If you had to buy a fridge, washer, dryer, where would you go (best value/$) and what brand would you get or not get? (Austin: sales, appliances)

[Indigoblue]

Any dent stores in the area?
Does anyone know of any great appliance sales going on?
Any brand recommendations or horror stories?

Thank you in advance

[bobbatoo]

Go anywhere local or an online site of a local store and get your best price and take it to Sears. If Sears has the identical item, they will match the price plus 10% of the difference. In addition, right now they also have a 20% rebate if you purchase 3 items, plus free delivery. I bought many appliances in Sears that way and have never had a problem with them.

[readymade]

I can't help with where to get appliances, but I have a subscription to Consumer Reports Online, and here are their recommendations (usually the prices are less than they post here):

Washers:

For fine performance and efficiency:
• LG WM0642H[W] , $900
• Frigidaire Gallery GLTF2940F[S] , $650, CR Best Buy
Both washing machines cleaned clothes very well. The LG holds more clothes and was gentler on them, but the Frigidaire is faster, taking 30 minutes less than the LG to wash a load on similar cycles. The Frigidaire can be stacked with the tested dryer models LEQ2152E[S] and Affinity AEQ6000E[S].

Best if your budget is tight:
• GE WJRE5500G[WW] , $480, CR Best Buy
• Estate ETW4400T[Q] , $400
For hundreds less than the best high-efficiency top-loaders, these two top loaders were very good at washing and were reasonably efficient. The GE has a stainless-steel tub and a fabric-softener dispenser. The Estate was a bit gentler on clothes. We lack repair-history data for Estate, though it is made by Whirlpool, a reliable brand. Both the GE and Estate were relatively noisy.

Dryers:

• GE DBVH512EF[WW] , $650, CR Best Buy
• GE Profile DPSE810EG[WT] , $500, CR Best Buy
Both cost hundreds less than other high-scoring models and have moisture sensors, which shut off the machine when the laundry is dry, saving energy and preserving clothes. The DBVH512EF[WW] has push buttons and rotary dials; the Profile DPSE810EG[WT], only dials. Both dryers let you adjust or mute the volume of their end-of-cycle signals--helpful if close to bedrooms--though the DPSE810EG[WT] is the noisier of the two dryers.

----------------

REFRIGERATORS:

Top freezer:
Small (30 inches wide):
• Frigidaire FRT18S6A[W] , $550
• Kenmore (Sears) 7419[2] , $530
The Frigidaire FRT18S6A[W], $ 550, and Kenmore (Sears) 7419[2], $530, offer lots of performance for the dollar. Between the two, consider the Kenmore for its added fridge and freezer space if you can fit its slightly larger dimensions.

Midsized (33 inches wide):
• GE Profile PTS22LHR[WW] , $1100
The GE Profile PTS 22LHR[WW], $ 1,350, offers stainless steel, a water dispenser, more usable space, and less noise for its higher price.

Bottom Freezer:

Small (30 inches wide):
• Amana ABB1921DE[W] , $850
• LG LRBN20512[WW] , $750, CR Best Buy
The Amana ABB1921DE[W], $850, and LG LRBN20512[WW], $750, are fine values.

Midsized (33 inches wide):
• Kenmore (Sears) Elite 7625[2] , $1425
• Amana ABB2221FE[W] , $950
• Maytag Ice2O MFI2266AE[W] , $2050
The Amana ABB2221FE[W], $950, is a good value; choose it if you're willing to trade some quietness for freezer space. Choose the Kenmore (Sears) Elite 7625[2], $1,425, for its energy efficiency, the Maytag Ice2O MFI2266AE[WW], $2,050, for its French doors.

Large (36 inches wide or wider):
• Amana AFD2535DE[W] , $1550, CR Best Buy
• Maytag MFC2061HE[W] , $2250
The Amana AFD2535DE[W], $1,550, has superb efficiency while the Maytag MFC2061HE[W], $2,250, adds cabinet-depth styling.

Side-by-Side:

Large (36 inches wide or wider):
• Kenmore (Sears) Elite 5896[2] , $1500
• Samsung RM257AB[SH] , $2500
• Jenn-Air JCD2290HE[W] , $2300
• Hotpoint HSS22GFT[WW] , $760
The Kenmore (Sears) Elite 5896[2], $1,500, scored highest. The Samsung RM257AB[SH], $2,500, adds quietness and split fridge and freezer compartments that can freeze or chill; the Jenn-Air JCD2290HE[W], $2,300, adds superb temperature performance and cabinet-depth styling. Pick the low-priced Hotpoint HSS22GFT[WW], $760 (it measures 34 inches wide), if you can live without stainless-steel trim.

[Indigoblue]

Thank you both SOOO much!! You've saved me a LOT of time

This is why I <3 city data

[Moonlady]

There's a scratch and dent place called AUS-TEX. They have 2 locations - one in South Austin off Industrial and one on 183 at Spicewood Springs. They have some pretty good deals.

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by Moonlady

There's a scratch and dent place called AUS-TEX. They have 2 locations - one in South Austin off Industrial and one on 183 at Spicewood Springs. They have some pretty good deals.

I had a bad experience with Aus-Tex appliance south, very bad. Owner and his son were extremely rude and combative over a delivery issue. I cancelled the order and have a pending credit card dispute with them because they never did reverse the charge on my credit card.

Giant Appliance on N. Lamar has a clean showroom, lots to pick from, and good pricing. They are a scratch and dent outlet, but many of the products have no apparent cosmetic blemishes, or the blemish is on a side that would be concealed by a cabinet.

Steve

[southdown]

Originally Posted by Moonlady

There's a scratch and dent place called AUS-TEX. They have 2 locations - one in South Austin off Industrial and one on 183 at Spicewood Springs. They have some pretty good deals.

We bought all our goods from Aus-Tex (GE s/s fridge-freezer and LG front-loader washer & drier) all was great on service, prices, delivery etc etc.

However the store on 183/Spicewood has gone - no notice on the door either!

[mark311]

I've always had good luck with buying Kenmore products from Sears. Normally somebody like Whirlpool makes the product and Sears puts their Kenmore label on it. Sears has always been really good about having parts available for their appliances and I've found that the Kenmore products are normally a very good value compared to other brands. The Sears Grand at I-35 and Parmer has a large appliance section to browse through.

[CarnivalGal]

Originally Posted by Moonlady

There's a scratch and dent place called AUS-TEX. They have 2 locations - one in South Austin off Industrial and one on 183 at Spicewood Springs. They have some pretty good deals.

I have had a really bad experience with Aus-Tex as well. Really, REALLY bad service.

[Trainwreck20]

We have bought a couple of appliances in the last couple of years, and we usually end up with different brands and different stores. Besides the price, make sure you check out the delivery options/cost (unless, of course, you are picking it up yourself). Also, if you are intending to buy an extended warranty of any kind, the cost difference can be huge (Sears is usually the most expensive, probably 3x or more than the cheapest ones). Not sure what the actual sevice quality difference is, though. Our most recent purchase that needed any kind of service was a dishwasher (LG brand) that we bought at Home Depot. It was still under Manuf. warranty, so they sent someone out to fix it from some local company and it was relatively easy (still had to miss some work).

We always review Consumer Reports, if for nothing else than the education on the options and what they might mean to us. We ended up getting an 'enclosed' heating element for the dishwasher, because we were forever having things (water bottle tops, baby sippy cup lids, etc) wall out of a rack onto the element and get burned. We never would have thought about that option if we had not read CR.