topic Re: Modern Fridge Shopping Choas in Kitchen

Modern Fridge Shopping Choas

Tigriss — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 23:50:51 GMT

I have spent the better part of 2 weeks shopping for a new fridge. My brain is cross-eyed! So many reviews, so many kinds, so many features. What is with the prices too!?!?! My 20-year-old Kenmore is dying a valiant death, so I figured I'd better replace her before she goes and now that I have, she will live forever! I price my local Lowe's and Sear Home Town shop. Sear's prices were better though the selection was smaller and financing super easy. I also needed a 33" wide model to have plenty of airflow but a 36 would squeeze in touching the cabinets and wall on either side. I just don't need a fridge the size of four plump 6 foot tall people.

I got a basic Kenmore French door model with an ice maker......that's all. I originally was looking at side by sides, but gosh the ice makers got small and so did the inside. I'm telling you, 8" may be good for somethings but not freezer shelf space. I do like the openness of the French door models and benefit of narrow opening doors because my space is tight with a large 4'x12' old solid wood library table (one slab of wood) in my kitchen. I did get a deal on a bisque colored one instead of a white or stainless because that is what they had. Original cost $2199 but I got it for $999 on clearance plus the extended 5-year warranty. There were 4 to 4.5 solid stars at all places I looked the model up at. Of course, there were some lemons, but mostly 4 and 5 stars with a few complaints of delivery and customer service. I pays to read the reviews.

I suggest anyone appliance shopping to go and visit places and check out the new features, talk to the clerks if they know anything, and take stock of your needs and wants plus your budget. The move to the models with those features and solid reviews at multiple vendors online, then decide on the model and which place in your area has the best reviews or if you want to order online and get delivery. I do recommend local options first since delivery service can be an issue in rural America. I've got a truck/trailer and a friend, so we are good.

Re: Modern Fridge Shopping Choas

GCR18 — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 00:12:43 GMT

My mother's fridge died the week before labor day. Apparently, August isn't a good month to by fridges. I wasn't looking for anything fancy, but wanted stainless or black. I scanned the big box stores inventory and it was pretty sad. I ended up calling the small store were she got her last one and they could deliver in two days. I didn't want to go there because she had a bad delivery last time. Got a sale price and delivery went perfectly. I guess you'd call it an old fashioned fridge with the freezer on top in stainless.

Re: Modern Fridge Shopping Choas

jlkz — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 01:06:57 GMT

Happened to stop at a mall in NJ this weekend and walked through a Sears that was “ final sales “.....the prices on their refrigerators were truly laughable.

$2300 ? More than double what they were before close out !

Guess they will end up at JC Penney for a realistic sale price !

Re: Modern Fridge Shopping Choas

AuntG — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 01:14:41 GMT

@Tigriss, I still like the bisque color the best. We got a stainless French door refrigerator in February. I really like the appliance, but have nothing but bad things to say about the stainless exterior. It always has streaks and fingerprints on the doors.

Re: Modern Fridge Shopping Choas

lovesrecess — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 01:58:58 GMT

I have a small fridge space so had to get another side by side when my GE Monogram died last year....you are smart to replace one before it dies and you lose all your food....my new one is a black stainless steel....I wanted black again and they are hard to find now...I have never wanted stainless steel but the black stainless really blends in well with all my other appliances which are black. I would love the French door model...my DD has one and I love the inside space. I hope you love your new bisque fridge!

Re: Modern Fridge Shopping Choas

PINKdogWOOD — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 12:42:33 GMT

When we did some updates in our kitchen I knew exactly what I wanted and searched only for my choice. I also chose to not buy into all the stupid bells & whistles they have on and in refridges these days not to mention the PRICE TAGS that go with.

There are only 2 of us here so we don't need a huge one. I dissed the SS fridge & range and went back to beautiful white. I was not spending tons on $$$ on either item. It is totally INSANE the options on a simple appliance to keep our food cold, to make ice in the freezer and not spew out all over the floor from the ice maker on the outside of the door. We have friends who's ice maker does this - SO ANNOYING AND MESSY! There's literally more ice on the floor than in my glass!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And then like we REALLY need a freaking computer on my fridge door SERIOUSLY????????????????????? Can you even imagine how much this will cost you in a repair if this tech thing goes out???????????????????? all just to make yout a grocery list? A computer on the fridge door does not at all mean any person in the household who just finished the carton of whole organic milk is going to remember to add it to the screen on the door no more than jotting it down on the list you'll take to the store.

