Thursday, May 18, 2023

 

Manny’s Kitchen Talk Blog for 5-17


You’re about to see a big increase in advertising in the coming weeks for major appliances, as promotions centered around Memorial Day and then Independence Day begin.  I get asked three questions frequently when holiday promos start: 


  1.   Is this really a sale?

  2.   How long will I have to wait for my product to be delivered?

  3.   If everyone’s having a sale, why should I buy from Manny’s?


I’d like to address these questions today.



Is this really a sale?


Back in the last millennium, well, back in the 90’s, there was an (now defunct) appliance retailer whose advertising would always proclaim “One Year Price Guarantee!”.  You might notice that no one proclaims price guarantees after a sale anymore.  

Why is that?  The simple answer is that manufacturers choose which items they wish to promote and discount, through price reductions to retailers.  In effect, these manufacturers are putting their products “on sale” to the retailers!   Specific items, and sometimes only in specific colors, are discounted to retailers for specific periods of time.  These discounts are then passed on from a retailer like Manny’s to you, the customer.  Most of these discounts are timed to coincide with holiday weekends.  Some of these discounts, especially in higher priced categories like refrigerators and upper-end laundry, can amount to hundreds of dollars!


So, if the price tag on a product in our store that you like says the sale price ends on, for example, June 7, that means exactly that.  Once these manufacturer discounts go away, the sale price will return to its original price.


How long will I have to wait for my product to be delivered?


At the worst of the Covid-19 Pandemic, it was not at all unusual for a customer to have to wait months for certain products to become available for delivery.  And no, the appliance industry wasn’t the only industry to suffer from the well-publicized supply chain issues that occurred between mid-2020 well into 2022.


I’m ecstatic to say that those severe supply issues are mercifully behind us!  Availability of appliances has been improving steadily for almost a year now.  While selection isn’t quite at pre-Covid levels, most models are now available.  In most cases, Manny's can deliver these appliances in 2-3 business days!  And, if a particular appliance you like is out of stock, Manny’s can usually give you a back-in-stock date that is reliable. 


If everyone’s having a sale, why should I buy from Manny’s?


Here are three reasons:

  • I already mentioned one of the big reasons for buying from us in the last section:  we can deliver most in-stock merchandise within 2-3 business days  The long waits of the Covid-19 era are over
  • What about exclusive rebates?  As inventory levels return to normal, appliance manufacturers are again offering rebate incentives.  While all stores, including the “Big Box’ retailers, offer rebates, we have access to rebates that are NOT available at Home Depot, Lowes, etc.  In many cases Manny’s can offer these exclusive rebates on laundry sets, and on appliance packages of three or more pieces (ask any of our salespeople for specifics.)
  • We know that purchasing a major appliance is an important purchase for you and everyone in your family. Information and choices can be overwhelming at first, and there is no shortage of opinions, reviews, and ratings online.  With Manny’s, you will be working with a locally owned company with knowledgeable and well-trained professionals, from your salesperson to the delivery team that brings your brand-new appliance into your home. We appreciate your trust in us when you give us your business, and we want to keep you as a customer next time you need something!


Thanks for reading!  Next week I’d like to discuss some of the more popular product trends and changes.  See you then!