How To Score A Deal On Home Appliances

Buy at the right time

You can't go a week without seeing some kind of sale on appliances at one of the big box stores. But if you haven't been researching for a while, you might not know when a deal is really a deal. Turns out, there are certain times of the year when you can get a better value on appliances.

When it comes to landing bargains on major appliances, timing is everything. And the best time to buy home appliances is when stores need you more than you need a new home appliance. September, October, and January when manufacturers roll out new home appliance models and retailers are eager to move last year's inventory. (Refrigerators are the exception. New models come out in the spring.)

Also note these times: The last days of the month, when stores are desperate to meet quotas and are more likely to dicker over prices; and certain holidays, like Labor Day, Memorial Day, President's Day, Black Thursday (Friday, Saturday) - when stores take advantage of your day off and slash prices.

Ask about price matching

This is a service provided by many stores and one that many of us fail to take advantage of. Retailers like Sears, Best Buy, Lowe's and Home Depot will match the price for similar items - embrace the challenging of matching up identical product numbers. If it's off by one number or letter, it's a no-go. Even better is Home Depot offering 10 percent off competitor prices. Best Buy also matches online prices with competitors like Amazon.

Check outlet stores

Best Buy and Sears have outlet stores where discounted merchandise is available, and Designer Home Surplus is the official outlet for Elite Appliance, offering appliances at discounted prices. You can get a great deal on a refurbished or open-box item at these stores. If you're not stuck on something brand-new or that's never been used or even looked at, this might be a great option for you.

Scratch and Dent

The idea of a "scratch and dent" product may sound rather unattractive, but it's actually a great way to get a brand-new appliance that might have a little blemish at big savings. Google the term and see what comes up in your local market. 

Many of these items have a small scratch or dent in a place you can't even see - like on the side, which won't show once the appliance is installed.

Shop Pre-Owned

Who says your appliances have to be new? You'd be surprised how many ideal items are out there being rehomed by people who just renovated their kitchen and got rid of a perfectly good refrigerator or bought a new home and gutted everything even though it was all brand new because they hadn't picked it out themselves. Their loss is your gain.

The obvious place to start these days is Craigslist. Craigslist is one of the best sources for finding local private sellers who are looking to quickly offload equipment they no longer need.

Ebay is another good option; be sure to search locally since you probably don't want to pay to have a front-loading washer shipped across the country from a private seller. Have you joined Nextdoor yet? You might be surprised what your neighbors are getting rid of, and because you're buying within your local community, there's an added sense of security.

There are a number of great spots for pre-owned luxury appliances, but they tend to be tied to local markets. Check in your local area.

Some appliance repair shops may also have inventory to sell. 

Consider what you really need

It's easy to walk into the appliance section of Best Buy and be seduced by the $4,000 French door refrigerator-freezer with the mood lighting and the ability to make - not just water - but sparkling water(!) from the door. But, let's be serious. Do you really need all that?