When your budget won’t stretch to expensive imported brands, it’s time to get knowledgeable about affordable kitchen products and discount kitchen appliances on the market. Here’s some information on cheaper kitchen appliance brands, including Westinghouse, Fisher & Paykel, Blanco and Bosch.

Brand differences in kitchen appliances can be tricky to navigate. But if you’re on a tight budget, it’s essential to get a handle on the facts. According to appliance retailer David Wootton, knowing which brands offer good value is made more difficult because models change over time. "Often, people swear by a specific-brand fridge because they had one 40 years ago, but the models, materials and manufacturing methods are different, so it’s not the same product," he says.To avoid disappointment, talk with family and friends about their recent experiences with different brands and models. They’re likely to happily rattle off particular products’ pros and cons. Buying cheap kitchen appliances may end up costing you more if your choice compromises too much on quality.

David says one of the most popular affordable kitchen appliance brands is Westinghouse, which falls under the Electrolux brand. "Westinghouse products are made locally – they are an iconic Australian brand," he explains. "The company offers good, honest and reliable products across the whole range of kitchen appliances." Fisher and Paykel is another popular and affordable brand cited by David. "The company offers a large range of appliances that are either locally or New Zealand made," he says. "The large service network is a significant benefit."

Usually, basic imported models are comparable to more feature-laden local products. But while Germany and France are reputed for top-quality appliances, imported doesn’t necessarily mean better. "Italian products have highly varying quality," David warns. Of the imported products, David reveals that German brand Bosch is a good option:

"It is one of the affordable German brands," he says. "And Blanco, which is Italian and French made, represents basic, entry-level goods."

David recommends extreme wariness with no-name brands. "Often these are privately imported and the brand may be discontinued without notice," he warns. "Aside from servicing difficulties, this means that something as simple as replacing an oven door seal is impossible with these discount kitchen appliances. Unfortunately, you do get what you pay for and not all brands are made to last."

Another way to find affordable and cheap kitchen appliances is to take advantage of appliance packages or brand warehouse sales. Great discounts are available at sales, but it can be a bun fight, so you need to be prepared to snap up an item on the spot. Refunds or exchanges are unlikely to be available for these items, but the same warranty should apply.

Before you hit the shops, research the web and magazines for information and product reviews. And unless you want to be friends with a repairer, don’t forget to consider the longevity of each product!

To find out more about the range of budget and discount kitchen appliances on the market, find an appliance retailer in your area: