It's Presidents Day Weekend! Time for some great deals!

 

Back in 1879, Congress passed legislation making February 22, George Washington's birthday*, a holiday for Federal employees working in Washington D.C.  In 1885 the holiday was expanded to include all Federal workers.  In 1970, our late controversial ex-President Richard Nixon approved legislation to celebrate Presidents Day on the third Monday of every February in order to include Abraham Lincoln's birthday of Feb 12 in the observance, as well as to give the public a three-day weekend.

*(History buffs may already know this fact, but Washington was actually born on Feb. 11.  At that time the British Isles were alone in using the older, not-quite-accurate Julian calendar, which by the 18th century was 11 days behind the Gregorian calendar that is still in use today!)

Over time, as our industry began focusing on ways to get customers out of their houses in the middle of a gray, gloomy winter, the Presidents Day weekend blossomed into a sales "event" the same way Black Friday and Fourth of July sales events have grown.  Retailers start pumping up their advertising on TV, radio (and increasingly today online!) in early February to get consumers excited.

And yes, the discounts are real!  On most appliances you will pay less right now then you would have in January, or that you'll most likely be paying in March and April. Also... don't forget that Manny's often can offer rebates in addition to the discounted prices, rebates that in many cases are not extended to the giant "Big Box" chains!  More on that below.

Also, please note!! You don't have to show up on that Monday; our vendor allowances and your discounts extend to 2-25.

So how much can you really save?  To demonstrate, I'm going to give an example of a single piece, and then put together a four-piece kitchen suite.

First, take a look at my most popular upper-end dishwasher, the Kitchenaid KDTS424SPS:

US made and owned; giant interior tub, energy-star rated, smooth-glide racks... This has been a great seller for us at its normal pricing.

This dishwasher retails as high as $1349.  We advertised it at $999 in January.  Right now, during the Presidents Day event, we are offering it for $849!!

In addition, we have an $150 install rebate.  While most rebates post-Covid have been geared to encouraging you to buy a multi-piece package, this rebate is on just the dishwasher!  

(And, oh yes... you only get the extra $150 from an independent retailer like Manny's!) 

 It's our way of saying "Thank you for buying local."

How about a four piece package? 

Let's take a look at a popular package from Frigidaire Gallery, a line that has served us well over the years:

-French Door refrigerator with ice and water through the door (Model GRFS2853AF).  Regular price $2699, Presidents Day price $1799

-Electric Free-standing range with true convection (Model GCRE3060BF)  Regular price $1259, Presidents Day price $899.  NOTE- we have similar savings on gas ranges, as well as the ultra-fast induction ranges!

-Matching Energy-Star rated, stainless steel dishwasher (GDSH4715AF)  Regular price $849, currently $699.

Finally, let's complete the suite with an over-the-range venting microwave (GMOS1962AF)  Regular price $479, on sale for Presidents Day for $329.

Your total: $3726.

In addition, Frigidaire currently offers a $300 rebate for the four piece package.  Total after the Frigidaire national rebate: $3426.

BUT WAIT!! Buy this package (or similar) from Manny's, and you will get an ADDITIONAL $600 rebate!!

Now your final total drops to $2826 for a contemporary, coordinated kitchen set..  Not bad!

Of course, this is just an example.  We seldom sell the same package to multiple customers as tastes, sizes, budgets, etc., vary from kitchen to kitchen.

Perhaps you've seen a refrigerator, stove, or dishwasher online or in person that piques your interest.  If that is the case, feel free to reach out to any of our thirteen locations across southern New England; our sales professionals will be more than happy to assist!

(addresses and phone numbers can be found on the front page of our website, right next to the "blog" link you just clicked.)

Customer Service Success Stories

  

In many of my previous blogs I've written about the many advantages of buying from a local retailer such as Manny's vs. a "big box" store.  

I've discussed such advantages as product knowledge of our salespeople, access to exclusive rebates, after-sale support with our own delivery and service departments, and even our aggressive pricing.  I think it's long overdue that I discuss another of these reasons, namely the quality of the support and caring we can offer as a local business.  

