How We Saved Nearly 50% on a Whirlpool Duet Washer & Dryer

We had been thinking about upgrading to an energy-efficient front-loading washer and dryer for a while, waiting for a really good deal. We expected the best discounts to appear in February when retailers introduce new models, but as it turned out, a great offer found us much sooner.

While browsing Lowe’s one Saturday, we noticed a sign advertising 10% off all appliances. It wasn’t a huge incentive, but it was enough reason to detour through the appliance department. That’s where we spotted a Whirlpool Duet washer and dryer set labeled as an in-store special: $898 for the pair, marked down from $1,198. The price was solid and the machines looked excellent—stackable, energy-efficient, and exactly the style we’d used and liked in our previous home.

We asked a salesperson whether the 10% off offer could be applied to the $898 in-store price. They said no: the appliances were already part of an in-store special, so additional discounts weren’t allowed. We left without buying, planning to consider other options.

The next morning we received an email from Lowe’s announcing 20% off Energy Star washer and matching dryer sets priced over $397 each. Because we were already signed up for their mailing list, the offer landed in our inbox. We checked lowes.com and discovered the same Whirlpool Duet set was listed online at $399 each—$798 for the pair—rather than the $898 we’d seen in-store. The email coupon appeared to apply to that online price, which would reduce each machine to $319 and the total to $638.

We prefer buying from our local store when possible, so we called the store and explained that we wanted to buy the online-priced set but would rather order through them if they would honor the lower price. Once we mentioned ordering online, a supervisor confirmed they could match the online sale combined with the email discount and complete the order through the store. In short: they honored the price and we saved almost half off the original marked price.

This experience highlights a few useful points. First, in-store staff often prefer customers to complete sales locally because store sales impact daily goals, so asking for an in-store match to an online promotion can be effective. Second, having the online promotion and the emailed coupon available—either printed or on your phone—can help when you ask a manager to honor a lower price. We did have to speak to a supervisor by phone, but they approved the deal.

Why We Chose Front-Loading, Energy-Efficient Machines

We plan to stack the new Whirlpool Duet washer and dryer in our laundry room, replacing the older non-front-loading set that came with the house. Front-loading washers offer more usable space inside the drum and typically use less water and energy than older top-loading models. For our household, that adds up to real savings on utility bills and more effective cleaning for cloth diapers and everyday laundry.

The Energy Star label on the machines estimates annual operating costs at about $15 per year based on an assumed eight loads per week. We typically do closer to four or five loads weekly, so our real operating cost will likely be lower—closer to the single-digit range according to that usage pattern. Energy-efficient appliances reduce both monthly utility bills and long-term environmental impact.

What We’re Doing with the Old Machines

The washer and dryer we replaced are still in good working condition, so we don’t want to send them to a landfill. We plan to list them for sale on Craigslist while we wait for the new dryer’s delivery window. If they don’t sell locally, we’ll donate them to a Habitat for Humanity ReStore or a similar nonprofit that accepts appliance donations and can even arrange pickups.

Finally, thanks to a tip from some helpful commenters, we discovered a possible $75 rebate from a government program for buying an Energy Star appliance. That rebate would reduce our final total further. We’ll keep receipts and submit required documentation to pursue it.

Have you found after-holiday appliance deals or successfully convinced a store to match an online offer? Our experience shows that checking online prices, saving promotional emails, and politely asking a supervisor can turn a good sale into a great one.