Independence Day Sales Are Now Here!!

Fourth of July sale!!  Black Friday in June sale!! Christmas in Summer sale!! 

I've seen exclamations like these through the years promoting major discounts and promotions on Major Appliances (and other products) over the years.  The truth is - YES! - there are major discounts and promotions on appliances right now, promos that rival the deals we've all come to expect on Black Friday (although "Black Friday" has morphed in recent years to "Black November"!)

Why is this? 

 The simple answer:  In the last decade or so, manufacturers have tended to bunch their discount programs around major holidays.  While sales continually happen in any retail business, the steepest and most exciting appliance discounts now occur around Presidents' Day, Memorial Day/Independence Day, and then November.

How much should you expect to save? 

 There's no across-the-board flat discount on appliances (in other words, not every item is exactly 10% off.)  Undoubtedly that would be simpler for both you the consumer and me as the salesperson, but like so many facets of life, nothing is "that simple."  Simply put: the manufacturers decide what product to put on sale, and they decide how much of a discount they want to give retailers (no, we're not the only retailer having a sale right now!).  These discounts vary in amount, length of time, and in some cases which color of a particular model get discounted (as a general rule, expect deeper discounts on the newer colors (stainless steel and its alternatives such as slate and black stainless) than the traditional white and black.

For example, take a look at this GE refrigerator, the very popluar GNE27JYMFS:

This 27 cubic foot, American made French Door refrigerator is one of our most popular models. 

Note the spacious interior, all the storage options, and the Energy Star tag!

Let's say you decide this is the right fridge for your kitchen, and you decide to take advantage of the promos being offered.   How much can you expect to save?

Well, the savings depends very much on the color:

As you can see from our product tag, the sale price will vary considerably, depending on the color you want:

• Stainless steel - $1399
• Slate- also $1399
• Black or White - $2069!  

I know.  This doesn't seem fair, especially if you prefer black or white. However, our pricing is based on what the manufacturers (GE, in this case) choose to promote.  For some time now it looks like GE and other manufacturers are definitely trying to "encourage" consumers to go with the newer colors! 

This may seem like an extreme case, but I can quote numerous similar examples.  Letting your salesperson know what you're looking for as far as features, size, price, color, etc., can allow us to better help you navigate your way to the best deal that fits your wants or needs.

Why buy at at Manny's?  

So now that you've decided to take advantage of one or more of these tremendous deals, it's fair to ask why you should trust Manny's to not only help you through the purchase, but also make sure your product arrives at your home properly and swiftly. 

These are important questions to ask.  Let me try to give you some good reasons:

1. Our salespeople are professionals, and specialists!  Selling appliances to consumers is why we're here!  It's all that we do.  Let's face it - helping you choose the right appliance is what we do for a living!
2. We can usually deliver in a timely manner.  Inventory is not quite where it was pre-Covid (and I doubt it ever will be!), but most product is available for delivery within 2-3 business days.
3. We have our own service department.  No, we do not want you to have a problem!  But... if you do, at least you can have the reassurance of knowing that the same people you've trusted enough to purchase your new refrigerator or washer are going to be there if something goes wrong.  No third-party service clearinghouses that have no vested interest in keeping you happy.
4. Exclusive rebates.  Personally, I don't think we talk about this enough!  If you are contemplating purchasing more than one appliance (say, a new dryer to go with the washer you're replacing, or an over-range micro-hood to go with your new stove), we can offer many rebates of $100 or more, even up to $1000 for certain full kitchens.  Most importantly, many of our rebates are only available to independent retailers such as Manny's!  

(When I present these rebates to a customer, I often call these exclusive rebates the "Thank you for buying local rebate".  In these cases, not only do you get to feel good about supporting a local business, but you actually get rewarded financially for your support!)

If you have any questions on any of the above, or would like to begin the process of choosing and purchasing an appliance, please reach out to any of the sales professionals in our eleven (yes, our Shrewsbury showroom is now open!) locations. We'll be happy to assist you!

Oh No!! I need to buy a new refrigerator!! Where Do I Start??

