Most appliances are big-ticket purchases that warrant some research and comparison shopping before you buy. While you’re weighing the pros and cons of the various brands and models, it also makes sense to consider where to make the purchase. Price is a major consideration, of course, but financing, delivery and installation options are important, too.

                By                    Daria Uhlig
  • Abt Electronics
  • AJ Madison
  • Appliances Connection
  • Best Buy
  • Costco
  • Lowe’s
  • Nebraska Furniture Outlet
  • Sears
  • Sam’s Club
  • The Home Depot

1. Abt Electronics

Abt is America’s largest independently owned single-location retailer. Its store is a 100,000-square-foot behemoth located in Glenview, Illinois, but you don’t have to live locally to shop there. Abt ships to every state in the U.S. plus Puerto Rico, although free shipping isn’t available outside the continental U.S.

Pros

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  • Appliance selection rivals that of any big-box chain, with a large number of products in stock
  • Free shipping within the continental U.S. available for many items, including refrigerators
  • Low-price guarantee with price-drop protection
  • Free tech support from appliance experts, available daily

Cons

  • Expensive installation — $29 to set a refrigerator in place, for example, and $164 to install a replacement garbage disposal
  • Fee for having old appliance hauled out for recycling

2. AJ Madison

AJ Madison is an appliance superstore with three locations: its flagship showroom in Brooklyn, New York, which has the largest display of appliances in the New York metropolitan area, and two additional showrooms located in Washington, D.C., and Miami. However, the retailer delivers and arranges for installations nationwide.

  • Virtual showroom tour

  • Extensive search filters to find narrow search on website

  • Exclusive rebates

  • Package deals

  • Clearance outlet

  • Slow delivery outside of New York metro area

  • Old-appliance removal not always available

  • Extra fee for white-glove and in-home delivery

3. Appliances Connection

Appliances Connection passes along savings from volume discounts, rebates and manufacturer discounts to give you the best prices on over 300 top brands.

  • Outstanding selection

  • Excellent search functions on website

  • Financing promotions

  • Free curbside shipping on orders over $99 in the continental U.S.

  • Free setup of some appliances in some locations

  • Extra charge for hauling old appliances and nonbasic installation

4. Best Buy

Best Buy might be best known for low prices on electronics, but the chain also carries an extensive selection of small and major appliances representing about every brand you can think of, plus parts and accessories. Special member programs called Totaltech and Total Tech Support provide a number of discounts, including free or discounted delivery and installation, extended warranty and free haul-away service. Specific benefits vary by program, and each program is $199 per year.

  • Expert purchase advice available via an in-store, at-home or video consultation or by phone or text

  • Free delivery on some products, regardless of price, and on all major appliance purchases of $399 or more

  • Free installation for appliances that don’t require any special setup

  • Price match guarantee with price-drop protection

  • Fee charged for tech support and hauling old appliances if not a Totaltech/Total Tech Support member

5. Costco

Costco is a membership warehouse club with nearly 600 locations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. You must belong to the club to shop in person or online with Costco, but the savings and benefits could be worth the membership fee. The club offers three types of membership: Executive ($120 per year), Business ($60 per year) and Gold Star ($60 per year).

  • Prices discounted on most products

  • Free delivery and basic installation

  • No charge to haul old appliance

  • Extended warranty

  • Cash-back rewards

  • Smaller selection of appliances

6. Lowe’s

As the country’s second-largest home-improvement store, Lowe’s has over 2,200 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada, which makes it easy to browse products in person — even if you ultimately order online.

  • Extensive product selection

  • Low-price guarantee

  • Free local delivery with appliance purchase of $299 or more

  • Frequent discounts and financing deals

  • No charge for hooking up new appliance delivered locally

  • Price guarantee somewhat limited

  • Installation fees

  • Fee for hauling old appliance if you’re not a Pro customer

7. Nebraska Furniture Outlet

Nebraska Furniture Outlet is a regional chain owned by Berkshire Hathaway. Its store locations include the Omaha flagship showroom and outlet center plus showrooms in Iowa, Kansas and Texas. NFO ships to 47 states, but in some states, you’ll need to have a store credit card.

  • In-store and virtual appointments available

  • Delivery fee includes setup and hauling of boxes and packing materials

  • 30-day price guarantee — designated major retailers only

  • Outlet/clearance center

  • Extra charge for hauling old appliances

  • Residents of some states must be current cardholder to purchase

8. Sears

Sears has had plenty of ups and downs in its nearly 130-year history, but through it all, it has maintained its reputation as a trusted appliance retailer. You can shop for appliances online or at Sears and Sears Appliance Outlet stores.

  • Large selection, including Kenmore and other popular brands

  • Stand-alone appliance outlet stores

  • Buy now, pay later through Zip

  • Regular-price offers provide choice between discounted price and regular price plus gift card for 10% more than discounted-price savings

  • Some products on Sears.com sold by third-party sellers

  • Pricey delivery; hauling old appliance is extra

9. Sam’s Club

Sam’s Club is Walmart’s membership-based warehouse club. Whereas Walmart makes a limited selection of appliances available on its website — many of them off-brand — Sam’s Club has more to choose from, especially Samsung and LG. A Club membership is $45 per year. Plus memberships are $100 per year and provide the most value if you purchase an appliance.

  • Tech Savings price promotions

  • Free delivery, installation and haul away for Plus members purchasing through website

  • Cash back on purchases

  • Two-year warranty

  • Limited brands available

10. The Home Depot

The Home Depot is America’s largest home-improvement store and the fourth-largest retailer overall, according to the National Retail Federation. It has one of the largest selections of major appliances of any store, plus all the services you need to get your new appliance up and running.

  • Excellent selection of appliances and parts

  • Mobile app with image search, store mode product locator and barcode scanner for product research while you shop

  • Package deals

  • Free standard delivery on appliance purchases of $396 or more

  • Full range of third-party installation and repair services for additional fee

  • Hauling away old appliances not included in delivery

How To Save Money on Your Appliance Purchase

The appliance dealers listed here always have sales and other special deals on select appliances, but that’s not the only way to save. Here are some tips for getting the best price possible on your next appliance purchase:

Negotiate a Discount

A Consumer Reports survey of its members revealed that many appliance stores will cut you a deal — if you ask. Abt was the best store to haggle with for a discount. Survey respondents were successful 92% of the time and saved a median of $124. They also negotiated discounts at Best Buy, Lowe’s and The Home Depot.

Shop the Traditional Sale Weekends

Best Buy, The Home Depot and Lowe’s are among the stores you can count on to slash prices during holiday sales events. Presidents Day, Memorial Day and Labor Day are all big sale holidays, according to Wirecutter. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are good times to buy, too.

Take Advantage of Package Deals

Skip the Latest, Greatest Model

The newer the model and the more bells and whistles it has, the more you’re likely to pay for it. Watch for current models to go on sale in September and October, when manufacturers release their new products.

Information is accurate as of July 25, 2022.

  • Wirecutter. 2022.
  • “When Is the Best Time to Buy Appliances?”
  • National Retail Federation.
  • “Top 100 Retailers 2022 List.”