Best store to buy a microwave?
April 1, 2021 3:38 PM Subscribe
Best Buy, Lowe's, Bed Bath & Beyond, ? Where do the trusty small appliances come from? Asking from triangle, North Carolina, USA.
Yes, the free microwave someone gave me in 1996 seems to be growing weaker.
I believe I want one of those combination microwave/convection ovens, countertop model. But anywhere I can think of to buy a microwave isn't primarily an appliance store -- what's the best strategy here for purchasing, especially if I want to buy from a brick-and-mortar retailer?
(I'm open to being told "buy directly from the manufacturer", but I'd like to buy it in a store tomorrow if possible.)
Yes, the free microwave someone gave me in 1996 seems to be growing weaker.
I believe I want one of those combination microwave/convection ovens, countertop model. But anywhere I can think of to buy a microwave isn't primarily an appliance store -- what's the best strategy here for purchasing, especially if I want to buy from a brick-and-mortar retailer?
(I'm open to being told "buy directly from the manufacturer", but I'd like to buy it in a store tomorrow if possible.)
We got a ~$100 Panasonic NN-SA651S microwave from Costco. Two of our friends have the same model (because they also shop Costco). And sure, the first one failed after 5 years of heavy use, but we just went right back out and bought the same model.
posted by commander_fancypants at 3:46 PM on April 1, 2021
posted by commander_fancypants at 3:46 PM on April 1, 2021
Response by poster: Uh, I'm not a member of Costco, and I don't want to have to go through this again in my lifetime. Plus I feel guilty throwing out large complicated appliances, even if they're broken :(
posted by amtho at 3:49 PM on April 1, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by amtho at 3:49 PM on April 1, 2021 [3 favorites]
I got my microwave at Costco and it's one of the best I've ever owned, but Costco tends to have a limited selection of small appliances like that - they might have two to choose from. I think when I got mine it was the only one. So, shop around, but if you have a membership and the Costco model is the one you prefer maybe get it there, but don't start at Costco if you want to comparison shop.
posted by LionIndex at 3:49 PM on April 1, 2021
posted by LionIndex at 3:49 PM on April 1, 2021
CostCo usually has good stuff, they pick one or two of whatever it is and just sell that. Excellent return policy. So you don't need a membership, pick one option: get a friend with a membership to take you, or have someone get you a $5 gift card. CostCo will let you in to spend your gift card without a membership. Failing that, Target.
All the big boxes sell the same stuff and pretty much nothing is made to the same standard it was in 1996. You should expect to replace everything every 5-10 years and be pleasantly surprised when you don't have to. C'est la vie.
I suppose you could look into restaurant supply stores, sometimes they have sturdier stuff (not always.)
posted by blnkfrnk at 3:54 PM on April 1, 2021 [3 favorites]
All the big boxes sell the same stuff and pretty much nothing is made to the same standard it was in 1996. You should expect to replace everything every 5-10 years and be pleasantly surprised when you don't have to. C'est la vie.
I suppose you could look into restaurant supply stores, sometimes they have sturdier stuff (not always.)
posted by blnkfrnk at 3:54 PM on April 1, 2021 [3 favorites]
Buy at home depot and then find a lower price somewhere else. When I bought my appliances, the home depot policy is they would price match + 10% of the difference. So buy a microwave at Home Depot and then show them the Lowe's (or whatever) ad for the same one.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 4:06 PM on April 1, 2021
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 4:06 PM on April 1, 2021
amtho, I'm off work tomorrow and need to go Costco. Want to meet up?
posted by Stewriffic at 4:24 PM on April 1, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by Stewriffic at 4:24 PM on April 1, 2021 [4 favorites]
p.s. check your memail
posted by Stewriffic at 4:25 PM on April 1, 2021
posted by Stewriffic at 4:25 PM on April 1, 2021
It’s more legwork up-front, but I always settle on a model, then find a bricks & mortar store that has it in stock. The manufacturer’s warranty and the model itself matters more to me than the specific store.