Unless you're in the process of remodeling your kitchen or buying a new home and redoing the kitchen to reflect your own taste and image, you're probably not going to buy a new refrigerator unless you have to.  That's understandable.  The refrigerator is usually the most expensive appliance in the kitchen (there are exceptions, such as when you decide you want to outfit your kitchen with a "Professional" style range or wall oven), and can run anywhere from $600 to $3000 and possibly more.  

Why the huge variation in price, you may understandably ask?  I will get back to that in a bit.  First, let me point out a few advantages in today's fridge vs. older units.

1. Energy efficiency has been greatly enhanced.  Even units that don't bear the Energy Star logo are dramatically more efficient than their predecessors.  Most consumer see a notable drop in their electric bill.
2. Units today are greener.  Coolants are more environmentally friendly, as manufacturers work toward reducing their impact on our planet.
3. Lighting is nicer.  Most refrigerators use LED lighting, which is both more energy efficient and brighter.
4. More options are available to the consumer.  Refrigerators come in different sizes and shapes.  Icemaker and ice/water dispensers are readily available (as are units that do not come with these convenience amenities.
5. Refrigerators can be smart and connected.  I wrote about that in a recent blog, so I am going to refer you there should you want to learn more about smart options.

https://draft.blogger.com/u/1/blog/post/edit/5695512488839797470/356120257404864387

(A very important caution before beginning your purchase!! Be aware that unlike appliances such as ranges and dishwashers which conform to standard width and heights) refrigerators sizes vary - considerably.   Units are built to fit into various common widths ranging from 24-36", but also vary in height and even depth.  Before making a final selection, it is crucial to know how much space (don't forget to take your doorways and hallways into account!!) you have available.)

We realize that if your fridge is broken and not keeping you food cold, you need to address this immediately! Here at Manny's we can usually deliver in-stock merchandise in three buisness days or less, with removal of the old carcass included.  So, assuming for a moment you decide to replace rather than repair*, you will find more options and more choices (and more decisions to make) than other kitchen appliances.

*(Note that should you decide to explore repairing the fridge, we do have a full service department... call us for assistance.) 

So, getting back to the question I posed earlier: Why the huge variation in price?   

A lot depends on the style refrigerator you want to purchase.  I'm going to walk you up the "food chain", from least expensive options to most expensive.

A note here:  For the sake of simplicity, I am rounding refrigerator widths up to the nearest inch.  For example, a fridge built for a 33" wide opening (very common in older homes!) is actually 32 5/8 - 32 7/8" wide.

First the basic, dependable top-freezer models (in our industry, refrigerators are classified by the freezer's placement (top, bottom, side).

These units keep your food cold and frozen just fine, while meeting current (and very strict!) energy and environmental mandates.  They range in size from an apartment worthy 24" wide to a traditional kitchen width of 33", with proportional height options.   Top-freezer models come in white, black, stainless steel (usually but not always fingerprint resistant).  Price of a typical 18-22 cubic foot capacity top freezer (28-33" wide, 64-68" tall) ranges from $600-$1000.  Most of these models do not automatically include an icemaker, but one is almost always available as an accessory in the $100-$150 range.

As I said, there's nothing wrong with a good ol' top freezer model.  Having said that, more and more of our customers are leaning toward a larger, more modern style unit.  Or, perhaps they want the convenience of an ice and water dispenser in the fridge's door.  Here the side-by-side units (freezer on the left, fridge or "fresh food" compartment on the right) come into play:

Side-by-side (SXS) models tend to cost less than the currently more fashionable French Door units.  Sizes range from 33-36" wide, depths usually 32-35" (excepting a handful of "counter depth" side-by-side models), and heights from 66-70" tall.  With the exception of two Whirlpool made models, all these units will include an ice/water dispenser outside the freezer door.  

Advantages to this format:  The compartment holding the ice has a larger capacity then one finds on a French Door model.  Pricing tends to be relatively cheaper than the more popular French Door units (usually $1000-$1500).  Organization in SXS units is easier than in FD models, especially if you have a lot of smaller portioned items.