Here are two stories in which my co-workers went out of their way to ensure their customer was taken care of:

 

Our showroom in Sutton MA

One day the week before last Mark, the store manager of our Sutton MA  store, stopped into my store here in Westfield (MA) to pick up a stove.  For those not familiar with the towns, Sutton is 50 miles and one hour, four minutes away from Westfield (I checked on GPS).   Mark had called earlier confirming that I did indeed have one of the models that he needed (I did, although it was my "demo" model  in excellent condition - and not in a box.)

"So what made you make the drive all the way out here?" I asked him as we wrapped the stove to ensure its safe transport.

"Well, I have a customer who's closing and moving in to a new house tomorrow.  The stove he ordered was backordered and twice did not arrive when the manufacturer told us it would.   I wasn't going to delay one of my customer's closing, so here I am."  

I nodded, appreciating and admiring the extra effort that Mark put in to make sure his customer was taken care of.

Inside our Westfield MA showroom

That same week Patrick, the store manager in Westfield, took a phone call from an elderly woman who had a washer delivered the afternoon prior.  She had just started her second load when she noticed water leaking from the back.  As this was around 5:30 on a Friday, there would be no way to get a service tech out to her home before Monday (at the earliest.)  Pat decided to drive to her house on his way home after the store had closed for the night (fortunately in this case she was only a few miles away). 

When he arrived he noticed that the washer's drain hose had a split which was causing the leak.  He reassured her, and told her that this was something he would be able to take care of without waiting for a service call.  The next morning he took a drain hose from our store supply, drove back out, and installed the new hose.  Problem solved!

I could quote numerous other examples of what I consider "above and beyond" customer service.  Time and time again over the years I've witnessed fellow employees take a personal interest in their customer's experience.  From driving out to drop off an accessory that wasn't loaded on a truck, to taking the time to explain features on a new range that can be confusing (the difference between "air fry" and "bake", for example) or to driving out to measure the space in a customer's kitchen to ensure the appliance they want will actually fit in their older kitchen, I've seen our salespeople go that "extra mile" to ensure a satisfactory sale from beginning to end.

If you are already a Manny's customer, thank you!  

If not, then next time you need an appliance I ask that you consider us?  

Check out any of our thirteen locations in Southern New England (addresses and phone numbers are on the front page of our website.)

Front load or Top load washer -- Which style is right for me??

I started selling appliances back at the end of 1993.  I was looking for a part-time job so that I could earn some extra holiday cash, and wandered into the Newington, CT branch of the now defunct electronics retailer Lechmere.  The store's General Manager happened to be walking by as I was being interviewed, introduced himself, took a look at my resume, and asked if I might be interested in a full time position selling "majors", or appliances.  I told him that I was indeed interested, and hence began my career selling appliances.

I had basically zero product knowledge.  In an effort to get up to speed on just which appliances people were buying, I bought a few copies of Consumer Reports and began cramming model brands, recommended model numbers, and some of the features of each appliance category CR deemed important.  When it came to laundry, well, choices were far simpler and more limited in 1994 than in 2026!  99% of machines were top-loading, with an auger type agitator, with volumes ranging from 2.4 to 3.0 cubic feet (compare those volume numbers to today's machines that range from 4.1 up to 5.5 cubic feet! And as to how much water they used - that could be the subject of a blog all by itself!).  I also remember at the very end of CR's ratings, a couple of Frigidaire front load machines were listed.  Both scored poorly on reliability (I also soon learned that even if you were interested in a front load washer, availability was  limited at best.)

Now, Consumer Reports was, and still is, aimed at the US/Canada market, and therefore ignored the upper end front load washer choices.   If one lived in say Ireland or Germany, your only choices for washers would have been front loaders.  

Why?  One word: Energy!  The inherent washing action of a front load machine, tumbling clothes constantly through a relatively shallow pool of water instead of essentially bathing them in a top-load design, allowed manufacturers to offer a dramatically more efficient machine which still washed your clothes at least as well.  

The downside to 1990's era front load washers:  

1) Capacity.  A European style washer is the size of a dishwasher.  Americans have never embraced the smaller machines, even if they were more efficient.  

2)  Price.  Euro-brands such as Asko and Miele typically cost $1000 and up, at a time when the cost of a perfectly reliable Whirlpool or GE top load washer could always be purchased for $399. 

