How (and Where) to Haggle for Cheaper Appliances

Large appliances like refrigerators, ovens, washers, and dryers are major household investments. And while affordability is an important factor, you don’t want to have to constantly repair the appliance, or replace it too soon, so you don’t want to sacrifice quality.

In many cases, being able to get the features you want at a price you can afford comes down to where you buy the appliance—including whether or not you can haggle. Here’s what to know.

How to haggle when shopping for appliances

It’s one thing to haggle when buying a used car, or piece of vintage furniture at a flea market, but according to a report from Consumer Reports (CR), it’s also possible to bargain when purchasing a new appliance.

Using data from a survey of approximately 20,000 people who purchased more than 30,000 large and small appliances, CR analysts gained the following insights on consumers’ haggling successes and strategies:

• Just ask: Not sure where to start? Ask the salesperson if there’s any wiggle room on the price, or whether the price they’ve quoted is the best they can do. The worst thing they can do is say no.
• Mention competitors’ prices: Let the salesperson know that you’ve been comparison shopping, and mention some of the deals you’ve seen elsewhere.
• Ask for other discounts and freebies: If they’re not budging on the price, ask them to provide free delivery, installation, and haul-away (if they don’t offer it already). You can also ask for free accessories required to install the appliance (i.e. cords, hoses, etc).
• Shopping online? Try haggling with the retailer’s customer service via email: That method worked for 90% of customers surveyed.

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So how much money did people save haggling? Those who bought small appliances saved a median of $57, while people who purchased large appliances saved a median of $114 at Home Depot, $123 at independent dealers, and more than $140 at Lowe’s and Best Buy.