March 8th, 2024 | 7 min. read
Learn how to find the perfect kitchen products with our Appliance Buying Guide
From the pandemic back in March 2020 until December 2022, you bought appliances based on what was available.
Then you waited.
And waited.
For Bosch, Thermador, Sub-Zero, and Miele, you waited almost two years before your appliances were delivered.
But it's a bold new world in which you have control.
In this article, you will learn the best times to buy an appliance to maximize your savings, plus a few other buying techniques that nobody else will tell you.
Then again, with recessions, high-interest rates, and less demand, the prices could go in another direction.
Follow the advice in this article, and you will save a lot of money.
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When Are the Best Times to Buy Appliances?
Some popular holidays that are associated with appliance sales include:
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day: This holiday is usually in the middle of January and is over that weekend. Still, MLK is worth the wait if you need an appliance earlier in the year.
- Presidents' Day: Presidents Day is a good time to buy a car or appliance. It is the first major shopping holiday after Black November. Like many holidays, Presidents Day is not a day but two weeks in February.
- Memorial Day: April is when many stores buy appliances. Memorial Day is a significant holiday for retailers, and Memorial Day promotions now start at the beginning of May.
- July 4: While not as significant in some parts of the country like New England, July 4 can still offer good appliance deals, especially with recent price increases. Whether it expands from Memorial Day to a month remains to be seen.
- Labor Day: For New Englanders, Labor Day is the best time to buy because it coincides with the sales tax holiday, so you have sales tax relief and sales prices.
- Black Friday: Black Friday is the biggest promotional time of the year as manufacturers want more of your shopping dollars. Black Friday is not just Friday. In 2022, promotions started on November 1 and lasted all month.
What Is Driving the Surge in Appliance Promotions?
Remember your first Economics class?
Supply versus demand was the first topic.
Demand was overwhelming over the last three years as people like you invested in their homes.
Supply was inconsistent, especially with the pandemic causing supply chain issues.
Miele and Bosch's dishwashers are now plentiful after two-plus years of availability issues.
In 2024, most manufacturers have stabilized their production and overproduced to 2020-2022 demand levels.
Demand isn't there because of the recession, inflation, and rising interest rates.
High-interest rates haven't helped either.
Now, appliances in certain brands and products have too much inventory.
You have fantastic opportunities to save money, and I will show you some of the most interesting offers and other ways to save.
Appliance Promotions in 2024
For the first six weeks of this year, the industry has been in a constant state of promotion.
It doesn't seem like it will stop any time soon.
You can now delay placing an appliance delivery order until you're ready, without the pressure of long lead times requiring early orders.
Check with your salesperson first to see when (and if) prices are affected by your appliance selection.
GE and LG's Move Towards Consistent Pricing in 2024
GE and LG might abandon promotions for more consistently low prices sometime in 2024.
I think it will be better for you in some situations.
You will probably not want to wait for Presidents' Day in February when your washer breaks down in early January.
However, for a kitchen renovation, you have the flexibility to plan your purchase in advance.
It's unclear when LG and GE will go to this flat pricing model and if they will stick to it.
Appliance Rebates in 2024
The key to getting the best price is to combine all these rebates and offers in one order (if you can).
Individual Rebates
These are hard to quantify but are incredibly important. Many of the best appliances will have instant rebates.
Take this induction range:
It sells for $3,349 but can drop to $2,499-$2,899 at certain times of the year.
Package Rebates
Almost every manufacturer has reinstituted their yearly package rebates.
If you buy qualifying appliances like a refrigerator, stove, and dishwasher, you could receive a check for anywhere from $2,000 to $2,700 (Fisher & Paykel).
Other Incentives
Most independent stores belong to a buying group. Buying groups will add their rebate. In this case, the rebate for a four-piece kitchen package can be an additional $500.
In addition to each qualifying piece with rebates, you have that additional package of $2,500 or more.
Best Appliance Brand Promotions
Café Appliances, GE Profile, and Monogram
GE is a big winner through the pandemic because they were able to supply better than their rivals, especially Whirlpool and Samsung.
