Backorders and Delays in the Appliance Industry: What You Should Know (and How to Handle It)

When I worked in the appliance industry during the height of COVID, one of the most frustrating parts of the job was dealing with backorders. Stock was thin to non-existent. Customers would come in excited about a wall oven or fridge they loved, and I’d log into the distributor’s site, sigh, and have to explain that their chosen appliance wouldn’t be in stock for another six months, sometimes over a year.

Thankfully, we’re not living in those extreme times anymore. But delays and backorders are still a real part of the appliance industry, and they continue to catch people off guard.

There’s a right mindset to approach these situations, especially if you’re in a rush or planning around something important like a holiday. Here’s what I’ve learned, and how I recommend you approach delays if you’re shopping for new appliances.

1. If You Need an Appliance Quickly, Only Buy What’s In Stock

This sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised how many people ignore this. If you're working with a sales associate and they tell you there's no stock at the retailer and none in the distributor's warehouse, do not order that model if time is critical.

I've seen people accidentally destroy their cooking appliances during a pre-holiday self-clean cycle (which, by the way, is a surprisingly common reason ovens stop working) and then scramble to find a replacement in time for Thanksgiving. They’d place an order online or in-store only to find out the unit was backordered indefinitely.

If the retailer has it in their physical inventory, you’re golden. If it’s only at the distributor, it might be okay. But if there’s nothing anywhere, you're entering "hurry up and wait" territory.

2. Be Cautious When Only a Few Are Left at the Distribution Center

Even if the model shows “low stock” at the distributor, don’t assume you’re guaranteed to get one. Many retailers only place orders with their distributors on specific days. That means there could be a delay between you placing the order and the retailer securing the item, during which someone else from another store could snatch up the remaining inventory.

This is especially common with smaller or more niche models. If stock is very limited and your need is urgent, consider choosing a model that has deeper inventory.

3. If There’s No Stock Anywhere, Prepare to Wait (Sometimes a Long Time)

If your dream appliance has no units in stock at the retailer or distributor, you’re entering the waiting game. In most cases, your sales associate can check the expected ship date, but I’ll be honest, in my experience those ETAs are hit or miss.

Foreign-made appliances tend to have longer delays than domestic ones. And while some brands are better about keeping their dealers in the loop, others provide very rough estimates that may change.

You might be told: “It’s scheduled to arrive in 4 weeks.”

But you won’t get notified when the ship date gets pushed. You’ll just call in a month and hear: “Oh yeah… now it's looking like 6 to 8 more weeks.”

The modern retail world, especially online, has made us expect clear tracking, quick fulfillment, and next-day results. The appliance industry, surprisingly, still operates with a lot of ambiguity when it comes to backorders, logistics, and fulfillment windows.

Final Thoughts

Here’s the bottom line: if your timeline matters, confirm availability before placing the order.

Talk to your sales associate. Ask what’s in stock at the retailer, what’s at the distributor, and what’s genuinely available. Be cautious about relying on estimated ship dates, especially if you can’t afford to wait.

Appliance delays aren’t always avoidable, but with the right questions and expectations, you can minimize frustration and avoid spending Thanksgiving microwaving pizza.