Major appliances — washing machines, dryers and dishwashers — are major household expenses. But does the brand of appliance you buy make a difference?
A recent report from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) shows that consumers aren’t quite as pleased with most top appliance brands as were just a year ago.
And the #1 Appliance Brand According To Customers Is …
Samsung was the only appliance manufacturer whose ACSI score increased in 2021. Every other brand either held steady or fell. Let’s look into the details.
The appliance brands were graded on a 100-point scale for some of the following benchmarks:
- Durability and exterior design
- Outcome and timeliness of the service repair
- Warranty coverage
- Mobile app quality
See How Customers Rate Your Favorite Appliance Brand
| Company | 2021 Score | % Change From Last Year |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung | 80 | 3% |
| LG | 79 | -1% |
| Electrolux | 78 | -1% |
| GE Appliances (Haier) | 78 | -3% |
| Whirlpool | 77 | -3% |
| Bosch | 74 | -6% |
| All Others | 79 | 0% |
To compile the data for this report, ACSI says it interviewed 7,960 customers about products they’d recently purchased between July 7, 2020, and June 26, 2021.
Read the complete report here.
How To Save When Buying an Appliance
Comparison Shop
Don’t just buy the first appliance you fall in love with. I recently bought a new dryer from Best Buy. Before I chose that retailer, I meticulously shopped prices at several retailers including:
Take Advantage of Price-Matching
Many of the major retailers, such as Walmart, Home Depot and Lowe’s, have price-matching guarantees.
If you find a brand and model that you want in one store, see if you can get it cheaper or at the same price at a store you prefer.
Here are some stores with price-match guarantees.
Decline the Extended Warranty
Money expert Clark Howard says buying an extended warranty for an appliance is an absolute waste of money.
“My position on extended warranties remains the same as always. I don’t like them and I don’t buy them at any store,” he says.
“When should you buy an extended warranty? Never, ever on appliances or electronics. Salespeople will tell you that an extended warranty ‘protects your investment.’ But a TV, a washer or a DVD player is not an investment,” Clark says.
Shop at the Right Time and Place
When it comes to the best time to shop for a washer or dryer:
- September is when the new models are released.
- Black Friday weekend is another great time to score a deal.
Here’s more about the best time and place to buy a washer and dryer.
Before you pull out your wallet, it’s a good idea to know how long your appliances should last.
For the latest bargains on appliances, check out ClarkDeals.com.
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