I’m in Australia so the research is always more annoying (the same item will have a different model number here!), but if you’re in the US I would start with the Wirecutter upgrade pick, which seems to be sold at Target and is in stock at the random zip codes I tested. YMMV of course.
posted by third word on a random page at 4:32 PM on April 1, 2021 [2 favorites]
I’m in Australia so the research is always more annoying (the same item will have a different model number here!), but if you’re in the US I would start with the Wirecutter upgrade pick, which seems to be sold at Target and is in stock at the random zip codes I tested. YMMV of course.
posted by third word on a random page at 4:32 PM on April 1, 2021 [2 favorites]
I check consumer reports/wire cutter, then search for which stores carry my choice for the best price.
posted by brujita at 4:49 PM on April 1, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by brujita at 4:49 PM on April 1, 2021 [2 favorites]
^^Thats how we bought ours, which ended up being Bed Bath and Beyond.
posted by kevinbelt at 5:01 PM on April 1, 2021
posted by kevinbelt at 5:01 PM on April 1, 2021
We just bought a new microwave last week from Best Buy. It was a hassle-free purchase but we went in knowing what we wanted based off what we read on wirecutter. So far so good but anything was going to better than our decade-old machine that’s been dying for a year.
posted by not_the_water at 5:49 PM on April 1, 2021
posted by not_the_water at 5:49 PM on April 1, 2021
This is slightly orthogonal to your question but if you mr microwave is from 96, I believe you will be surprised at how much more powerful a new one is. Also, I might be an outlier but pretty much the only button I use on my micro is the “add 30 seconds” quick start one, so make sure you have that.
I have a 6 year old GE that is doing just fine.
posted by vunder at 6:41 PM on April 1, 2021 [2 favorites]
I have a 6 year old GE that is doing just fine.
posted by vunder at 6:41 PM on April 1, 2021 [2 favorites]
I got a small GE microwave based on the wire cutter about four years ago, it’s doing fine, and more impressively the 15 year old GE microwave/hood combo that came with my house is also working great. All the other appliances in the house have visibly been through some shit, so go microwave!
FWIW, I use the timer function daily, unlike my phone it’s always in the kitchen.
posted by momus_window at 7:06 PM on April 1, 2021
FWIW, I use the timer function daily, unlike my phone it’s always in the kitchen.
posted by momus_window at 7:06 PM on April 1, 2021
Plus I feel guilty throwing out large complicated appliances, even if they're broken
Disassemble what you can that's still intact and sell those parts on eBay. You can make back a decent portion of the new oven's cost. The door, motors, and turntable tray get big bucks.
posted by JoeZydeco at 7:17 PM on April 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
Disassemble what you can that's still intact and sell those parts on eBay. You can make back a decent portion of the new oven's cost. The door, motors, and turntable tray get big bucks.
posted by JoeZydeco at 7:17 PM on April 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
In case it helps: You can buy online from Costco even if you’re not a member.
On a different note, I bought a microwave from Best Buy about a year ago and I was happy with the prices and selection.
posted by mekily at 7:40 PM on April 1, 2021
On a different note, I bought a microwave from Best Buy about a year ago and I was happy with the prices and selection.
posted by mekily at 7:40 PM on April 1, 2021
The box stores all sell the same stuff, at least in the lowish end. Even the visible brands are just skins -- we bought a "Black & Decker" and a "cooks" that were the same thing under different trim, and I believe I found they were both actually Panasonic or somebody.
Some types of breakage can be fixed, if you like tinkering (and buying security Torx and discharging big capacitors), like when they door sensors go rogue and start running the magnetron only when you open the door.
posted by away for regrooving at 12:12 AM on April 2, 2021 [1 favorite]
Some types of breakage can be fixed, if you like tinkering (and buying security Torx and discharging big capacitors), like when they door sensors go rogue and start running the magnetron only when you open the door.
posted by away for regrooving at 12:12 AM on April 2, 2021 [1 favorite]
My last two microwaves came from Best Buy. Gave away the Magic Chef and the Panasonic is still chugging along after 5+ years, so much so the interior light bulb had failed, but the microwave itself is working fine, even if the "tracks" of the carousel had etched through the paint in the bottom. :)
posted by kschang at 8:13 AM on April 2, 2021
posted by kschang at 8:13 AM on April 2, 2021
I've personally found the best luck buying small appliances at Target, they have a limited selection but they're always going to be at least decent quality because they tend to not sell overpriced and hard to maintain hardware.
Agree. My last two microwaves have come from Target and the one before the current one had lasted about 5-6 years with average use. Both Panasonics. If you've done your homework beforehand, it's fairly quick and simple to go in, make the purchase, and get out. (Target has curbside pickup but microwaves appear to be outside the size/weight limit.)
Best Buy is usually okay too but I've found their prices to be a bit higher. I probably wouldn't buy a microwave from either of the big home improvement stores unless I couldn't find what I wanted at Target or Best Buy, but that's just my own preference.
I have a Costco membership but right now I think buying something the size of a microwave there would likely require me to spend more time in the store than I'd want to be right now. Costco has a good "order online, pickup at store" system but that seems to be only for jewelry and electronic devices like tablets and laptops.
posted by fuse theorem at 1:08 PM on April 2, 2021
Agree. My last two microwaves have come from Target and the one before the current one had lasted about 5-6 years with average use. Both Panasonics. If you've done your homework beforehand, it's fairly quick and simple to go in, make the purchase, and get out. (Target has curbside pickup but microwaves appear to be outside the size/weight limit.)
