Appliances are one of the few purchases where the calendar matters more than the store. New models arrive on a schedule, and the outgoing models get discounted to clear the floor. Buy in the wrong month and you pay full price for the same machine that will be 25 percent cheaper eight weeks later. We learned this after buying a washer in July and watching the identical model drop $180 in September.
The general pattern
For most large appliances, manufacturers release new models in September and October. The prior year's models are discounted from September through November to clear space. The holiday sales in November stack on top of that. So for washers, dryers, dishwashers, ranges and microwaves, the window is September to November, with late November usually the low point.
The exceptions
- Refrigerators. New models arrive in spring, so the clearance window is May, around the late-May holiday weekend. Buying a fridge in November means paying for a model that is about to be discounted anyway, but only lightly.
- Grills. Clearance starts in September when the season ends. A grill in April is full price.
- Lawn mowers and outdoor equipment. August and September, once the stores need the space for snow blowers.
- Air conditioners. Late August. Do not wait until the first heat wave; that is the one week of the year they sell at list.
- Televisions. Late January before the big game, and again in November. New models come in spring, so March and April clear the old ones.
Month by month
| Month | Best buys |
|---|---|
| January | Televisions, some post-holiday appliance clearance |
| March–April | Last year's TVs, some small appliances |
| May | Refrigerators, mattresses |
| August | Air conditioners, lawn equipment |
| September | Grills, mowers, start of major appliance clearance |
| October–November | Washers, dryers, dishwashers, ranges |
| December | Poor for large appliances; better in January |
Two habits that pay regardless of month
Ask for the scratch-and-dent section, which is often in a back room or a separate outlet store. A dent on the side of a dishwasher that will be hidden by cabinets can be worth 30 to 50 percent off a machine with a full warranty. And ask whether the delivery and haul-away fee is negotiable. It usually is at the end of the month when the salesperson has a target, and it is worth $50 to $100.
When you cannot wait
If the fridge dies in February, you buy a fridge in February. Two things still help. First, floor models: the display unit is often sold at a discount if you ask. Second, the previous model year: retailers keep a few in the warehouse for months after the new ones arrive, and the salesperson can check. The difference between the outgoing and incoming model is usually a control panel redesign.
What we do now
The appliance sinking fund tells us which machine is oldest and what its replacement costs. When it reaches the right month, we buy before it fails, on our schedule, at the clearance price. The washer that cost us full price in July was the last one we bought in a hurry.
