CENTRAL FLORIDA — After a long wait, Florida is almost ready to offer big rebates on appliances much like the popular Cash for Clunkers program.
FULL DETAILS: Cash For Appliances Info | Florida Rules
WFTV found out getting your hands on some of the more than $17 million up for grabs in Florida could be complicated and even retailers don't know how the program will work
Store owner Stu Kimball said many large appliances will be hot items when Florida's ten-day Cash for Appliances program starts on April 16 (Florida rules).
"People are calling us every day asking, ‘How do I do this?' or 'What's going to happen?'" Kimball said.
Cash for Appliances in Florida could be a good deal if you can get it; Twenty-percent off each appliance would mean a $350 break on a French door refrigerator, another $160 off a washing machine and, if you actually get rid of your old clunker appliance, the state says it'll throw in another $75.
Each household can get up to $1,500 back on energy-efficient appliances, but now the state says consumers will have to apply ahead of time to reserve a rebate and the website to do that still isn't ready. Even Kimball doesn't have all of the details.
"We don't know what to tell people or how to go about getting their rebates, so it's really not fair to us, the merchant. It's not really fair to the public either," he said.
The Governor's energy office told WFTV it took longer than expected to select a company to administer the program. It's expecting to process 66,000 mail-in rebates and said more information will be available by the end of the month.
Some customers, like Ken and Fran Johnson, decided they couldn't wait to buy a new washer and dryer, especially if the big savings weren't a sure thing.
"Forget it! I need an appliance now, a couple of weeks from now, not next month," Ken Johnson said.
The state told WFTV applications will be available on April 16, which is the first day of the program. But you'll still have to pick out what appliances you want ahead of time.
Rebates will likely come in the form of a pre-paid American Express card.
WFTV
