Help me choose!

[kareid]

I have a 2-family house. We're adding a dishwasher downstairs, and have a 1992-ish era one upstairs.

Help me choose!

 

Buy 2 dishwashers, for an extra cost of $300-400, so that I can replace the old one with a new, energy star one and probably save $30+/yr, in addition to feel-good points.

 

 

Save the $300-400 for another few years. Less cost now, even more efficient models later, and $30/yr isn't financially worth it.

 

 
Comments?

 

Before you click, give us some idea of why you feel that way.

 

[Comments]

Comments

[vfish.livejournal.com]

Do you use both halves of the house? If so, is there any reason why you would need two dishwashers?

[kareid.livejournal.com]

Yes, we do use both halves. We want two so that A+L don't have to keep carrying their dishes upstairs, and so that the downstairs could be used as a separate unit more easily.

[goddess32585.livejournal.com]

I haven't filled it out, but I would note that depending on where you're buying from and how comfortable you are with bargaining, you may be able to score a discount of some sort for buying two at once. Or at least save a delivery fee, unless they inexplicably charge per item.

[kareid.livejournal.com]

I was kind of wondering that. I think we may end up buying from a big-box store, which I would expect to be less open to bargaining, but I wonder if it's worth going in person instead of buying online just to ask about the delivery fee.

[goddess32585.livejournal.com]

Oh, even big box stores have salespeople, and they might even be working on commission for big appliances like that. It's definitely worth trying, I'd say. After all, how often do you think they have people buying 2 dishwashers?

[kvarko.livejournal.com]

Also might depend on how you plan to have the appliance delivered and connected. Depending on the appliance and the store both can cost money. If there is no additional cost for a second appliance, that could be significant. For instance, in 2000, I had a Sears washer and gas dryer delivered and installed -- it was $100 to connect them up ... which for the gas dryer I was not comfortable doing myself! And I think that it was also $100 to deliver, but maybe delivery was free/cheap, I forget. But if delivery/installation costs $200 for one machine, and also $200 for two machines, then you save $200 by doing two at once. But if it doesn't cost that much, or if you're willing to deliver and install it yourself, then that obviously doesn't apply.

[lokiect.livejournal.com]

work doesn't like doxory, but if it's ~30/year and the total cost is something like 500, then it'll take 17ish years to be worth it? But if you're looking wistfully at new ones (or are annoyed with the old one) then it could be worth it.

[dcltdw]

It depends entirely on your financial context.

Can you easily afford the $350? Then be the environmental change you want to see.

Can you not easily afford the $350? Then don't, and be content that you at least considered it.