Best Buy is usually okay too but I've found their prices to be a bit higher. I probably wouldn't buy a microwave from either of the big home improvement stores unless I couldn't find what I wanted at Target or Best Buy, but that's just my own preference.
I have a Costco membership but right now I think buying something the size of a microwave there would likely require me to spend more time in the store than I'd want to be right now. Costco has a good "order online, pickup at store" system but that seems to be only for jewelry and electronic devices like tablets and laptops.
posted by fuse theorem at 1:08 PM on April 2, 2021
Do you have a trusted local appliance store - one that gets good reviews? I know the store I always use keeps their prices competitive and service is usually better, plus you are supporting a local business.
posted by Preserver at 1:43 PM on April 2, 2021
posted by Preserver at 1:43 PM on April 2, 2021
What Preserver wrote. I don't think as much about the exact store I am going to buy from but I certainly think about the thing it is I am going to buy. I don't want some weird SKU that is made for, and only sold by, Costco or other big chain, I want the mainstream model, the one that is easiest to get service and parts for, so I tend to buy appliances from smaller appliance stores.
I haven't ever tried a combination microwave/convection oven but, as far as microwaves go, I have become really particular about them, have tried a bunch, and have settled on the LG Inverter microwaves as the best consumer microwaves on the market. Period. In particular, the LG's NeoChef "Smart Inverter Magnetron" line. They make several, mostly differentiated by the size. I have the .9 cu ft one. I have had it about two years now, use the heck out of it and it is, unquestionably, the best microwave I've ever had. Plus, it looks good in stainless and black glass. About $130-ish.
A local appliance dealer who I have come to know on a personal level turned me on to the LG. I had initially wanted a Panasonic inverter model because Panasonic invented them but he dissuaded me saying that the Panasonic ovens suffered from reliability problems.
The inverter cooking is fantastic and makes the oven a lot more useful for serious cooking. I will use 20-40% power for re-heating foods over a longer time and the results are that there are none of the weird molten-hot and still-cold pockets of food. Pre-packaged foods whose directions are, say, "heat for 3 minutes," I will instead heat for 5-6 minutes at 40-50% power and the results are considerably more consistent. Plus, I have found that I can, with care, get sous vide-like results at low settings and resting periods. I can even cook a filet mignon or salmon with excellent results. A regular microwave just can't achieve the same results. The LG turns a blunt instrument into a device capable of truly nuanced cooking. If something is going to tie-up precious counter space, it had better be worth it and the LG is worth it.
posted by bz at 11:21 PM on April 2, 2021 [1 favorite]
I haven't ever tried a combination microwave/convection oven but, as far as microwaves go, I have become really particular about them, have tried a bunch, and have settled on the LG Inverter microwaves as the best consumer microwaves on the market. Period. In particular, the LG's NeoChef "Smart Inverter Magnetron" line. They make several, mostly differentiated by the size. I have the .9 cu ft one. I have had it about two years now, use the heck out of it and it is, unquestionably, the best microwave I've ever had. Plus, it looks good in stainless and black glass. About $130-ish.
A local appliance dealer who I have come to know on a personal level turned me on to the LG. I had initially wanted a Panasonic inverter model because Panasonic invented them but he dissuaded me saying that the Panasonic ovens suffered from reliability problems.
The inverter cooking is fantastic and makes the oven a lot more useful for serious cooking. I will use 20-40% power for re-heating foods over a longer time and the results are that there are none of the weird molten-hot and still-cold pockets of food. Pre-packaged foods whose directions are, say, "heat for 3 minutes," I will instead heat for 5-6 minutes at 40-50% power and the results are considerably more consistent. Plus, I have found that I can, with care, get sous vide-like results at low settings and resting periods. I can even cook a filet mignon or salmon with excellent results. A regular microwave just can't achieve the same results. The LG turns a blunt instrument into a device capable of truly nuanced cooking. If something is going to tie-up precious counter space, it had better be worth it and the LG is worth it.
posted by bz at 11:21 PM on April 2, 2021 [1 favorite]
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I've not particularly enjoyed any of the BB&B or Best Buy stores that I've been to in the triangle, they're pushy and overpriced from what I've seen. I was moderately happy with the Fridge I bought from Lowe's but haven't bought smaller appliances there.
posted by JZig at 3:45 PM on April 1, 2021 [2 favorites]