by Kevin Brasler

Last updated June 2026

Our undercover shoppers found that buying appliances from online-only retailers often doesn’t produce savings, particularly when delivery and installation costs are added. There are several other disadvantages:

  • It’s more difficult to spot and get a replacement for a defective product. Delivery personnel for online stores likely aren’t trained to spot problems—and probably won’t be able to seek a remedy directly from the retailer. If you discover a problem after you’ve accepted delivery, it could be difficult to arrange for pickup of the defective product and delivery of a replacement. Worse, if you don’t discover a problem until you’ve hired someone to install the appliance, you’ll have to pay the independent pro a second time to come out to install the replacement.
  • Similarly, if a freight carrier has delivered a damaged item, you won’t know whether the carrier caused the damage or if it happened before the carrier received the item. If neither the store nor the delivery company accepts responsibility, you’ll have to try forcing one or the other to make amends.
  • In a worst-case scenario, you’ll have to file a lawsuit in—and possibly travel to—the location of the web-based store.

If you do buy online anyway, remember to:

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