options.

Buy last year’s model

In the absence of some new, game-changing technology (which is not common for large appliances), investing in a previous year’s model of any large appliance is a great way to save. A general rule of thumb to follow: Sales on last year’s models kick off when this year’s models roll out. Usually, new washers, dryers, and dishwashers make their debuts in September and October, while new ovens and ranges drop around the top of the year. Folks who are itching for a spanking new fridge should keep their eye out for sales during the month of May. If you aren’t in a rush to replace a broken appliance, it’s never a bad idea to play the long game and track prices over time.

Don’t buy just one

You nearly always have the opportunity to save during sales by buying bundles of large appliances. Retailers frequently offer larger rebates if you buy multiple pieces, so buying a dishwasher, stove, and fridge all at once can be beneficial—especially if you plan to replace them all eventually, and you’re picky about matching the finishes of your appliances. Take a look locally for stores that accept donations of used appliances if your old ones still have some life left.

Prime Day and Black Friday

Prime Day (which Amazon has confirmed is happening in July this year) and Black Friday are the best times to save a bunch of money on popular small kitchen appliances like air fryers, toaster ovens, and blenders. You can even save on small appliances that make your home healthier and safer, such as air purifiers, if your fingers (and internet connection) are quick enough, as they often sell out quickly.

Sitewide sales

Sitewide sales, particularly those that feature a coupon for a blanket 15% or 20% off, are a great way to save on small appliances from well-known brands such as OXO. We’ve seen a few such sales at Macy’s—coupon codes that apply in cart allow retailers to get around MAP regulations (minimum advertised price, the lowest displayed price a retailer is permitted to show). Because those coupon codes don’t apply on-site, that means lower pricing than usual for you. Meanwhile, warehouse clubs such as Costco offer good deals on appliances large and small. If you’re interested in vacuums, Woot (an Amazon company) and eBay offer some of the better prices out there, particularly for our robot vacuum and robot mop picks, but we recommend checking to confirm that the options available are either new or manufacturer refurbs with full warranties.

Periodic sales and price tracking

If you don’t want to wait for a model to go on sale at a certain time of year, you can always price-track the appliance of your choice using well-known (and free) tracking tools such as Camelcamelcamel and Keepa, which can help you make informed decisions when shopping. Camelcamelcamel and Keepa are best suited to keep tabs on small appliances, as they tend to effectively monitor only Amazon prices. Historically Amazon hasn’t carried as many large appliances as the brick-and-mortar competition, so these tools’ large-appliance price data is unfortunately somewhat limited.

Both companies say they won’t share your email address or other details with third parties, but we still suggest using a burner email address so you have better control over any potential incoming spam—and stick with the websites, not the browser extensions or mobile apps.

Original article: When Is the Best Time to Buy Appliances?

Financing & Rebates