At a Glance:
- What’s Causing the Home Appliance Shortage?
- How Long Will It Take to Have My Appliances Delivered?
- Navigating the Appliance Shortage Tips
- Appliance Shortage FAQs
- Why Trust Us?
In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, home appliances have been difficult to obtain and purchase. If you plan on buying or upgrading large appliances now, the chances of getting exactly what you want - and having it soon - are higher than they were a few months ago. But patience still remains the key. However, if you do find yourself able to get your hands on a new appliance, you can bet that it will come with some pretty significant tech downgrades due to ongoing manufacturing constraints.
Read on for the latest appliance shortage issues, and find out the answer to ‘how long will appliance shortage last?’, which luxury brands are experiencing delays, your best course of action, and tips for appliance shopping.
What’s the Holdup?
Despite inventory backups and delivery delays, experts tell us that the appliance shortages are easing somewhat. Nevertheless, appliance delays remain historically high. With the global pandemic, underlying supply chain issues have been brought to light across the world. At almost every stage, there are problems—material shortages halting the production of critical chips and parts, staff illnesses and isolation, lack of truckers, and even a shortage of workers to unload the goods at the port.
When you combine all of these factors with high consumer demand and a generalized retail closure issue, it’s no wonder it’s hard to get French door refrigerators and smart dishwashers from your favorite brands. In some cases, manufacturers have months-long waiting lists and may not even be able to fulfill backorders before the end of the year.
And according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), everyone is feeling the squeeze. Based on a survey from February 2021 polling single-family homebuilders, the NAHB found that nearly 90% had experienced difficulty securing appliances. The NAHB conducted another survey in May 2021, and the overall percentage of builders reporting an appliance shortage spiked to a whopping 95 percent.
Why are Appliances Out of Stock?
Let’s go through some of the reasons whyrefrigeratorsand other major appliances are out of stock.
Appliances are in High Demand
With people generally spending more time at home, the demand for appliances has skyrocketed. As the pandemic in the United States transitioned into a transitional phase, that demand did not slow down. Appliance sales were higher in the first half of 2021 than in the first half of 2020. Unfortunately, that heightened demand came at a time when manufacturing around the globe was suffering tremendously. As a result of pandemic-caused factory shutdowns, manufacturers were unable to meet demand, creating a backlog the appliance industry has yet to recover fully from.
Appliances are Wearing Out Faster
As a result of the pandemic, more people remotely worked, did their schooling, and exercised, spending more time at home than they normally would.
As a result of the extra time spent at home, the house itself will wear out quicker, and appliances will wear out at a faster rate. (Remember all the gardening, knitting, and sourdough bread that dominated your Pinterest and Instagram feeds? The nation’s gardening tools, knitting needles, and ovens were working overtime behind the scenes!)
Microchip Shortage
To make a perfect storm even more acute, there are shortages on the supply side as well. Microchips are required to run any type of technology, including cars, game consoles, washing machines, and smart refrigerators. However, there are now insufficient microchips to go around.
A lack of microchips would have had little influence on the appliance business a decade ago. Since then, appliances with “smart technology” have become the norm, requiring appliance manufacturers to rely on computer chips to create smart refrigerators and other smart home appliances. However, the microchip business is extremely competitive, and there are only so many chips available. If the shortage of microchips persists, appliance manufacturers may be forced to follow the lead of vehicle manufacturers and return to producing appliances without some of the high-tech features that consumers have come to expect.
Shop In-Stock Appliances at Friedmans
In-Stock Appliances
How Long Will It Take to Have My Appliances Delivered?
Depending on the brand, most homeowners have experienced delayed appliance delivery anywhere from one to 14 months. Here are a few high-end brands dealing with appliance shortages, backlog issues, and delays in appliance delivery. (*N/A indicates the manufacturer does not make that product.)
Thermador
Thermador is a brand that has built itself upon a century of innovation, contributing bold designs, unparalleled performance, and outstanding modernizations in the home appliance industry. Thermador appliances are no exception as they continue to revolutionize the home experience, delivering unmatched performance, state-of-the-art technology, and a range of styles to match a person’s tastes.
As confirmed by a Thermador, “we are currently seeing delays for our appliances due to global material shortages and logistical challenges. Please know we are working diligently to produce and deliver our appliances as quickly as we can.”
Delivery Delays:
Refrigeration | Laundry | Cooking | Dishwashers | Microwaves |
8-14 Weeks | N/A | 6-14 Weeks | 8-10 Weeks | 2 Weeks |
Bosch;
Bosch home appliances have spent roughly 150 years making everyday life easier for their customers with products that offer convenience and simplicity to even the most mundane of household chores. As Bosch strives to better its products with increased efficiency and sustainability, it will never compromise quality, technical perfection, and complete reliability.
