It has never been easier to find various products for sale to satisfy all your wants and needs. For example, if you wanted to buy a washing machine in the past, the most challenging part would be finding a brand that made the same machine you wanted. Nowadays, the difficulty lies in deciding the best place to buy home appliances or even the best place to buy appliances online. But, fortunately, today you are in luck.
If you want to buy a major household appliance, such as a fridge, washing machine or inexpensive dishwasher, you’ve landed on the right page. In this article, I will discuss the best place to buy major appliances online and offline — traditional-style.
Choosing the ideal appliance
Choosing the right appliance for your needs is crucial, and I recognize that this can be a daunting task when there are so many options out there. However, with so many companies offering so many products, all with different settings and functions, it’s essential to know all the details before committing to spending money on the item.
In this article, you will find a table comparing the biggest names in the industry, some of the factors you want to look out for, and a review of each of the companies.
How to choose
When looking for the best place to buy home appliances, you will likely come across these four: Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Lowe’s. I have researched these companies and put together a table to summarize some of their differences and similarities. In addition, some of the most important things you will want to pay attention to when choosing which brand to stick with are also included and will be discussed further in the article.
| Quality of Appliances | Range of Prices | Variety of Appliances | Customer Service | |
| Amazon | mixed bag (some are great, others aren’t as good) | something for every budget | tremendous | good |
| Walmart | good | has great deals | good | okay |
| Target | very good | affordable | very good | good |
| Lowe’s | very good | affordable | good | mediocre |
Choosing a Retailer for Major Appliances
Decide what appliance you want to buy
The first step in choosing a retailer is deciding exactly what you want to buy. For example, some retailers specialize in kitchen appliances, while others may specialize in heating and cooling appliances. It’s always best to have a clear idea of what you want to buy and then research what each retailer carries online or at the store.
Decide how much you’re willing to spend
Secondly, you want to establish your budget. Walking into a retail store or going online on their website, you’re bound to find many products all at different price points. Knowing how much money you’re willing to spend will narrow down the choices for you. You also want to consider that some retailers may be more specialized in your budget area than others, so you might want to try those first.
How informative is the product’s label?
It’s very rare to understand everything on a label, mainly when the label includes information about potency, energy consumption and so on. You don’t want to end up buying a product you don’t understand fully, so it’s vital to get every question you have answered before committing to a product. If you’re shopping at a physical store, sales assistants should be able to help you figure out what you need. If, however, you’re shopping online, you’ll most likely have to rely on other customers’ reviews and comments on the product’s webpage.
Research each retailer’s shipping options
Nowadays, all retailers offer shipping options to all parts of the United States. However, some have better policies and rates than others. Depending on how heavy your order is and where you live, you might be charged little or a hefty sum at the check-out counter or part of the website. To avoid any unpleasant surprises, do a little digging to estimate how much shipping your order to your doorstep would be. Another critical factor is the ability to track your order. Some retailers still don’t offer this option, but others do. Being able to see where your package is and when it’s supposed to arrive comes in quite handy if, like me, you’re anxious about delivery times and getting your parcel lost.
Customer service reviews
Because accidents happen, it’s always good to know that there will be a retailer representative on the other side of the phone ready to help you out. A good customer service team will walk you through any problems you might come across. If, for example, your parcel has been lost or there is something wrong with the delivery, phoning or emailing the customer support department should get everything back on track. The department is there to help you should any troubles or doubts arise.
Company reviews
Getting into the nitty-gritty, where do the four most prominent names in the industry rate? What are some of the best and worse sides of each of these companies? In this section, I will be giving you the rundown about buying major house appliances at Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Lowe’s.
Amazon
One of the aspects that sets Amazon apart from most retailers is the variety of products — you can purchase almost anything with a simple click. However, Amazon is a mixed bag when it comes to appliances quality. To avoid being scammed by a seller on this website, you should probably stick to purchasing items from sellers with many reviews and high ratings.
Amazon is an excellent website if you’re still unsure of how much money you want to spend. There you will find thousands of products at different price points.
Shipping is also usually excellent. They ship to most countries and regions, so you’re more than likely covered by their shipping network. Fees depend on where you live and how much the parcel weighs, however. Don’t forget to check how much shipping services will cost you.
Lastly, Amazon has good customer support. Should any problem arise, your order might be covered by a warranty that the company can trigger in certain situations, guaranteeing you won’t lose money.
Walmart
Walmart is known for its great deals and discounts. This reputation is fitting, as you’ll find many appliances on sale that are much cheaper than the ones being sold at other retail stores. So if you’re on a budget and want to get the best bang for your buck, Walmart has got you covered.
As far as product quality goes, Walmart ranks reasonably well against competitors — it doesn’t have the finest products, but they get the job done.
Finally, their shipping policies are above average. For example, when you purchase an item from Walmart and request to have it shipped to you, you’ll get a “Track Order” code that you can use to see where your parcel is. But, again, depending on where you live, you might end up paying more for the delivery.
Target
Target’s products are of excellent quality for their price point. The designs will look great in any kitchen, as they range from modern-looking to vintage-like. They’re also highly rated by customers on their website, and the company has a good reputation in terms of quality. Also, Target is an affordable store with price tags for most of the middle class’s wallets when it comes to prices.
As far as shipping goes, you can get your items shipped to your door. Depending on where you live, you might end up paying more for transportation, but Target also grants free shipping if you qualify for this service.
Lastly, their customer service is excellent. You can count on there being somebody to help you out if you need their assistance in anything.
Lowe’s
Lowe’s appliances are known to be of excellent quality. They’ve been rated by dozens of customers online, which has built up the store’s reputation. The best part is that they’re more often than not affordable, making it a great place to shop for people on a budget.
You can also get your items shipped to you by mail if you’re in the United States or one of the other countries Lowe’s ships to. However, you might have to pay extra fees if your package is too heavy or depending on where you live.
One of Lowe’s downsides is its customer support. Many customers have recently voiced their angry opinions about the lack of support they felt from the customer service department. Some of the most prevalent complaints were that parcels were not shipped in time or customers were displeased with the company’s handling of their cases.
So What’s The Best Place to Buy Major Appliances?
Depending on many factors — your budget, where you live, what kind of appliance you want, and so on — you will probably want to look at each of these retailers and decide for yourself. But in my opinion, either Target or Amazon are the places to go if you’re looking for quality appliances at an affordable price. This is because not only are they leaders in their industries, but they also have an excellent reputation among shoppers.
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