3) Installation.  Euro-washers worked with an internal water heater, were plumbed with cold water only, and ran on 220v vs the US standard 110v.  

4) Time:  The front load washers of that time would take in the neighborhood of two hours to wash a load vs. top loading washers that would wash a larger batch of clothes in about 40 minutes.

Times have changed.  D.O.E. mandates began restricting the amount of energy that appliances consumed.  Refrigerators and washing machines became the prime targets.   That mid-90's era top loading machine would use 40-45 gallons of water to clean fewer (compared to today) dirty clothes.  

Big picture: that amount of water consumption was unsustainable.  Having been warned in advance that water and energy restrictions were on the horizon, manufacturers took another look at the inherently more efficient front loading machines.   In the late 90's we began to see what I called "American sized" front load washers, first by Frigidaire and Maytag, then followed by Whirlpool and others.  

Fast forward to 2026, and the capacities of many front load models have doubled that of the front load choices in 1994.

(Note: These smaller European style models still exist, and we do sell them from time to time.  The focus of this blog however is on the more typically sized machines that make up the vast majority of our laundry sales.)

So which is "better"?    

I'm going to summarize the pros and cons of front loading as well both types of top loading machines (agitator and impeller).  

Front load pros:

1. More efficient
2. Gentler cleaning
3. Faster spin speed

The cons:

1. Slightly deeper physically
2. Slightly longer cycle times
3. Generally a bit more expensive

As for top load machines, the pros and cons:

Pros:

1. Generally less expensive
2. Shorter cycle times
3. More compact depth

Cons:

1. More water and energy usage
2. Slower spin speed

A much more detailed discussion of the pros and cons can be found on the link below:

https://www.energystar.gov/products/ask-the-experts/which-clothes-washer-should-i-choose-front-load-or-top-load

Also, top loading machines come in two categories:  agitator driven machines (with an auger to help move clothes around the tub) and impeller machines (using a wash plate to twist the clothes. )

The link below does a great job discussing the benefits and drawbacks of both styles:

https://www.thespruce.com/impeller-vs-agitator-8387026

In summary, I can't answer which format is "better" for you.  What I can do is try and listen to you, my customer, when you come in to buy a new washer and help determine which style is "right" for your needs.  Depending on space, price, family size, interest in specific features, my suggestion might be anywhere from a $499 Amana top loader, a $799 GE front loader, or even a deluxe $1499 Speed Queen top loader that comes with a five year warranty  - everyone's needs and budget is different!

So if you find yourself in the market for a washer, or plan on buying a new machine soon, please reach out to any of the sales professionals in our thirteen stores (addresses on the front page of our website just to the left of the blog link).  We will be happy to help you choose that "right" washer!

Clearance Merchandise - Is It a Good Choice For Me??

 

Ready to ship open-box laundry

First of all,  I've always intensely disliked the phrase "Scratch and Dent"!  

That term, as I will discuss below, just doesn't do many of our open box products proper justice.

But, as it's the end of 2025, Manny's - just like many other retailers -  are promoting our end-of-year clearance merchandise.   

It has become a retail tradition over the last thirty plus years, after the insanity of Christmas and holiday buying, for department and big-box stores to focus on their leftover merchandise. To encourage consumers to come back out to their stores and shop, post-Christmas mark-down and clearance sales became common. These promotions made sense, and many consumers started to wait to take advantage of these sales on leftover toys, stereos, shirts, etc.

As an appliance retailer our "business cycle" is a bit different.  November, with all those aggressive Black Friday/Black November discounts, has become a busier month for us than December.  

Still, we know a lot of people look for these clearance style deals... so here we are!  We too are promoting clearance deals, one-of-a-kinds, scratch-and-dent, open-box deals as well.

You might ask: is open box merchandise a good decision for you?

In a lot of instances, buying "open box" can be a win-win.  There are many reasons for us to mark down an open box appliance on our showroom floor:

One washer might have had a minor problem. After we exchange the model for our customer, our service department repairs the unit and checks it out for resale. It makes its way back to a showroom (usually, but not always, our Westfield MA location), where it is sold at an appropriate discount and with a full warranty.

