You need a refrigerator. Your old one just isn't getting the job done. Right now it sounds like a ticked-off cougar when the motor kicks on, or maybe you just need more storage room, or maybe your present fridge looks like the old refrigerator that Indiana Jones climbed into to protect himself from the atomic explosion in that Crystal Skull movie. For whatever reason you need a new fridge, and in this economic climate, you need to get the best deal possible. As long as your old refrigerator is functional, your food not spoiling and your ice cream not dripping in a puddle in your freezer, you should have enough time to get a terrific deal on your dream refrigerator online. You may just find that the price online for the same model will be lower than what you'd pay at a department store or other appliance outlet.
How do you shop online and find the best price? Check a comparison shopping engine (CSE).
You may be nervous buying something online, especially since you are spending a lot of your hard-earned dough on something you can't see before you and touch. How do you buy something so expensive online and make sure you get the refrigerator you want at the cheapest price possible, and without problems? Here are nine simple steps to follow:
1. Do your homework. Measure the space you have available for your fridge, including the height and available depth to the wall. Measure carefully, because having to return a refrigerator is not only a huge hassle, but a costly one since you'll end up paying for shipping to and from your home as well as a restocking charge. Also, take note which way the door will need to swing. I once moved into an apartment with a brand-new refrigerator that opened the wrong way and discovered just how much of a pain it was to try to get around it when I was carrying a casserole. Write down all the info about what size, style, color, and options you definitely need.
2. Look for a style that fulfills your needs and appeals to you. Do you need a top freezer refrigerator, a bottom freezer refrigerator, or one with French doors? Do you need an outside water and ice dispenser? Also, how much more cubic feet of storage will be required of your new refrigerator? Remember that getting a refrigerator that is too large for your needs not only costs more initially, but will usually cost more in power usage. Use your previous experiences with refrigerators to help you choose the options you need, while considering those options you would like but could sacrifice if the price gets up there too high for your budget.
3. Find a CSE online. Go through your favorite search engine to find a CSE. There are several out there, like NexTag, Pricegrabber, Bizrate, Shopzilla, to name just a few. At this point even if you haven't yet decided what model you truly want, go to a CSE. Most CSE websites have breakdowns between brands, price, size, type, and more, so it should be fairly simple paring down your choices. When you find a model that fits your needs within your price range, check the cheapest price, and the dealer that is offering it.
4. Choose a reputable dealer. Often the CSE will have quality ratings about the dealer, provided by past customers. As you can imagine, these ratings are important to ensure that the dealer is well-established and well-reviewed. If the cheapest price is provided by a dealer with less-than-stellar customer history, bite the bullet and pass them by. Only choose dealers with either excellent or good ratings to ensure good customer service. The difference between a good dealer and a mediocre dealer can mean future problems and leave a sour taste in your mouth about ever buying online again.
5. Check for in-store promotions and rebates. Clicking on the dealer will bring 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's rebates that could net you even more savings.
6. Review the dealer's secure buying information for your own peace of mind. Don't lose sleep. The higher rated dealers always offer secure buying, so don't sweat giving them your credit card number. Usually online stores make purchase as safe and easy as possible (their reputations and profits are at stake), so don't worry and just follow their instructions. If for some reason you don't find a dealer touting their secure buying, pass them by.
7. In the case of buying a refrigerator or any other large item online, always opt for shipping that is more complete than any advertised Free Shipping offer. Even if a dealer offers free shipping, remember that, because of its weight, your refrigerator will be shipped by common carrier trucking.
Free shipping is usually what is termed either tailgate or curbside, depending on the dealer. What this means is that the trucking company will only bring it as far as either the tailgate of the truck or will just put it on the curb at the address specified on the shipping order.
Threshold service is available for an extra charge, meaning that the trucker will bring it to your door and no farther. Trust me on this one, I strongly suggest you go for the little bit of extra cost for White Glove Service supplied by most companies. Sure this option costs more, but it saves you a strained back or hernia or the problem of trying to coax quick-vanishing friends to use their muscle to help you.
One other thing to remember, make your request for special shipping at the time you make your order, not after. Changing your mind that you want special shipping after the order is placed is not an option. It's kind of like trying to book the cruise after you've pushed from the dock in a rowboat.
White Glove Service places the responsibility of bringing the refrigerator into your house on the shipper. If you have any questions about costs or the way the service works, call the dealer. Most have toll-free numbers for customer service. The dealer always prefer a happy customer, and so it's always in their best interest to make sure you get your big, heavy fridge with as little hassle for you as possible.
8. Inspect for damage immediately after you receive your refrigerator. A tip: make sure the trucker off-loads the fridge before you check it. The trucker will be less likely to get antsy and try to rush you if he's already done most of the work. This will normally give you time to check the outside packaging, then the inside of the box with a bit more scrutiny.
If you see damage to the box or the item itself, note it on the bill of lading. This helps the dealer to go back to the trucking company to get compensation, and if appropriate, gets you a replacement product. If the damage looks extensive, refuse the delivery outright. With most dealers, cosmetic damage like a dent or scratch doesn't count since it doesn't affect the workings of the refrigerator.
Just remember that if you do not properly inspect the fridge when receiving it or note the damages on the paperwork, the trucking company will get off scot free for any issues your refrigerator sustained during shipping. That means you are basically accepting the shipment as is. The dealer you bought it from has no liability and cannot get reimbursement from the shipping company if you accept the product and fail to note damage.
9. Defective products are the manufacturer's responsibility and covered under their warranty. In the unlikely prospect of getting a defective refrigerator, be sure to call the manufacturer as soon as you note the defect. Don't try to call the dealer. The dealer only sells the item and is not liable for defective products. Defective merchandise is always the manufacturer's responsibility and any defects on newly sold products are nearly always covered by the manufacturer's warranty.
One last thing to remember. When you order a product online, it takes a while for the dealer to fill your request. Shipping time for even an in stock item can normally take anywhere from five to ten business days, so keep that in mind before getting worried about shipping tracking data. While it might seem like no big deal to just fill an order and ship it to you, remember that you are dealing with several business entities, from the manufacturer to the dealer to the shipper, and each one has its own set of procedures to accomplish getting your order to you. Follow these nine simple steps and you could get a terrific deal on your dream refrigerator, and avoid any headache.
!8!# Price Radon Detector Kits Buyers Smocked Boy Clothing Promo Husky Saw Parts
0 comments:
Post a Comment