My new one with no bells/whistles was still more than $1K. It keeps my food cold and makes ice in the bin in the freezer and it does not take up space. The white look great against grey walls.

Re: Modern Fridge Shopping Choas

Sweetbay magnolia — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 12:59:49 GMT

I replaced ours two years ago. The old Whirlpool side-by-side still worked, but as there was duct tape holding some things together and just in general yuckiness (it was clean, but not mine to begin with), and since I thought the "bisque" color was going to be hard to find going forward (maybe not?), I went ahead.

Wow, had fridge sizes changed. I was not about to have upper cabinets cut out for the new one, nor did I need anything fancy. It's in a major walk through area, so I couldn't have anything stick out too far, and it sits at an angle to cabinets and the oven door; that had to be factored in.

I ended up with a small GE with recessed handles (they are in the side of the door). It is surprising how jut that small touch made it seem sleek and modern. I don't care to draw attention to what is essentially a box for keeping things cold, important as it is. It's perfect. Freezer on top, no ice maker.

Re: Modern Fridge Shopping Choas

software — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 14:03:15 GMT

My first car - brand new - cost that back in 1972

@jlkz wrote:
Happened to stop at a mall in NJ this weekend and walked through a Sears that was “ final sales “.....the prices on their refrigerators were truly laughable.

$2300 ? More than double what they were before close out !

Guess they will end up at JC Penney for a realistic sale price !

Re: Modern Fridge Shopping Choas

aggravated — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 15:03:02 GMT

We replaced our GE side-by-side a couple of years ago. Cabinets above and a work table on one side with an upper/lower cabinet on the other side. The measurements for space made it tough - really tough. Picked Whirlpool that JUST fit. Did not fit - upper cabinet removed and in the process the bumping against the work table side disturbed it to the point that the paint and wall were very damaged. Upper cabinet required carpentry to get it right. Geeminy! Over a year with a black hole over the new fridge. Anyway, husband hates new refrig; I like same. The damaged wall and paint still look horrible. Obviously, their measurements were not as exact as my husband was counting on. What a mess.

Re: Modern Fridge Shopping Choas

chickenbutt — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 15:55:10 GMT

@AuntG wrote:
@Tigriss, I still like the bisque color the best. We got a stainless French door refrigerator in February. I really like the appliance, but have nothing but bad things to say about the stainless exterior. It always has streaks and fingerprints on the doors.

We just got a new refrigerator in August. My appliances are black, so I definitely wanted something black.

We got the 'black stainless'. I'll tell ya - you cannot put smudges or fingerprints on that thing no matter how hard you try (I tried, just for kicks).

I don't know how different the regular stainless is, but this surface is specifically made to avoid fingerprints and such. The only tiny negative is that the front is not magnetic, so my magnets and mostly magnet hooks have to go on the sides. Fortunately, that works fine for me as the side nearest the stove is where I hang a few things and it was good.

Plus, I like the new thing with no gaudy handles sticking out. My old one was 18 years old, from when they still had those handles in the front.

It's absolutely beautiful and sleek.

Re: Modern Fridge Shopping Choas

chickenbutt — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 15:59:03 GMT

@Sweetbay magnolia wrote:
I replaced ours two years ago. The old Whirlpool side-by-side still worked, but as there was duct tape holding some things together and just in general yuckiness (it was clean, but not mine to begin with), and since I thought the "bisque" color was going to be hard to find going forward (maybe not?), I went ahead.

Wow, had fridge sizes changed. I was not about to have upper cabinets cut out for the new one, nor did I need anything fancy. It's in a major walk through area, so I couldn't have anything stick out too far, and it sits at an angle to cabinets and the oven door; that had to be factored in.

I ended up with a small GE with recessed handles (they are in the side of the door). It is surprising how jut that small touch made it seem sleek and modern. I don't care to draw attention to what is essentially a box for keeping things cold, important as it is. It's perfect. Freezer on top, no ice maker.

One thing that amazed me about our new one is that it fits in the same space exactly, which I hoped for because I put a few things on one side of it, between the refrigerator and the wall, BUT there is so much more space in there than my old one!

Mine is also freezer-on-top and that is what I prefer, so I'm glad they still make them. It came with an ice maker but, as I did with the old one, I just bagged that up and put it out in the garage. Nothing wrong with them, I suppose, but I just had no interest in that and wanted the extra space in the freezer,

Between the freezer and refrigerator, and being the same outside size as the old one, I could not believe how much more space there is inside!

