Black Friday?? How does "Black November" sound??

Have you ever stood outside a mall or department store in the middle of the night (or even on Thanksgiving afternoon!), waiting expectantly for the doors to open, hoping you will be one of the fortunates who get their hands on an incredibly marked down tv or computer?  

Well, I have great news: in the appliance industry it's not "Black Friday"... it's "Black November"!

So if you're looking for an appliance this Thanksgiving weekend, or even next week (up until Wednesday December 4th), you get the same savings you would have received had you pitched a camp outside our door on Thanksgiving night!

You may have received one of our four page circulars in your mail, or maybe you came across one in a newspaper.  If not, then no worries!

You can click on the link on the front page of our website, immediately to the left of the link you clicked to reach this blog.

(If you can't access that link, I've pasted the four pages below:)

I'd like to point out a few particularly exciting features of this ad, to help you get the most savings and value from your shopping.

1) Exclusive rebates!!  And not just exclusive rebates, but DOUBLE EXCLUSIVE REBATES!!

We've often been able to offer our customers an additional, "thank you for buying local", rebate on many kitchen packages of two or more items (same brand, of course).  Typically, buying two appliances qualified you for a $100 rebate, three pieces got you $200, and four or more would give you $300.... and this is in addition to any manufacturer rebates.  Well, through December 4, many of these extra rebates are doubled ($200 for 2, $400, for 3, $600 for 4).  I've already had two customers purchase kitchen packages from me this month that entitled them to $1000 in rebates!!  

Some exclusions and conditions do apply of course, but the exclusions are far fewer than you would think.  See any of our sales professionals for details.

2) Package options.  Take a look at some of the kitchen package options featured in our flyer.  For I believe the first time, our package suggestions offer style options in the same ad.  Now you can see what upgrading from say, a traditional top-freezer to a side-by-side refrigerator will cost you, or if you want to upgrade from a free-standing range to a slide-in (backless) model!  

From experience, I know that pretty much everyone tweaks these advertised packages to fit their wants and needs, but I really love the way our ad shows the package options. It makes it easier to budget your purchase before shopping our store.  Kudos to our marketing gurus!!

3)  Color matters!!  It seems the appliance manufacturers are really trying to encourage consumers to "upgrade" their kitchens to a modern color.  Stainless steel is still the overwhelming choice of consumers, and has shown amazing staying power (the color has been in vogue since the early 00's!).  The next most popular colors are what I call the stainless alternatives (Slate, Black Stainless, Black Slate being the most popular options.)

If you are looking to replace a piece or two in the traditional black or white, be forewarned:  Availability, especially in more contemporary styles, is slowly disappearing.  Even worse, you may pay more, sometimes substantially more, to get the older color.

Here's an extreme, but by no means unique, example. 

https://www.whirlpool.ca/en_ca/kitchen/refrigeration/refrigerators/french-door/p.36-inch-wide-french-door-refrigerator-with-water-dispenser-25-cu.-ft.wrf535swhz.html

This Whirlpool French Door refrigerator sells for $1599 right now, in stainless.  A great buy!! If you want another color, then you'll be paying hundreds of dollars more.  Please don't blame us - it's the manufacturer, in this case Whirlpool, who is choosing to offer huge discounts on the stainless color, but not on traditional white or black.

Here's another example, this time a Whirlpool four-door French Door with ice and water.  Take a look at our price tag, and note the huge difference in price if you'd like stainless ($1999) vs. black stainless or black ($2789 and $2699 respectively.)

Without doubt, if you're going to be in the market for appliances anytime in the near future, now through December 4th is the time to take the plunge!! Between manufacturer discounts that are the best I've seen since the late 2010's, to robust availability, to extra rebates, to quick turnaround time (or holding your appliances until you're ready if you have some remodeling to do) ... it's a perfect storm of savings for you!!

