Curb your shopping impulses
Do your research before stepping out to buy appliances, writes Deb Tapp.
Impulse buying isn’t the way to go when it comes to investing in big ticket items for the home. Yet Consumer New Zealand chief executive Sue Chetwin says many people fall into that trap.
‘‘Often people go into a shop to look at appliances and they get talked into buying something without having done their research properly.
‘‘Never impulse buy, or fall for the bells and whistles – an appliance isn’t easy to return if you decide you don’t like it or it doesn’t fit your space.’’
One woman who bought an entire house lot of appliances for her new build found the experience overwhelming.
As a result, she inadvertently bought a front loader that has only one water connection, cold.
‘‘That was a big mistake – we have a wetback, but the front loader heats its own water, darn it!’’Before setting foot into a store, talk to friends with similar appliances and get their feedback, think about its purpose and whether it’s fit for your requirements, even make a list of priority features.
Another trap people often fall into, is buying an appliance that doesn’t fit their allocated space, Chetwin says.
‘‘It’s surprising how many people buy appliances that don’t actually fit the space or they don’t think about access into the house, so always measure up first.
‘‘Take down all of the dimensions you need, and check there’s room to open and close the likes of fridge doors, without them blocking traffic or hitting something.’’
If possible, listen carefully to an appliance, because some are far noisier than others, Chetwin says.
Also check energy efficiency and think about repairs.
‘‘Some appliances work better than others, but generally these days they are more reliable than they’ve been in the past.’’ Avoid extended warranties. ‘‘There is virtually no situation where we think a consumer would want or need an extended warranty – they can be expensive and don’t really offer any more protection than what you get under the Consumer Guarantees Act.’’
In the laundry, washing machines are either top or front loading, or the combination washing machine/dryer.
‘‘Washer/dryers are good for compact spaces, the dryer doesn’t need to be vented, but the drying cycle takes a long time – it takes six hours to wash and dry a load and the drying capacity is less than the washing capacity,’’ Chetwin says.
‘‘But they are good for small homes, holiday houses and people that may have mobility issues around transporting clothes from one appliance to another.’’
Top loaders are generally faster than front loaders but are tougher on clothes, while front loaders tend to be more energy efficient and use less water. Capacity is most important. ‘‘You want a washing machine that fits your requirements – if you’ve got a small family you don’t want one that does the biggest load, equally if you’ve got a large family you don’t want one you’re going to beat to death because you’re putting too much stuff in it.’’
Dryer size is also important, but be sure to measure the space before investing in one.
Look out for models that are stackable and wall mounted.
Vented dryers generate warm moist air so a model that can be ducted outside to prevent dripping walls and mouldy ceilings is preferable.
If you can’t vent, consider a condenser or heatpump dryer. Heatpump dryers use a small heat pump to heat the air that dries your clothes and are more energy efficient.
In the kitchen it’s vital to measure big ticket items like fridges, and allow for ventilation space on the sides, back and top.
‘‘Fridges come in a huge number of sizes and shapes, you can get side-by-side, vertically stacked, french door ones, freezers at the bottom or top, different capacities . . .’’
Consider capacity first and foremost and go for the largest fridge-freezer you can afford, Chetwin says.
‘‘Work out what your family consists of, if it’s just you go smaller, if you have three kids go bigger.
‘‘If space allows, you really want to make sure you can give it as much as you can, because it’s an item that is getting bigger and bigger!’’
Big side-by-side fridge-freezers with chilled water and ice dispensers are more energyefficient than large models of old, but they often reduce freezer space by about 30 per cent.
Check out its energy efficiency and how noisy it is.
‘‘The fridge is one of the few household appliances that is always running, which means a loud one can become a major annoyance,’’ Chetwin says.
When it comes to ovens, if you have gas and want to replace an existing freestanding oven, opt for a dual-fuel oven, or go for a separate built-in oven and cooktop for better flexibility and performance.
Single or double ovens are another consideration – single ones can be fitted under a bench but models with separate warming drawers or double ovens are too tall and must be fitted into a wall unit.
Extra-wide ovens are useful because you can fit two cake tins side by side but the trays and shelves are awkward to clean in a standard sink.
Double ovens are separate ovens stacked on top of one another, each with its own door and cooking controls, which means you can cook different things at the same time.
Consider a large oven-window for a clear view inside, look at usable inside space, the range of shelf positions, under-oven storage, whether it is selfcleaning, has a door that is light and easy to open and controls that children can’t easily turn on and off.
With cooktops, there are the options of induction, radiantceramic or gas.
Gas stovetop cooking gives better and more responsive control over the heat, induction cooktops offer the sleek good looks of ceramic cooktops with the speed and instant control of gas cooking and induction cooktops are excellent from a safety perspective.
‘‘It really comes down to whether you are a dedicated cook or someone who just bangs something together.’’
Dimensions are important when choosing a dishwasher too.
Always check measurements when replacing an existing one, allow for ventilation space and if you need one to squeeze into a small space, there are even compact or slimline models.
Also look at programme options and features, cycle times, auto-sensing, displays, whether the top tray is adjustable and if it has a cutlery tray or basket.
Always do research before buying a TV, Chetwin says, as there are often big differences in quality. ‘‘If you are looking at a 55 or 60 inch TV the cheapest one may not be your best option, it’s likely to have either bad sound or a bad picture, or both.’’
Don’t fork out for any unnecessary cables or electricity interruption gadgets either – upselling accessories is still rife, Chetwin warns.
‘‘An HDMI cable shouldn’t run you more than $40.
‘‘If you’re connecting it to a 4K device – such as the latest gaming console or 4K Apple TV – you’ll be fine with any cable that has HDMI 2.0.
‘‘If you find a cable with 2.1, it won’t improve your current picture quality, but you’ll be slightly future-proofed – but don’t pay more for it!’’
Think about glare when deciding where to put your TV, and if it’s a Smart TV think about the placement of your router, the closer it is to the TV the faster the internet speed.
Whether it’s a TV or another big ticket item, Chetwin says it’s the same scenario across all appliances.
‘‘Always do your homework first, don’t rush into it and choose wisely, especially with big ticket items.’’
‘‘There is virtually no situation where we think a consumer would want or need an extended warranty – they can be expensive and don’t really offer any more protection than what you get under the Consumer Guarantees Act.’’ Sue Chetwin, top, Consumer NZ chief executive