At a Glance:
How Do Appliance Rebates Work?
How Often Are Rebates Updated?
Which Brands Traditionally Offer Rebates?
What Are Other Ways To Save On Appliances?
Shopping for appliances requires a delicate balance between finding the right brands and features while also staying on budget. Some luxury models can get expensive, causing shoppers to spend their entire budget on one appliance. This isn’t ideal if you need to complete a whole kitchen remodel.
Fortunately, there are multiple ways to save money while shopping for appliances. You can find discounts and appliance rebates that break down the cost. You might be able to find your dream appliances without paying nightmare prices.
Before you start your appliance search, learn how rebates work. Use this guide to maximize your savings and navigate the buying process as an informed consumer.
What Is An Appliance Rebate?
An appliance rebate is a discount or incentive offered by a company to convince you to buy its products. The store you buy your appliances from will set their prices in order to make a profit. Appliance manufacturers will offer rebates so customers can pay lower prices while stores still get the sales revenue they need.
The first kind of appliance rebate happens at checkout — this is called an instant rebate. When the store associate scans the barcode, it will ring up the original price, the store price, and the rebate. If you have any store coupons, you can add them to your discounts at this time. For many customers, the instant rebates mark the final price they pay when buying appliances.
The next option is the mail-in rebate. It is not instant and does not come through the store you purchase the appliance from. Instead, you must mail in a purchase code (or record it online) in order to receive cash from the company. There are also additional rebate options where you receive free items that are sent to your home along with your appliances. The rebate you choose depends on the brands you select and the items you buy.
How Do Appliance Rebates Work?
Appliance companies build their products to last. Many modern appliances are expected to last 10 to 20 years, depending on the items you buy. This means appliance companies only have one opportunity per decade to sell to you — which is why they do their best to make compelling offers. Appliance rebates work as marketing promotions to lure customers toward certain brands.
In-store rebates can attract customers to certain appliances because they feel like they are getting a good deal. People love coupons. There is sales psychology that shows consumers feel like they are getting higher-value items when they apply a coupon than if they pay a lower price. Instead of selling an appliance at a naturally low price, some companies will increase their tickets and then offer rebates to entice customers.
Mail-in rebates are also popular with companies because some customers will forget about them. These rebates require people to proactively log their purchase codes and request money from the company. Some people will put off this process until the rebate expires, which means the brand keeps the money, and the customer pays the full price. More than $500 million in mail-in rebates go unclaimed each year. If you choose a mail-in rebate option, make sure you immediately send in your code, so you are guaranteed to get the money.
How Often Are Rebates Updated?
Every brand has its own policies and marketing goals when creating appliance rebates. This means there is no set date when rebates will change or expire. If you are interested in buying a specific appliance, review the rebates and note their expiration dates. Some companies will replace expired rebates with new ones, while others will wait for seasonal slowdowns. There are a few key factors that determine when rebates are updated:
- Seasonal shopping: companies might add or remove rebates around peak shopping seasons to entice customers or maximize profits.
- Company goals: there might be an uptick in rebates if a company is reaching the end of its fiscal year or fiscal quarter.
- Calendar holidays: some companies offer rebates based on seasonal events, like the 4th of July.
- Competitors: a brand might update its rebates to make more compelling offers if its competitors launch similar promotions.
Most of these factors are out of the hands of the consumer. However, if you keep an eye on company rebates, you can learn which discounts are frequently refreshed and which ones were only created for specific events.
Which Brands Traditionally Offer Rebates?
Appliance rebates have become common across most consumer-facing brands. You can look for brand-specific rebates if there is a particular model you want, or you can see which companies offer the best discounts. Check for rebates and promotions frequently to see which ones expire, which ones last forever, and which ones are the most compelling during different parts of the year.
GE
GE is known to offer affordable appliances, and customers can save even more with GE appliance rebates. There are some rebates that are only available for a few weeks at a time, which highlights how GE taps into seasonal demand to drive sales. These rebates apply to a variety of appliances for your home.
LG
Most of the LG appliance rebates are seasonal, so you will want to check these frequently to see if they expire. The rebates apply to kitchen and laundry appliances, but LG might choose to focus on one area over another at different points in the year. If you need a specific appliance, keep an eye on LG rebates to see if you can save.
Samsung
When you look at the available Samsung appliance rebates, you can find overall discounts on products, free items, and add-ons that you might not otherwise pay for. There are both seasonal and long-term rebates available. Samsung creates a diverse range of products, and almost everyone can qualify for some sort of rebate at different parts of the year.
Café
Café offers both seasonal rebates and year-long discounts. The Café appliance rebates provide gifts to customers who buy specific items and offer assurances that buyers will be happy with their items. These varied options highlight how diverse appliance rebates can be.
What Are Other Ways To Save On Appliances?
Appliance rebates aren’t the only way to save money when shopping for new items in your home. There are multiple ways to find discounts as you start the research process. The best part is that many of these savings tips are stackable, which means you can combine them to reduce costs further.
- Shop with discount retailers. Why shop at companies that charge full price when you can start with already-discounted items at East Coast Appliance?
- Look for seasonal sales. Like other retailers, East Coast Appliance has seasonal promotions offering discounts around Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Black Friday.
- Invest in kitchen packages. You can save up to 20 percent off your final costs by choosing kitchen packages instead of buying items one by one.
- Know which brands offer good deals. Some companies have more affordable products than others. If your main goal is to save money, research different brands before you shop.
By taking these steps and applying appliance rebates, you can potentially save thousands of dollars in the shopping process.
FAQs
How do mail-in rebates work?
Mail-in rebates provide cash to customers directly, instead of expecting the appliance store to cover the discount costs. When you purchase an appliance, you will send a rebate code to the company, and it will mail you a check for your savings. These rebates are typically based on the items you buy.
How often are appliance rebates updated?
Most appliance companies create new rebates every month or two. They might keep the same rebate going but update the branding and dates to appeal to customers. Some brands create special seasonal rebates that they only issue a few times each year. By adding expiration dates to rebates, companies try to motivate customers to act quickly and use them.
Why Trust East Coast Appliance?
Locally owned and operated since 1988, East Coast Appliance is the largest independent appliance dealer in Virginia. We sell it ALL — from new name-brand appliances to scratch-and-dent appliances to our very own refurbished appliances. Aside from our huge selection of every major brand and everyday low prices, what sets us apart from our competitors is that we service what we sell and that we are locally owned and operated with factory-trained associates. And if you’re a local, great news: East Coast Appliance is committed to providing the absolute lowest prices on the same available brand and model — simply bring in the ad of the local retail competitor while the lower price is in effect and you'll receive your price match.
Shop Top Brands Offering Rebates at East Coast
There is a reason we are dubbed “The Discount King” — for unbeatable deals, shop brands that offer appliance rebates online at East Coast Appliance. Our friendly associates are always happy to help you save money with appliance rebates, whether you call us or use our online chat feature. Better yet, stop by one of our showrooms to see why we are the best appliance store in Virginia. Visit us today!
Learn More: Discount Appliances Still Provide Tremendous Value