Please visit any of our eleven showrooms (addresses and phone numbers listed on our front page), or touch base with any of our trained sales consultants via phone or email, so we can help you put together a purchase that both meets your wants, and saves you the most money possible!

                    Happy Thanksgiving everyone :)

 

Is It Time For a New Range??

It's almost Thanksgiving!!

For many families that means it's time for someone to be planning a delicious feast for their loved ones and friends.   That also means that for many families it's time to think about upgrading that old stove!

Two questions often come to mind as someone contemplates a range purchase:

1) Is this a good time to buy, or should I wait?

2) What's new about today's range vs. my old stove?  What should I be looking for?

1) Well, the answer to the first question is a resounding, unequivocal YES!  I'm sure you've heard of "Black Friday", and all the giant sales retailers put forth to get you, the consumer, excited about the upcoming holiday season.  Well, in the appliance industry, these deals actually began on November 6!  

Think of Appliance Black Friday as "Black November"... so yes, if you are contemplating purchasing a new stove (or any appliance) now is the time!

2)  To answer these next two questions, I'd like to list the questions you should ask yourself (and that we, the experienced sales people at Manny's, will probably be asking you as well,) to help determine the correct product to fit your needs and budget.

(For the sake of this blog, let's assume you are replacing or looking at the traditional sized 30" wide range.  There are smaller width sizes, 20" and 24" wide ovens available (normally for smaller kitchens or apartments), and larger "professional" ranges in the 36" and 48" size.)  If you are looking for a standard 30" wide range, take heart:  ranges are much more standardized size-wise then refrigerators.  For example, there never have been 29" or 32" ranges!)

Note-- If you are looking for a non-30" range, we can still help you!! Just ask one of the sales pros in any of our eleven locations.  Same for a cooktop and wall oven combination... we have a good assortment of "built-ins" on display at all our showrooms, and can help you out with this (often more complicated) purchase as well!

Let's start with some easy questions:  

Are you looking for an electric or gas range?    (And if the range is gas, hopefully we're asking whether you have natural or LP, meaning bottled, gas?)

Are you looking for a "free-standing" range (a traditional style range with a back), or a "slide-in" range.  These backless ranges have become more popular in recent years as people remodel and upgrade their kitchens.   The picture below should help (free standing range is on left, slide-in on right):

         

What color would you like?  If you have a white or traditional black kitchen, you will find your replacement choices have become more limited, especially in more modern, upscale styles.  Stainless steel, which usually now comes with a coating to help resist fingerprints and make cleaning easier, has been the most popular appliance finish for over fifteen years now, and shows no signs of becoming dated.

Two nice improvements worth mentioning:! (This part will help answer the "what's new" question!)  

1) Oven cavities have become progressively larger over the years (while the stove itself still fits into a 30" opening).  

2) Cooktop surfaces have become more powerful.  It is not uncommon for an electric range to have a burner that exceeds 3000 watts (vs. 2100-2500w max a generation ago.)  Gas ranges boil water much faster!  Back in the late 90's for example, a 12,500 BTU burner was a big deal, and marketed as a "High Output" burner.   Today, stoves can have anywhere from 15K to as much as 21K BTU on one burner, (and usually have a lower BTU on the low end for better simmering as well!)

(And here, if you are in the market for an electric range, I feel obligated to point out the advantages of an Induction Range!!  See my last blog below for details!)

                                             ***

Once these questions are asked and answered, it will become easier to hone in on models that match your wants and needs.

Some of the features on today's stoves, roughly in order of most basic to most expensive, include:

Self cleaning ovens.   Often, these stoves also include a steam clean feature, which is faster and more eco-friendly then the traditional high-heat self clean cycle.  What is steam clean?   Here's an explanation, courtesy of Frigidaire:

https://support.frigidaire.com/Owner-Center/FAQs/Cooking/RangesStoves-WallOvens-Cooktops/electric-and-induction/When-and-how-do-i-use-steam-clean/

Five burners vs. four.  The majority of electric smooth-top ranges include a fifth burner at the center rear of the cooking surface.  This burner serves as a "warming" burner, to help maintain temperature and simmer on a recipe item that has completed the cooking process.

