TOP LOAD VS. FRONT LOAD WASHER

So your washer has just run its last cycle in its long and prosperous life and now you are, for potentially the first time, shopping for a brand new one. You walk in to an appliance store and you see an overwhelming selection of washers to choose from. There are top load with the agitator, there are top load without the agitator in the middle, and finally there are front load washers. What is the major difference between the three? Well I’m here to answer exactly that.

Lets begin with top load washers with

agitators. This is your traditional washer set up and generally at lower price points. The first thing to mention is that very few top load washers are built in the old school manner where they will last 15 to 20 years. Most modern washers on the market going to last 8 to 10 years, regardless of set up. The reason they don’t last as long is because the savings on energy efficiency over the 8 to 10 years of its life is enough money to warrant purchasing a new set. The down side of this washer design is water efficiency while the benefit is you don’t have to bend down to put clothes in. A great example of a top load washer is the LG 5.7 Cu.Ft. Mega Capacity Top Load Turbowash Technology Washer.

The top load without the agitator in the middle is a curious study. The lack of the agitator in the middle to pull clothes through the water to clean them means that the manufacturers had to get creative with the way the tub rotates. The benefit of these is that your clothes can’t get tangled around the agitator or get frayed, plus the capacities tend to go higher on them as well. The downside on them is water efficiency.

Now we get to the front load washers. The number one complaint I’ve heard customers have is that they tend to develop a smell over time. The manufacturers have fixed that issue by using anti-microbial material on the interior of the washer. The other thing to keep in mind is that front loads require ventilation, so keeping the door cracked is necessary. Now front loads are the best at cleaning clothes and here is why, the tub will spin out much faster than the top loads plus the tub itself is stainless steel on the interior. Now while they are generally more pricey, the amount of water savings you will have on front load vs. top load will pay itself off in two to three years. Check out the LG 5.2 cu.ft. Mega Capacity with On-Door Control Panel & TurboWash.

So in general, front load washers will clean the best and are the more efficient. The downside is having to bend down to load and unload, but they do have pedestal or stacking options. 

Black Friday Myths for Retail Appliances

Here are a couple of myths that came up this year during Black Friday. Know these myths now before next year’s Black Friday, so that you can be prepared.

Myth: Black Friday sales begin on Thanksgiving Night or Black Friday

The truth is Black Friday deals start the 1^st week of November and run for the entire month. Many retailers like Appliance Factory & Mattress Kingdom offer a 30 to 60 day price match guarantee. This means we can shop with confidence knowing we will get the best price on any purchase decision we make. There is no need to camp out in line to get the best Black Friday Deals.

Delivery and installation have a finite availability. Demand during Black Friday pushes delivery and/or installation out weeks. If something does go wrong on our 1^st delivery, it can take weeks to get rescheduled. SHOP EARLY!

Myth: There is plenty of stock availability for sale products and Door Busters. 

The truth is demand nation-wide is high and supply is low. We have seen national back orders for appliances last months, if they ever come in at all. Door Busters are low priced items meant to create buzz and traffic. Usually, there are only a couple units per store. Untrained employees oversell and over promise leaving consumers holding the bag. Shop with retailers who have professional sales teams, who not only know the product, but also the availability.

Myth: Making an appliance purchase is easy

There is a huge selection of appliances in every category. There are different features, colors, sizes and applications. Appliances are complex and specialized. They are large, heavy products and come with each their own challenges for design and installation. It can be a long process selecting the right appliances we desire, meet our needs, will function and fit properly in our selected area and are installed properly. Products travel long distances and on many modes of transportation, sometimes creating damage. Other issues: appliances having alarming high dead on arrival issues. 3-6% off all appliances are dead on arrival. Between in box damage and DOA products, the reordering and redelivering can ruin last minute plans for the Holidays.

Pricing is confusing! There are so many deals and promotions that include buy more save more, manufacturer rebates, exclusive rebates, financing options, etc, working with a professional sales team can save us time, money and huge frustrations!

Keys to a successful appliance purchase during Black Friday

1. Don’t wait! Buy early! Deals are the same on November 5^th as they are on Black Friday.
2. Shop with retailers who have a 30 day or more price match policy so you are guaranteed the best price.
3. Shop with retailers who specialize in appliances and have a professional sales team who understands the product, your needs and product availability. They will better understand how to save you time, money and frustration. 

Can't wait until next Black Friday's great deals? That's okay, we have great deals going on all year round.

3 Things to Consider When Purchasing a Dishwasher

Are you in the market for a new dishwasher? Chances are you have many, many questions and there just seem to be enough clear answers. In this modern age there’s a buying guide to pretty much everything, however, when it comes to something as essential as dishwashers the internet is filled with specs, and technical details that read like a foreign language.

At Appliance Factory and Mattress Kingdom we’re experts in simplifying the appliance shopping experience. We take industry jargon, that’s designed to fill spec sheets and make them practical and easy to understand and digest. We want to prepare you with the tools to make the most rational decision and not rely making a decision from a sheet of specs that we see too much in the market.

