Shock! the cost ofappliances...

I second Sears as the place to go for appliances. That's where I've gotten most of mine. Check out the returns, they usually mark them about 40% off. I got my front load washer for $540 because a guy refused delivery on it because of a little rust mark in the drum where the hose had laid. I got the dryer a year later for 1/2 off when they were getting rid of the old models. I also got my stove and fridge at 1/2 price when they were making room for new models.

It isn't just poor workmanship, it's poor design. My first Kenmore dryer had a lint trap where the handle was the door. Out with your right hand, never let go, clean with your left and back into the dryer. New Whirlpool takes both hands to open door to remove and replace. Drop door latch is at the top of the opening on the machine. Can't tell you how many times I've cut my wrist throwing clothes in. New (last month) dishwasher has such a small silverware basket it never holds all we generate. Takes so .long to run the water in the line cools so we're rinsing in cool water rather than hot or at least warm.

We just saved $1,400 on a Washer/Drier set. That's more than half off. They were offering $800 off and I negotiated even more. The key is to buy on sale and buy what they are having a hard time getting rid of. It is what I want. I've been watching for a long time. I was going to buy in the fall but they are on-sale now for a huge discount. That color wasn't selling well. I don't care about color. I want a machine that works.

(HomeDepot is having a RedWhiteBlue sale. See online.)

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SugarMtnFarm.com -- Pastured Pigs, Poultry, Sheep, Dogs and Kids

We don't buy the fancy appliances...We never replaced the dryer that caught on fire over a year ago. I just use the laundry lines. Our main fridge is 21 years old and the 2nd fridge was already in this house when we bought it 17 or 18 years ago. (And it was OLD then!)

We buy new appliances for our rental properties and then depreciate them. The last one was purchased a few months ago from HOme Depot. It was $405. They had free delivery on the units that were over $400. We traded rewards points from a credit card to get HD gft cards and ended up paying around $175. When the delivery was made, the driver scratched it, so they deducted another $50 for our inconvenience. All in all, it cost around $125. Not bad at all. Now if we had been looking at those stainless steel appliances, I'm sure that the costs would have been far different.

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~TheMartianChick~

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What irked me when I bought my washer was the lack of control - Under the guise of energy efficiency, water isn't as hot, etc. I have to keep manipulating the controls to get clothes washed the way I want.

If I ever move - it stays here....

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Only she who attempts the absurd can achieve the impossible

My 12yr old stove is going out. The cost to repair it would be what I could spend on a new basic model.

I distrust new appliance so much that Ive decided a new toaster oven & a dual hotplate, will do just as well, & at a fraction of the cost.

And when they wear out in a few years,as everything does these days, they will still be dirt cheap to replace.

Every time someone buys the cheapest model they are telling manufacturers what they really want. Something has to give to get the prices down..

Couple years ago we did this, and were very sorry.
We ended up with 3 weeks worth of laundry all over the place waiting for the repairman. Just to find out they couldn't fix it. May have been longer than that cause he came out twice.

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squashnut & bassketcher

Champagne D Argent, White New Zealand & Californian Cross Rabbits

SquashNut-I've always been told by the sales people that the returns carry the same standard warranty as new. My washer lasted for 10 years and a call to the manufacturer(about replacement parts) was when I was told that appliances are only made to last 10 years now. They're more concerned about profits then they are with the longivity of their products.

On a side note, I've also bought 2 returned riding mowers, a power washer, rug shampooer, computer and various power tools without any problems.

We bought new appliances at sears about 5 years ago . Washer & dryer , refrigerator , dishwasher & range . So far haven't had the first problem . I'll keep my fingers crossed .

This new stuff must have a fuse or something that burns out after so many hours of use.

Craigslist.

Thanks for all the info, so much to consider. I have always been of the belief that the less bells and whistles the longer the item would last. And my daughter who was a housecleaner for a long time says the stainless appliances are almost impossible to keep looking nice and clean due to finger prints etc.

