Best Appliance Stores
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Champs in Price & Support
For the third year, readers of Consumer Reports chose Amazon.com for small-appliance price and selection, yet the customers of small, independent stores were much more likely than those who went to big chains to get major-appliance support without enduring exasperating phone calls.
To help you make appliance shopping a breeze, Consumer Reports enlisted more than 20,000 subscribers, who reported on their experiences buying upward of 35,000 small and major appliances.
Next: Amazon.com -
Amazon
Amazon.com
Amazon.com won a following with free shipping on many small appliances not sold through partners (our category included grills, vacuum cleaners, and air conditioners).
Next: Lowe's / Home Depot -
Ben Margot, AP
Lowe's / Home Depot
Lowe's edges out Home Depot. While neither stood out among the competitors for product support, Lowe's generally outscored Home Depot for product selection and shopping ease, which includes maneuvering around displays and finding people to answer questions. Readers also found Lowe's faster during checkout for a major-appliance purchase.
Next: Sears -
Getty Images
Sears
Mixed results for Sears. While respondents overall were very satisfied, Sears alone scored below average for its major-appliance pricing, despite a price-competition guarantee. Sears was among the better major companies for service and support, regardless of whether the brand was from the retailer's own Kenmore line or another manufacturer.
Next: General Electric -
Paul Sakuma, AP
General Electric
Premium products, same support. General Electric stood out for its Web site for customer support, according to our subscribers, but it otherwise scored average at solving problems. Problem-solving was similar for GE's high-end Monogram kitchen appliances. Service calls go through personnel trained on all GE lines, says Chuck Dawes, product manager for GE Monogram.
Next: Maytag -
Spencer Platt, Getty Images
Maytag
Low marks for Maytag. Acquired by Whirlpool in 2006, the company continues to promote its selection of a new "repairman," who doesn't seem to have enough repair work to keep him busy. But Maytag earned among the lowest scores when it came to dealing with real-life complaints.
Next: Independent Stores -
Independent Stores
Smaller independent stores were cited for service and checkout ease. For major appliances, Abt Electronics, of Glenview, Ill., earned high marks; it also ships many items free. But when it came to service and support, independent stores outscored all major retailers and manufacturers.
Next: Service/Support -
Service/Support
More than 85 percent of the requests for support in the survey were made by phone call to the manufacturer or retailer. Far fewer who'd purchased from an independent retailer and called that business ran into difficulties with automated voice systems, were bounced from one person to another, or couldn't reach a technician without making several calls.
Next: More from Consumer Reports -
More From ConsumerReports.org
Top Kitchen Values
Consumer Reports asked 8,000 readers and 1,000 other Americans nationwide about their kitchens. Most readers were highly satisfied with their new kitchens, but almost half had some regrets about the products or pros they chose. So before you start planning your new kitchen, here are six things you can do to save money and aggravation, six common mistakes to avoid and nine popular products to skip.
Kitchen Remodeling Secrets
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Recent Comments
Lzwldflwr 08:45:43 PM Sep 06 2008
Each and every big ticket item, whether Maytag, Whirlpool, or LG, Bosch... is made to break and be disposable... yet priced to break the bank. No one takes pride in their product or durability and reliability anymore. Buy cheap and replace often and you will still end up ahead. I truly think when we buy high end we are buying pride and ego and not quality and dependability.
Albanyroot 03:37:00 PM Sep 04 2008
I purchased Maytag blue cheese for years. Then it went to the rats. I can't believe they abanded ship. No more business from me.
Fburcha 10:27:44 PM Aug 05 2008
I spent years working for Sears in managment. They see the extra warranties ( you pay for ) as pure profit. If it does break in the first year or two, you don't deal with the store. You are given a 1-800 number to call and talk to someone 5 states over. Then they will schedule a appointment 2 weeks away, when you have no ?? (whatever) now. You need these appliance or you never would have purchased it. Bottom line is 75% of the people get mad and buy another one, and never get the appliance serviced. See why it's FREE MONEY to them... I have seem Sears go from a good place to work and shop , to a place I haven't walk through their doors in years and don't plan to anytime soon..
