When Is the Best Time to Buy Appliances?
Purchasing new appliances for your home is exciting, but it also can be expensive. Depending on the time of year, you may be able to take advantage of significant savings. But when is the best time to buy major appliances?
We’ve researched and identified the times of the year when you should consider purchasing new appliances. Select holidays and promotional events — especially Black Friday and Cyber Monday — offer substantial savings on that next purchase for the kitchen or laundry room.
What Is the Best Time to Buy Appliances?
Retailers want to sell you appliances; they aren’t trying to assemble the world’s most oversized kitchen with their stock. Throughout the year, retailers reduce prices to help move major appliances.
Here are the best times to buy appliances:
Save Big on Black Friday
Major shopping holidays, including Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Prime Day, are the best times to buy appliances. Retailers often offer the most significant discounts on these holidays, with Black Friday offering the most savings for shoppers.
When shopping holidays are approaching, check the websites and flyers for your local appliance retailers. Most stores will begin advertising shopping holiday deals weeks in advance so that you can plan.
Remember that deals can move fast during these holidays, so act quickly. If you can’t stomach the idea of waking up early for Black Friday sales, Cyber Monday and Amazon Prime Day allow you to buy appliances online while still in your comfy pajamas.
Memorial Day, Labor Day Are Great for Deals, Too
We can’t forget good old-fashioned national holidays. Retailers love to provide deals for major holidays, turning them into popular sales celebrations. Popular holidays for deals include Memorial Day, Labor Day and the Fourth of July.
As with shopping holidays, retailers will advertise deals for weeks leading up to special sales days. Sign up for email newsletters and mailing lists to receive alerts on discounts before anyone else.
Deals for national holidays tend to last entire weekends rather than just one specific day, so you shouldn’t have to rush. However, as always, sales deals may be limited, so arriving at a store sooner rather than later will help you secure the best deals.
May Is Maytag Month
Maytag managed to do something remarkable; it created its own monthlong shopping holiday to entice consumers. If you watch TV in May, it’s hard to avoid appliance retailer commercials proudly proclaiming that “May is Maytag Month.”
In addition to selling under its brand name, Maytag sells under nearly a dozen and a half subsidiary brands. Such appliance brands include Admiral at Home Depot, as well as Amana, Inglis, JennAir, Magic Chef and Norge.
If you are seeking new appliances, waiting for Maytag’s major appliances sales during May is a great way to grab hold of savings. Just be sure that your local retailer is offering Maytag discounts in May by calling them or visiting their website.
3 Ways to Save on Appliances Year-Round
Beyond waiting patiently for savings holidays and sales events, there are a few other ways to save money on your next appliance purchase.
1. Buy Last Year’s Model
When it comes to home appliances, not a whole lot changes between model years. With consumer electronics, there are often rapid developments each year. But home appliances typically offer only slight tweaks each year.
Appliance manufacturers may want you to think otherwise, but buying last year’s model is a great way to save money on appliances. As new products are released, retailers tend to drop the prices of older models, clearing room for you to snag savings.
2. Purchase Open Box or Floor Models
Don’t be afraid of purchasing open box or floor model appliances. Buying an open box or floor model can offer the best price and generally comes with little risk.
Open box units are generally returned to the store in like-new condition and have been used little — if they have been used at all. Floor models are the display units you see when browsing and typically have no mechanical wear.
When purchasing an open box or floor model, ensure they come with a standard full-length warranty if any issues arise. Selecting a retailer that offers healthy 14- to 90-day return policies is also recommended, so you can return the appliance if desired.
Some retailers list open box and floor model units for sale online, so you may need to buy appliances online if you wish to go this route.
3. Comparison-shop
Lastly, don’t forget to comparison-shop and compare prices.
We sometimes see significant price differences between retailers for the same appliances. If you found the ideal product at one store, see if you can find it cheaper elsewhere.
Some of our favorite big-box retailers for appliance shopping include:
- Best Buy
- P.C. Richard & Son
- Home Depot
- Lowe’s
- Costco
- Walmart
Don’t forget to also check with local mom-and-pop appliance retailers. You may find deals that are as good as those at major stores while also supporting local businesses with your major appliance purchase.
Selecting the Perfect Appliances for You
When picking out new appliances for your home, there are quite a few factors to consider. After all, you’ll likely be living with your new appliances for many years. Here are some features you should consider when appliance shopping.
Size and Shape
That double-wide refrigerator and eight-burner range might seem great, but will they fit in your home? When shopping for appliances, carefully consider the spaces they need to fit into once delivered. Measure your spaces before going appliance shopping.
Electricity vs. Gas
Some appliances, such as stoves and dryers, may need different energy sources. If you are purchasing a natural gas appliance, be sure that your home has natural gas. On the flip side, if you buy a 240-volt appliance, you’ll need the proper outlet installed.
Energy Efficiency
Speaking of energy, you’ll want to purchase the most energy-efficient appliances you can comfortably afford. One benefit of new appliances is that they consume less energy than their older counterparts. Energy-efficient appliances will help save money in the long term.
Manufacturer Warranty
Appliances can cost a pretty penny, so ensure that your new investment includes a decent length warranty. Most manufacturers offer one-year warranties; anything less should be approached with caution.
Style and Design
We can’t forget about style. Make sure that you select an appliance that you enjoy looking at every day, as that’s what you’ll likely be doing for the next decade. Some appliances offer basic color options, while others will allow you to affix custom wood panels.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Black Friday offers some of the best deals we have found for appliances, making November the best time to buy appliances. November also marks the beginning of the holiday season, when retailers entice buyers with more attractive pricing than competitors.
May can also be a good month for appliance purchases due to Maytag’s “May is Maytag Month” discounts and sales. If you focus on Maytag appliances, you can find significant savings during this spring event.
Multiple times of year offer sales for purchasing new appliances. The end of autumn includes significant shopping holidays, such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Spring offers up events such as “May is Maytag Month” for stellar discounts. Other great times of year to purchase appliances include most national holidays, such as Memorial Day and Labor Day, as well as Amazon’s Prime Day.
Due to Costco’s membership program, you can find some appliances at significant discounts. If you want to purchase new home appliances, Costco is a promising source for finding savings. Don’t have a Costco card? See if a friend or family member can help you out.
Michael Archambault is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder specializing in technology.
