How to Shop for Appliances Online

When you walk into an appliance store today, it’s helpful if you’ve already been shopping online. While salespeople carry a catalog of knowledge in their head about the many brands on the showroom floor, it can be overwhelming to hear it all at once.

If you’ve already done some research, you’ll walk in knowing what you’re looking for, the comparative features that are most important to you, and what you can afford.

Here are some things to consider when shopping online for appliances:

Before you start shopping, determine your wants and needs. What are your colour preferences? What are the dimensions of the available space? What functions and features do you need?

You may still want to start with a quick trip to a local retailer where you can see all the brands in one spot, compare features and prices, and get a true picture in your mind when you go back to the internet.

Next, look at some retailer websites, which can tell you the marketplace price right in your neighbourhood. You can start comparing the services and qualities of one store to the other.

As you narrow down the products and brands you’re most interested in, start searching for product reviews. Begin with third-party product testing sites like Good Housekeeping, Consumer Reports (subscription required), or JD Power.

You’ll also find plenty of independent customer reviews online, which you definitely need to take with a grain of salt. Sometimes people are paid to review a product. Other times, a negative review is more a result of bad customer service than an actual problem with the appliance.

People only tend to write a negative review when they have a very bad experience, and a good review if they’ve had a really awesome experience. People who are just happy and satisfied don’t usually share their thoughts. The reviews you see are only a very small percentage of the total number of units sold.

If you know you want a specific brand, then go to manufacturer’s sites to simplify your options, see more reviews, and find out about any manufacturer promotions.

The last online search you’ll want to do is for after-warranty service and non-warranty service for the product you have in mind. How hard will it be to get parts or find an authorized service centre for your purchase?

Buying appliances is the third biggest expense in your life after a house and car, and could be with you for 15-20 years. We certainly want you to be happy with your purchase. Use these tips to narrow down your options, and then let us help you find the best appliance to suit your needs.