“Hey AJ! I’m in the midst of a home renovation, and I feel like every appliance I want is out of stock or on back-order! What am I doing wrong, and when will the appliance industry go back to normal?”
GS, Lakewood
Hey GS!
It’s frustrating when an appliance you really had your mind set on is unavailable! Many people are struggling with the same issue right now.
To answer this question, let’s first go back to how the pandemic impacted the home appliances industry. COVID-19 was an unprecedented event. It changed significant aspects of how people live, work, and interact. All of a sudden, everyone started spending more time at home. Instead of spending money on summer camps and family vacations, home improvement projects became a top priority. Furthermore, families were cooking at home more than ever.
Early in the pandemic, we experienced intermittent factory closures. US-based appliance manufacturing plants are operating better than before. However, products and parts made in other countries are still running to catch up.
What does this mean? Higher than average order volume mixed with slower-than-average production means a longer-than-average wait time for out-of-stock appliances.
If you’re in the midst of a renovation, fear not! We have some pro tips for ordering appliances.
1. Be Flexible
There are thousands of appliances to choose from. AjMadison offers an enormous selection with thousands of in-stock products ready to ship. It’s important that you select an appliance that will meet your needs, but if you’re looking to get your new appliance right away, you’re better off having a little flexibility.
2. Be Ready with a Back Up
Select a back-up model or two just in case your desired product is out of stock. Use our site filters to find the products that best fit your needs. If getting your appliances right away is a top priority, then filter for QuickShip items. From there you can search for products by size, brand, color, and features.
3. Take Delivery Right Away
Take delivery of your appliances as soon as they can be delivered. If you need your new appliances ASAP, make sure your schedule is flexible to accept the first available delivery date.
4. Avoid Common Delivery and Installation Mistakes
- Measure First!
Measuring is super important, especially if you’re keeping your existing cabinets. Not only should you measure your old appliance but make sure to also measure the space it’s going into to make sure the new product will fit. You also need to measure any obstacles along the way, like doorways, hallways, corners, stairwells, elevators, or even railings. - Identify plugs and connections.
Once you have measurements, you need to make sure you identify the connections behind your appliance. For example, clothes dryers could be powered by electricity or gas. If you’re unsure which you have, before we deliver your appliances, take a picture, and we can help you confirm. - Which way will it open?
Make sure to identify which way you want your new appliance to open. Many dryers and top freezer fridges are hinge-reversible meaning the door can be adjusted to open either way. Select products need to be ordered hinge right or left, so it’s important to know which orientation you need before we deliver your appliances. - Order the correct accessories.
When you place an appliance order, make sure to add on the right accessories. Almost every appliance requires at least an electrical cord. Dishwashers need anti-tip brackets. Washer dryer sets need water hoses, cords, and dryer vent pipes. Microwaves might need trim kits. There are a wide range of accessories needed depending on your product selection and desired installation. - Hire an experienced appliance installer.
One of our best pro tips is to hire a high-quality installer — this will save you time, money, and peace of mind. The leading cause of first-year appliance service calls is related to incorrect product installation. Bad appliance installs can be dangerous and lead to poor product performance.
If you have not ordered installation services or are unsure about your appliance installation needs, ask us today for details on our professional installation services.
We hope this helped you understand where the appliance shortage is stemming from, and that these tips will help make your renovations a bit less stressful! If you have a question to submit, email info@nsheinews.com, subject line ‘ASK AJ’ for a chance to have your question answered by an AJMadison expert!
