<p>At Lowes? On line? From an appliance store? The prices are varied as much as 50%. Do you get a lesser quality from a discount store? I wouldn’t mind paying a little more to get a personal service from a local store just not as much as 50%. We are redoing the kitchen with all new appliances.</p>
<p>I have been pretty darn happy buying appliances at Sears on several occasions.</p>
<p>I have rarely been happy buying much else at Sears.</p>
<p>We bought our dishwasher and fridge for Sears, but our range from a local appliance store. I wish I had gotten all three from the local appliance store. Prices were almost the same, but the appliance store didn’t charge for delivery or removal of old appliances and sears did.</p>
<p>I’d go with the local place.</p>
<p>I’ll say this for Sears: one of the dishwashers I bought from them was a lemon. (Side note: I keep buying Maytag dishwashers because they seem to have really great capacity, and time after time, they keep sucking. Poorly built with cheap plastics, and prone to break.) Sears was very good about servicing it and eventually helping me wuth the warranty replacement.</p>
<p>Igloooo…seriously…check the fine print added prices. For my range…sears was going to charge me for delivery, removal of my old stove, and for the electrical cable needed to plug the stove in. The local,store had NONE of those charges. Even though the range was a teeny bit more expensive, the overall cost was less. Oh…and I got a rebate too that sears did t seem to have.</p>
<p>Sikorsky…I had two Maytag dishwashers. The first was outstanding. I loved it. It was the old arrangement where the cups went on the bottom and plates on the top. I bought a new Maytag when we built this house. It worked, but it was never as good as that first one. This time, I didn’t even look at the Maytag dishwashers…got a Bosch. </p>
<p>I just don’t think Maytag is what it used to be!</p>
<p>I’ve remodeled 2 kitchens in the past 4 years. I shopped around and bought from several places - AJ Madison online, Sears Outlet online (range was shipped from Ohio I think), Home Depot and Lowe’s both online and in the store. My contractor did most of the installation. Sears will match some online prices.</p>
<p>Have you checked out gardenweb’s kitchen and appliance forums?</p>
<p>[Kitchen</a> Forum - GardenWeb](<a href=“Kitchen Forum | Houzz”>Kitchen Forum | Houzz)</p>
<p>When I began this remodel in March, I needed a fridge, stove, over the range microwave, dishwasher, washer and dryer! Began with a subscription to consumerreports.com and then shopped around at an independent local store, Sears, Home Depot and Lowes. The smaller shop didn’t have what I was looking for and was very high in price, Sears charged extra for every little thing (just like thumper said!) and never followed through with needed answers to important questions, while Home Depot and Lowes had no interest at all in helping a woman shopping alone in their large appliance section. The laugh was on them, because I paid cash for the entire lot at HH Gregg! I got a terrific price on everything there as well as a full rebate on delivery and all of the needed paperwork to submit to the power company for their rebate too.
