Need a new appliance?

Learn, compare — then ask for a deal

COURTNEY JESPERSEN

Unless you’re an expert in spin cycles, buying an appliance can leave you dizzy.

To make the process easier, here are answers to the appliance-buying questions you’ll probably ponder, from “When should I buy?” to “Do I really need a warranty?”

REPAIR OR REPLACE?

People with existing appliances have two options: repair or replace.

You can count on major appliances to last about a year for every $100 spent, says Doug Rogers, president of Mr. Appliance, a national appliance-repair company.

“If I bought a $100 microwave, I’m probably not going to call anyone to fix it if it’s over a year old,” Rogers says. “I’m probably just going to go buy a new one. But if I buy a $1,000 refrigerator, it’s probably worth fixing up to 10 years.”

WHICH ONE TO BUY?

Once you’re in the market for something new, don’t fixate on brands, unless you care about top-of-the-line prestige.

“It can matter when you’re looking to buy a luxury appliance, but if you’re buying a low- to midrange appliance, I wouldn’t get caught up too much in the brand name,” Rogers says, noting that he uses some of the same parts to fix appliances from different brands.

ONLINE OR IN STORE?

When you find something you like, go see it at a store. Online resources are helpful but shouldn’t be the last word.

“This is one of the few industries where the online marketplace doesn’t work as well as the local marketplace does,” says Kevin Brasler, executive editor at the non-profit Consumers’ Checkbook.

WILL IT FIT?

Before you swipe your card, make sure your appliance fits — in your home and your budget.

Measure the space where it’ll go. Rogers recommends a close fit; for a 32-inch opening, get an appliance no wider than 31.5 inches.

As for price, get the model number and call five local, independent stores, Brasler says. Tell them you’re shopping around and looking for the best deal. They’ll often give you a quote below the advertised price, he says. Consumers’ Checkbook

conducted a price experiment to test this.

WHAT ABOUT WARRANTIES?

You’re not finished yet. The salesperson may try to sell you extra protection, called a service contract, in case something goes wrong.

“An appliance comes with a warranty,” Rogers says. “Maybe you get a one-year warranty on your parts and labour on your refrigerator and a five-year extended warranty on the sealed system.” Service contracts might cover items that are included in your standard warranty, he says, so read the fine print to ensure you’re not doubling up.

Another consideration: Products don’t usually break within the service plan window, according to Consumer Reports.

Brasler puts it bluntly. “Don’t buy those,” he says. “They’re totally worthless.”