Disadvantages:  One big one - the width of the freezer compartment!!  The interior width of the freezer compartment in 36" wide units is 12-12 3/4" wide.  If your kitchen only allows for a 33" wide unit, then the freezer width is closer to 10"!  The frozen pizza, the 25 pound turkey... many people who have owned a side-by-side unit in the past complain about this one drawback more than anything else.

How did manufacturers respond to this complaint?  Enter the modern French Door units!  

(But first, let me touch on a style whose popularity has waned in recent years: Single-door bottom freezer units.)

These units are usually 30-33" wide, 65-69" tall, and are available in traditional black and white, as well as stainless, black stainless, and GE's slate color.  They usually include an internal icemaker in the freezer, but do not have an option for a through-the-door ice and water dispenser.  Pricing is considerably more than the corresponding top freezers (usually $1199 to $1999, depending on size, features, and color.)  These units give you the advantage of having the compartment normally most used (the refrigerator, or fresh-food, compartment) on top, making access more convenient.  

Due to the popularity of French door models, and the unavailability of both popular convenience options such as ice-water dispensers, and popular sizes (nothing larger than 33" wide models are available), model choices in this category are more limited than others.

Now, back to the French Door category:

Contemporary style. Plenty of space. Accessibility to your fresh food (not to mention an energy efficient, brightly lit interior.)  This is the typical refrigerator found in a modern, up-to-date kitchen. These units are available in widths from 30-36", heights from 67-70", and have numerous options in both standard depth (34-37" including the handles) and counter depth (30-32"including handle, 28-30" without.)  Color choices include the ubiquitous stainless steel (usually, but not always, fingerprint resistant) as well as what I call the "stainless alternatives" such as black stainless and slate.  Traditional black and white models are still available, but you will find your choices in these colors limited as manufacturers focus on the newer more fashionable colors.

Price for these models usually run in the $1500-$2000 (although we've seem some models as low as $1299 when holiday promos are in play) for standard depth, and $1700-$3000 for counter depth.

Amenities available include:  An ice and water dispenser in the left side fridge door (note - all French door models will contain an ice device, either an internal icemaker in the freezer, or an in-door dispenser), options for a fourth drawer (which serves, depending on the model, as a second freezer, an auxiliary refrigerator, or in some cases (as with the Frigidaire Gallery and Professional models) a flexible fridge-or-freezer compartment.

Yes, as you may have guessed, extra features add to the price tag!  Models with in-door dispensers cost more than corresponding non-dispenser models.  Counter depth costs more than standard depth.  Four door costs more than three door.  Depending on what you want in your fridge (or are willing to pay!) price can vary from $1299 to $3000!

Now, the above is just an overview of your choices; I could easily keep going for a while longer!  For example, I haven't touched on the "Designer" 84" tall category, or on the handful of outlier models that don't conform to the standard sizes)  I'll leave those questions, as well as any other questions ("Why would I want counter-depth?"  "What models come in white?", etc.) to any of our professional sales associates in our eleven locations (addresses and phone numbers are prominently displayed on the front page of our site), or - if you'd prefer - I can answer them via email.

Why Should I Buy a Smart Appliance?

According to "First World", over 50% of homes now have "Smart", or Internet-connected goods, in their homes.  In my industry however, the use of smart appliances is another story. Only 21% of homeowners have smart major appliances.  On top of that, over half of the consumers who purchase smart appliances don't actually use the extra features.

https://www.firstpost.com/world/more-than-half-of-smart-appliance-users-dont-enable-iot-services-or-smart-features-12048122.html

Why is that??

I'll get back to that, but first I'd like to cover a few of the features and added benefits a smart appliance can provide. For example:

Refrigerators-   

1. You can get an alert if the unit's internal temperature starts to rise.
2. You can get notifications if the refrigerator door is left open.
3. In some cases, cameras inside the fridge can tell you which food items need to replenished.