Everything is Samsung except for the dishwasher, which is a Bosch.</p>
<p>Very timely! I have a Sears horror story to share. The touchpad control panel on my Kenmore Ultra Wash (which my repairman says is a Whirlpool machine) failed after just 18 months of use (6 months out of warranty). I had researched this model extensively, so this was the last thing I expected. This happened on Monday, and the first date Sears could offer for a service call was Thursday. I found that to be unacceptable, so I turned to the independent appliance repair guy I have used for years and trust. He came the next day and said the whole panel had to be replaced–and this wasn’t the first time he had seen this occur on a newish Kenmore. Worse, the part is backordered until September 10, and the my guy said when the date goes out that far, it means the part is failing widely, they are scrambling to meet the demand for replacements, and the backorder date will likely be pushed back every time it gets close. On top of that, the repair (part and labor) will run $300. This, for a machine that had only cost around $500! So, based on his recommendation that these days GE is the best choice for a mid-priced dishwasher–meaning he has to repair them the least–I ordered one on Friday for next Tuesday delivery. (BTW, the independent appliance store I used charges extra for delivery (as if anyone is going to haul it home themselves) and installation. That seems unavoidable these days.) If I’d known I was going to have to shell out $1000 for dishwashers over less than two years, I would have spent the money on something more upscale.</p>
<p>Definitely use the local store. All the big box stores want to sell is samsung/lg. At least Sears has more variety. When you look at Gardenweb or Amazon reviews, people are so frustrated with the quality of new appliances. Other than D/W and high end appliances, there is no consistency in the reviews.</p>
<p>I needed a new washer and decided to be a new dryer, too, a couple of years ago. My Kenmore set had lasted almost 30 years with a total of 3 services calls and one do-it-yourself repair. I also had a time crunch because I was having guests and having my carpet shampooed beforehand. Our laundry room is on the second floor, and I didn’t want them dragging the old washer out and possibly leaking on freshly cleaned carpet. </p>
<p>I had always purchased appliances from Sears so I went there first. Got a pretty good price but then they were going to charge me for delivery, removal of old washer, and installation. It wasn’t that I didn’t expect to be charged for those things, although I thought charging for both delivery AND installation was a bit much given what it takes to install a washing machine. However, they couldn’t guarantee the delivery date. They said 4 days, but since it was a contractor, they wouldn’t guarantee. Also they wouldn’t take the old ones which would have been not only an extra charge, but up to me to arrange.</p>
<p>I ended up going to Lowe’s and buying a different washer and dryer. They had their own delivery crew and guaranteed it the next day. It was only a bit more expensive and they didn’t charge extra for anything, including disposing of the old ones. Also it was obvious the delivery team knew what they were doing getting the new appliances in and the old appliances out down a staircase with a turn.</p>
<p>If you don’t need installation from whoever delivers it, we have had very good luck with Amazon and Lowe’s online.</p>
<p>I was always hesitant to order something large and expensive online, but it has worked out well. About 6 years ago we ordered a large (61") TV through Amazon and we have not had any problems with it at all. Just about a month ago, we ordered an induction cooktop through Amazon with free delivery. It cost me $1298 vs. $1539 that it would have cost me from Home Depot. I could not ignore that savings. Also ordered a range hood thru Lowe’s online. Amazon could not beat the price. It was on sale and if I opened a Lowe’s credit card account, I saved another 5%. So I opened the credit card and now receive 5% additional off any purchase I make at Lowe’s or Lowe’s online with the card. Those items come with a one year manufacturer’s warranty and we don’t buy the extended warranties that the stores try to sell you, so I think our protection is the same as if we bought it at the store.</p>
<p>Our local store charges for delivery and their prices were about 50% higher than on-line stores. Otherwise, I would’ve bought from the local store. We are also buying all the appliances in the kitchen, microwave, range, dishwasher… Higher price turns into quite a bit of money. Our kitchen contractor will install and I already picked out all the appliances I am buying.</p>
<p>vballmom - How did ordering from AJMadison work out for you? They have the best price and I am willing to put up with inconveniences for saving that kind of money.</p>
<p>I looked at a few semi local appliance stores that were recommended by my kitchen designer and builder. They had a better selection of the brands I was interested in, and they will often match documented online prices, with the exception of brands that price uniformly. The service is better and more personal than at the big stores, in my experience, and so is the response you get if there is a maintenance or repair issue.</p>
<p>When we had the luxury of shopping for a new dishwasher before it became absolutely necessary, we learned a lot. The sales people at Sears know nothing about the appliances except the price. Best Buy had the most knowledgeable people, with HHGregg a close second. We did not go to a local appliance store, but past experience has shown us that they are at least as knowledgeable as Best Buy, probably more.</p>
<p>But here’s the real kicker: the add on prices for delivery and removal of appliance varied immensely. You guessed it, Sears was the highest. We ended up purchasing at Best Buy, even though we are philosophically opposed to buying appliances at a big box store, because they were running a special on reduced delivery costs.</p>
<p>We consider ourselves to be pretty savvy when it comes to shopping, but even we were amazed at the disparity of add on prices, and realized that most people only look at the prices of the appliance. Sears has to make their money somehow.</p>
<p>I did all my research and know exactly what model we are getting. I don’t need knowledgable sales people. You’d think local stores would match online prices. Not in our area. It is worse with plumbing fixtures.</p>
<p>If you have a Sears Outlet nearby it’s your best option. First check their stock online. Then call ahead and make sure that what you want is still available.</p>
<p>We bought a microwave from aj madison & I was planning on getting a fridge there as well, but I couldn’t decide exactly which one, even after stopping by showrooms to see similar models in person.</p>
<p>I needed one soon as I was going to have surgery and wouldnt be able to crouch down to get the milk( we had a small fridge)so we went to Home Depot to check out more models.
