Best places to buy in-stock appliances right now

In 2021, the U.S. housing market incurred an incredible 6.9 million home sales, a number that is projected to rise even higher this year.

If you’re like the average home buyer, chances are you’re looking to update some, if not all, of your home’s appliances to start making your space feel like your own. Or, perhaps you haven’t moved at all, and your existing kitchen and laundry appliances are reaching the end of life.

Shopping for appliances (refrigerators, dishwashers, ranges, washing machines, and dryers) can be an exciting task for many folks, especially those anticipating air-fry oven modes and refrigerators that can generate custom grocery lists.

In 2020, pandemic-related supply chain issues rocked the appliance industry, leading to soaring numbers of unavailable and out of stock kitchen and laundry appliances, and resulting in months-long post-purchase wait times for delivery.

If you opted to put off buying a new refrigerator or replacing your range until supply chains and inventories were back to normal, you’re probably still waiting.

Christofer von Nagel, CEO at BSH Home Appliances Corporation North America, says, “Over the last two years we have seen unprecedented demand for our home appliances, coupled with global materials shortages and other logistical challenges. As a result, we are seeing longer than usual lead times for delivery. The length of our appliance delays vary from product to product on a daily basis, but fulfillment delays for some Bosch and Thermador products have recently been around 8 to 12 months, and for Gaggenau products around 12 to 16 weeks.”

Bosch isn’t the only manufacturer with these problems. We’ve experienced these delays first-hand when buying Samsung and Maytag appliances to test and review in our lab. It’s every manufacturer.

Despite the dire circumstances, it is possible to buy appliances and have them arrive at your home, in a timely manner, when you need them.

We’re doing our best to stay on top of what’s in-stock right now.

What is the best website to buy appliances?

Not only does buying appliances on a website mean you can research and shop from your couch, it also means you can automatically filter for “in-stock” to see what’s available immediately. Some websites, like AJ Madison, even have little icons indicating what’s in stock and can ship within 24 hours.

Here at Reviewed, we have three favorite websites for where to buy appliances: Abt, Appliances Connection, and AJ Madison.

Abt

With over 80 years of experience, Abt is a trusted source for all types of home appliance products. In fact, the Illinois-based company is consistently rated as one of the best places to buy appliances in the entire country, despite having only one showroom in Glenview, Illinois.

Stellar customer service, free tech support, and a low price guarantee are just the beginning. There’s no shortage of top brands you can find like Bosch, KitchenAid, and Frigidaire, and all available appliances can easily be found on the website.

Shipping is free, but there might be delivery fees depending on where you live.

Returns and exchanges are easy, too, with a full refund given within 30 days and most items are free to return (unless oversized or overweight).

Shop in-stock refrigerators at Abt Shop in-stock ranges at Abt Shop in-stock dishwashers at Abt Shop in-stock laundry at Abt

Appliances Connection

Appliances Connection’s massive selection (literally, hundreds) makes it much more likely that your appliance from a lesser-known or specialized brand will be in stock and allows you to browse and compare other options.

Plus, the retailer's closeout deals section is a great place to check out a new dishwasher or refrigerator for a discount—though your dream appliance might not be featured.

Appliances Connection ships directly from its warehouse, which means faster shipping and delivery times for you, not to mention free threshold shipping for orders over $99 (meaning the delivery workers will take it through the threshold of your home and no further).

Installation will incur an additional cost at checkout (rates depend on where you live and what appliance needs to be installed).

The stress-free return policy gives you 30 days to return an item for a full refund, no questions asked.

Shop in-stock refrigerators at Appliances Connection Shop in-stock ranges at Appliances Connection Shop in-stock dishwashers at Appliances Connection Shop in-stock laundry at Appliances Connection

AJ Madison

With new appliances arriving daily, AJ Madison has thousands of appliances from top brands—and they’re all available to ship for free nationwide.

There are lots of reasons to shop AJ Madison for your appliances, but in particular, we love that they may price match with authorized dealers and offer “buy one, get one” deals and packages that save you big if you’re looking to buy a set.

As far as shipping is concerned, depending on your proximity to the warehouse, you may be eligible for two-day shipping. Otherwise, it will likely take about one to two weeks to arrive.

Like other retailers on this list, AJ Madison is able to connect you with an installer for an additional charge. If you need to return, you must contact customer service within 24 hours if the product is defective. If so, you may return it within 30 days, but there will be a 30% restocking fee.

Shop in-stock refrigerators at AJ Madison Shop in-stock ranges at AJ Madison Shop in-stock dishwashers at AJ Madison Shop in-stock laundry at AJ Madison

What is the best big box store to buy appliances?

Some consumers are more hands-on shoppers and want to see, feel, or experience the appliances before making such large purchases. And, that’s totally valid!

Do some research, visit the store, research some more, and then figure out where you want to buy your large appliances from. Once you find a favorite model, you can shop around online to see where it is in-stock for the best price.

When it comes to appliances, Best Buy is a solid choice for where to shop. It stocks select models from all the major brands, cutting out the frivolities that the majority of consumers don't want or need. Big box retailers like The Home Depot and Lowe's are consumer favorites for their convenience.

