This question usually serves to muddy the waters in the decision-making process. Not only can it be a pain to try and figure out what to buy, but deciding where to buy can also prolong the process.
I won't go into details regarding specific retailers. What I will do is break it down into the following categories: independent dealer (IE Joe's Appliances), Big Box store (Lowe's, Sears, Best Buy), and Internet sellers (AJ Madison, eBay, Amazon). For the sake of brevity, I will only focus on the independent dealer.
Independent Dealer
The independent dealer is a dying breed. Pushed into obsolescence by the Internet and Big Box stores, coupled with the consumer's demand for the lowest possible price, many independent dealers are throwing in the towel and closing their doors.
If your community still has an independent appliance dealer, I would encourage you to visit. Many of the surviving dealers are still there for a reason (or several): they offer a good selection at competitive prices; they feature a knowledgeable staff capable of providing superior service; they offer full service delivery and installation services; many still operate their own service departments.
I do not mean to imply you cannot get the above from the Big Box stores or an Internet dealer, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to find all of the above outside of the independent dealer. The Internet dealer may have the rock bottom price, but what about delivery and installation? The Big Box store may have a great selection and good prices, but what about service after the sale?
Admittedly, you may pay a slight premium when buying from an independent dealer. But when all is said and done, aren't you getting a lot more from your money?
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