You’ve compared appliance prices and read all the reviews – good and bad. You’ve gone the extra mile to decide on the exact features, and saved a little more cash to buy the perfect fridge freezer.
Now, it’s time for you to jump online and look for a deal.
But wait, have you considered the additional costs associated with buying a large appliance?
Let’s walk through some of these possible extra expenses you might have, on top of the large initial purchase price, so you don’t get caught out by any surprises.
Consider Delivery Costs
Some retailers will deliver large appliances free of charge, but others will apply a shipping charge even if you reside locally. These will vary according to their store policy, appliance weight, and delivery distance from the store to door, so you should inquire before making your purchase.
If you’re thinking of buying another appliance shortly, you may want to combine purchases to save on shipping.
In some cases, a high shipping charge at one retailer could render your savings at that particular store less than at another merchant where delivery is free. To avoid any delivery charges, you may opt to pick up your purchase if you or someone you know has a vehicle that can handle that type of heavy appliance.
Washing machines and certain fridge freezers can really heavy and require two or more delivery drivers to lift them into your home. Obviously, the heavier and more workers needed to move the appliance, the more likely it is that you’ll have to foot the bill.
Extended Warranties and Aftercare
Large appliance prices have doubled if not tripled, due to new smart tech and advanced features. Warranty periods unfortunately have generally not increased. If your appliance investment is substantial you may want to consider extending your warranty beyond the free period. This could add additional recurring monthly or annual costs to your purchase price but may be well worth it in the long run.
Just bought a new appliance?
Take time to register new appliances and whitegoods to ensure that you’ll be able to repair it under warranty should you encounter a problem during that period. If you’ve ever had a washing machine break down, you’ll know how useful service like this is.
You can either send in the completed Registration Card that came with your product or register online, which is simple and only takes a few minutes.
Registration will not only save you money downstream but also reduce the hassle associated with appliance breakdowns. Not limited to large appliances, even small appliance registration can be beneficial.
When you purchase a houseware product, make note of the warranty period from the packaging or product manual. A website is generally supplied for registration purposes, but if this is missing, check my Brands & Manufacturers Listing which is a good resource for this purpose.
Registering your new appliance may also facilitate notification from the manufacturer if any product safety recalls are issued for that particular item.
Now that you’ve registered this new kitchen investment, take a moment to properly file for future reference, your receipt, parts listing and product manual. These resources can help you later if you need to order apart.
Remember to read your manual before storing it to make note of any special operating or caution tips. You may be pleasantly surprised to find that this new product has a special feature you didn’t realize it had. It’s also a good idea to now add this new purchase to your household inventory listing, along with the purchase year.
Cost for Installation
A lot of appliances are simply plugged and play. But things like washing machines and built-in gas hobs will require professional installers. Some retailers may provide this service at an additional fee, or you can hire someone locally.
An American Style fridge freezers need to be plumbed into the water mains, and will professional plumber. Cookers and ovens will need a gas or electrical connection; a built-in microwave with cooker hood will also need special wiring into your homes power source, and custom work to fit accurately.
All dishwashers require mains plumbing and electrical connection, and a tall replacement refrigerator may require custom joinery to cut and shape kitchen cupboards and worktops.
The above will require the help of a professional electrician who will have to install these appliances to safety standard specifications, which could be expensive.
Consider where and how you will install the appliance and review the product guide or procedures which you may be able to download from the manufacturer’s site. This may enable you to estimate any associated costs.
When replacing appliances that require plumbing, it’s not unusual to find that some of your existing plumbing connections have corroded and need replacing. The word ‘built-in’ usually means that extra work will be needed to install it. This shouldn’t deter you but just be prepared for the extra costs involved.
You may possibly need the services of a joiner if cabinets need to be customized to accommodate a home appliance.
Extra Accessories
If you’re buying a dishwasher for the first time, you’ll need dishwasher detergent and a rinse agent. A high-efficiency washer will require HE detergent, and a stacking washer and dryer may require a stacking kit to enable its installation.
Ask the salesperson if other components are required for operation. You may also want to consider optional accessories and features that could enhance this purchase. Reading your appliance manual may answer questions you might have, inform you of other available components and provide important manufacturer recommendations.
Buy Now – Pay Later Charges
Deferred payment plans can be convenient but usually have an administration charge payable at the time of purchase. Pay promptly for your purchase when the deferred date approaches as late payment charges for these types of plans are usually extremely high.
Although deferral plans may be a good idea when you’re in urgent need of an essential appliance, deferring the cost to later may result in a heavier burden later with growing interest costs.
Related: Vacuum Cleaner Disposal Guide
Old Appliance Disposable
When buying a replacement appliance, if your old model has no re-sale value, try and negotiate with the retailer to have them dispose of it for you. With this kind of arrangement, they will often pick up old appliances while delivering your new ones.
If you need to dispose of it yourself, many landfills have regulations in place that refrigerators and freezers have to be prepared and tagged by a certified heating and ventilation specialist before they can be disposed of. You will have to locate such a person and pay for this service. Landfills often charge a tipping fee for large appliances and you may also need to contact someone with a truck to do the hauling for you.
Related: Microwave Disposal Guide