(Note - in gas ranges, not only do many stoves include the fifth burner, but a griddle plate is often included, or at least available as an option.)

Convection and Air-Fry.  Do you have a table top air fryer at home?  If so, then you essentially have a mini convection oven.  The convection feature (forced hot air circulation, allowing more even and faster cooking) becomes available as an option usually about halfway up a manufacturers lineup.  In addition, recently many stoves include an air-fry button on the oven control keypad, using the convection fan and heating elements together.

Double oven.  Most manufacturers offer a couple of models with two ovens, one above the other.  This offers two advantages:  1) the ability to cook two different foods at separate, discrete temperatures, and  2) the ability to cook a small meal using the smaller, faster heating and more efficient, oven cavity.

This should give you an idea of what's available on a modern range. 

Which range is the "right" range for you?  That depends of course.  Two of the most common factors are usually 1) budget), and 2) how much you see yourself using some of these nicer features (such as the speed and flavor retention of a convection oven.)  

I often ask my customers, semi tongue-in-cheek,  "Do you like to cook, or do you have to cook?"   If cooking is a dreaded chore, and you have no plans to take up gourmet cooking as a hobby, then some of the features found on pricier models may not be of use to you.  If, on the other hand, you look forward to preparing delicious meals, then we would love to show models that offer options that will make your experience even more enjoyable!

And, please -- enjoy the shopping process!  Availability is excellent, especially in the more popular models and colors, and in most cases Manny's can deliver you a new range (and remove your old if desired) within just a few days.   

If you have any questions, you can reach out and speak to any of our professional staff in any of our eleven locations (addresses and phone numbers are on the front page of our site, just to the left of the "Manny's Blog" tag you just clicked on.)

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!!

Why aren't you buying an induction range?

In Europe, induction stoves, including cooktops, can be found in 36.9% of homes.

Here in the USA, only 3% of homes use induction based cooking appliances!

Why, why, aren't American consumers getting on board with this superior-performing, energy-efficient, way to cook??

First, in case you aren't familiar with how induction works, I've linked a primer that explains just what happens during the cooking process:  

https://www.whirlpool.com/blog/kitchen/what-is-induction-cooking.html#:~:text=So%20how%20does%20an%20induction,fast%20and%20even%20cooking%20method.

The benefits of induction cooking are numerous:

1) Faster response times -with induction, you get the "best of both worlds".  You get the ability to instantly change the temperature on the cooking surface a la gas, which is one of the most often praised benefits of cooking with gas.  You also get much faster boil and heat- up times, but without the slow rise and slow cooling down that frustrates consumers on their traditional electric range and cooktops.

2) Most energy efficient cooking source -  per Google, induction cooking is three times more efficient than gas, and 10% more efficient than traditional electric.  As we all are more aware and more energy conscious, induction becomes the best way to go!

3) Safety- the cooking pan itself is the heat source (as opposed to a gas flame, or electric elements beneath the pan), therefore residual heat is minimal.  I have an induction range at home.  Sometimes, just to amuse myself, I'll put a finger on the stove surface right next to a hot saucepan.  It still makes me smile when my finger doesn't burn!

4)  Cleanup- because the surrounding cooktop surface isn't hot, boil-overs and spills don't burn and adhere to the surface, making clean up much easier.

(Also, many utility companies are now offering rebates to encourage their customers to step up to the more fuel-efficient induction ranges.  Check your own provider to see whether you might be eligible for an incentive.)

And, yes, there are downsides of course. 

