Washing Machine Prices Plunging

[sudsmaster]

Good point about the rebates being dependent on the year (and water/power efficiency) of the washer being sold.

When I bought my Neptune pair I don't think I got squat in the way of rebates. They had all pretty much been dried up at the time (early 2001), and a new round of rebates hadn't yet been approved by the state government at that point. I've also noticed that unless the salesperson hands you the rebate coupon and you see in black and white that it applies to your purchase, that you shouldn't assume that you'll be getting anything.

If the prices on older, soon to be discontinued models drop to the point where they are equal to or less than that of newer models that qualify for the rebates, I wonder if there is some sense in getting the older model so that one could get the higher water levels for the same price?

OTOH I notice the trend in newer front loaders is to play the capacity game, with the newest boasting unheard of huge capacities (4.7 cu ft IEC) to one-up the competition. Of course at some point this has to stop or these machines will not longer fit through the average house door, lol.

 

[whirlcool]

Saw a brief note on CNN about rebates. About 40% of the people who qualify for them never complete them. The manufacturers are counting on this.
Why don't you just get a "instant rebate" at the register? Has anyone ever tried to get a rebate from Frye's? I have sent in 5 different rebates to them only to be told I don't qualify OR I never get anything at all.
Sometimes, the rebate just isn't all the work and hoops you have to jump through.

 

[yogitunes]

rebates for some are based on the TIER method around here.....tier 2 will give you about 50.00 rebate, while a tier 3 will give you 75.00 to 100.00.........

but the higher the tier, the more energy savings, and less water used per pound of laundry to be washed.......

like Ralph's Affinity and the Frigidaire square door I have....these are Tier 3.............the round door original Frigidaire's FL are Tier 2, but use more water, and its also adjustable!

they get you comming and going

 

[lordkenmore]

"Saw a brief note on CNN about rebates. About 40% of the people who qualify for them never complete them. The manufacturers are counting on this."

That has long been my suspicion.

My most recent mail in rebates worked OK. They were for a deal at an office supply store. Buy a ream of printer paper at their sky-high prices, get a big rebate. The rebate is in the form of Visa gift card. I suspect the hope here might be that some of the rebate money will never be used--people who only use part of the balance, and decide not to bother getting that last 50 cents, or others who decide to wait until they have a $6 purchase, and the card expires during the wait.

 

[sudsmaster]

Costco has pretty much eliminated mail-in rebates. Instead they have coupon books and/or "mfg instant" rebates that are given at the register. The only gotcha is that sales tax is levied on the original price, not on the coupon or rebated net price. Small quibble, but since our local sales tax is now 10% (thanks, renters!) it's not insignificant.

I have noticed that Fry's has gotten better, at least around here, with its mail-in rebates. Still, I vastly prefer rebates given at the register at time of purchase.

The appliance rebates are a different matter, I think - you gotta mail them in, because it's a state thing.