Russell's Appliance & Electronics — Attraction in Kearney

Store has been open for decades in the Kearney area, and many people in the area consider it something of a home store institution.

One the whole, they carry a wide range of top brand appliances, and their prices are reasonable. The store itself hasn't been updated in quite while: the drop ceiling is and always has been slightly lower than is comfortable to the eye, the carpeting is the same as the first time I walked in years ago. The display areas are accessible, but nothing super special: they allow you to view and browse, but do nothing to enhance the experience of finding the right product.

On that note, not everything is clearly labeled and priced in all areas of the store, especially as it comes to the tv viewing rooms. When you are looking specific specification on something, that can make finding things fairly difficult.

Delivery is an option for a modest fee. However, local drop off (in town, just dropping it at your door) is also a charged service, which a bit of a downer. It's like an arbitrary cost increase to be able to purchase a lot of things, as most people aren't equipped to haul a fridge one the drop of a dime. A better suggestion would be to increase the item costs by a small percentage and include local drop off for free.

The major issue I have and have had in the past: your experience depends on the interest level of the staff on that particular visit. Sometimes you will have someone on you as soon as you walk in, offering to help you. Sometimes, you can enter, walk around visibly for 20 minutes or more, and leave without ever being approached. This has actually prevented me from doing business here on an occasion or two.

An excellent example: I recently visited with the intent to purchase a TV. Not finance, or use a credit card, find what I wanted and hand over cash money. Easy way to make an up to $2000 sale. Unfortunately, without having consistent product listings on the floor, and with someone not speaking to me until I was about ready to leave organically, I ended up not purchasing anything. Not every experience is like this, but this particular one was.

All in all, they are a decent store for home appliances. Most of the staff is knowledgeable, and if they don't have what you want they can generally order it. On the other hand, visiting and getting service can sometimes be frustrating. It makes the business feel like an even mix of self-service and full service, which can make it more difficult to get your shopping done. I would recommend giving them a visit, as they probably have what you want at a reasonable price. Just know that you are rolling the dice on the level of attention and service you...

I ordered ALL new appliances in Oct. 2017; this is now April 2018. The build-in microwave/oven did not fit properly & the door has a dent; the dishwasher door came with a dent also; the stovetop had to be rerouted to vent & the French door refigerator has a scratch on it & had to have the cabinet overhead rebuilt because it didn’t fit. I called the next day to report dents, etc., new doors are SUPPOSE to be coming to replace oven & dishwasher & paint given to me to touch up the scratch on refig - I have NOT seen any of this & keep getting bills w/interest added for the remaining balance due, which I told them I would pay as soon as this is taken care of. Very disappointed that nothing has been taken care of & tired of the monthly bills + more interest added every month. Bought close to home, but now wish I had had gotten them from the...

Consumer review.....we will NEVER and I mean NEVER do business with Russell's Appliances in Kearney. What a joke they are. After promising to price match a washer and dryer set over the phone and driving 40 miles to go pick it up they suddenly couldn't honor their word once Jeff was there to pick it up.

The employee that said he would match the price over the phone even stood there and wouldn't look my husband in the eye and admit that he said he would do it. All they could say was they are sorry. Can you believe that? Absolutely no customer service shown there.

Well I'm sorry too that you lost a sale to save yourself $200. Please know that I will share this story everywhere and tell people to go to Sears and bigger chain stores instead of supporting smaller businesses because you expect to be treated better there but...