We occasionally hear from customers who have bought new appliances, particularly ovens and cooktops, from online auction sites, or privately. While the prices can’t be matched by the regular retailers, there are reasons why those online appliances are so cheap and they aren’t always good reasons.
Check the warranty on the appliance you buy. Even from reputable dealers, this can be an issue. Bear in mind that the savings on the goods need to cover at least one breakdown. So if something goes on your oven or cooktop, you need to be saving more than $250 on the buy to cover even a relatively minor issue.
Is it a mainstream brand? It may seem attractive to buy an Italian or other overseas brand, but if it is not supported in Australia, parts and serviceability will be a constant problem. Even a new oven seal may be difficult to source.
Is it an Australian model? Occasionally we find overseas models of even the more mainstream brands are being sold online, much more cheaply. But there are no parts available for these models as they are not supported in this country.
So before buying online, bear in mind that you want an appliance to last, especially if it is being installed in a specific cabinet or bench space. This can also apply to dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers. Sometimes the attractive online models are not the ones to buy.
