How to Evaluate Home Appliance Clearance Deals

Why appliances end up on clearance

• Model-year changeover. A new version arrives with small changes, and the outgoing model is discounted. Often the best value, because the product is new and fully warrantied.
• Discontinued colors or finishes. Fine if you are not matching other appliances.
• Floor models and display units. Usually work fine but may have small marks, missing manuals or parts, and sometimes a shorter warranty.
• Scratch-and-dent. Cosmetic damage, often on a side that will sit against a cabinet or wall. Ask exactly where the damage is.
• Open-box returns. Returned by another customer, sometimes after installation. Check what was tested.

Measure before you compare prices

A great price on an appliance that does not fit is not a deal. Measure the space and the path into your home before you shop.

• The opening: width, height and depth, plus the clearance the manufacturer requires for ventilation and door swing.
• The route in: doorways, hallways, stair turns and elevator doors. Refrigerators are the most common problem.
• Door swing and hinge side: especially for refrigerators and front-load washers next to a wall.
• Connections: electrical outlet type and voltage, gas or electric for ranges and dryers, water supply and drain, and dryer venting.

Add up the delivered, installed cost

Appliance pricing often leaves out the services and parts you need. Ask about each one before comparing two offers.

• Delivery: free, flat-rate, or free only above a minimum spend.
• Installation: basic hookup may be included or cost extra; gas, built-in and over-the-range installations usually cost more.
• Haul-away of the old appliance: some stores include it, some charge, and some do not offer it.
• Parts sold separately: many electric dryers ship without a power cord, and gas appliances, dishwashers and refrigerator ice makers need the right connector or water line kit.
• Clearance terms: some clearance and floor-model sales are final or have shorter return windows.

Look at running costs, not just the price

Energy, water and maintenance costs continue for as long as you own an appliance, and over several years they can be a meaningful part of its total cost. In the U.S., many appliances carry a yellow EnergyGuide label with an estimated yearly operating cost, and ENERGY STAR certification marks more efficient models. Comparing those estimates between two models is a fair way to judge whether a cheaper, older or less efficient unit really saves money.

Check for utility rebates on efficient models in your area, too; they can change which offer is cheaper overall.

Warranty and model details

• Confirm the full manufacturer warranty applies, especially for floor models, open-box and scratch-and-dent units.
• Check the exact model number, including suffix letters, which often indicate color or minor feature differences.
• Read reviews for the specific model and the year it was made, since a clearance unit may be an earlier production run.
• Extended warranties are optional; weigh their cost against the price of a typical repair and the existing warranty length.

Using OfferNab for appliances

OfferNab lists appliance offers from the retailers we track in Home & Kitchen deals, with the retailer, the price we observed and the condition when the retailer states it. Delivery, installation and haul-away terms are set by each retailer, so confirm them on the retailer's page before you buy. Our guide to price history explains how to tell a clearance price from a routine one.