Another washer might simply have been a mis-order (yes, being humans, we do sometimes make mistakes!). Since that unit is now out of its original box, we can't sell it as "brand new".  We discount the product, which can make for a great deal for a customer who doesn't mind the fact that the box is gone.

Other items might be "open box" because of a size issue (despite our best efforts to anticipate, sometimes a 28 cubic foot behemoth of a French Door refrigerator simply doesn't fit through a doorway).  Or perhaps the side or front of a range is dented.  If our customer preferred a new delivery vs. taking a damage allowance, we will bring that original piece to a sales floor (again, usually but not always Westfield) and sell it at an appropriate discount.

Sometimes a certain model simply becomes discontinued.  When this happens we will sell off our display piece with a nice discount.  We like to keep our showrooms "fresh"!

A just-discontinued Whirlpool washer and dryer

So if you are looking to find a great deal on an appliance and can live with minor imperfections (or in some cases no issues at all other than the fact that the piece was brought to someone's house and then put back on the delivery truck), a clearance event like such as Manny's is having right now can be a perfect time to buy!

On the other hand, just as some people are only comfortable buying a new car fresh off the showroom, maybe you simply prefer a piece that is factory-fresh.  No problem!  We always are getting deals, discounts, and rebates from manufacturers that we are happy to pass on to you.

Oficially, the clearance event promoted in our circular runs through 12-31 (you can check out our flyer on the front page of our website, just to the left of the "Our blog" link you pressed moments ago.)  

In reality, our stores always have at least some open box merchandise available - sometimes a lot, sometimes not so much.  Check with any of our thirteen stores (contact info is always on the front page of our website) if you have any questions, or have a particular product in mind.  New or out-of-the-box, we're always here to help you out!!

What Are People Buying? A Top Ten Model List for 2025

 

"What's your best selling dishwasher?"

"What's the most popular color on a stove today?"

"Dave, do people actually spend over $1000 to buy a Speed Queen washer?

I get questions like the above all the time.  In response, I've put together below a list of our ten best selling appliance models for 2025.  

(btw, the answers to the above questions: a Maytag two rack stainless front dishwasher, stainless steel, and absolutely yes!)

To compose this list I am using a very simple method:  I went onto our distributor's site (our distributor, the New England Appliance Group out of Franklin MA feeds nearly 140 "independent" retailers up and down the northeast corrior), and then I clicked on "YTD" and sorted from largest number to fewer.  So while this list doesn't reflect what a "Big Box" store such as Home Depot may be selling, it does accurately show what customers such as yourselves are buying from a knowledgable appliance dealer such as Manny's. 

(No data interpretation here - these are simply the ten best selling "SKUs".)

So.... drumroll please.... here we are!

1) JVM3160RFSS GE over-the-range microwave

This basic (by 2025 standards) but fully functional (two speed fan, two light levels) micro hood is often the companion piece to the many GE kitchen suites we sell, in addition to being a worthy and reasonably priced choice if "branding" your kitchen isn't an issue.

2) TC5003WN Speed Queen top load washer

When I did this survey last year, I mentioned how pleasantly surprised I was that this model was our fourth best selling appliance.  Well, this year it's ranked even higher, at #2!  I frequently get asked questions and field complaints from frustrated consumers along the lines of "I'll pay more a product that lasts longer.  Don't you have anything like that?"  If you're in the market for a washer, I do have the answer with Speed Queen!  This top load model features short cycle times, no lid lock, a stainless steel tub, plus a five year parts AND labor warranty.  I've owned one since 2019, and so far it has proven capable of handling multiple loads a day (my wife fosters animals) without a hitch.   Yes, it's approximately double the retail of a typical washer, but - provided it's within your household budget - we think it was well worth the investment!

3) GRF600AVSS GE electric range  

This is often the first range I personally show when someone's looking for a reliable stove with a decent set of features.  With air-fry, two speed convection fan, and a removable bottom tray in the oven, this stove offers a lot of features for its usual $800-$900 price when on promo.

