Unreliable Appliance Brands

"Unreliable Appliance Brands To Avoid At All Costs, According To Home Improvement Experts."

Your cherry-red single-door or bottom-freezer refrigerator might have been all the rage once upon a time. But you're not alone if you've outgrown these models and need something smart and sleek to complement your trendy interiors. Or, perhaps you're tired of dealing with your on-again, off-again HVAC system, inefficient dishwasher, or sputtering microwave. Whatever the reason, there are two things you should keep in mind when buying appliances. First, be aware of the best time of year to purchase a new home appliance. Second, avoid buying products from certain brands to save your future version from constant headaches.

To identify the problematic companies, look at expert reviews, go through customer ratings, and speak with in-store experts. Given the diversity of information, it can be confusing to pinpoint the brands you should steer clear of and the brands you should invest in. This is why we spoke exclusively to six experts and collated a list of brands you should avoid at all costs in popular categories, like HVAC systems, refrigerators, dishwashers, and microwaves. While expert opinion varies based on the category, most recommend spending more upfront for a quality product over picking a relatively cheap product and bearing costly repairs down the line. That being said, here are a few unreliable appliance brands you should avoid and what to buy instead.

Read More: https://www.housedigest.com/1707717/appliance-brands-avoid-buying-expert/

The Buy Now Pay Later Problem

"Buy Now, Pay Later Often a Debt Trap."
by Herb Weisbaum, The ConsumerMan

Despite stretched household budgets and concerns about the economy, American shoppers are expected to spend more—and take on more debt—this holiday season. Consumer spending on gifts, food, decorations, and other seasonal items is expected to hit a record of $902 per person, $25 more than last year, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual survey.

The number of shoppers using buy now, pay later (BNPL) financing continues to grow. Adobe predicts BNPL will hit a record $9.5 billion during the month of November and it forecasts that Cyber Monday 2024 will be BNPL’s largest day ever, at $993 million.

The financial technology companies offering these point-of-sale loans (and they are loans) have a marketing message that appeals to cash-strapped families who don’t have credit or have maxed out their cards. They promote BNPL as “a smarter way” to pay than with credit cards, one that offers “flexibility” and “no surprises.” Approval is instant, and there’s no hard credit check.

When used wisely, these loans can help consumers deal with cash flow problems without turning to more expensive credit, such as payday loans or high-interest credit cards. When they aren’t used wisely, they can turn into high-cost loans with serious consequences.

READ more at: https://www.checkbook.org/boston-area/buy-now-pay-later/