In this vintage advertisement, a bride compliments the gift of a washing machine. Courtesy of the Boston Public Library.
Have you ever heard someone complain that their husband got them a vacuum as a gift? Despite some pretty creative (and sexist) attempts to sell appliances as gifts over the years, most appliances are not seen as a romantic or attractive gift.
However, there are certain appliances and ways to gift appliances that do make them appreciated gifts. Here are a few examples.
The Dishwasher
The Frigidaire Gallery FGHD2465NF Dishwasher was our best selling model last quarter. Hint, hint.
I’m not sure I have ever personally encountered a story in which someone complains about receiving a dishwasher as a gift. I have heard many, many people express just how much they really, really want a dishwasher.
Even though dishwashers have been around for decades, they are still seen today as a not-quite-essential appliance. You need a place to cook, you need a place to keep food cold. But you can always wash dishes by hand.
Except, of course, that washing dishes by hand takes time. A dishwasher frees up time for whoever washes the dishes. Giving one as a gift is a statement that you value the time of the person to whom you give it.
If you do not already have one, a dishwasher really stands apart as an appliance that says you care about the other person – provided they actually are the one who washes the dishes in your home.
The One They Want
Pretty much everyone manages their purchases by some sort of budget. And the things we want seem to often fall outside that budget.
So when your old range, fridge, or washing machine calls it quits right around a birthday, holiday, or anniversary, take the extra effort to get the type of appliance your significant other has expressed they want.
For example, if the person you are shopping for has expressed that they really like the GE Cafe series range, or maybe a french door refrigerator, spend the extra and procure that particular item for them. It will definitely be a welcome surprise if they expect that some other more economical model is the only option under the current budget plan.
Of course, this only works if you know for certain that there is a certain model or series of appliance that they want. If you just replace the broken appliance – even with an expensive model – don not expect it to be received as a romantic gift.
The Top Of The Line Model
If their most serious hobby involves regular use of an appliance, a pretty sure bet is to get the absolute best in class, professional model.
A good example of this is a Blue Star range for the serious cook, or someone trying to get a baking or cooking business going.
This is rather similar to “the one they want” since if they have a serious hobby, you’ve probably heard all about the features of their dream appliance.
Oh, it’s worth mentioning that I do not believe a top of the line washer and dryer will fit into anyone’s serious hobby well enough to be a gift.
It’s All In the Presentation
The key to any romantic gift is their personal nature. From time to time, a couple will endure times and seasons when a water heater unexpectedly uses up the entire gift budget. While it you might just sigh and say, “Well, I guess that new refrigerator/oven/dryer is our anniversary gift this year,” one of you can go the extra mile to truly make it a gift experience.
Incorporate the fact you just spent a lot of money on a water heater by setting up a candle-lit romantic bath an massage for your loved one. Work the new range oven into a gift by making a special meal or treat and surprising your significant other with it. Give of yourself, and be creative.
The Gift of the Magi
O. Henry’s classic Christmas tale of a pair of young newlyweds that sacrifice personal treasures for one another is a romantic tale that has endured for generations. That kind of sacrificial gift can make even a humble appliance a romantic gift.
There are a lot of factors involved, but generally giving up something you want or like for yourself – an annual hunting trip, a prized possession – in order to get your loved one something they want very much will be a very personal and treasured gift.
