Last Wednesday, the latch mechanism on my washer broke for the second time in a year. It's a simple little mechanism that consists of a peg and a button, and tells the washer when the lid is shut, but without it, the washer won't spin out. Not good. The last time we had it fixed, it cost us $200. For a part that was probably all of $15.00. Now, my washer has done its job faithfully for seven years, but it was a standard, no frills Kenmore model that (according to Sears website) costs around $400 new, NOW. Not seven years ago. I'm thankful for the good job it's done, but I wasn't about to pay another $200 to have it fixed again. If you have been keeping up with us for a while, you may remember that we also had problems with the dryer over the summer. It was simply time for a new set. How convenient that it should finally give up the ghost just before Black Friday?
The first place I checked for Black Friday deals was Best Buy. Though I prefer Frys any day of the week, (Talk about a geek's paradise!) their website is rubbish, and didn't actually have any spoilers. I have had my eye on the beautiful red Samsung washer and dryer for a year now, alas, the price on those wasn't great. What they DID have was a Samsung steam washer and the dryer to go with it for HALF OFF! Normally, these would be $1200 each, but they were selling them for $599 each on Black Friday. They also offered 18 months no interest financing, if you put in on the Best Buy credit card. While I don't have a Best Buy card (and there's no way I would be accepted for one!), my mother does, and she agreed to put it on her card so we could afford the washer and dryer of my dreams. I must be an adult now, if I'm excited about a new washer and dryer! Woohoo!
Driving to my parents' house for Thanksgiving lunch, we saw the tents already set up outside two out of three Best Buys that we had to pass. The one closest to my parents house was the ONLY ONE that didn't already have a pretty good group of people waiting. At 1:00 in the afternoon. Jonathan decided then, that we had better go ahead and stake our place in line as soon as possible, so once we were through eating, I drove him up to the store and dropped him off. The time was 2:30 or so. That's right, 2:30. On Thanksgiving afternoon. And we were a good fifteen people back in line. I NEVER thought I would want something so badly that I would be willing to spend the night on a sidewalk outside a store to get it. The need for new appliances, however, apparently trumps common sense! ;) The night was not actually so bad. I brought a big comforter, pillows and coats. We had books, video games, and Jonathan's laptop. Another couple in line with us had board games, and they looked out for our spot in line, so we were actually even able to take a break together and go over to the Wal-Mart across the street for snacks and the restroom. At around 2:00 AM, lying on Jonathan's chest resting, and listening to the buzz around me, I actually felt quite peaceful. Jonathan has that affect on me. :)
Once they opened, we were in and out of Best Buy in under twenty minutes, with directions to their warehouse so I could get my new washer and dryer that day instead of having to wait until Monday for it to be delivered. Good thing, too because although I did manage a load or two of laundry in the bathtub, stomping around in it like Lucy, we were running short on clothes! When we got to the warehouse, they brought out the washer and dryer in no time flat, and we were just ready to load it in the truck when they discovered that there was a problem: The sales person at the store (who was the only one in appliances, by the way. Poor guy.) had set us up to pick up the washer, but not the dryer at the warehouse. The dryer was, apparently, still at the store. We couldn't have the one that was sitting right in front of us, because it had been sold to someone else! Well that's frustrating. The store manager was very gracious, admitting that it was their fault, and said he would try to find us an upgrade. AN UPGRADE! :) Half an hour later, they loaded a washer that was .3 cubic feet larger than the one we paid for and the dryer to go with it!
Darling Jonathan installed my sparkling new washer and dryer while I was at work on Saturday, and left me a voicemail saying that it "sings and dances". He wasn't kidding. It playes a song when you turn it on, when you turn it off, and when the cycle is finished. hehe! I LOVE my new washer and dryer! While I certainly never expected to spend the night at a Best Buy (or any store for that matter) the outcome was MORE than worth it! We got something that we needed, and I'm certain that it will save us money in the long-run, as it is a newer, energy star model. We'll be able to pay it off in manageable payments, with no interest (Thanks again, Mom!) and paid HALF what it's worth and then some because of the upgrade.
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