I also love not having the handles that stick out.

Re: Modern Fridge Shopping Choas

loriqvc — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 16:02:56 GMT

I'm also in the market for a new refrigerator, and like several of you, I will need to get a narrow side-by-side unit due to space constraints. Would those of you who ended up buying this style mind sharing the makes and models you chose?

It definitely isn't easy to find a small(ish) fridge nowadays—and I want one without an ice maker, which apparently means I'm crazy based on the reactions I get from family, friends, and salespeople.

Re: Modern Fridge Shopping Choas

loriqvc — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 16:05:40 GMT

@chickenbutt - It looks like we were replying at the same time—I'm glad to know I'm not the only person who doesn't want an ice maker! And I would love to have recessed handles again; that approach apparently went out of style a few years ago, so I do hope it's coming back and that it will be easier to find.

Re: Modern Fridge Shopping Choas

chickenbutt — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 16:34:26 GMT

@loriqvc wrote:
@chickenbutt - It looks like we were replying at the same time—I'm glad to know I'm not the only person who doesn't want an ice maker! And I would love to have recessed handles again; that approach apparently went out of style a few years ago, so I do hope it's coming back and that it will be easier to find.

I hear that! The only time I need a bunch of ice is once a year, when I'm going to brine, so the husband brings me home a bag of ice. Done and done!

My new one must be a pretty new model because it was in the August issue of Consumer Reports. It's actually the first time I've seen one without the handles and I was very impressed. Since I had my old one for 18 years, I had not even seen that before. Hopefully, that means they are here to stay. It looks so much nicer and the absense of handles sticking out made the size work super well in the spot I have between the end of a counter and the wall because it's on the way through the laundry room, out to the garage. Handles sticking out can get in the way if there is a man (bull in a china closet type) in the house.

I am amazed at how the outside is the same as the old one, yet the inside is much larger!

Re: Modern Fridge Shopping Choas

wagirl — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 20:20:32 GMT

@Tigriss---just got my 18 year old refer fixed---its a Kenmore too---repair guy said that the fewer bells and whistles the new ones have, the better, as those parts cost hundreds of $$ by themselves and then more to install. I NEED all new appliances but everything is working fine------they are all 18 years old----geez--prob shouldn't have put that out in the universe---

Re: Modern Fridge Shopping Choas

Tigriss — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 21:11:36 GMT

@loriqvc wrote:
I'm also in the market for a new refrigerator, and like several of you, I will need to get a narrow side-by-side unit due to space constraints. Would those of you who ended up buying this style mind sharing the makes and models you chose?

It definitely isn't easy to find a small(ish) fridge nowadays—and I want one without an ice maker, which apparently means I'm crazy based on the reactions I get from family, friends, and salespeople.

You do need to go to the websites for Sears, HomeDepot, and Lowes. When you go to the appliances section, then refrigerators, then you will see the options for side-by-side, French Door, Top Freezer, etc, you select the side-by-side or French door (I was set to get another side-by-side but the more models I saw the more I liked the full width) you can then refine your search by width. There are several choices but 33 or 32 and change will be the most common for what is a narrow fridge these days. Measure your space cabinet to wall/cabinet and top to bottom of the space. Then you will know if you have enough room for the large ones these days at 36", which is considered standard width, or something narrower like 33", 32", 29" (my Sears had an LG that was the duplicate of the one I got that came in a bit smaller at 29" or so) or even narrower than that as an apartment sized appliance. You may not get many of these in the store. The Sears guy told me they didn't have any that were 33" in French door, but there were three models there he didn't realize he had. Sears had the measurements on signs posted on the doors, but Lowes did not, so I had to snag a measuring tape from the register back there and walk around measuring. There were others doing the same, so it would have been nice to have all the measurements right up front on the door for all to see as Sears had. You may find you can get a French door model or a top freezer or bottom freezer with the full sized traditional door. I don't have space for the full-sized open door and Sears had two of those. My Sears is a small strip mall "Home Town Locally Owned" Sears, so selection as about 10 French door models, 10 side-by-side, 6 or so top freezer models and two bottom freezer models. If my rural town Sears had them, then yours may, but they do tend to stock what is popular which is why Lowe's pretty much had 36" models in every style but their apartment model, one of them, that was like 16 or 17 cubic feet size.

