Recently a friend asked my advice for purchasing a new refrigerator based on my experience in sales. We sat down and I asked some questions and gave her a few suggestions. She was very grateful and suggested that I should write a blog about this because a refrigerator is not something that people purchases very often.
Step 1: Decide WHAT you want.
One of the best sales associate’s I know made a really good point, “All fridges will keep your food cold, the decision is really about deciding what features you want.” This sales associate was absolute right, but to decide, there are some basic questions to ask yourself.
- Who is going to use it? A single person or a family with four kids will need a different size of unit. Fridges come in sizes ranging from small 5 cubic foot or smaller bar fridges, to 25 cubic foot monster fridges with LCD computer monitors build in with cameras so you can see what is inside remotely while you are at the grocery store.
- What features do you want? If a simple plain unit is what you want, that is easy to find.
- Do you want wire or glass shelves? If you want glass shelves, do you want shelves that will contain an accidental spill?
- Do you want adjustable shelves or moveable storage bins that will accommodate oversize things like pop bottles?
- Do you want a freezer or an all-fridge? Top mount freezers have pros and cons as do bottom mount ones?
- Do you want a freezer door verses a freezer drawer?
- Which way do you want the door to swing; often doors are not reversible and need to be ordered one way or the other?
- Do you want an icemaker or do you want to have a cold-water dispenser (ice & water)?
- What colour do you want? If you want stainless steel, do you want fingerprint resistance stainless steel, and ask your sales associate about how to clean fingerprints.
- How important is clean ability, many people do not realize that on some fridges the glass and the drawers cannot be removed? Do you want a fridge that has a built in LCD computer screen?
- What is the energy star rating? Is power use important to you? Energy star appliances use less power than older appliances although they do run more than older ones. The reason they run more is to keep a uniform temperature.
- Just a note for anyone putting a fridge into an unheated space, you will need a special adapter because they are designed to operate in a certain temperature range.
Step 2: How much space do you have?
Many of the newer bigger refrigerators are very large. Make sure they will go through your doors and into the space in your kitchen. Many retailers will charge a re-stocking fee if your purchase will not fit. If you are purchasing “ice & water” do you have water lines going to the space, installation is not something a retailer will normally do. Will there be at least 1 inch all the way around the refrigerator for air circulation? Frost-free units use evaporation to get rid of the water generated and failing to provide space will hinder that evaporation. Do you have an island that prevents easy access? These are all factors to consider. Doors can be removed but for some models, it is not a simple job.
Step 3: What is your budget?
Most people only purchase refrigerators a few times in their lives, when you do your research online. Refrigerators can be expensive and you will get the quality that you pay for. Look before you shop and finish reading this post on ways to save money.
Consider financing; however, learn about how the retailer’s credit system works. What is the administration fee that they charge with each purchase? Does your purchase accumulate interest that is only waived if you make the payment in full prior to the due date (Gotcha interest) or does interest only accumulate on the unpaid balance AFTER the due date? Where and how easy is it to make payments? Financing works as long as you pay off the balance before it is due.
Be wary of zero interest credit card offers as well and ensure that you read the fine print.
How much money you think you want to spend may change as your research progresses? Be flexible you may want to revisit what you want or upgrade your budget.
Step 4: Online Research before going to Market.
Not all sales people are created equally. Before going to market, learn and research about products, retailers, and prices.
- Talk to your friends and family about what they like and don’t like,
- Read the advertising that your local retailers publish.
- Read google reviews. Just a note, online reviews may not always be reliable, especially if you notice that there are zero negative reviews of a store or product. That might be a good sign but it might also be a negative sign as well.
- Consumer reports is a good source. As a not many consumer organizations do not like Extended Service Plans or Extended Warranties; however, like anything there are good ones and bad ones. In rural areas with few vendor repair depots, having the extra coverage can be a good thing.
Step 5: Beware of retailers “Manufacturers suggested retail prices (MSRP).”
Appliance pricing is very competitive and using websites that compare identical models is a great way to find out what the going price is for a product. Most retailers are very good, but not all. Each manufacturer will have what they think the price should be; however, it is rare for the product to not be on sale somewhere. Using online price searches will give you a very good idea of what a competitive price should be.
During step 6, when you are in a store, use a smart phone to check pricing…
Step 6: Go to market.
Only after you have done steps 1 to 5 should you go to visit stores.
Ask for someone else if your sales person doesn’t seem to know what they are doing, they should follow a helpful process and they should be interested in you, if not ask for someone else or go somewhere. While you are in the store, picture yourself using the fridge, too many people don’t do this and since you will have a fridge for typically 8-10 years, a little time invested now will pay dividends later.
Know that there are only a handful of manufacturers. Some like Samsung and LG do not have multiple brands names, but some like Whirlpool have several (Inglis, Kitchenaid, Maytag) as does Electrolux (Frigidiare, Electrolux) and it is useful to know this.
As mentioned, be careful of MSRP; check your facts before thinking something is “on-sale”.
Scratch & Dent and factory second refrigerators may be a better price, but be careful of factory seconds because these may have been already returned because of issues. If a sale refrigerator doesn’t come with a warranty this, should be an immediate red flag and should be avoided.
I don’t personally recommend buying refrigerators online because seeing, touching, and talking to a good sales associate can really help the process.
Stay focused on what you are looking to purchase. If you are looking to purchase multiple appliances then do all of the steps for each appliance. Many retailers will offer package pricing to entice you to increase the sale, explore these, but make your decision based on what you want, not necessarily what the sales associate wants.
Don’t feel pressured to close the deal, there are always sales and if you lose out, there will be other deals and other opportunities. Decide when you are ready.
Step 7: Add-on’s to the sale.
Many retailers will try to have you add extra service. There are good extended service plans extended warranties and bad ones. If you live in a remote or underserviced area, having a service plan can be very worthwhile. Some retailers will offer you an in-store credit if you don’t use the service plan, as long as there are not too many conditions, this is a really good reason to purchase the extra service. Ask who does the service and google their reviews as well.
Ask about extra fees for delivery. Ask what is involved in a basic setup. Ask if there are removal fees for old appliances. These “extra services” can be expensive and vary from retailer to retailer. Any or all of them may be something you can negotiate with your sales person.
Many people are afraid of negotiating. Research first, ask for a sale price, ask is this the best you can do, ask what happens if the fridge is delivered damaged, do they give you a 2-3 hour delivery window
Step 8: Things you can do to help the refrigerator last longer.
Clean out behind and under the fridge. Things like pet hair and dust can block airflow and clog up small intakes. If you have, “ice & water” make sure you change filters according to the specifications.
Buying a new refrigerator is not something that many people do very often. With online research tools, the consumer has never had more information available than now to make an informed decision. These can be large purchases, take your time, decide what you want, research what your budget should be, and approach retailers armed with this knowledge. You can always adjust your plan if necessary.
Good luck,
Paul.