I saved over $100 today!

[dreiwhit]

I saved over $100 today, and i'm pretty pumped.

The element in our dryers went out yesterday. Besides replacing that, I also wanted to replace the thermostat and thermal protection switches. Since its a Kenmore, I went to Sears Parts Direct to look them up and was going to go to the Sears Parts store in town to get them. The parts alone were $150 and tax would have been another $15.

On a lark, I decided to look on Amazon this morning. They had all the parts there for much, much cheaper. The best price was two of the thermal switches that Sears wanted over $54 for Amazon had for $7.00!! And, since I have Prime, I got two day shipping. With tax, the prices for all the parts was a little over $62!!

I wish I could save like that every day!

 

[Pooh2]

We've done this a few times.

One of the times, we paid the higher local price because we needed our oven the next day. But otherwise, the prices are amazon for repair parts as a fraction of what Sears gets.

With our dryer, we had the option to wait a few days for the part and just hang laundry near the woodstove.

 

[gottalovepluto]

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

Way to go!

I am still patting myself on the back for my fix.

Our 9 year old LG front loader got an error message about the drain. I have never really liked the washer, and pretty much had my hubby talked into a Speed Queen. I had the day off, and was researching LG front loader drain because I was tired of everyone telling me what a great washer it was, and came across a number of YouTube videos showing how to take the washer apart. I had nothing to lose if I broke it, and had that bad boy almost completely taken apart before my husband got home. Unfortunately it wasn't the easy drain hose or filter clog. So my husband took out the drain pump unit (that was above my new found comfort level with appliance repair!) and found it was the issue. Googled the part number and added Denver in my search, and we were able to buy the part locally ($55 or so) the next day - and it is fixed!

Still hoping for a speed queen someday, but awfully proud of my little self!

 

[dreiwhit]

One of the times, we paid the higher local price because we needed our oven the next day. But otherwise, the prices are amazon for repair parts as a fraction of what Sears gets.

With our dryer, we had the option to wait a few days for the part and just hang laundry near the woodstove.

We got lucky, since the element failed near the end of the last load of towels, socks, etc., my wife had washed. We used the air dry to finish it up. The rest of our clothes - shirts, pants, etc - we normally wash in cold and then hang up to dry. Those still have to be done, but we don't need a dryer for them!!

We bought that dryer almost 17 years ago when we first got married. $63 worth of parts for that long isn't bad at all.....

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

Good for you! I applaud you being mechanically brave and having the motivation to do an alternative search for the parts.

 

[dreiwhit]

Good for you! I applaud you being mechanically brave and having the motivation to do an alternative search for the parts.

Thanks! It was more of a lark that I checked Amazon, plus I hated to spend all that money on parts!

For a good many of my teenage years, my family didn't have a lot lot of discretionary income. I learned how to fix or make things from watching and helping my dad. Dad could fix or make almost anything when he put his mind to it!

 

[Lvsdisney]

Woot woot! A few years ago I also had to replace a few parts on my dryer. Ended up costing me $36 and one of the parts I didn't even need to use (saved it just in case!). My dad is very handy and he said that even he wouldn't have thought to fix it on his own- I replied being frugal is always my main motivator!