4) GTD48EASWWB GE electric dryer

A good workhorse electric dryer with multiple temperatures, a press guard feature to fluff the clothes for a while if you don't get to take them out right away, and a narrow 27" footprint.  Another great feature of this dryer:  The motor will vent up to 120 equivalent feet, so it's a great solution in situations where a customer has an extra long duct run!

5) MED4500MW Maytag electric dryer

Another very popular, American made and owned, dryer.  At 7.0 cubic feet it's large enough for today's overized washers, has multiple temperatures, and and up-top lint filter.

6) MDB4949SKZ Maytag dishwasher  

Once again our best selling dishwasher.   Stainless steel tub and a fingerprint resistant front, with an internal water heater to help the dishwasher dissolve grease.  Quiet, and with two racks on the inside.  At its promo price in the $599-$649 range this unit offers plenty of performance without a lot of "bells and whistles."

7) GGF600AVSS GE gas range  

GE GGF600AVSS gas range

This feature packed range includes a griddle and a wide range of BTU's on the cooking surface.  The oven allows for convection and air-fry baking, and also has a removable bottom for easier cleanup.  This range and its predecessors have always been among our most popular sellers.

 

8) GFW550SSNWW GE front loading washer

This washer has a lot of attractive features.  At 4.8 cubic feet it's a bit larger than other brands at its $750-$850 selling range.  It also has a reversible door, which can be a great feature for those who have "backward", or washer-on-the-right, setups.

9) WM3400CW LG front loading washer

LG always recieves strong consumer advocate ratings for their washers and dryers.  This 4.5 cubic foot full-sized washer also boasts the shallowest (30.25" deep) frame, making it a popular choice for customers trying to upgrade from a top-loading set to the deeper-chassis front-load units.

10) SHP78CM5N Bosch dishwasher

Bosch has always been knows for the quality, performance, and -especially!- the quietness of their machines.  This "800" series dishwasher also adds a Crystal Dry feature to assist drying of plastics.  At a $1399 normal retail it is certainly on the higher end of the dishwasher price range, but even at that price it's our buying group's 2nd best selling dishwasher.

Because there are so many different types of refrigerators, no one model was able to crack the top ten.  The models below are the best selling in each category (refrigerators are typically classified by the location of the freezer (top, bottom, side.)

Top freezer   GE GTS17DTNRWW.  A very popular model for rental properties and starter homes.  At less than 28" wide, it fits almost anywher.

Side-by-side  Whirlpool WRS321SDHZ note- this is a narrow model built for older kitchens with a 33" width limitation.  The best seller in the more common 36" width category is the GE GSS25IYNFS. Both these models give you an ice and water dispenser through the door, and plenty of organization in the refrigerator.

Single door bottom freezer  Whirlpool WRB322DMBM.  This model bottom-freezer, and it's many predecessors under various "badges" (Amana, Maytag, Whirlpool) has long been the "go-to" bottom-freezer model in the industry.

French door bottom freezer GE GNE27JYMFS (this model has an icemaker and internal water. The best selling model with a dispenser on the outside is its sister piece GFE26JYMFS).  Energy star rated, U.S. made, fingerprint resistant fronts... this was our number seller last year as well!

Personally, I found this list enlightening as well as interesting.  For example, to see "upper end" units such as the Speed Queen washer and Bosch dishwasher among the top ten tells me that our customers are often willing to spend a little more than an average amount for product brands with a known history of quality. I was also just as suprised that the number one seller of all was a perfectly unpretentious, although useful, over-the-range microwave.  My take from that:  I think often the over-range microwave decision is a "tag-along" companion purchase, as the vast majority of our customers purchase the micro that matches their stove.  Besides giving a finished kitchen a coordinated look between range and microwave, purchasing the same-brand microwave often increases the size of a rebate when purchasing a kitchen package!

I hope you found this list at least interesting.  If you're contemplating an appliance, perhaps this gives you a starting point?   

As always, feel free to reach out to any of the sales professionals in our thirteen showrooms (addresses and contact info are on the first page of our website.)

Missed Black Friday?? It's OK... There's Still Time!

Perhaps you were out of town visiting relatives this past weekend?

Perhaps you simply didn't feel like venturing out on Black Friday and fighting the teeming crowds?  

If you're still in the market for a great deal on new appliances, it's not too late! 

