The Instant Pot 7 in 1 Purchase That Taught Me to Ask What's Not Included

Last November, the breakroom committee asked me to buy an Instant Pot 7 in 1. That was the easy part. One week later, I had a heating element replacement dryer part in my cart, a Lego waffle maker on the way, and a carbon monoxide detector test on my to-do list.

I'm an office administrator for a 40-person company. I handle about $120,000 in purchases a year across 15 vendors, so this kind of chaos is normal. But that one purchase taught me more about hidden costs than any vendor invoice ever did.

How a Simple Instant Pot Request Became a Vendor Test

The breakroom committee found a deal: $89 for an Instant Pot 7 in 1. Our regular supplier listed the same model at $119. The choice seemed obvious, until I looked closer.

The $89 price didn't include shipping ($14.95). It didn't include the same accessories. And buried in the seller's return policy was a 15% restocking fee. If anything went wrong, the restocking fee alone would have eaten most of the savings.

I went back to the committee and said we should pay the $119. They looked at me like I'd lost my mind. Then I showed them the math. The 'cheap' option wasn't cheap. It was a low number with extra steps.

That was the moment I started asking 'what's NOT included' before asking 'what's the price.' I honestly thought I'd been doing that for years. This purchase proved otherwise.

Instant Pot Couscous and the Small Win

The Instant Pot 7 in 1 arrived on a Tuesday. By Thursday, our office manager made Instant Pot couscous for a team lunch. The recipe came from the Instant Pot community (instantpot.com), not me—I'm here to buy things, not to cook. But it worked.

The pot does seven things, and if the couscous was any sign, it was worth the counter space. (Should mention: the extra accessories did come in the $119 package. The $89 listing would have been missing the steamer basket. That's the kind of detail you don't see until it's too late.)

The Dryer Heating Element That Wasn't Cheaper

The same week, maintenance asked me to order a heating element replacement dryer part. I'm not an appliance repair technician, so I can't speak to the electrical side of things. What I can tell you from a purchasing perspective is that part numbers and return policies matter more than price.

I found two options. One was $18 cheaper and said it was 'compatible.' The other was a certified replacement from the manufacturer's distributor. I almost clicked the cheaper one. Then I checked the return policy: if it didn't fit, return shipping was $22. A $35 part with $22 return shipping is not cheaper than a $53 part with free returns. It's just riskier.

We ordered the certified one. The repair took about 90 minutes and worked. The 'cheap' option might have worked too, but if it hadn't, we'd have spent more money and a lot more time.

When HR Asked About Carbon Monoxide Detectors

HR then asked me to find out how to know if your carbon monoxide detector is working. I wasn't sure. I figured if the green light was on, we were fine. Not exactly.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (cpsc.gov), you should test CO alarms at least once a month by holding the test button. You should also replace the detector when it reaches the expiration date printed on the device.

We tested all four office detectors. One was dead. The label on the back said 2016. That means we'd been walking around with a detector that wasn't detecting anything. No one had thought to check because no one had asked the right question. That felt like a hidden fee of a different kind.

The Lego Waffle Maker (The Only Uncomplicated Purchase)

Oh, and the Lego waffle maker—I can't leave that out. Our employee-engagement team requested it for Wellness Week. It wasn't a normal purchase. It wasn't in any supplier catalog. But the listing was clear: $35, free shipping, no surprises, delivery date visible. So I ordered it.

It made terrible waffles, and everyone loved it. If you ask me, that was the most honest transaction of the entire month. No hidden fees, no compatibility questions, no expiration dates. Just a weird waffle iron showing up on time.

What I Learned

The most frustrating part of this whole process: none of the hidden costs were illegal. They were just buried. The $89 Instant Pot was probably fine. The $18 cheaper heating element might have worked. The carbon monoxide detector looked like it was fine. But 'probably' and 'might' are not good enough when you're spending other people's money—or keeping them safe.

Transparent pricing is a trust signal. A vendor who lists all fees upfront—even if the total looks higher—usually costs less in the end. I'd rather see a $119 price that means $119 than an $89 price that means $104, plus risk, plus a restocking fee, plus an hour of my time.

There's something satisfying about catching a restocking fee before it becomes a problem.

My experience here is based on one office, maybe 200 purchases a year, and a range of vendors from very good to very questionable. If your operation is different, your experience might differ. I'm not a procurement consultant or a safety inspector. I'm just the person who orders the waffle maker and the warning labels.

Ask 'what's NOT included' before you ask 'what's the price.'

It works for Instant Pots. It works for dryer parts. It works for carbon monoxide detectors. And if a Lego waffle maker shows up in your cart, honestly, just go with it.

Prices as of January 2025; verify current rates.