If I had to guess what the number one issue is at the core of the questions, comments, and complaints I receive through this blog, it'd be reliability. Our mortgages, rents, health care costs, and even grocery costs have increased significantly over the past 30 years - more than can be explained by inflation alone - and wages have not kept up. So people want to know whether an appliance we reviewed will last, or why their appliance got top marks but broke down within 2-3 years.

And the fact that I can't answer that very legitimate question is a source of frustration for me.

If I can't answer the real question, I'd at least like to explain WHY I can't answer it. So, let's dig in: What are the barriers to predicting appliance reliability?

If you are in the market for a new appliance or package of appliances, you may be considering the question of whether to shop at a local appliance store or a big box chain. This is definitely an important question to consider. Knowing that you will be spending hundreds to perhaps many thousands of dollars on these products and that you probably intend to keep them for years, choosing the right retailer to buy them from is critical.

As a local appliance dealer since 1953, we certainly know the industry well and compete with the big box retailers every day. In this blog we are going to give you an honest, fair insider's perspective on your two options and try to help you to answer the question - local appliance store vs big box chain - which is better?