I never thought buying appliances could get harder than it was during the COVID supply shortages of 2020—the toughest year in my 39-year history at Yale.
However, 2025 may be worse.
New tariffs add to the risk of major price hikes along with renewed supply chain issues.
In this article, we’ll explain what’s going on, what it means for your project, and how you can shop smarter this year.
Don’t skip the end. It could save you thousands—and maybe more.
Your Two Real Options for Avoiding Appliance Price Hikes and Delivery Delays
The options are extreme, I admit.
But if you choose well, you won’t face delayed deliveries, unexpected price increases, or—worse—lose your money dealing with a company that can’t back up its promises.
- Option 1: Wait. Hope the tariffs go away or that countries agree on a new trade policy.
- Option 2: Buy what you need now and not worry about price increases or product availability.
You might also be told to “just put down a deposit” and everything will be fine.
Don’t believe it.
Deposits don’t protect you against price hikes, supply shortages, or worse.
In fact, that advice could end up costing you far more—in both money and time.
What to Ask Appliance Dealers Before Paying a Deposit
These are the questions you want answered—clearly, confidently, and in writing:
- Do you physically have my appliances in stock?
- Where will they be stored—and for how long?
- What happens if my project gets delayed?
- Will I get a full refund if I cancel?
- How much warehouse space (not buying group) do you own?
If they can’t answer these questions, I’d recommend walking away.
What’s Causing the Price Increases?
New Tariffs
New tariffs on appliances and parts are expected as early as May.
These increases start at 10% and could jump as high as 167%.
Unfortunately, price increases in this industry often happen immediately, with no advance notice.
For example, True just announced a price increase. Kohler did as well on the plumbing side.
The challenge is that many of the countries facing higher tariffs are essential to appliance manufacturing.
But the bigger problem isn’t always the finished appliances.
The real problem? Parts.
The Bigger Problem: Parts Shortages Could Stall Your Entire Project
Even if you can avoid tariffs on finished appliances by choosing domestic options, there’s another issue: parts shortages.
Motors, compressors, door hinges, control boards—many of these components are made overseas, even for American brands.
When those parts are delayed or spike in cost, it affects the entire appliance. Manufacturers will eventually pass those costs on to you.
2020 vs. 2025: Why This Time May Be Worse for Supply Chains
In 2020, the problem was COVID-related shutdowns and supply chain disruptions. Manufacturers had to scramble to find new suppliers.
In 2025, the challenge is different but just as serious.
Many factories will need to shift their supply chains to avoid tariffs—but that kind of pivot doesn’t happen quickly.
And if enough people try to order ahead of the tariffs, demand could outpace supply—just like we saw in 2020.
True Story: I still remember receiving a thank-you note in 2021 from a customer who waited 18 months for a steam oven—six months ahead of the originally promised date.
Hopefully, reason wins out and the tariffs are rescinded.
But I wouldn’t plan on hope.
How to Stay Ahead of Tariffs, Price Hikes, and Delivery Problems
1. Buy Now: Lock in Today’s Price
It’s not ideal to pay in full instead of leaving a deposit—I get that.
But when you pay in full, the price is locked. Your appliances will be secured and ready when you need them.
You should expect the same from your other vendors as well—whether that’s windows, cabinets, flooring, or plumbing.
2. Free Storage Until 2026
You probably don’t have room to store a house worth of equipment.
That’s why free storage should be a basic expectation from any vendor selling you home improvement products.
We’re offering free storage until 2026. For appliances, that’s not easy to find.
We own and operate the largest appliance warehouse in New England.
Most independent dealers use shared warehouse space and can only hold products for a week.
Box stores? They typically use the manufacturers’ warehouses and logistics systems and can’t hold appliances.
3. Full Refund If Your Project Is Delayed or Canceled
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, projects get delayed—or canceled altogether especially in these uncertain environments.
If that happens, we offer a full refund.
No restocking fees. No penalties. No questions asked.
(I sign the refund checks myself, and I will personally guarantee this.)
The only exception? Special color orders from La Cornue, True, or BlueStar.
4. Unlimited Deliveries for One Flat Fee
Our $199 delivery fee covers unlimited deliveries.
You can take your appliances as your project progresses—whether that’s in phases or all at once.
This flexibility helps keep your job site running smoothly.
Your contractor will appreciate not having everything dumped on them at once.
5. Avoid the Supply Chain Chaos of 2020
In 2020, lead times stretched into months—sometimes longer.
As one appliance rep told me at the time: “You can’t make a dishwasher with 19 out of the 24 parts.”
Buying now and storing your appliances means you won’t be waiting for parts—or hoping the supply chain holds together.
Most dealers—local or national—simply don’t have the space to store your order long-term.
Why Appliances Will Be the Hardest to Secure
We invested in a 240,000-square-foot warehouse last year.
Your order is secured there, not scattered across multiple vendor systems.
If someone else promises to hold your appliances, ask to see their warehouse.
Here is our warehouse:
Let them show you theirs.
The Big Mistake: Why Leaving a Deposit Won’t Protect You
💸 The Deposit Myth: Why Good Money Goes Bad |
|
|
What You're Told |
What Actually Happens |
|
A deposit guarantees your appliances. |
Dealers often don’t have the product in stock—and can’t absorb price hikes. |
|
Your price is locked in. |
Not true. Many dealers can’t honor the original price if tariffs hit. |
|
Your appliances will be held until you’re ready. |
Without verified inventory and storage, you’re just waiting in line. |
Reality Check: Over 100 independent appliance dealers went out of business last year.
If your appliances aren’t secured and in stock, your deposit is just a promise—and not a very good one.
Even at Yale, we couldn’t absorb a 10–20% price increase on an unpaid order and stay in business.
No responsible dealer can.
If someone says otherwise, make sure your order is actually in stock—and keep checking.
Let them show you theirs.
Let's Break It Down Again
Your Two Choices |
|
| Choice | Result |
|
Wait and hope for the best. |
Risk higher prices, delivery delays, or no product at all. |
|
Buy now and secure your order. |
Lock in today’s price, guarantee delivery, avoid the chaos. But you have to buy in advance |
Key Takeaways
This isn’t meant to scare you—but this is happening.
You can always take your chances.
Nothing like this has happened in the past, and hopefully, this goes away.
However, to protect your budget and your timeline, it’s best to secure your order before prices increase or products become harder to find.
Ready to Protect Your Project and Your Budget?
This is a limited-time opportunity tied directly to the timing of the tariff increases. Once the tariffs hit, prices will rise—and storage space will fill quickly.
👉 Contact us today to lock in your pricing and avoid sudden price increases and delivery delays.
Additional Resources
Before you spend a dime, learn the facts from over 33,000 service calls, discover which brands are actually reliable, and see how to time your purchase for the best price. More than 1 million people have trusted the Yale Appliance Buying Guide - now it's your turn.
👉 Download Your Free Appliance Buyer's Guide Today.
Related Articles:
Why Should You Trust Us?
It seems that every appliance review has nothing but glowing comments about almost every product, yet you read customer reviews and they are almost universally bad.
We are here to fill in the disconnect. We'll give you the best features, and the drawbacks as well, including reliability based on over 33,000 calls performed by our service team just last year. Our goal is to give you ALL the information so you know what's right for you.
Please consider subscribing or adding to the conversation in the comments below. We appreciate you stopping by.