1) The pans have to be magnetic!! (While I have found this to be the by far the biggest objection by customers against stepping up to induction, it really isn't the "Big Deal" some make it out to be.)  Your pan either holds a magnet, and is thus induction-ready, or it isn't - there's no in-between.  If you've purchased a set of cookware recently, it is most likely induction ready (you can normally tell by symbols such as the one pictured below on the cookware or the packaging,)   If your pans are not magnetic, it's not that big a deal (or expense) to purchase a set.  You can certainly look for a set of upscale pans with a superstar celebrity chef's endorsement and smiling picture, but you don't have to.  My wife was able to find a perfectly useful pan set for under $200 online. 

2) Heart issues. In rare cases, a person with a pacemaker should not use a magnetic powered induction range.  Check with your health professional to see whether this may be an issue.

3) Resistance to new technologies.  This seems to be a bigger overall issue then one would think.  Traditionally, Americans tend to resist new technologies.  Now the reasons for this are way, way outside the scope of my little blog, but numbers such as the stat I quoted at the beginning do support this. 

For more thoughts on the objections, see the New York Times link  below for more discussion.

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/why-dont-people-use-induction-cooktops/

I realize that for some people cooking is a dreaded chore, no different than vacuuming or mopping the bathroom floor.  

But -- if you DO like to cook, and your kitchen is wired for electric (vs. gas), then ...

Seriously!!  Why aren't you buying an induction range??

Who's Who in the Appliance Industry?

"Dave, aren't all appliances made by one company?"

I get asked this question, or some offshoot, by customers fairly regularly.  The answer, the short answer anyway, is "No."  

Now, having said that, there certainly has been consolidation over the decades.  Think of General Motors, which currently has four separate divisions: Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMC (yes, I looked it up!)

In our industry there are several "parent" companies that utilize different labels, or "badges"

Let's start by taking a look at the Whirlpool Corporation.

Currently they manufacture appliances for the US market under many different names:

Kitchenaid and Jenn-Air are considered to be their premium lines.

Maytag and Whirlpool would be more mid to upper middle level.

Amana is more of an entry level line, geared for landlords and first time home buyers.

In some cases the products are simply extensions of one another.  There will be times however, especially when one looks at the premium lines, where changes can be more significant between models.  (Any of our sales professionals can help you sort through the different models!)

Now, back to my GM analogy.  General Motors has discontinued several lines over the years (Oldsmobile, Saturn, Pontiac come to mind.)  Likewise, Whirlpool (and other appliance companies) also will drop older brands.  For example, when Whirlpool purchased Maytag in 2006, the Magic Chef line, which was Maytag's entry brand, was discontinued.  Around that time, Whirlpool also dropped the "Roper" and "Estate" badges, essentially replacing them with the better known Amana label.  

Some appliance companies, such as General Electric, keep the

same brand but with different levels.  

Walk into one of our appliance showrooms and you will see models with GE, GE Profile, GE Cafe', and GE Monogram (in ascending order of features, quality, and price).  As with Whirlpool, it can be tricky to figure out when you are simply getting more features as you "step up" the lines, or when the product itself is different and better. 

(Full disclosure - GE does have two lines geared to the more budget conscious consumer,  Hotpoint and Haier, that do use their own monikers.  Yes, it can be complicated!)

Just in case you're bored reading by this point, check out this Hotpoint commercial from a time when Hotpoint was its own company starring Mary Tyler Moore (yes, THAT MTM!) made back in 1954:  (I remember this tidbit from an episode of the old "Biography" series.)

https://www.google.com/search?q=mary+tyler+moore+happy+hotpoint+commercial&oq=mary+tyler+moore+hotpoin&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCAgCEAAYFhgeMgcIABAAGIAEMgYIARBFGDkyCAgCEAAYFhgeMgoIAxAAGIAEGKIEMgoIBBAAGIAEGKIE0gEINzM1M2owajeoAgiwAgE&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:987be7fa,vid:1b0ypsUD7wY,st:0

Whirlpool and GE have the most divisions in our industry.  In case you wondered which other companies are aligned, I'll go over the rest.

Electrolux  has (again in ascending order) Frigidaire, Frigidaire Gallery, Frigidaire Professional, and Electrolux.

