Home appliances are an investment, so it’s imperative you choose wisely. Washing machines can run you upwards of $500, and that’s before you factor in the cost of a clothes dryer, too. Meanwhile, a decently sized side-by-side refrigerator often has a $1,000+ price tag. Then you have an oven, dishwasher, air conditioning unit, and maybe you even want a garage fridge. The good news is you have a lot of options for where to shop, such as Costco, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Best Buy. But according to shoppers on Reddit, there’s a clear winner among the group, and that’s Costco. Here’s why you’re in safe hands purchasing appliances from the warehouse store.
RELATED: Lowe’s Outlet Sells Appliances for 75% Off—Are They Just as Good?
1. Costco has above-average customer service.
Shopper Claims Costco Food Made Her “Violently Ill” Amid Listeria OutbreakiStock
According to shoppers, Costco’s customer service is superior to that of Home Depot, Lowe’s, Best Buy, or any other big-box appliance hub. In fact, many are willing to pay extra for a machine if it means having access to Costco’s top-notch customer support.
“Sure, you might be able to find [the appliance] cheaper elsewhere, but nobody beats Costco when it comes to customer service, AKA returns/replacements,” said a Redditor.
Another customer praised Costco’s return policy, sharing that they received a replacement unit within three days after their installed dryer failed to heat up properly. “Costco is the best!” they wrote.
“The experience was awesome,” shared another shopper who purchased a refrigerator from Costco. “No issues and their service was great. Had it all set up, and making ice and water within minutes.”
“The installation guys were quick, courteous, and knowledgeable,” another agreed. “I have repeatedly recommended Costco.”
Someone else added, “I love how communicative Costco is with the scheduling of delivery.” In the same thread, a Redditor said Costco is “very quick to offer a replacement” and navigating delivery is “easy peasy.”
2. Costco doesn’t have hidden installation or delivery fees.
iStock
Unlike its competitors, Costco uses all-in pricing, which means the price you see includes delivery, installation, and haul-away. So while the price tag for a Costco washer might be more expensive than a Home Depot machine, you’ll likely end up dishing out less money in the long run.
“Costco came out cheapest with their included delivery, install and haul away as well. If we had gone with Home Depot, Best Buy, or Lowes it would have been a lot more money when you add up all of those extras, which they charge for,” explained a Redditor, who opted for Costco over its competitors.
“I like the way it’s priced better than say, from Home Depot or Lowe’s. Plus, you don’t get nickeled and dimed to death on delivery, installation fee, the hookup tubes and cords (if you’re getting a washer or dryer) and haul away of old appliance fee. All of this is included in your purchase,” said another Costco fan.
Another agreed: “Costco also tends to include tubes and fittings as part of its installation (like for a washing machine). Other vendors will charge you for your parts.”
One person said they saved up to $300 on a Costco appliance because they avoided installation fees. Another who bought a dishwasher said, “Haul away and installation were included, and took less than 40 minutes.”
“Definitely shop around to compare pricing, but in our case, Costco was the clear winner,” commented a shopper. “Overall, great and seamless experience!”
RELATED: Costco Just Made 2 Major Gas Station Changes—How You’ll Save Time & Money.
3. Costco gives refunds if an appliance goes on sale.
Costco has recently weighed the idea of changing its membership prices.
Shutterstock
As an added bonus: Costco will refund you the price difference if your appliance goes on sale during a holiday promotion or special markdown event. The one caveat is that this deal is only good for the first 30 days after purchase—so keep an eye out in case you’re one of the lucky ones!
“Make sure to stalk the website/app for 30 days after you buy it to see if there’s a price drop. I was able to get refunded $400 when I noticed the model I got was further discounted for Memorial Day sales,” revealed a Costco customer.
A second shopper said, “Watch for discounts for a month after you buy the appliance. I bought a refrigerator in March and this month the same one is 300 dollars off.”
Here’s shoppers’ biggest piece of advice.
Shutterstock
One piece of advice Redditors seem to agree on is that you’ll want to be very careful when measuring if the appliance you’re ordering will fit in your space.
“The width of the doorways is so important! We just bought a laundry center from Costco and measured everything except the door going into the room where it will be. (It lives in a closet in a spare room.),” shared one Costco member. “Turns out the doorway was only 1/2 an inch wider than the unit so I had to order a smaller size.”
“As others have mentioned, measure everything. The dishwasher even more so,” advised another. “If at some point new floor was installed over old floor, it could make for not enough clearance to get a dishwasher in/out without removing the flooring or possibly lifting the counter top.”
Content shared from bestlifeonline.com.