We’re confident these three practical tips to consider when purchasing a dishwasher;  will help you prepare in making the best decision possible. PS: We can’t wait for you to come in and show off how prepared you are; we have 16 locations find the one closet to you here.

1. Price or Performance:

This is a question you must ask yourself before you walk into a store, or begin shopping online. This simple question will really help clarify what you’re looking for and ensure you don’t buy anything you don’t need. That’s the last thing you want is to pay more for a feature you don’t need. And trust me there are a lot of different features out there, that’s one of the primary factors that can drive the price of a dishwasher from $349 to $1600.

2. Do I Know My Space:

Many resources start with measurements, meaning that measurements are the most important factor in deciding or selecting a dishwasher. While measurements are important, you’d be shocked how many people walk into one of our 16 stores or chat with us online and have their measurements; but have no idea the other appliance brands or colors in their kitchen. Yes, measurements are extremely important but knowing the goal for the space is extremely important:

• Do I want to match the brands in my kitchen or am I open to other options?
• Do I want controls on the front, or do I want controls hidden to have a more concealed look in my kitchen?
• Is my current dishwasher panel ready, do I want to stay panel ready or do I want a solid color?
• Is my kitchen open to another room, how important are noise levels?
• How many place settings or pots and pans, or silverware do I want to fit into the dishwasher?
• Those are just a few questions to get your mind ticking. There are many more, so get pots and pans out, bring your favorite wine glass to the store with you, etc… Your space is your life, knowing your space will make sure you find a dishwasher that fits your life.

3. Read a review or two:

It really doesn’t matter the manufacture or model, just read a couple of reviews on dishwashers. Trust us there are thousands of them on the internet. This is great for you, because you can see what other shoppers are saying about their purchases. Pay close attention to reasons they don’t like their dishwasher and reasons they do. If you’re price conscious  read reviews on entry-level models and then compare the mid-level models. Chances are some of these reviews will help you discover questions that are really important to you that just hadn’t crossed your mind. 

Counter Depth vs Standard Depth Refrigerator Rap Battle

Here is a fun rap battle from one of our stores that explains the difference between Counter Depth and Standard Depth Refrigerators.






Stop by one of our 16 locations in Colorado. You can ask any of our Product Specialist to help you figure out which refrigerator is best for you.



What features do you look for when shopping for a new refrigerator?

Really, What Is the Best Time of The Year To Buy Appliances?

You’ve been seeing the commercials; the ads in the magazines, your fridge just decided to give up, or you moved into a new home and the appliances are avocado green from the seventies. There are so many reasons why you may have started your appliance shopping journey, and one of the most important questions you’re asking yourself is “How?” and/or “Am I getting the best deal possible?”.  Chances are you’ve seen an ad from Home Depot, Lowes, and even us, Appliance Factory & Mattress Kingdom and every week there seems to be some special deal or sale going on; and you’re stuck questioning when to buy. Or even worse you’re forced to buy right now, and waiting is not an option. If you take a few moments to review these tips you’ll be more prepared no matter the time you buy.

Expert Tip: If you don’t take anything from this article outside of this one tip you’re going to be in great shape. No matter where you purchase, make sure the retailer has a price match guarantee. But wait; not all price match guarantees are created equal. Make sure your retailer doesn’t just price match the day of the purchase but for at least 30 days after the purchase.

Recap: If the retailer will not price match 30 days after the purchase, even against their prices: DO NOT BUY!

Now that we’ve discussed one extremely important item to appliance shopping in general, let’s talk about the best times of the year to buy appliances. Okay, let’s play a little game; take a few moments and think what the world and maybe even you thinks is the best time of the year to buy appliances? …Let me guess you said “Black Friday”? While Black Friday generally has some great deals, fun door busters, and lines around the corner; the best appliance deals are rarely during Black Friday; or even in the 4^th Quarter.

Okay, you’ve waited long enough; the best deals and the best time to buy appliances is over the 4^th of July holiday. However, don’t just focus on that one day; chances are most retailers will start their 4^th of July pricing weeks before. Yes, that means you don’t have to rush to shop for appliances on one of the most fun family days of the year. Let’s make these numbers real so you can understand the discounts a little better.

At Appliance Factory & Mattress Kingdom we are known for the value we offer in our prices; our customers love to tell us how much money they’ve saved just by walking through our doors. We like when our customers save money, it makes us happy; and we know it’ll make you happy.

•   Everyday customers on average save 15% when shopping with us over the competition.
•   During the 4^th of July our customers have reported saving over 27% – 33% over the competition! WOW! (In comparison to Black Friday where our customers reported savings from 21% - 28% )

Now that that’s cleared up we can’t wait to see you in one of our 16 stores so we can learn more about your project and partner together to find the right appliances for your needs and wants. 

What is great about this year, is that Appliance Factory & Mattress Kingdom is extending some of their 4th of July sales for a few more months. What are you needing to buy?