BSH (Bosch) also markets Thermador at the luxury level.

LG also has LG Studio as an upper level line.

Samsung has an upscale Bespoke line.

Then there are some manufacturers such as Danby, Summit, and Premier that primarily market to the more price-conscious consumer.  These lines tend to focus on "niche" appliances such as 20" and 24" ranges, smaller (under 14 cubic ft.) refrigerators, 18" wide dishwashers, and so on.

Is this confusing?  Yes, it can be at times.  If you are in the market and trying to work your way through the various brands and levels, let us help you!   Please call or visit any of our 11 showrooms (addresses and phone numbers are on the front page of our site, just to the left of where you clicked on this blog.)  We'll be happy to guide you through this maze, and help you pick the "right" appliance for your needs!

Ventless dryers - Pros and Cons

American sized laundry

On back to back days last week I fielded inquires here in the Westfield regarding ventless dryers.  While these dryers are still a very small part of the overall laundry market, response and interest has been growing (and there may come a time down the road where dryers are mandated to be ductless due to energy savings - more about that below!)

Now American (and Canadian) laundry is rather unique compared to the rest of the world.  Our washers and dryers are larger, much larger.  Cycle times are generally shorter.  And, our giant dryers exhaust the heat and moisture generated during the drying process to the outside through a four inch metal vent.  While this setupmight seem "normal" to most of us, North American homes are actually unique in using ducted dryers.

What are the advantages to ducted dryers?

1. 1) Speed!  By ducting the heat and moisture out of the house, clothes can be dried significantly faster.
2. 2) Price!  Ductless dyers are considered to be "specialty application" pieces in the US market.  As in so many other industries, specialty application or size means more $$ out of your pocket.

As I said above, the traditional vented dryer is still very much the norm.  

However, there are times where a ductless dryer makes sense. For example:

1) You live in a high rise and cannot put a four inch hole through your wall

2) You want to place the dryer in an indoor area, away from a wall.

3) You want your home to be as green and energy efficient as possible.

The last part is very true.  I'm going to let this article from Reviewed.com (from USA Today) explain the specifics of this process in a very articulate manner (so articulate in fact that I briefly considered being lazy and just culling from this article.  Just kidding!).

https://reviewed.usatoday.com/laundry/features/everything-you-need-to-know-about-ventless-dryers

Ductless dryers come in three formats:  "Compact", "All-in-one", and what I'll call "Simply ductless."

First, compact, 24" wide, European style laundry.

24" "Euro-style" compact laundry

These smaller units are the norm in Europe, where living space tends to be smaller, and energy awareness is generally more advanced than the USA.  

The washer uses less water and spins out faster (reducing the amount of water the dryer has to extract from the clothing.)  Dryers use either a heat pump or condensation feature, capturing the extracted water into a resevoir that gets emptied fairly regularly (think of your dehumidifier.) 

For those trying to be as energy conscious as possible: note that these ductless dryers can use as little as 50% of the energy used by their ducted equivalents!!

resevoir on Electrolux 24" unit

 The downsides:  Three big ones: Price, capacity, and time.  

1. 1) Price: Plan on paying in the $2000 range for a compact laundry set, compared to the $1200-$1600 for a full size, American style, laundry pair. 
2. 2) Capacity: Volume on these compacts is significantly smaller; generally only 50-60% of full size capacity.  For small households this may not be an issue, for larger families it probably will be!
3. 3) Time:  Be prepared for drying times that are on average about an hour (plus or minus) longer than a typical dryer.  Simply put, exhausting all that built up heat and moisture out of the house speeds the drying process!

Second, the "All-in-ones"

GE Profile"all-in-one" washer 

GE rolled out their all-in-one unit in the middle of last year (click on my blog of  8-23-23 for what - I hope! - is an informative explanation of the pluses and minuses of these units).  LG has since introduced their own model, and other companies are either manufacturing or have plans to manufacturer their own competing models.