H spied a Maytag that was made in the US, was just the size we wanted, plus had a $150 Maytag card + an energy star rebate for the fridge & for picking up our old chest freezer.<br>
With all the rebates and credits it was same price as the online model, but I didn’t have to deal with our old appliances or worry about lengthy shipping times.</p>
<p>While often the sales people at Lowes/home depot are less than helpful- mostly because of inexperience, Ive found local two Home depot stores to be very good- sales people at least as helpful as the major appliance stores and I can get plants too!</p>
<p>If you can find the store where the local contractors shop- they are generally pretty well stocked and knowledgable. I havent had any trouble getting help if I needed it.
We’ve only had it for three months, but I love it. We bought freezer on the bottom which is great & Ive never had crispers that worked so well + I can stand up to get the milk!;)</p>
<p>Emeraldkity, I’ve had a Maytag (French door, freezer on bottom) for 7 years and it is fantastic. Nothing goes bad.</p>
<p>We don’t have a Sears in our area. We have Home Depot, Lowes, HHgregg, Best Buy. I am thinking about getting my appliances from AJMadison. Good prices, free delivery. The savings are enormous. Since the kitchen constructioin isn’t started yet, I can order the appliances now and wait however long it takes. What should I watch for if ordering on line?</p>
<p>I’ve purchased major appliances from Sears, Home Depot, Frys, Costco, and nice appliance stores (i.e. not the cheapo looking places reminiscent of corner used car lots geared towards the low end). In the end all that really matters is availability and price since the particular appliance itself is the same regardless of where it’s purchased. The prices tend to be competitive between them all but one or the other (including the nice appliance stores) will be a lower price than the others for certain items at certain times. Just watch for sales. Hint - Sears does NOT always have the best prices. Sometimes they’re okay and sometimes not even when the item’s on sale. And don’t ever buy any appliance at Sears that’s not ‘on sale’ since it’s a ripoff price. The ‘sale’ price just gets it down to where it’s starting to be competitively priced but may still be too high. Whatever they have will almost always be on sale within a 2-3 week period. It’s the paradigm (and psychology) of how they sell (and why JC Penney is almost out of business due to the former Apple CEO changing the business model and failing). </p>
<p>You can also sometimes save money on an appliance that’s a closeout model, display item, or has some slight blemish in an area not visible when installed.</p>
<p>You do need to consider delivery, installation, and haul away of old appliance costs unless you’ll transport/install them yourself. That can sometimes be enough to make the difference - i.e. the more expensive appliance store might end up cheaper if they offer free delivery/install but another place doesn’t.</p>
<p>No single place is the best place hands down. If I needed a new major appliance right now I’d likely check all of the places I mentioned above, see what’s available (brands, models), who has what I’m interested in, and what the final cost would be and then head to the winner and buy it. I wouldn’t necessarily buy them all at the same place either - I’d buy based on cost, etc. Note that sometimes, especially appliance stores, you may get a discount when buying a number of appliances together. It’s worth asking about discounts like that since they may have some flexibility in pricing that a place like Home Depot/Lowes might not have.</p>