Help me pick a new fridge

[baldyguy]

I'm in need of a new fridge. I've been looking at Best Buy's fridges, and they carry Whirlpool, Fridaire, LG and Samsung.

The LG and Samsung fridges caught my attention and was very surprised that they make fridges. From what I heard, Samsung fridges are very good. The employee says that Samsungs are their #1 fridges, while LG #2, and Whirlpool being #3.

My budget is around $1,000. If I go cheaper I would. I'm shopping for a stainless steel fridge.

So anyways, can anyoen give me an opinion or advice on what fridge to buy and what is good for the money?

[pecmsg]

I bought the LG bottom mount freezer a year ago and have been very happy with it. Even though I'm in the buss I did get the extended warrenty. Dont want to come home and have to work on mine!!!

[cascader]

LG is an up and coming brand.

[lurgi]

Maytag fridges are ok, but they had trouble with the ice makers a couple of years back.

[R12rules]

Sub-Zero

[coldfire]

Just so you are aware, LG (China) is just starting a recall on their refs, for condenser fan motors (they may, and I do want to stress MAY <not to over-alarm> catch on fire). I'm not sure of the model/serial range yet, as this info has only come up in the past weeks.

Besides the Maytag/Amana icemaker problem, they also had a low speed evap fan motor issue (lazy airflow = excess moisture in box). The fix was a stronger <power consuming> evap motor (so much for the five star power rating). I believe the latest generation boxes are much better.

Frigidaire is now experiencing mechanical (and yes, this is rare) failures on their compressors (lucky for the consumer, most are under the 5 year warranty)

Point is, EVERY ref manufacturer is experiencing some type of quirks (a few more serious than others). Some due to design flaws, others from poor parts production overseas. Bottom line, pick a unit you like.

[indian]

I recommend that you buy one that stops food from growing things you prefer not to eat.

[R12rules]

If you were purchasing an automobile, you would be investing $15K plus but you would not be sinking additional bucks into the unit each month.

A frige though, is a differant story altogether.

Even though the initial cost of the appliance is seemingly high .... the value of the food goods you will be storing in it over the next ten years is much higher indeed!
And what is the value you would be willing to place on THAT?

If you will be putting $300 a month worth of food into this unit to preserve, times twelve months .... that's a awful lot of food to trust to a cheap appliance.

Make this investment based upon what you can afford to spend ... not based upon what is the cheapest price.



Sign up for consumer reports online and enjoy reading what they have to say about each brand.

They have done their homework. And the price you pay for their commentary is well worth your money.