How well do these sell?  I asked three of the sales professionals I have the privilege of working with here in our Westfield showroom.  Their answers very from seldom (Rick), to once in a while (Carlos and Pat).  So while these pieces are still very much a niche item, there are scenarios where an All-in-one is the perfect solution to unusual laundry logistics.

Finally, there are normal looking, normal US sized dryers that are built to condense rather than duct out.

These units, and frankly we don't sell a lot of them, usually are purchased by customers who are looking to make their home as efficient as possible, but don't want to sacrifice capacity (as in 24" models), and are willing to accept the longer cycle times and a higher initial price tag - remember however that these machines use a lot less energy!

Now, we do expect both interest and sales of this category to increase in the near future. If your utility company offers rebates on E-star products you might well see rebates on the considerably more efficient condensation and/or heat pump dryers!   Also, there have been occasional rumblings that the D.O.E. may begin mandating that ducted dryers be phased out - that hasn't happened, at least not yet!

If you have any questions on this, feel free to leave me a note, call one of our eleven stores and speak with a sales professional, or even stop in and visit one of our showrooms!  Phones and addresses are just to the left of the blog link on our site's front page.

Whatever happened to the Trivection Range (and other industry near-misses)??

 

Perhaps you remember, back in the late 00s, Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin starred in a successful, Emmy-winning sitcom on NBC called "30 Rock."  The premise had Tina playing the producer of a sketch comedy show (picture Saturday Night Live), while Alec played her corporate-focused boss.  It was one of the few sitcoms I watched, and I did find it funnier than average sitcom fare.

"What does this have to do with appliances?", you may fairly ask.  Well, in the show's storyline, Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin's character) was promoted and tasked to save the struggling sketch comedy show.  The reason for his promotion:  Donaghy's fantastic success with launching the "GE Trivection Oven."  In fact, the pilot episode devoted a decent amount of time extolling the virtues of this (at the time) exciting new product!

:

https://www.ge.com/news/press-releases/featurenew-trivection-technology-geperfecting-delicate-balance-heat-and-time

What was there not to love, right?  So what happened? Why did this breakthrough product not catch on?

The biggest reason was probably the price.  At a $2999 retail, the oven was significantly more expensive than a corresponding standard wall oven.  Additionally, product reviews were largely indifferent to the unit's cooking performance, and generally dubbed it "not worth the additional expense."  Quietly, and without fanfare, GE discontinued production a few years later.

Here's a link for the press release for GE's product rollout:

https://www.ge.com/news/press-releases/new-ge-profile-harmony-clothes-care-system-first-ever-laundry-pair-communicates

(Not that the satirically-inclined 30 Rock writers were willing to ignore the demise of the Trivection Oven.  Below is a synopsis link from the final season of the sitcom where the Trivection Oven is put to rest (my favorite line --  Jack: How many vections does this new product have?"  Technician: "It has five vections."  Still makes me smile!)

https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2010/11/nbc-s-30-rock-bids-farewell-to-the-ge-trivection-oven/index.htm

GE's solution:  Induction ranges give consumers uber-speed on their cooktop with zero compromise in performance.  Also, GE has done very well with another combo product, the Advantium Oven.  This unit combines convection, microwave, and halogen light energy to give the consumer an oven that cooks four to eight times faster than a normal, without any reduction in the quality of the finished product.  The Advantium line remains in the GE lineup.

https://www.geappliances.com/ge-appliances/kitchen/advantium-ovens/

(Interested in more about induction ranges?  Check out my blog from 5-27-23)

                                             ***

Now, the Trivection Range is not the only "near miss" in the industry when it comes to product rollouts.  I remember back in 2003, long before streaming, Bluetooth technology, and Smart appliances were commonplace,  GE (sorry; I reallydon't mean to pick on GE exclusively!) introduced their "Pro Harmony" washer and dryer.  This laundry set featured the ability of the washer and dryer to communicate to one another.. Radical thinking for it's time!!

