You need a refrigerator. Your old man just isn’t doing the job. Right now it sounds like an angry cougar when the engine starts up, or maybe it just needs more storage space, or maybe your current fridge looks like the old fridge Indiana Jones climbed into to protect himself from the atomic blast in that Crystal. Skull movie. For whatever reason, you need a new refrigerator, and in this economic climate, you want to get the best deal possible. As long as your old fridge works, your food doesn’t spoil, and your ice cream doesn’t drip into a puddle in your freezer, you should have plenty of time to get a great deal online on the fridge of your dreams. You may find that the online price for the same model will be lower than what you’d pay at a department store or other appliance outlet.
How to buy online and find the best price? Check out a Comparison Shopping Engine (CSE).
You may be nervous about buying something online, especially since you’re spending a lot of your hard-earned dough on something you can’t see or touch. How do you buy something so expensive online and make sure you get the refrigerator you want at the cheapest possible price without any hassle? Here are nine simple steps to follow:
1. Do your homework. Measure the space you have available for your fridge, including the height and depth available to the wall. Measure carefully, because having to return a refrigerator is not only a huge hassle, but also expensive, as you will end up paying for shipping to and from your home, as well as a restocking fee. Also, make a note of which way you will need to swing the door. I once moved into an apartment with a new refrigerator that opened the wrong way and discovered how painful it was trying to get around it when carrying a pan. Write down all the information about the size, style, color and options that you definitely need.
2. Look for a style that meets your needs and appeals to you. Do you need a top freezer refrigerator, a bottom freezer refrigerator, or one with French doors? Need an outdoor ice and water dispenser? Also, how many more cubic feet of storage will be required from your new refrigerator? Remember that getting a refrigerator that is too big for your needs not only costs more up front, but it will generally cost more in energy use. Use your previous experiences with refrigerators to help you choose the options you need, while considering those options you might like but might sacrifice if the price gets too high for your budget.
3. Find a CSE online. Go through your favorite search engine to find a CSE. There are several such as NexTag, Pricegrabber, Bizrate, Shopzilla to name just a few. At this point, even if you still haven’t decided which model you really want, go to a CSE. Most CSE websites have breakdowns between brands, price, size, type, and more, so it should be fairly simple to narrow down your options. When you find a model that suits your needs within your price range, check out the cheapest price and the dealer that offers it.
4. Choose a reputable dealer. Often the CSE will have quality ratings on the dealer, provided by previous customers. As you can imagine, these qualifications are important to ensure that the dealer is well established and well reviewed. If the lowest price is provided by a dealer with a less than stellar customer history, bite the bullet and pass it by. Choose only dealers with excellent or good ratings to ensure good customer service. The difference between a good merchant and a mediocre merchant can spell future trouble and leave a sour taste in your mouth about whether you’ll ever shop online again.
5. Check the promotions and discounts in the store. Clicking on the dealer will take you directly to the item you have chosen on the dealer’s website. Don’t forget to check to see if they have any in-store promotions or manufacturer discounts that could earn you even more savings.
6. Review the dealer’s safe shopping information for your own peace of mind. Don’t lose sleep. Top-rated merchants always offer secure shopping, so don’t worry about giving them your credit card number. Online stores usually make shopping as safe and easy as possible (your reputation and profits are at stake), so don’t worry and follow their instructions. If for some reason you can’t find a dealer promoting your secure purchase, skip it.
7. When buying a refrigerator or any other large item online, always opt for fuller shipping than any advertised Free Shipping offer. Even if a dealer offers free shipping, remember that due to its weight, your refrigerator will be shipped by common carrier.
Free shipping is usually what is called a tailgate or curbside, depending on the distributor. What this means is that the trucking company will only deliver it to the back door of the truck or just drop it curbside at the address specified on the shipping order.
Threshold service is available for an additional charge, which means the trucker will take you to your doorstep and no further. Trust me on this one, I strongly suggest you opt for the little extra cost of White Glove Service provided by most companies. Sure, this option costs more, but it saves you a back injury or hernia or the trouble of trying to persuade fast-disappearing friends to use their muscles to help you.
Another thing to remember, make your special shipping request at the time you place your order, not after. Changing your mind that you want special shipping after ordering is not an option. It’s like trying to book your cruise after you’ve pushed off the dock in a rowboat.
White Glove Service assigns the responsibility of getting the refrigerator home to the sender. If you have any questions about costs or how the service works, call your dealer. Most have toll-free numbers for customer service. The dealer always prefers a happy customer, so it’s always in your best interest to make sure you get your big, heavy refrigerator with as little hassle to you as possible.
8. Inspect for damage immediately upon receipt of your refrigerator. One tip: make sure the trucker unloads the cooler before checking it out. The trucker is less likely to fret and try to rush you if he has already done most of the work. This will usually give you time to check the outer packaging, then the inside of the box with a little more scrutiny.
If you see damage to the box or the item itself, please note it on the bill of lading. This helps the dealer get back to the trucking company for compensation and, if applicable, a replacement product. If the damage appears extensive, please refuse delivery immediately. With most dealers, cosmetic damage such as a dent or scratch does not count as it does not affect the operation of the refrigerator.
Just remember that if you don’t properly inspect the refrigerator upon receipt or note the damage on the paperwork, the shipping company will walk away unscathed from any problems with your refrigerator during shipping. That means you’re basically accepting the shipment as-is. The dealer you bought it from has no responsibility and cannot get a refund from the shipping company if you accept the product and do not notice the damage.
9. Defective products are the responsibility of the manufacturer and are covered by its warranty. In the unlikely chance that a defective refrigerator arrives, be sure to call the manufacturer as soon as you notice the defect. Do not try to call the dealer. The dealer only sells the item and is not responsible for defective products. Defective merchandise is always the responsibility of the manufacturer and any defects in newly sold products are almost always covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.
One last thing to remember. When you order a product online, it takes time for the dealer to complete your order. Shipping time, even for an in-stock item, can typically take five to ten business days, so please keep this in mind before worrying about shipping tracking details. While it may seem like no big deal to complete an order and ship it to you, remember that you are dealing with multiple business entities, from manufacturer to distributor to shipper, and each has their own set of procedures to follow. sending you your request. Follow these nine simple steps and you could get a great deal on the fridge of your dreams and avoid any headaches.
