I just got the call from my wife. Our refrigerator, it seems, is on life support. As background, we have a GE 22.5 ft3 Top-Freezer with ice maker that we purchased at Fedco (yes, Fedco) around 1990 or so. Recently, milk hasn’t been lasting as long, so we got a refrigerator thermometer. With the refrigerator compartment set at its coldest setting, we’re barely in the good zone. So we called out a service critter: it would be around $700-$1000 to fix, without a guarantee. So, we’re looking at a new refrigerator, probably within the next month or so. We might also explore Craigslist for a refrigerator that no longer fits in a remodelled kitchen — has anyone tried that approach?
So what are we looking for? Given that we normally have our refrigerator stuffed to the gills, I would think at least 22.5 ft3. Getting an Energy Star would save us electricity, as well as get us a rebate from DWP, plus more for recycling the old refrigerator. We think we would like another top freezer as they are more space efficient for storage, but they now seem to be more expensive than the side-by-sides.
Where might we go? Alas, Fedco is long gone. So the possibilities are Lowes, Sears, or Best Buy, unless a local dealer might be cheaper. I’d love to take advantage of a 0% sale; we have store cards at all four stores. Why not consider Costco? Their largest refrigerator is a 20.8 ft3 Whirlpool, not stated as Energy Star. As for the others:
- Lowes: (1) a 24.6 ft3 GE Profile Top-Freezer Refrigerator Energy Star at $1,438.00 with internal water dispenser and icemaker; (2) a 23.1 ft3 GE Profile Side-by-Side Refrigerator Energy Star at $1, 698.00; or (3) a 23.1 ft3 GE Side-by-Side Refrigerator Energy Star at $1,248.00. Lowes may not have a current 0% promotion.
- Sears: (1) a 24.6 ft3 GE Top Freezer Refrigerator with Internal Dispenser for $1449.99 [this is the same as Lowes (1)]; (2) 25.4 ft3 Kenmore Side-By-Side Refrigerator with PuR® Ultimate II Water Filtration at $1,049.99; (3) 25.4 ft3 Kenmore Side-By-Side Refrigerator with PuR® Ultimate II Water Filtration at $1,291.99 [no, I don’t know the difference between this one and (2)]; (4) 25.4 ft3 Kenmore Elite Side-By-Side Refrigerator with PuR® Ultimate II Ice and Water, and a few others that may be similar. Sears does have a 12 month 0% financing deal, and does a mail-in rebate for the delivery.
- Best Buy: (1) 24.6 ft3 GE Profile Top-Mount Refrigerator for $1,499.99; (2) 25.0 ft3 GE Side-by-Side Refrigerator with Thru-the-Door Ice and Water for $999.99; (3) 25.3 ft3 Whirlpool Side-by-Side Refrigerator with Thru-the-Door Ice and Water for $1,099.99; (4) 25.0 ft3 GE Side-by-Side Refrigerator with Thru-the-Door Ice and Water for $1,099.99; (5) 25.3 ft3 Whirlpool Side-by-Side Refrigerator with ice/water dispenser at $1,249.99, among others. Some of these are online-only, and take longer to get. The weekly ad also has (6) 25.3 ft3 Whirlpool Side-by-Side Refrigerator with Ice/Water Dispenser at $1099.99; and (7) 25 ft3 GE Stainless Side-by-Side Refrigerator for $1,199.99. According to the Best Buy ad, they are doing 18 months 0% + free delivery and haul-away.
So… opinions? Should we go with a side-by-side? I’ll note that others may have had problems with Sears; we haven’t in the past.