https://www.ge.com/news/press-releases/new-ge-profile-harmony-clothes-care-system-first-ever-laundry-pair-communicates

The units came with a sleek, sort of "half crescent" back control panel, so that when the two pieces were placed together they would like one team:

Now, in 2024, in an era where Smart technology is pervasive and ubiquitous, it's reasonable to wonder why this set didn't catch on.  The number one reason, as with the Trivection Oven, was the price: $2199 for the set - for comparison purposes, at that time a reasonable top load washer-dryer pair sold in the $1000 range.  I also remember showing this set to my customers, and I was met almost universally with resistance to the extra technology involved with using the machines (oh my God!  -- the washer and dryer required a "patchcord" to commuciate with one another - remember, this predates Bluetooth type technologies), and the mere mention of having to attach a cord was enough to deter consumers who were not used to, and frankly had no interest in, such a technologically advanced washer and dryer.)

What happpened?  Of course, "Smart" appliances caught on.  They are everywhere today, and offer extra convenience features through easily downloadable phone apps.  Today, not only is the concept of a connected appliance normal, for many consumers this convenience is expected or even demanded!

(For more discussion of Smart Appliances, please refer to my blog from 5-17-24)

Simply put... the Harmony washer and dryer was an idea ahead of its time.

                                                  ***

Here's one more example of a idea that sounded irresistible, but didn't catch on:  3D televisions.

Avatar!  Avatar!!!  In 2010, back when Manny's still sold televisions, back when electronics companies still sold their wares to retailers (such as Manny's TV and Appliances!), Avatar (which set records as the biggest dollar grossing movie ever up to its time) ran in our store  open-to-close, 24-7, on a 60" 3D television in our showroom.  Customers could try out the cool-looking glasses, and get awed by the impressive depth effect of the picture.  3D television was the "Next Big Thing", and was wildly hyped by TV manufacturers, cable companies, dish suppliers, etc.

And -- almost no one rushed out to buy these amazing televisions.

First, the requirement of needing glasses to view 3D was an obstacle the industry never succesfully overcame.   

 **Personally, I think that requiing individual glasses took away from the social enjoyment of watching a movie with your friends or family.  Also, what if five people are over to watch a movie, and you only have four sets of glasses?? Ouch!** 

Consumer reaction was basically a gigantic yawn of indifference.

Also, it turned out that even a large home TV (50-70") simply didn't provide the same "WOW" factor of a large cinema screen.  Both content producers and cable/satellite providers were slow to upgrade to 3D programming and signal (At that time, signal "compression" and the resulting loss of HD quality was a frequent complaint among owners of upper end video equipment.)  Also, televisions at the time were capable of displaying a signal of at most 1080p resolution - without going into a techie explanation, by the mid 2010s 4K, with roughly four times the resolution and detail, had become the industry norm.)   In other words, picture quality improved to the point that 3D had been largely reduced to "gimmick" status.  Sometime around 2013, 3D television was quietly mothballed.

What's happened since?  Short answer: TV signals became better.  Advances in technology and signal delivery allow us to watch programming in vivid color and detail, markedly better than even a decade ago.  Watch a football or baseball game on a 4K set with 4K signal, and the image is so life-like that the picture almost has a 3d, deep quality without the need for special glasses or equipment.

                                             ***

I hope you enjoyed these examples of highly touted and good product ideas that for one reason or another didn't catch on with consumers.   

Now, should you have questions about modern appliances, please reach out to us at any of our eleven showrooms (addresses etc., can be found on the first page of our website!)

Oh no! I need to replace my washer. What do I do? Should I buy a dryer as well?

We always see a spike in sales of refrigerators and air conditioners in the summer months.  Ranges and other cooking devices peak around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.   

Laundry, on the other hand, sells pretty consistently year-round.

