How to Save Money on Expensive Cookware Brands
The ultimate score on a Vitamix, Le Creuset, KitchenAid and more!
There's no denying that some cookware functions and holds up better than others, and while you don't always have to spend top dollar for a quality piece of cookware, well, sometimes you do. Brands like Vitamix, KitchenAid, All-Clad and Le Creuset have proven themselves time and time again to be worth the splurge, and while there are alternatives to some, there is no shame in wanting the best product you can get. Fortunately, there are ways to cook with the highest-quality brands without paying their notoriously high prices. We've rounded up some of our best money-saving tips to getting splurge-worthy cookware at a great discount.
Buy Refurbished
Buying refurbished cookware might not sound like an attractive option on first pass, but more and more brands are offering great discounts on their refurbished products that comes with warranties, customer support and free returns if the product doesn’t meet your standards. This means you’re getting a brand-tested and guaranteed product with all of the benefits of a brand-new model at a fraction of the price. By and large, that is a better option than purchasing used. When it comes to cookware, both Vitamix and KitchenAid offer refurbished products that you can feel confident shopping for both on their sites and on Amazon.
Go for Factory Seconds
Often, buying factory seconds means you are purchasing a product that might have cosmetic damage such as exterior scratches or be devoid of the brand’s typical engravings or branding. Other times, the differentiator is something as insignificant as dented or damaged packaging that has no effect on the product itself. Both are the case for All-Clad’s quarterly Factory Seconds sales, which, on top of great savings, also ensures a lifetime warranty for all products purchased. For cookware that it inevitably going to see some wear-and-tear over the years, paying half the price for a small scratch is a no-brainer.
Check Out Vintage Vendors On Etsy and eBay
For cookware that lasts a lifetime, looking for vintage products is a great way to add luxury cookware to your arsenal without breaking the bank. For Le Creuset, this can mean buying hard-to-find colors and pan styles that might not be available anymore — at a fraction of the price. But the demand for vintage cookware extends to other types of cookware, including Pyrex and Corningware that some believe was better quality 30 years ago than it is now. If you’re looking for a classic borosilicate glass Pyrex in a vintage pattern, Etsy or eBay are great places to look first.
Wait for Major Sale Events
As always, there are highly anticipated shopping events each year that boast low prices on popular, high-ticket items. While it can sometimes be race to checkout, the discounts during events like Black Friday and Prime Day make it worth the wait. In years past, we’ve seen reasonable prices on everything from KitchenAid and Nespresso to Vitamix and Coravin during Black Friday and Prime Day sales.
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Vitamix ensures all their certified reconditioned blenders, "offer first-class blending performance," and are examined to meet their standards, so you can shop this steep discount with confidence. Plus, whether you buy new or reconditioned, Vitamix offers access to unlimited customer support and a three-to five-year warranty on all reconditioned models.
We're big fans of shopping Home & Cook Sales' All-Clad Factory Seconds Sale for huge discounts (we're talking up to 70% off) on some of the best cookware on the market. There are some nuances to this sale that are important to know before diving in, such as the sale only popping up a few times a year, and for each sale you can only make one order per address. As far as Factory Seconds goes, this just means your packaging or items might have small cosmetic scratches but nothing that would affect performance. Overall, it's a great sale to keep an eye out for if you're looking for great deals on Food-Network-favorite cookware.
Le Creuset has earned its title as a kitchen essential by being versatile, stylish and able to withstand the test of time. And since these enameled cast iron pans are lifelong products, buying a discounted vintage Le Creuset means you're still getting a quality product but in a potentially harder-to-find color and style. Sites like Etsy have tons of options from Dutch ovens and casserole dishes to smaller items including butter dishes and decorative cocottes.
When buying a refurbished KitchenAid, which the company's site describes as being made from, "used or lightly used products that have been thoroughly inspected and carefully restored to perform like new", you can rest assured that you're getting a product of equal quality for a great discount. Plus, through the refurbished program, every purchase includes the six-month limited warranty and free 30-day returns, so you can shop with peace of mind.
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