This link courtesy of GE expands on the above:

https://products.geappliances.com/appliance/gea-support-search-content?contentId=23164

Stoves and ovens-

1. You can turn the oven on and begin the preheat process before arriving home.
2. You can download extra features such as specialty cooking modes and recipes through an app that most manufacturers now provide.
3. You can change the oven temperature remotely.

Once again I will share a link from GE, showing some additional benefits: https://products.geappliances.com/appliance/gea-support-search-content?contentId=23810

Now what about laundry?   Wouldn't it be awesome if smart washers and dryers could actually fold and put away your clothes?   

We're not there yet, but... in the meantime...

Smart laundry benefits do include:

1. Notification when the washer and/or dryer has finished.
2. More specialty cycles to help maintain your clothes last longer.
3. On some models, the app will recommend the proper cycle in both washer and dryer for maximum care of your valuable clothing.

                                              ***

So those are some of the valuable benefits to smart appliances.  Yet, as I mentioned above, the majority of appliance purchases do not include a smart, connected model (and even fewer people use the features!).

What are some of the "cons" we hear about from customers when smart benefits are discussed?

1. The product itself may cost a little more (keep in mind however that you may be picking up additional features on a product that do not require a connection.)
2. Connecting an appliance to your home Internet usually requires downloading and adding an app to your phone; some people are either unwilling to do this, or can be intimidated by the "learning curve" involved.
3. Some people have concerns about security.

Consumer Reports offered an enlightening review of the potential security issues:

https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics/privacy/smart-appliances-and-privacy-a1186358482/

So, is purchasing a smart appliance a good idea for you?   My opinion:  I think it depends on whether you plan to use the smart features. Even a "dumb" stove or range will preserve or cook your food; most of the enhancements that a smart appliance offers are convenience features, and you may well find yourself using some of these features on a regular basis (I think back to the 70's and 80's when remote controlled televisions first appeared - imagine having to walk up to your set to change stations today!) 

To me it's like any other appliance feature; as a rule of thumb I suggest to my customers that a given feature is worth the extra money if it's a feature that is going to be used and enjoyed (such as a convection fan in an oven, or an icemaker in a refrigerator.)   

The appliance industry, like pretty much every consumer goods oriented industry, is going to get smarter and smarter in the coming years.  Just as we've all gotten used to the convenience (or even have come to rely on) smartphones in our pockets, or streaming services for our television, smart features in your appliances can make your life easier, and in some cases (consider downloading a new recipe for example) even more enjoyable!

Please reach out to any of our sales professionals in our ten (and soon to be eleven - keep an eye out for the Grand Opening of our eleventh store in Shrewsbury MA!!!)* to answer any questions you may have regarding the benefits and use of today's modern appliances!   Store locations and phone numbers are prominently listed on the front page of our website.

* Update on the Shrewsbury opening:  Our Grand Opening is set for June 22, but if you need something now we are open for business!!

How to Choose the "Right" Air Conditioner

 

I received a frantic text from my daughter the other afternoon. Her bedroom air conditoner had broken, and she wanted to purchase and install a replacement unit before the weather heated up.

Now, at least at the time of this writing (Wed. May 1), we have been experiencing a cooler than normal spring.  Personally, in my house we have our bedroom air conditioner installed, but still haven't needed to turn it on.  But!! - hot weather will be upon us anytime now, so I thought this would be a good time to discuss air conditioner purchasing.

Most people who come into our showroom have at least some sense of the amount of space they want cooled.   If you're not sure, the link below is one of many good sizing charts:

https://products.geappliances.com/appliance/gea-support-search-content?contentId=35138

NOTE!! These guidelines are meant to apply to a single room space!  

(If you are trying to cool multiple rooms or floors, the sizing gets trickier.Ideally, you should consider buying a separate air conditioner for each space in your home.  

For example, I have four units in the ranch that I own:  three small units for each bedroom, and one larger unit for the kitchen/dining room/living room.   Cold air doesn’t “travel” well, as it naturally sinks as it moves away from the air conditioner.   If you have no choice but to use one large unit for multiple rooms, ceiling and stand-up fans help move the cold air into the farther rooms.  You want to keep the cool air moving!)