Ah, yes.  The wringer washer.  Once upon a time, sometime between World War II and Watergate, the wringer washer was the "state of the art". Imagine the post-war excitement!... no more washing by hand, or going to the laundromat with everything... no, this amazing device did a great job washing your clothes, as well as extracting excess water from the garment  And as so many modern appliances offer, it saved time and labor on an otherwise mundane but essential household chore.

Yes, washers have changed - dramatically - over the decades.  Even recently, thanks to the introduction of washers with larger capacity tubs, with impressive savings on water usage and electricity,  and with better cleaning and rinsing performance, a washer purchased in 2024 has little in common with a washer from, say, 2004, never mind 1954.

I blogged about the different types of washers in an earlier blog (Jan 3), so I'm not going to reinvent the wheel. The link to that blog can be found on the first page of our website.

So, let's go back to the original question:   

"I need a washer- what do I do?

Carlos Jackson, one of my coworkers here in Westfield, has been selling appliances and managing appliance departments for about seventeen years now.  I decided to ask him what questions he likes to ask his customers when they come into our store needing new laundry.

His first question:   "Have you done any research yet?  Is there anything that caught your eye?"

I'll be honest:  that was not the question I expected!  I expected a question more in line with narrowing down the choices, questions like "top load or front load washer?", or "is your dryer gas or electric?".  Carlos is correct, however: a lot of customers come into our stores already armed with a sense of what they want, thanks to the mountain of data available online.  In some cases they have narrowed their search down to a brand, or even a specific model.  If our customer has a sense of what they want, well, isn't that a great place to begin the sales conversation?  Kudos to Carlos!

His second question:  "How quickly are you going to need it?"

Another great question!  Here you, the consumer, let us know if your washer is dead and you need delivery or pickup ASAP.  Or, perhaps you're moving next month, and don't want the washer delivered until then, and are going to ask whether we can hold the unit until you're ready.  That's important to know especially if that washer you saw online is backordered for a couple of weeks!

Third question:  Are you looking for a dryer as well?

Even though there is no law or statute that says "Thou shalt have matching washers and dryers", I've learned over the years that the overwhelming percentage of our customers, all other things considered, do prefer a matching set.  And with the trend in recent years to have laundry brought upstairs where it might be more visible, that desire to "match" is even more common.

Pssst!  By the way... on many of our laundry sets, we offer $100 rebates on matching pairs.  And, in many cases, these rebates are only for independent retailers like Manny's, and NOT for the so called Big Box stores!.  I call these rebates the "Thank you for buying local" rebates!

At this point, with a good sense of what his customer wants, and how quickly he or she needs the appliance, Carlos then starts disussing and demonstrating the different features on models that seem to fit his customer's wants and needs.  This is now when he asks the questions essential to narrowing down the search, questions such as:

"Do you prefer a front loading or top loading washer?   (I refer you back to the blog link above to highlight the pros and cons of various type washers) 

Is your dryer electric or gas?  If gas, do you have natural or propane gas?  (gas is more efficient, but gas also requires specialized installation.)  

Usually at the end of this dialogue a couple of things happen:  1) We have a good sense of what you are seeking, and have provided options that fit these needs and wants, and 2) You, our customer, feel comfortable with the exchange between you and Carlos (or with any of our salespeople), and feel comfortable that Manny's can be trusted to both  solve your dilemma, and deliver you a washer (or washer and dryer) in a professional and timely manner.

(By the way, Carlos was a little bit iffy about taking part in this exercise, and I thank him profusely for letting me pick his brain and get a sequence that isn't exactly the same as mine! And yes...buying him a large Nutty Pumpkin at Dunkin' helped as well!)

So.... if you need a washer (or even just a dryer), or another appliance, I hope you feel comfortable reaching out to us here at Manny's and trusting us to help you choose the right appliance, deliver it to you in a timely manner, and be there for you after the sale should you have any questions or issues!

We now have eleven locations (info is listed right next to the "blog link" on our website's front page.)  We do hope you consider Manny's when you need to purchase appliances!