You still have a few more days, until this Saturday 12-13 to be exact, to take advantage of all the "Black November" discounts we have at Manny's!  Take advantage of our no interest until January 2027 financing!  Take advantage of the extra, often exclusive rebates that we are offering right now!

Yes, there's still time... but the clock is ticking.  Hurry in by Wednesday so we can assist you with purchasing your new appliances!

Black Friday is almost upon us!!

Well, actually, in the major appliance industry "Black Friday" is really "Black November"!  

If you think you might have noticed a big jump by retailers with their tv, radio, or perhaps in social media ads, you're not wrong.  Everyone (Manny's included!) is out there screaming and clamoring for your attention, letting you know that sales and deals are the best of the year.  These days, manufactuerers often reserve their best deals and discounts for November.

It wasn't always this way. Not that long ago, up until sometime in the early 00's the week leading up to Christmas was the busiest retail shopping days, with business reaching its crescendo on December 23 and 24.

What happened?  

Black Friday's origin was most likely back in 1924, when Macy's decided to offer steep discounts in conjunction with their famous Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The term "Black Friday" as a retail event came into vogue in the 80's. By then the Holiday shopping season would run from the day after Thanksgiving up to Christmas, and for many retailers these four weeks were essential to their end of year profit - or even survival.  Hence "Black", meaning "In the black, or showing a profit", versus being "In the red."  The name stuck, and eventually migrated from the U.S. to other countries.

As companies sought (as they always do) to out-do one another, stores began opening earlier and earlier.  Some companies stretched their deals into Thanksgiving Day itself.  As the Internet became more of an influencer, manufacturerers began discounting to retailers on earlier and earlier dates.  For the past few years the discounts we receive begin in early November (November 5th this year, to be precise,) and will run until December 3.  

This gives you four weeks to take advantage of these exciting deals.  So no, you do NOT have to stand in line outside our stores on Thanksgiving afternoon to save more money on your new refrigerator!

I found this link from History.com very useful regarding the history of Black Friday:

https://www.history.com/articles/black-friday-thanksgiving-origins-history

"So just how much can I save on my appliances right now," you ask?

You'll find the savings do vary from model to model, and in some cases color by color on the same model! (The latter can be true on a lot of refrigerators especially, where often we only receive manufacturer's discounts and allowances on the best-selling stainless steel colored model, and not the older colors.)  Our sales professionals can guide you through the pricing labywrinth, and help you find the best deal that meets your needs and wants.

Looking for a basic washer?  Look no further!  We are offering three different top-load Whirlpool brand washers this month for under $500!!

Need to replace that aging refrigerator? Let me offer this GE counter-depth French Door fridge as an example.  Regular retail is $2699 (OK, almost no one ever buys this fridge at that price!)  It frequently goes on sale during promotional periods for $1999 (and is one of our best sellers in this category.)  This month - $1499!!  This is probably the best price on a name brand counterdepth fridge I've ever seen!

GE GWE23GYNFS

Are you thinking about redoing your kitchen?  I'd like to point out three of the many good reasons to consider Manny's as your final destination.

1) You get to work with seasoned professionals who know their products, who know which questions to ask in order to help narrow down your search, and help you find products that both match your vision as well as take the least possible bite out of your wallet.

2) We share inventory and warehouse space with approximately 140 other retailers, giving us "buying power" equal to the Big Box and Internet giants that are always lurking out there.

3) In addition to being able to at least match (and often beat) other retailer's sale prices, we have the advantage of being able to offer exclusive rebates on multi piece packages. A recent example: One of my customers just finished purchasing a GE Profile kitchen package from me.  GE offered a very aggressive rebate of $750 on this five piece package.  By buying from me at Manny's, I was able to give him an additional $600 in an "independent retailer only" rebate!  

Another quick word about our additional rebates:  Many of our rebate values are doubled for November!!  Our rebates normally give you back $100-$500, but if you buy during Black November you will receive $200-$1000, depending on the number of qualifying products you purchase.

In closing, if you're going to be in the market for appliances in the next few weeks, we hope you will consider purchasing from us at Manny's.  We will do our best to make your visit worthwhile.

Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone!!