Why You May Want To Think Twice Before Buying Small Appliances At Home Depot

Whether you are building, renovating, or just dabbling in some DIY projects, Home Depot can be a great place to find what you need. When browsing through the aisles of Home Depot, you should be looking for things like garden plants, hardwood flooring, and lights. At the same time, though, there are things the big box hardware store isn't the greatest spot for. You'll want to avoid buying home decor, bathroom vanities, and small appliances.

You may be scratching your head wondering why a place like Home Depot shouldn't be your first stop for appliances. While it has a large selection of major appliances like washers, dryers, and ovens, it has not cornered the market on smaller appliances. You can probably find a small appliance at Home Depot if you absolutely need one immediately, of course; but in terms of getting the best appliance for the best price, you should consider looking elsewhere.

At its core, Home Depot is a home improvement store. So, while you can find pretty much all your home needs there, it is best known for things like lighting or paint that help brighten your home, or items like wood flooring or gardening materials that improve it. In the same vein, the employees who work at Home Depot are likely much better versed in those areas, so if you need help finding the best air fryer for your newfound love for cooking, they may not be the best people to help.

If you are searching for a good deal, you're comparatively unlikely to find one at Home Depot. According to Clark, Home Depot is not even listed in the top five stores for deals on small appliances. The finance info site actually states that if you're looking for a quality small appliance on the cheap, eBay is a much better source than Home Depot. 

If you are in the market for a toaster oven or coffee maker, you may want to take your search to television. According to Consumer Reports, the home shopping network QVC ranked the highest on its list of outlets for small kitchen appliances. Not only have customers said that they found the best deals on small appliances there, they also said QVC offered them the best customer service, had the biggest selection, and that delivery was fast and seamless.

Other stores that received high grades from Consumer Reports in the small appliance category are Amazon, Macy's, Costco, Williams Sonoma, and Kohl's. All of these stores ranked high in customer satisfaction and price. Insider also recommends shopping for your small appliances at Bed Bath & Beyond, and using your 20% coupon in store for added savings. "You can find a wider range of brands and options at a retailer like Bed Bath & Beyond or a department store," shopping and trends expert Sara Skirboll told Business Insider. "Plus, at Bed Bath & Beyond, you can always get 20% off one item, both in-store and online. Those savings can really add up."