Bosch has also released a statement regarding delays, “we are currently experiencing delays across all of our product categories – coffee, cooking, refrigeration, dishwashers, and laundry. The length of these delays vary from product to product.”
Delivery Delays:
Refrigeration | Laundry | Cooking | Dishwashers | Microwaves |
2-12 Weeks | 2-4 Weeks | 3-14 Weeks | 20-22 Weeks | 10-14 Weeks |
KitchenAid
KitchenAid has existed for more than 100 years to make a kitchen a place of endless possibilities with home appliances designed to ensure its users get the most out of it. As a Whirlpool subsidiary, KitchenAid helps users achieve anything they want to do in their kitchens that is within their reach, whether it’s cooking, baking, brewing, or blending with its products.
“As with many companies, we have experienced periods of interruptions in production related to the pandemic due to raw material and component shortages, but as a whole have remained up and running throughout this challenging time. We continue to monitor the situation and remain in constant contact with both our suppliers and customers as we work through the shortages.”
Delivery Delays:
Refrigeration | Laundry | Cooking | Dishwashers | Microwaves |
2 Weeks-10 Months | N/A | 1-6 Months | 2-3 Months | 2-4 Weeks |
Appliance Shortage Tips
If you are shopping for new appliances and encountering long delivery times due to backlog issues and appliance shortages, here are some tips to find appliances right away.
Check Buying Guides
Buying guides are informative and detailed, but they also provide critical information regarding stock availability at various retailers. Every day, data is gathered from dozens of shop websites to bring you the best prices and availability on any appliance you can imagine.
Consider Independent Retailers
Although major appliance retailers might be experiencing an appliance shortage, take a look at some of the smaller stores — they might still have appliances in stock.
Don’t limit your search to online either, as some physical stores might not have a website listing their stock. For instance, if you are in the Bay Area, pop in for a visit to Friedmans Appliances. We have the area's largest in-stock appliance inventory.
Sign Up for Notifications and Waiting Lists
Many retailers have a notification service that will notify you when an item is back in stock. Take advantage of this by setting up notifications to ensure you don’t miss out on your ideal appliance!
Smaller stores typically have waiting lists where you may sign up to be notified when appliances are back in stock. So, if you can wait a little longer, this is a great option to get a first crack at Friedmans in-stock inventory!
Lastly, If All Else Fails, Repair Your Appliances!
If you can’t find an appliance or if retailer wait lists are too lengthy, consider fixing your old appliances. This option is often less expensive and more long-term than purchasing a completely new product. You can check to see if your warranty is still valid, then get in touch with your local appliance repair services.
Appliance Shortage FAQ
Here are some of our Friedmans shoppers’ top questions about the appliance shortage.
Q: Why are appliances so back-ordered?
The COVID-19 pandemic caused many factories to shut down. When factories resumed manufacturing, they struggled to fill both the backlog as well as new orders.
Q: How long is it taking to get new appliances?
For the most part, you will have to wait a minimum of 2 to 3 weeks before receiving your new appliance. It is not unusual for consumers to wait for 4 to 6 weeks.
Why Trust Friedmans Appliance?
Established in 1922, Friedmans Appliance has been the most trusted name in the Bay Area for over 100 years. What started as a small appliance store in Oakland has expanded to include every appliance you need for your home. Our commitment to value, inspiration, and character has only grown, creating an unbeatable reputation for top-notch appliances. At Friedmans, we strive to give our customers the best of the best, including our selection of top appliance brands and our exceptional customer service. Speaking of which, we offer a 100-day price guarantee on all our products — the longest in the industry!
Our wide selection of appliances is just one of the reasons we’re the best Bay Area appliance store. We carry refrigerators in every style, every cooking appliance to show off your chef skills, and every dish care and laundry appliance you need for cleanup.
Shop In-Stock Appliances at Friedmans
See for yourself why Friedmans is a trusted name in the Bay Area and shop in-stock appliances. While we are located in Pleasant Hill, we deliver to all of Northern California — even Reno! If you have any questions, our team is always happy to help you stay in the know about the appliance shortage, whether you call us at 925-808-2950, email us, or use our online chat feature. Better yet, stop by our appliance store in Pleasant Hill to experience the quality in person. Visit us today!
Learn More: Cook with Confidence in These Best Oven Brands
- Shop Appliance Deals
- Shop Our Featured Brands
- Learn About Our Services
