Buying Appliances

Buying an appliance is an easy purchase rendered complicated by the vast amount of information available.

Let us simplify:


Price: What is the price as most companies hide it behind 15% off. It actually is not that hard. Find the desired items and total. Of course, you have to total the extras: Delivery, Removal of old units and even power cords are additional. Be careful these extras can add $100-120 to the bottom line.


Customer Service/Support: If you are buying a kitchen of appliances, you will shop at the store 2.8 times and call another 2.3 times before the purchase. After the purchase, the tradespeople will call twice and there will be calls to schedule delivery. With all that information, will the store be able to handle the transaction?


Service: The hardest part of the appliance business is product service. Many stores have deemphasized or eliminated this component completely. The number 2,3 and 4 volume stores do not employ a single technician. If the store does not offer service, then ask who the service agent is. Appliances have about a 18% chance of a service call within the first year, so you will probably need some type of service within the lifetime of the product

Bottom Line

I have a friend who calls me about promotions at another store. Last month, it was 20% off at one place. This months deal is save the sales tax. All are interesting ways to methods to drive traffic(the industry term for people) into stores.

The simple fact with the economy being less than robust is the manufacturers are offering unprecedented rebate programs. How good are these rebates? They average about 16% for 4 pieces in Frigidaire, Bosch, GE Cafe, JennAir and KitchenAid(GE and JennAir start the February 10)

At the end of the day, pricing is about the bottom line, and buying from any store is about price, product charges such as Delivery, removal and power cords as well as after product service.

How To...Differentiate a White Kitchen

White kitchens are making a comeback. ...Lets look at ours as there are a few good appliance and lighting ideas as well.

White is quite simply the easiest to match and accessorize...In this example, it was matched with green undertones, granite, sink base cabinet and the lighting, which is Geometrix by Schonbek.







If we look at the tiling, it is multi colored and thus contemporary. A more tradition adaptation would have, for example, the white subway tile and a couple of more traditional pendants.





Fisher Paykel manufactures single drawer dishwashers as well. Although more space is required, the single drawer allows for less bending. The Fisher Paykel can be panelized, so it is great for bars and other point of use areas within your house





Definitely consider white for timeless yet adaptable style. This kitchen was designed by Diane Auchello of Metropolitan Cabinets in Natick....

Wall of Confusion....Good Confusion, That is

Love that tune....Lets look at a wall at Yale.





Except it is not really a wall. There lies the feature and point of this post





This wall is actually 5 integrated refrigerators. An integrated product differs from regular counter depth refrigeration, because even the door fits within the cabinet. This is a hot new trend and brands like SubZero and Thermador are the main players, because it is seamless and thus hidden from sight. Even though I am the ultimate appliance cynic, I really find this style attractive.

This picture is the Thermador Freedom columns, which allow the refrigerator and freezer to be placed anywhere independently in the kitchen....(hence the name)