We want to "size" your unit correctly - and bigger is not necessarily better!! Air conditioners dehumidify at the same time that they cool, and oversized units actually can cool a room too quickly, resulting in a room that can be cool but still feel "clammy".

(Frigidaire #FHWC124WB1)

Yes!! Knowing the area size is important, but there are other factors to consider, such as:

Where is the unit going?

The most popular type of unit is the traditional window unit, which is designed to fit into a double-hung window with expandable flaps to fill the window space. 

(A word of caution here:  Window widths vary, as do the widths of air conditioners!  Knowing the width of the inside sill of your window will help us make sure the unit you select will actually fit!)  

Other types of units include:

**Portable units: these wheel around and duct hot air and humidity out of the room with a hose that is roughly the size of a dryer vent.

**Through-the-wall units: these can be mounted into “sleeves” built into a wall in a person’s home.  These are very common in condo and apartment complexes.

**Window units with a “slide-out chassis”: these are usually larger BTU units that can be adapted for through-the-wall installation.

 What type outlet do I need? 

Nowadays most air conditioners up to 15,000 BTU can run on a standard 15 amp circuit (the type of plug you use for lamps, televisions, etc.)  Larger units require larger amp circuits.  Check the outlet type in your wall before buying!

How quiet will my unit be?

Even "quiet" air conditioners are going to make noise!  The pricier units (and "pricier" may only mean a few extra dollars) are usually quieter than so-called basic units, but no room air conditioner is going to be silent!   Also, take note that decibel ratings for air conditioners are not standardized (as with dishwashers, for example) so manufacturer claims for noise - or lack thereof - should be taken as guidelines only.  

                                          

 

                                                                   

(The GE AWES08WWF)                                                         

                                                                                                                    

Here at Manny's, we offer air conditioners in sizes ranging form 5,000 BTU bedroom sized units up to  32,000 BTU units for large office spaces.  Bring us your specifications and wants, and we will find a unit that properly meets your needs!

If you have any questions, you can reach out to a sales professional at any of our ten (Soon to be eleven - our Shrewsbury showroom will be opening very soon!!) showrooms listed here on our website.

Can I get a washer in a color besides white?

 I get asked the above question frequently.  Sometimes, especially in more modern homes with open floor plans and kitchens designed for convenience,  washers and dryers are placed in high-visibility areas.  Sometimes a customer simply wants a change of pace, something besides the ubiquitous white washer/dryer pair of the past several decades.

So, back to answering that question, "Dave, can I get a washer in a color besides white?", the answer is, "Why yes you can!"   Today, there are actually quite a few color options, including reds and blues that are not available as options on kitchen appliances.

(I'll segue here for a moment.  If you are in the market for laundry, and would like an overview of options, check out my blog post here 

https://draft.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5695512488839797470/173006773987333655

To give an example, below is a picture of LG and Electrolux washer-dryer stacks, or "towers".  The LG, on the right, is available in bright, cherry red.  The Electrolux piece is in their "Titanium" option.

(Electrolux ELTE7600AT on the left, and the LG WKEX200HRA)

By the way, LG also makes their tower in green (and no, I don't have it on display    

Suppose you want a primary color, but that red is just a bit too bright for your taste?   Well, GE has a Sapphire Blue color on two of their front load sets:

(GE GFW850SPNRS in Sapphire Blue)

Next, here's a pic of a brand new shade of blue, "Glacier Blue" to be exact, courtesy of Electrolux

To the right, Electrolux dyer ELFE7437AG (Glacier Blue)

Are these colors too out-there for you?  Lots of grey/black stainless options are available, such as the new GE Profile all-in-one washer/dryer, pictured in "Carbon Graphite" (or what you and I might call "Gray":

GE All-in-one combo PFQ97HSPVDS.  (I wrote about this unique product a few months ago on my 8-20 post:)

https://draft.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5695512488839797470/5337393826347161297

A few thoughts:

1) If you are shopping for laundry, you will find that the "non-white" options vary not just from brand to brand, but sometimes model to model within the brand.  Also, should you purchase a washer in a color but not the matching dryer, there is no guarantee that color will be available in the future.

