Edwards A-l Appliance is local favorite

By Roberta Long From page D9 | January 06, 2012 ~ Mountain Democrat
PAM AND TOM STABLER are the husband wife team behind Edwards A-1 Appliance on Placerville Drive. Democrat photo by Krysten Kellum

Ask anyone who has lived around El Dorado County for a while where to buy an appliance, and the most heard recommendation is Edwards A-1 on Placerville Drive.

The main reason is the service. Not only does Edwards A-1 sell appliances at competitive prices, but they deliver in their service area. Most importantly, they service their own appliances. They have a vested interest in keeping their customers happy so they will return. There is no subcontracting to a service company. They also have a large parts inventory, so they don’t have to order from the manufacturer and wait for delivery.

That’s the way this family-run business has always done things. Twenty-six years ago, Tom and Pam Stabler came to Placerville to run the store.
Tom’s parents owned an appliance store in Woodland, where Tom and Pam were working. When Tom’s parents bought Edwards A-1 Appliance store in Placerville, he and Pam were sent to manage it.

The Stabler family grew and joined the business. Tom takes care of ordering and does outside service. Pam does the bookkeeping. Daughter Becky Clark handles sales, along with niece Katie Stabler. Son Bryan is responsible for service in the shop.

David Bannister has been with Edwards since he was 17. Bannister does the deliveries and takes outside service calls. Margaret Springer, who works in the office, and Chris Kenny, who handles outside service calls, round out the extended Edwards A-1 family.

Edwards A-l Appliance first opened in Placerville in 1947. Over the years, technologies have changed, but service hasn’t.

Becky Clark says Edwards A-1 has a full range of residential kitchen and laundry appliances, from basic to deluxe. They carry the major brands: Maytag, Whirlpool, Amana, GE, KitchenAid, Hotpoint.

They deliver locally and as far as El Dorado Hills, Strawberry, Georgetown, Volcanoville, Greenwood and Grizzly Flat. They will also dispose of your old appliance.

Becky said, “Every technological advance has decreased the average life of appliances. When we started, the average life span was 15-20 years, then it went to 10-15. With digital, the average life span is around six-eight years.”

She recommends taking good care of appliances so they will last longer. “Common sense things like not overloading the washer, making sure the dryer has good ventilation and cleaning the coils on the refrigerator will extend the life of your appliances,” she said.

“Our customers are loyal,” said Pam Stabler. “They’ve kept us in business through the lean times and the good times. Things seem to be picking up.”

The Stablers look forward to keeping the business in the family.

Edwards A-1 Appliance is located at 698 Placerville Drive, Placerville. The telephone is 530-622-4273. The hours are 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.