Best Buy

Although mostly known for smart phones and smart TVs, Best Buy is actually a great place to find home appliances, too.

Its brand selection is small but thorough, with top names like Samsung, Maytag, and Frigidaire making appearances among its product lines. Have questions? It’s easy to shop from home worry-free with Best Buy's complimentary home consulting service that provides solutions and suggestions for any question you may have prior to purchasing.

Depending on where you're located, your local Best Buy may have a Pacific Sales store-in-store experience, which allows the Best Buy store to sell high-end brands like Viking, Wolf, and Thermador. Other big box retailers like The Home Depot or Lowe's don't have access to these brands, which gives Best Buy an edge while shopping for appliances.

Shop in-stock refrigerators at Best Buy Shop in-stock ranges at Best Buy Shop in-stock dishwashers at Best Buy Shop in-stock laundry at Best Buy

Lowe’s

Lowe’s stocks popular brands like GE and Samsung and offers price-matching guarantees, so you know you'll be getting the lowest price possible.

Delivery for all major appliances is free, but you also have the freedom to pick up in-store if you prefer. For $30, Lowe's will also remove your old appliance and safely dispose of it.

Returns are allowed within 30 days, but refunds are only given if the appliance is returned in “like new” condition.

Shop in-stock refrigerators at Lowe’s Shop in-stock ranges at Lowe’s Shop in-stock dishwashers at Lowe’s Shop in-stock laundry at Lowe’s

The Home Depot

One of the many things we love about shopping for appliances at The Home Depot is the extensive range of products they have, both in-store and online.

Free shipping is available on most appliances. If you don’t want delivery, in-store pick-up is available at all locations.

Quick tip: Make sure to thoroughly inspect your appliance before accepting delivery or taking your order home; if there is a defect or damage to the product, you may refuse to accept it. Once accepted, you have just 48 hours to make a return, but only if you find something wrong with the product.

Shop in-stock refrigerators at The Home Depot Shop in-stock ranges at The Home Depot Shop in-stock dishwashers at The Home Depot Shop in-stock laundry at The Home Depot

Avoid shopping at Amazon and Walmart for large appliances

You may be desperate for appliances, but don’t fall into this trap. Although they both feature some top-rated brands we usually recommend, we advise skipping buying appliances here altogether. From mostly third-party sellers to not including installation for all items, buying appliances here could come with more risk than we think is necessary.

Our editor-in-chief Dave Kender puts it best: “While they remain the go-to shopping site for many consumer products, Amazon and Walmart are not recommended for large appliances. The retailer is rarely the actual seller, relying instead on a network of marketplace sellers with a less-than-stellar reputation. Appliance brands will not always honor warranties of appliances purchased through Amazon or Walmart because they can't actually trace the provenance. And with the added complication of delivery and installation for such large, cumbersome products (not to mention haul-away of your old appliance), we strongly recommend that you go with someone else.”

What to do if you need an appliance replacement right now

If your fridge or stove is broken and you need a replacement, like, yesterday, there is one tactic you can try: Visit your local appliance store!

While many big box retailers will ship large appliances nationwide, local appliance stores are oftentimes your best bet for buying these big ticket items.

Not only have these mostly family-owned businesses been around for decades, but they have experts on hand who can install your appliances without issue. Additionally, some may have large showrooms and local warehouses that can deliver items to you fast and efficiently from just a few miles away.

Why are so many appliances out of stock?

It’s the perfect storm of increased consumer demand, supply chain slowdowns, and a shortage of materials driven by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an article for USA TODAY, Yossi Sheffi, the director of the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics, indicates that soaring demand is the main culprit. Overwhelming consumer demand (30% to 40% above pre-pandemic levels) created by a hot real estate market can put pressure on a robust supply chain and shipping system, at any time.

Given that these both have felt strain—supply chains because of ongoing COVID surges in China and other spots around the globe, and shipping infrastructure because of striking port workers in California and other delivery woes—it should come as little surprise that consumers are now feeling the crunch.

We reached out to most major appliance manufacturers for specific insights, including Samsung, Whirlpool, and Maytag, who all declined to comment.

Vice president of product management Salih “Sazi” Bugay at Beko, says, “Supply chain issues are associated with production-related material shortages, and such components are integral to the product manufacturing process. Additionally, freight-related delays, such as shortages of the containers and trucks that move products from point A to point B, contribute to the shortages we see with appliances.”

According to the National Association of Home Builders, builders who had not often complained about appliance shortages in the past, began doing so. NAHB added the item to its NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index survey and found: “95% of builders reported a shortage of appliances in May 2021—the single highest shortage percentage recorded on any item since NAHB began collecting the information in a systematic way in the 1990s.”

What appliances are hard to get right now?

According to Bugay, “The appliances that are hard to get are dishwashers, induction cooking products, high-end refrigerators, and complex appliances with built-in Wi-Fi connectivity."

Why are appliances so expensive right now?

A combination of rapidly increasing freight costs, the inflation we are seeing across the U.S., and material shortages are the main reasons for the rising price of appliances, according to Bugay and other experts.

The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews, and more.

Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.