Top GE Deals During Promotional Holidays:
- Café and GE Profile kitchen appliance packages are $2,000, but that is for the year.
- The Monogram one-for-one deal of free appliances is also through the end of the year.
- For Memorial Day, you have GE packages of $500.
Bosch
They have dishwasher availability issues but plenty of stock on the rest of their appliances.
Top Bosch Deals During Promotional Holidays:
- $500 on packages
- $300 on select paneled dishwashers
LG
LG is the bigger winner from the pandemic of the large appliance manufacturers.
They produce key components like motors and compressors and are less dependent on outside suppliers.
Top LG Deals During Promotional Holidays:
- LG Studio and Signature Kitchen Suite have $500 package rebates until the end of the year.
- $400 package rebates on the regular LG line.
- $100 rebate on LG dishwashers until May 17
Miele
Miele is now heavily promotional after two years of being unable to supply a single dishwasher.
Many premium companies will have this issue eventually because their business is diverted to other companies with better inventory during the planning process.
One or two years later, their pipeline of business will dry up.
Top Miele Deals During Promotional Holidays:
- $150 dishwasher installation allowance.
- Their recently announced package rebate of $2,100 is now until the end of the year.
Read more: The Best Appliance Packages
Be Careful About Hidden Charges
Installation
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You bought an integrated refrigerator and saved $300.
That is good.
However, with appliances, the sales price is only part of the story.
Check installation because right now, you have a $500 difference in installation between all the local and national stores.
So, saving $300 and spending $500 more is not a good deal, but it happens daily.
Even more importantly, you must be sure the installers can do the work. With the shortage of skilled labor, proper installation is no longer a given but an exception.
Always check reviews.
Buying Tip: Installing a built-in refrigerator is like a separate construction project, especially applying a custom cabinet panel on brands like Sub-Zero, Thermador, Miele, True, and BlueStar.
Delivery
With labor shortages, you must be careful about who you let into your home.
The so-called free delivery is masking $50 per unit removal, stair fees, and a host of expenses you find out about later.
Clearance Sales
Clearance sales are also a good time to buy appliances and save money.
I would watch for dealer sales because warehouses are full.
Always check prices so they don't fall for a sale without the savings.
Buying Tip: Many stores advertise free delivery but have quietly increased removing your old appliance to $50 and nominal hookups to $20. Always compare the bottom line.
Outlet Sales
Now, the best way to shop for the best discounts, especially on premium appliances, is at an outlet.
Here is how an outlet works:
We will use Yale as an example.
Every day, out of 130 deliveries, there will be a couple of stops where the product does not fit.
Then, a product will have an occasional dent or scratch.
In addition, the outlet continuously rotates a selection of 50-100 items, including floor models, overstock, and discontinued appliances.
Many of those floor displays are premium appliances that never have rebates.
You can routinely get the best deal in an outlet.
However, ensure the product is not significantly damaged to the extent that it becomes non-functional, and verify that it includes a factory warranty.
Beware: In recessionary times, a few stores will close, taking your money with them. In Boston, we recently had a 50-year-old store close, taking 3-4 million dollars in customer deposits.
They will not be the last.
Oddly enough, these stores have the lowest prices right before they close.
Let me show you how to identify stores in distress.
You can always tell by displays and reviews.
If the displays look old, then it is a sign they do not have the resources for updates.
Also, check reviews for customer satisfaction.
Watch for problems with orders being delivered and people not receiving their appliances on time.
Key Takeaways
You don't have to wait for a holiday, at least for the first three months of this year.
Combine individual, package, and installation offers together.
But do not save $300 to pay an extra $400 on installation and other services.
Ensure the low price is from a store that is not distressed or going out of business.
Always check the reviews of every vendor before you buy.
Additional Resources
Take the guesswork and problems out of appliance shopping and read our Appliance Buying Guide with brand profiles, what's new, and answers to frequently asked questions. Over 1.2 million people have read a Yale Guide for buying tips, the best features, and specs.
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A Note About Pricing
Pricing on this blog is for reference only and may include time sensitive rebates. We make every attempt to provide accurate pricing at time of publishing. Please call the stores for most accurate price.
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