Appliance rebates kick off Thursday
By Laura Collins
Published in News on April 21, 2010 1:46 PM
The North Carolina Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program begins Thursday and runs through Saturday -- unless the $8.8 million federal funding runs out earlier.
Through the program, area residents can purchase new, ENERGY STAR qualified appliances and get a 15 percent instant rebate at the register.
Area appliance retailers, including Sears and Lowe's, are anticipating a large crowd and opening their doors early on Thursday.
"They're talking about us probably doing more business Thursday than we did on Black Friday," said Sears store manager Lee Lane. "We've had some customers say they're going to be there at 3:30 or 4 in the morning to get in line, so we're going to have coffee and doughnuts for them to make it a little easier."
Lane said the store has been offering a 30 percent discount on ENERGY STAR appliances since Friday and will continue to in addition to the 15 percent rebate. He added that they don't anticipate running out of products, but if something is not in the store, they will order it and have it home delivered.
"It's going to be a busy morning that first day," he said. "Be patient with us and we'll get them taken care of."
Lane added that the rebate is a win-win for the customer and for the store, which will open early at 6 a.m.
"It's going to bring some traffic back into the store that we haven't had in a while and it's a really great advantage to the customer," he said.
Lowe's of Goldsboro is also planning on opening at 6 a.m. Thursday. Store manager Angie Williams said they will have extra staff available for an increased crowd.
In addition to the 15 percent rebate, Lowe's is offering 10 percent off ENERGY STAR appliances and another 10 percent off for military.
"The rebate that we are offering, we will get reimbursed, so we're just happy to be helping the customer," she said.
The eligible appliances are: clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators and freezers with the ENERGY STAR logo on the product. The Web site www.energystar.gov lists qualified models. The appliance must also be new because refurbished or used appliances do not qualify for the rebate.
Purchases must be made at participating retailers:
*Bobby Denning, Inc., Mt. Olive, 8:30 a.m.
*Crawford Furniture, Pikeville and Goldsboro, 9 a.m.
*Furniture Fair, Goldsboro, 9 a.m
*House of Furniture, Fremont, 8:30 a.m.
*Lowe's Home Improvement, Goldsboro, 6 a.m.
*Ormonds Inc., Goldsboro, 10 a.m.
*Sears, Goldsboro, 6 a.m.
Online purchases do not qualify for the rebate and the customer must be a North Carolina resident. Also, the rebates are limited to one per customer for each type of appliance.