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www.MontanaSticksAndStones.com at Goshen Farm

Currently use husband's grandmother's Westinghouse 1940's. The controls are set at economy which is a setting above defrost. Set any higher and the milk gets ice chucks.

Hotpoint double oven stove 1949 which unfortunetly is slowly breaking. Can't find anyone local who is willingto repiar it. Not that there no able just that their not willing to work on it. While they all agree that "they don't make them like that anymore" they all have told me I should just go buy a new stove because it would cost me that amount in labor so in the $600 neighborhood.
I don't have a problem with that if I can get another 70+ years worth of cooking & baking.

~~ pelenaka ~~

I came across a great deal last year. An older gentleman in town was moving to a assisted living center, after only being in his home for 6 months. When he bought that home, he bought all new appliances as well. I bought the stove, Amana washer and dryer, all for $400, and they were only 6 months old. They are plain jane type, but I don't care. The washer alone in town sells for $589. I'm happy with them! (FYI: The washer that I was using before this was a 1950 something Maytag. The dial was broken and I used pliers on them, but the machine itself worked great.) Now, I wish that I had bought the fridge and freezer from him as well.

It is not only aplliances, it is furniture as well. That is why most of my furniture is antique. I bought one Queen Anne chair a couple of years ago new. The first, I might add, piece of brand new furniture I have ever bought. At the same time, I reupholstered my 1921 Art Deco sofa, chair and matching ottoman set to go with the new chair. The old 1921 pieces, with the real hand tied springs (that was fun LOL) are still looking just like they did when I finished them. The new chair is getting ratty, the seat is breaking down and I have already had to work on the plastic wood looking legs. I shoulda listened to my inner voice telling me to get out of the furniture store and go to the antique mall for a Queen Anne.

We bought a chest freezer, washer and dryer from Sears last year. So far, so good but, of course the warrenty is still in effect. I expect the day after the warrenty goes out, so will the appliances. We live in a throw away society that has the nerve to call itself "green". Our parents and grandparents were the ones who were green. Of course, back then they just called it "poor". You had to make what you had work cause you didn't have the money to buy new stuff all the time.

Same here, for our home we wash our cloths in the tub and hang them to dry. Except I'm building USDA/State inspected on-farm slaughterhouse and butcher shop. As part of the regulatory requirements I must provide laundry service. Either I can hire that out, which many do, or I can do it in-house for a tiny fraction of the cost. The point of having our own meat processing facility is to a large degree to save money so it makes sense to get a "fancy" appliance. In this case it is a steam washer and drier. They have a sanitization cycle which meets the regulatory requirements so that we keep things clean in our meat processing. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother having a washing machine or drier.

At $2,600 or so for the pair, before the discount, I was very happy to save over 50%. I have another machine I need to buy that costs $40,000 - a combination scalder/dehairer. It will pay for itself very rapidly but is a huge upfront cost - over 25% of our entire construction budget. Every way that I can save a hundred dollars here, a thousand dollars there makes that big machine more of a happening thing. I saved $7,000 this past month on some other stuff by smart building and sourcing. This brings me up to $8,400 of what I need for the dehairer...

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SugarMtnFarm.com -- Pastured Pigs, Poultry, Sheep, Dogs and Kids

Because of moving we've had to buy kitchen appliances two times in the past 4 years. We've not paid full price yet. We keep a close eye on the appliances at Lowes and two times now have gotten Frigidaire refrigerators for 1/2 price. The first was the French door style with all the bells and whistles on the door and the freezer on the bottom for $1,000 (regular $2,400 - I miss that fridge) and this last was the double door with the water/ice in the door for $850 (regular $2,000). Bought our stove for $400 off and the over the stove microware/hood was a little over 1/2 off. All are stainless and all except the microwave are the Gallery line.

