Help with a dying fridge

[Moramoon]

We literally just paid off our September trip to Disney (with much added savings from this board ). Within the same week our fridge started to go out. My husband figured out what was wrong and it’s going to be about a $300 repair. From what he read typically within the next year or 2 the fridge would go out anyway after the repair so we decided to forgo it and just get a new one. If we had more time I’d consider churning for Lowe’s or Home Depot, but currently our freezer is about as cold as a fridge and the fridge isn’t cold at all so we’re going to need to get it replaced soon. I’m looking for help for a few things. First-where should we look for deals (I know I could check out local ads, but I may be able to find a better price somewhere else). Also what brands/models would you recommend/avoid. While our old fridge was a good brand, we apparently bought a bad model. From what my husband said he would have only expected it to last another couple of years anyway had we not had this problem from what he read.

 

[havaneselover]

I love my LG. Samsung also makes great fridges. I did really well when I bought mine from Sears. It was on sale and I got 8% back in ebates. If you have a grocery store with fuel points you can buy gcs to Sears, HD, or lowes but that may interfere with getting ebates.

 

[verleniahall]

ours did the same thing - but right after did a grocery trip! EEKK!!

We got ours at sears and used my dad's sears card and got 12 months no interest - do you have a sears card or could you get one just for this purpose?

 

[kymom99]

I usually go to Sears for appliances to get the "same as cash" financing deals. I can't weigh in on brands since I haven't bought a fridge in 25 years. The only one I have ever bought is a GE and still works fine. I also have my parents kenmore which is over 40 years old.

 

[davper]

Go to Home Depot/Lowes/Sears and look for the display/scratch & dent models for sale.

 

[mjkacmom]

Just spent $800 to repair our 5 year old (well, 5 years and 3 weeks...) Kenmore.

 

[Moramoon]

We don't have a card for any of them, but it wouldn't really be needed unless they have a decent rebate offer. My work recently offered overtime for 3 weeks so I have quite a bit coming in from that. I planned on using it for tires, not really necessary yet, but will be before too long so I'll just use those funds for a fridge instead. We do have a sears outlet in our area so I know I'll be checking them out. I'll have to check out those other stores too.

 

[cedricandsophie]

I have a Thermidor which I love. It's a built in with a pull out freezer on the bottom. It's stainless. I used to buy exclusively at Sears but have found the quality is not as good. I live in the Chicago area and buy all my appliances at a placed called ABT. I will never go anywhere else. You probably don't live in my area so I'm only telling you this because I'd suggest you find a locally owned appliance store. The service is always personalized and better, the array of options is great, plus installation, delivery and haul out are reasonable and they will usually match prices at the big box stores.

 

[Moramoon]

Actually I'm in Indianapolis so I"m not too far out. I haven't heard of ABT, but I'll do some digging to see if there's any in my area. Thanks everyone for all your help!

 

[SandyinMonterey]

I would stay away from Kenmore. Had one, nothing but problems. Didn't have it very long & found out they stopped making parts for it. Probably because it was such a poor product. Wasn't cheap, about $2800 10 years ago. Just moved. Thought if I needed new fridge would definitely get an LG. I go to Home Depot now for appliances. Much better experience than Sears.

 

[barkley]

on individual brands look to THEIR websites for rebate offers b/c w/some they aren't offered at all stores (this was the case w/ a bosche appliance we recently bought-no difference in price one store to another but the manufacturer was excluding sears from the $100 rebate promotion).

 

[MillauFr]

I would avoid shopping at Sears. K-Mart is going to start their final close out soon and Sears can't be far behind. Wouldn't be surprised if they shutdown at the end of the year.

 

[CaterFamily]

If you're wanting to know specifics about any certain brand/model let me know. I own an appliance repair business in Washington State and can get repair reports on darn near every model out there (even new models).

 

[Moramoon]

Sounds good. Thanks everyone!

 

[Anthony1971]

Check online first ESPECIALLY sears the online prices are better....and there is usually a coupon for appliances just search sears coupons.
HD and Lowes will have more of a selection.
does not matter if it is in the store or not you will get it in the same amount of time...
also look at this site for who actually makes what brands also tells you who makes the Kenmore.... stay away from Frigidaire not that they are bad but most are very loud... otherwise their dishwashers and stoves are fine..
site http://www.appliance411.ca/purchase/make.shtml
I do not gink this refers to anyone if it does DO NOT BUY THROUGH IT.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

We just had this same thing happen to our 13 year old amana. We shopped and researched extensively. I read page after page of reviews and consumer reports. We ended up with a Samsung from Home Depot with a 24 month no interest deal by opening their credit card. Even if they aren't offering that I've heard you can ask for it and they usually give it to you. We bought the extended warranty as well. There is just so much more to refrigerators now that can go wrong. We've had it about 3 weeks and I love it so much! It's a 4 door model with the large freezer drawer and another smaller drawer above that. We also got the door in door feature, but that I could take or leave.

We actually found a kenmore that we loved in the store, but their extended warranty cost twice as much as the Home Depot warranty. We were told Kenmore refrigerators are made by LG.

Check your electric company for rebates. We get a $50 rebate from ours for buying an energy star refrigerator.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

Oh and I forgot to mention we found our refrigerator $50 cheaper at another appliance shop. They didn't offer as good of a warranty so we went to Home Depot and they price matched it for us.

 

[Sagginit]

I got mine from Lowes 5 years ago. I got it during a Memorial Day sale and I remember them and Home Depot were offering the same exact sale discounts. I went with Lowes as I needed it the day I moved in my apt. (there was none there) and they could deliver that day withing a 3 hour window. My local Home Depot was going to order from a regional warehouse and delivery was anytime that day not to mention they needed 5-7 days to get it to me. I needed an ivory one to match my kitchen in a small size which was super hard to find anyways.

I found that they offered a better discount that holiday weekend, but you might not be able to hold off until Labor Day. My mother just got all new kitchen appliances and found a local store (mom& pop) gave her a good price for a bundle. They buy wholesale and based off what she needed put together a package to fit her needs at a price that was better than her trying to buy a la carte. So don't rule out a local place, they may offer deeper discounts to get the sale. I also believe they were super flexible with the delivery date/time once they got what she wanted in stock from the manufacturer.

Scratch & dent can be hit or miss but worth it in some cases. Personally I don't know if I would want that as my everyday fridge but when I lived at home our garage one came from that sort of place as we didn't care about scratches or dents on it.

 

[tiggerluver12]

We have 2 Samsungs. 1 in the garage and the other in the house. Both have never had any problems.

 

[kymom99]

The one I have that belonged to my parents is a coldspot by sears. So obviously its really old! My sister bought all new appliances 13 years ago and her fridge is giving her fits. The top isn't getting cold but the bottom is too cold, however this happens off and on. (It's a side by side) She paid a lot for it. Had a service person come out and it was working fine when he was there so he couldn't do anything for her. What a pain.

About price matching: We needed a new riding mower. My husband found what he wanted and tractor supply had it for $100 off. However, he overheard a sales person comment about the gas cap being left off one of them in the rain so he decided it wasn't worth $100 to get a mower that might have water in the tank. He went to home depot. The salesman told him they could price match. He got a manager who refused saying it wasn't the same model. Now I will tell you my husband did his homework and knew it was, the guy even argued with the manager about it but she wouldn't budge. He bought it anyway and thanked the guy for trying. YMMV