2) You will usually have to "step" one or two models above a manufacturer's basic model to have color options available.

3) You might also have noticed that my examples are all front-loading machines.  Top loading washers are more likely to be available in white only.  The LG dryer below is an exception.

LG "top-load style" gas dryer DLGX7901BE)

As always, if you have any questions you can reach out to a sales professional in any of our ten (soon to be eleven!) showrooms... or shoot me an email.  We're all happy to help you in your purchase!!

Should I buy a Scratch-and-Dent Appliance?

                                                                              

     
                                                                             

Take a look at the two pictures above. Do you notice the green sale tags?  These are examples of open-box appliances, or what is more commonly known as "scratch and dent".  I took these photos from merchandise tagged and ready for sale on our Westfield showroom, which is where you can find the majority of our open-box items.  (Full disclosure:  I work out of the Westfield store.)

Now, using the term scratch-and-dent does does not always do the individual piece proper justice.  True, some of the pieces are displayed on our sales floors because they are literally scratched or dented.  Because we don't unbox new appliances until we've arrive at the customer's house, we sometimes receive the unpleasant surprise of finding that your new refrigerator or washer was dented or marred at some point during its journey from factory to your home.  

(And, just in case you were wondering why we don't uncrate and repack the appliances before delivering them, we've learned that this extra handling only increases the number of cosmetic damage issues, especially considering the types of minimal packaging often used to ship these products.)

Some of the reasons we might discount a piece as open box include:

1. The model might be discontinued.  At this point we usually discount the demo model - with full original warranty - to make room for the new model.
2. The model was ordered by mistake.  Sometimes this is the fault of the customer.  And yes, sometimes it's our fault.  The most common reasons are: wrong color, wrong size, wrong fuel (gas vs. electric).  Mistakes do happen!
3. Performance service issues. Sometimes the appliance does not perform properly.  Maybe the refrigerator isn't keeping temperature, or the dryer won't shut off at the right time.  At Manny's we're proud to have a full service department and can repair just about any product that we sell, but sometimes the repair cannot be performed properly or quickly, and we have to exchange the product.  Once exchanged, we will then repair the appliance and then ship it to one of the stores to sell at a reduced price.
4. The model is dented or scratched out of the box.  This does happen.  Sometimes we deliver a product in a pristine box, only to discover the unit is banged up.  (At this point we offer the customer two options: a damage allowance, or replacement.  Usually, if the ding is on a door - this happens most often with today's giant refrigerators - we can order a door replacement.  If the damage is more extensive, or if you find the imperfection unlivable, we can take the unit back at the time of delivery and reorder.)

These open box pieces will come with the original manufacturer's warranty - and remember, we are a servicing retailer!  Discounts on these products will be anywhere between 10% up to 50%, depending on the product's condition and history.  And yes, we will deliver these products upon request for our normal delivery fee (see a salesperson for specifics and restrictions.)

                                               An open box dryer wrapped and ready for delivery

Back to original question, now:

"Is an open box product right for me??"

There are lots of good reasons to select a discounted open box appliance, and by far the biggest reason is the discounted price!  Especially in these inflationary times, it can be hard to pass up a bargain!  Often we can find an open box piece to bail a customer out of a challenging situation:  Maybe you have a dead refrigerator or stove, with people coming over tomorrow.   Maybe one piece in a kitchen package is backordered or unavailable, and we have the perfect open box piece to complement the rest of the kitchen, and at a reduced price!

When is open box not a good idea?   Well, if having an appliance that is completely free of blemishes or even minor scratches, then your discerning eye may not want to accept a piece that has been touched and checked out a few times on our sales floor.  Perhaps you simply like the idea of "brand new", the way some people always want to purchase a new car versus a used model.   That's fine - we can always help you with that brand new purchase as well!!

If you have any questions on our open-box appliances (or anything else for that matter) please reach to us at any of our ten (soon to be eleven!!) showrooms.