There are two things to know about buying at Lowes. ALWAYS check the clearance aisle. That's the first place I look when we go in the store, even if I'm not particularly looking for anything. Second, if it's the last item in the store they will usually take off 10%, even if it's on sale. This can be a big deal if it's an appliance. And even if it's on sale don't be afraid to ask them to take an additional amount off - especially if it has any damage. My fridge had a small dent in the bottom of the door and they took an additional $100 off because I asked, even though it was in the clearance aisle.

A friend of ours wanted the Jacuzzi tub they had and they happened to have one that had a bit of damage that they'd marked down by $250. I asked if they'd take any additional $$ off and he mentioned an amount and I countered with a higher amount and he accepted.

We wanted the expensive tub and surround they carry but couldn't afford it. We were in there one day and they had both sitting in the "to be marked down" area but they weren't priced yet. They both had small broken areas around the very edges that would be hidden when installed. We asked a regular employee how much they were and he called the store manager who told him to take off like $50 each. That wasn't enough so we left. A few days later we were there, and they were still there, and still unpriced, so we asked the Manager of that department the same question. He marked them down to $100 each - which was well over 1/2 off the regular price. So if you want to dicker on price, make sure you ask the right person.

Plus, if you are moving you can download coupons from Lowes for an additional % off. I've been using 10% off coupons for a year now and now I get coupons and discount cards in the mail from them.

I don't think these prices just apply to the store I shop at. We did the same thing at the last Lowes we shopped.

Almost 20 years ago I bought the cheapest Sears top load washer. Its washing clothes right now.Dont ask about all the Super Duper TOP Dollar machines my sis has been through that tear her clothes apart and fail in a year or 2 due to EXPENSIVE electronic failures.I can say its in the several thousands of dollars range.

I replaced the water pump and a broken plastic gear on mine,EASY,by myself with online pictorial instructions,dont have 40 dollars total in parts.Or 2 hours labor into it.And takes about 4 tools to break it down.

I could also pick up another at thrift store for next to nothing if it ever needs a motor or timer,this basic machine is branded with other names like Hotpoint,Sears,Maytag and a bunch of others.

Its actually the Maytag manufactured basic top loader.

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Visit Life on the Homestead,a Friendly Forum

When I was pregnant with my daughter, I lived in an old duplex in the "poor but respectable" part of town (verses the "poor and drugs dealers everywhere" part). The owner hadn't upgraded anything...just kept stuff repaired. My friends that it was SO old fashioned, unlike their spiffy apartments.

My little duplex had:

1) A 6 foot long clawfoot bathtub that I could nearly SWIM in. Oh, how I adored that bathtub! Especially since I was in my third trimester during high summer!

2) A 6 burner, 2 oven, gas, white enamel stove from the early 50's. A gourmet cook's wet dream! Oh how I adored that stove! It was COMPLETELY dependable for even the most finicky of recipes!

3) An ancient, large, propane fueled refrigerator/freezer combo. Oh, how I adored.... well I think you get the picture.

Oh, I forgot, it also had all hardwood, oak floors, the old fashioned brass, belt driven ceiling fans and REAL Italian tile in the kitchen and bathroom with pressed tin ceiling tiles.

Oh how I LOVED, and MISS, that duplex! My friends thought it was too poor, all full of that old stuff, and not modern or convenient at all. Why, that stove took up a SOLID chunk of the kitchen!

~sighs~ God alone knows what happened to all of that lovely stuff. The duplex went the way of many things years ago and now there is a strip mall where it used to be.

As for appliances...I would go looking for those 1950's stoves, 1930's fridge's, etc., and pay someone to restore them. Yes, it is a pretty penny to get that done, but not as expensive as the top of the line stuff at a store. What is a 6 burner gas stove going for nowadays? I see them in the $700 range for something decent. Howabout a double oven? $600-900? How much restoration can you get for that kind of money?

Rebeldigger, I have a Queen Anne style chair and loveseat that I am going to have restored....they are from the 1930's.

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Peace,
Caliann

"First, Show me in the Bible where it says you can save someone's soul by annoying the hell out of them." -- Chuck