Theeye4it 09:08:12 PM Aug 05 2008
Appliances used to be built to last, now they want you to replace them every few years, it's good for sales! We purchased a G.E fridge when we first built our house. we replaced it years later after remodeling the kitchen and switching from "almond" to black appliances. The baby was still running so we donated it to my friends church for their youth group room. It's still running strong 24 years later! The only thing we ever did to it was replace the gasket around the door. They don't make them like that any more. (P.S. We raised 6 kids, that's alot of cooling!)
Mzavesky 04:29:56 PM Aug 05 2008
SEARS, THE GAP, CIRCUIT CITY....THE THREE .....OOPS FOUR, INCLUDING HOME DEPOT, WORST PLACES TO SHOP OR DO BUSINESS. MANY OF US TRIED TO TELL SEARS MANAGEMENT YEARS AGO THAT IF THEY KEPT UP THEIR "TUFF GUY" TACTICS WITH CUSTOMERS, THEY WOULD END UP LIKE MONTGOMERY WARD GONEOF COURSE THERE IS HOME "THAT'S NOT MY DEPARTMENT" DEPOT AND CIRCUIT " 50% RESTOCK FEE" CITY GOOD DAMM RIDDENCE TO ALL OF THEM
SisMaggie 12:22:10 PM Aug 05 2008
I bought a matching MAYTAG washer and dryer set, paid close to $2,000.00 for them 4 years ago. I've already had to replace the washer and my dryer has had to be serviced over 3 times. Sure the Maytag man is bored, they don't have to repair the machines, they just send them straight to the junk yard.
Cyberma777 10:18:50 AM Aug 05 2008
Sears is a joke. I bought a refrigerator from them a month before I moved into my house. On moving day, they said they were out of stock. Stock is dispensed by delivery date, not order date. That's okay. I stole their display model. I just walked off with it. They were so mad. They said, "How am I supposed to sell more?" I just said, "You don't have any to sell." This happened over 20 years ago and I haven't walked into a Sears since then. Miele is another company that doesn't stand behind their product. The service is pathetic.
missinfl2002 07:17:50 PM Jul 27 2008
You know everyone complains about American made products but those factories are still keeping people employed here in the UNITED STATES. If you buy something made over seas before long it will all go that way and our jobs once again will be over seas as well! Maytag had problems we all heard that but Whirlpool bought them so that they would stay a strong American Company not a company in China or Korea.....There is a 1 year warranty on most products that is to cover any malfunctions even our cars have warranties....The extended warranty is offered for those just incase things that may happen out of warranty I purchased those for all my big ticket items and guess what I got a new tv 3 years after my LG Broke and I got 2 new vacuums from the warranty, I got a camera, and a IPOD. Got my computer fixed for free too. So those warranties pay off. I also have a 3 year old home with Whirlpool appliances and a maytag frig, I have kids in the frig all the time hangin on doors, we wash
missinfl2002 07:16:52 PM Jul 27 2008
You know everyone complains about American made products but those factories are still keeping people employed here in the UNITED STATES. If you buy something made over seas before long it will all go that way and our jobs once again will be over seas as well! Maytag had problems we all heard that but Whirlpool bought them so that they would stay a strong American Company not a company in China or Korea.....There is a 1 year warranty on most products that is to cover any malfunctions even our cars have warranties....The extended warranty is offered for those just incase things that may happen out of warranty I purchased those for all my big ticket items and guess what I got a new tv 3 years after my LG Broke and I got 2 new vacuums from the warranty, I got a camera, and a IPOD. Got my computer fixed for free too. So those warranties pay off. I also have a 3 year old home with Whirlpool appliances and a maytag frig, I have kids in the frig all the time hangin on doors, we wash
Lv2fshlkerie 05:53:23 AM Jul 25 2008
I swear by Whirpool for both quality and service. They even help with repairs over the phone so we can save money. Who needs Maytag and Sears?
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