Endangered Appliance Species Part III - The Portable Dishwasher

 In this article I'd like to finish my look at "endangered" appliance species:  the portable dishwasher!

These machines would be 24" wide (same as a built-in unit), include an adaptor so it could attach easily to your kitchen sink, castors to allow one to wheel the unit back and forth to the sink, and a butcher block top that could double as a work surface. Portable/convertibles usually sold for about $100 more than the equivalent built-in model, but when compared to the cost of plumbing in a built-in unit (not to mention the cost of a plumber!), that upcharge was easy to justify.

(An aside: Portable dishwashers always make me think back to my beginnings in the appliance industry.  Back in November '93 I applied at the now defunct Lechmere in Newington, CT for a seasonal part time job. (For those too young to remember, Lechmere was a popular mid to upscale department chain that sold everything from appliances to audio/video to luggage and compact discs)   By coincidence, the store's GM happened to be walking by and mentioned that they had full time openings in "majors".  Long story short, I took the job, and here I am thirty plus years later still discussing the benefits of dryers and dishwashers!

Every Sunday morning we had to be in the store an hour early to change all the sale tags, removing the tags for last week's promo, and attaching new tags to each appliance.  To make this tedious job easier, we would each borrow a portable dishwasher and take advantage of the butcher block top that was always a feature on a portable, and use these as a portable desk!)   OK, end of aside!

Back in 1994, while the built-in dishwasher had become by far the more popular option, dishwashers were available in both built-in, and "convertible".  Yes, the industry marketed a portable dishwasher as a flexible appliance, one that could be "portable now", and "built-in later."  Talk about convenience, yes??  Most companies had one or two models, and they were available in the "color packs" that were common in all types of pre -2000 dishwashers, where reversible front panels allowed you to choose white, almond, or black to match the rest of your kitchen.*

So...what happened?

First, the American kitchen became larger, and more "upscale".

Consumers began to demand more style in these larger kitchens, and more convenience to assist with their ever-more-hectic lifestyles. Dishwashers became a standard appliance in new or remodeled kitchens.   Portable/convertibles were primarily relegated to apartments, or older kitchens that did not have the proper space and plumbing for a built-in.

Second, dishwashers became, in general, better!  

Cleaning improved, racks became more flexible, water consumption decreased, and noise levels decreased - dramatically!   Upscale dishwasher brands such as Bosch, Miele, Kitchenaid, and others became high-demand status symbols.   These manufacturers did not manufacture equivalent portable models.

Finally, (as in the case with the coil range) manufacturers simply started phasing out models. 

As this took place, the units also became more basic.  For example, the butcher block top of the 90's turned into a utilitarian plastic top.  As the industry realized that very few consumers ever bothered to "convert" their portable into a built-in (personally, I have never sold even a single conversion kit!), that option disappeared.  One by one, model choices for consumers were phased out, until today only two remain.  Both are useful, energy efficient models, with mid to lower-middle feature packages and do a good job cleaning, but the demand for these is close to nonexistent.

To the right is the GE portable dishwasher, Model #GPT225SGLBB, in black.  It is also available in White and Stainless-steel.  Below is the Whirlpool WDP370PAHB.

Now, just in case you are interested,  we at Manny's stock both these models, and are usually available for pickup or delivery within a couple of days.

(One last note:  Portable dishwashers, like built-in models, are still available in an 18" size.  24" is by far the "standard kitchen" size, but there are some applications (cottages, small or in-law apartments) where the six inch space saving is paramount.)

If you have questions or comments on any of the above, please reach out to us, either at my email below, or by contacting any of our ten locations.

* In case you were wondering what happened to the reversible panel option:  Dishwasher color packs went away in the late 90's when kitchen appliances switched to a "monochromatic" look.  As part of this "improved" styling, dishwasher fronts became slightly curved instead of flat, which eliminated the chrome trim pieces that supported the panel packs.  Instead of having a black front dishwasher with your choice of colors for the main panel, the entire front was one color, be it white, almond, black, or beginning in the early 00's, stainless.