“Buying groups put independents on an equal footing with Home Depot or Lowe’s,” MacGregor says. Local independent retailers can offer selections comparable to those of big-box stores, thanks to their membership in cooperative buying groups. Here’s our insider advice for getting an appliance pronto, at the best possible price.ġ. “Discounts may appear similar,” he says, “but base pricing or other factors will likely make the products more expensive compared with last year." You’ll most likely find those savings when you buy a bundle-several products at once, says Mark Davis, a Gap Intelligence analyst who covers the range market.Įven when a store offers a discount, though, the actual savings aren’t as great as they may seem, says Seth Basham, managing director at Wedbush Securities, based in Los Angeles, and an industry analyst who covers appliance retailers Best Buy, Home Depot, and Lowe’s. Among major appliance retailers, Best Buy has discounted 128 machines with deals at the point of purchase, requiring no mail-in rebate.