So get out that measuring tape and write down some numbers. Go in measuring and realize you may have to order it. I had a GE model picked out that is 33" wide at 24.9 cubic feet to order if I didn't find anything that would work. I basically got the non-door ice/water model of that GE one but as a Kenmore. Here is what the appliance section of Sears dot com looks like and where to find the refrigerator section with the styles to select.

It is 32.75" according to the specs listed on the product page under the specifications section. Read carefully. Pre-shopping online can give you an idea of what you want, reviews of models (why I picked the GE33" one), prices, in-store availability (though this isn't always accurate) and what you are generally entering into. In the reviews, several people mention that the Bisque color is hard to find and why so many picked this model. Other reviews were of the delivery or customer service, which doesn't apply to the product itself. Below is the GE I was looking at ordering.

Basically same layout/fridge. The slate and stainless steel colors were cheaper than the white. That was consistent in the pricing of most models. White is still the top.

Re: Modern Fridge Shopping Choas

loriqvc — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 21:29:15 GMT

@Tigriss - Thank you so much for taking the time to share all of those details. I've actually done extensive research for this project already and just wanted to know what make and model was purchased by some of the other posters who seemed to have the same goals for size and style that I do.

Re: Modern Fridge Shopping Choas

Tigriss — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 22:54:23 GMT

@loriqvc wrote:
@Tigriss - Thank you so much for taking the time to share all of those details. I've actually done extensive research for this project already and just wanted to know what make and model was purchased by some of the other posters who seemed to have the same goals for size and style that I do.

What I saw of the side by side was that they were so narrow on the inside in both the fridge and freezer compared to my 24 cubic foot 1998 Kenmore. The ice makers were half the size and quantity of the ice but took up the same space in the top of the freezer section and in the dispenser in the door. I don't know if ice is out of style or if they want people to buy these countertop ice makers. Yet another expense. This was especially true in the French door models even the ones that had a second ice maker in the bottom. What is the point if you can only get two glasses of ice a day and still have to use the ice maker in the freezer section. There are some in the stores that do not have the ice maker installed, but you are the minority in the ice maker department. It really isn't an add-on anymore like A/C isn't added into cars at the dealer anymore. I'm not even sure you can get one without a special order.

The dispenser part adds about $500 or more to the price as well for the same size. While I do know that top freezers are more energy efficient because cold air sinks, I do like having the fridge part where I don't have to bend over or kneel on the floor to get into it. The side by side gave me half the convenience, but the French door one is all fridge up top. Maybe I won't forget about things as much since I can see them.

I really looked at reviews at multiple sites for the same fridge to find one that was consistently 4 stars and up. I also looked at the newest reviews, the highest and the lowest to get an idea of what the likes and complaints were. Many reviews aren't actually for the product but for some complaint. On the one I got on Amazon I found a lady gave it one star because of the delivery company. There were several of those.

Below are the two side by side ones I looked at that were 33" wide. I found the Frigidaire at my local Sears in this size and the next size up at 35.75" wide. The 33" models are so narrow in the freezer part. I really could just about spread my hand out and touch either sidewall. The Frigidaire model is the most basic with just push button controls for the dispensers and digital temp controls. It was the most simple mechanical model I could find. The GE one is the side by side version of the French door one I would order but with dispensers. You can see the price difference with the computerized dispensers and versus no dispenser.

Re: Modern Fridge Shopping Choas

software — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 23:59:57 GMT

@chickenbutt What brand?

@chickenbutt wrote:
@AuntG wrote:
@Tigriss, I still like the bisque color the best. We got a stainless French door refrigerator in February. I really like the appliance, but have nothing but bad things to say about the stainless exterior. It always has streaks and fingerprints on the doors.

We just got a new refrigerator in August. My appliances are black, so I definitely wanted something black.

We got the 'black stainless'. I'll tell ya - you cannot put smudges or fingerprints on that thing no matter how hard you try (I tried, just for kicks).

I don't know how different the regular stainless is, but this surface is specifically made to avoid fingerprints and such. The only tiny negative is that the front is not magnetic, so my magnets and mostly magnet hooks have to go on the sides. Fortunately, that works fine for me as the side nearest the stove is where I hang a few things and it was good.

Plus, I like the new thing with no gaudy handles sticking out. My old one was 18 years old, from when they still had those handles in the front.

It's absolutely beautiful and sleek.

Re: Modern Fridge Shopping Choas

loriqvc — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 00:58:24 GMT

@Tigriss - Thanks for all the information!