The biggest misconception about buying a new
refrigerator is that it will be simple. Once in the
appliance store your choices may be so varied that you either make a bad 
selection, or rely too much upon the salespersons advice. You can easily end up
choosing a refrigerator that’s too large, too complex, or too costly. Therefore, before even going to the store
take thirty minutes to look at the latest newspaper
advertisements or make a couple of telephone calls to compare
prices.
Use a notepad to itemize your basic
preferences including: price,
size, type, and style. Then measure the size of the opening available
(don't measure the old refrigerator) for a new one. Lastly, while standing and facing
your old refrigerator note whether the door hinges are on the right or
left side of the cabinet. The hinges, not the handle, determines whether your
refrigerator is right handed or left handed. With your notebook in
hand proceed to the appliance store. You will find that the refrigerator purchase
can be separated into the four segments:
1 Appearance and style,
2 Price range,
3 Options,
4 Name brand appeal.
Appearance and style will include
whether you want a white, black, stainless steel, freezer on top, freezer
on bottom, side-by-side, smooth finish, or pebbled finish. All of these
choices are personal. They should match your preferences and the
style of your kitchen.
White is the still the most common choice of
color. Stainless is
popular because it matches other appliance colors or decors. For example,
a stainless steel
refrigerator next to a black range will not look out of place. While a
white refrigerator can be cleaned with standard household cleaners,
stainless steel requires a special cleaner that must be applied
regularly to maintain its appearance. On the other hand while a black
refrigerator only requires basic cleaning it's prone to appear streaked
when seen under bright lighting.
In regard to style most consumers still choose a freezer-on-top model.
For a freezer-on-bottom refrigerators expect to pay an additional $200. The freezer-on-bottom type
allows easier access to the refrigerator section but to get into the
freezer requires some dexterity. Removing a heavy item
from the bottom freezer may require you to get down onto the floor. This
can be a definite negative for a senior. The side-by-side
refrigerator is popular primarily because of its
large size and options. These include: ice and water
dispenser, adjustable shelves, humidity control crispers, or meat keeper
containers. But, with these come a drastic increase in price.
Price range is important to most consumers.
While a basic single-family, freezer-on-top refrigerator can be as low as $600,
a
side-by-side model with options would be closer to $2500.
Always go to the store with an idea of how much you
want to spend and try not to exceed your price limit
by more than 10%. If you are attracted to something more expensive ask
yourself, 'is it really required', or 'will it make my kitchen more
efficient'.
Never allow a salesperson to force you into a hasty decision. Don’t
believe the, “If you don’t buy today the price may go up tomorrow”,
or, ”I can’t guarantee this appliance will still be here tomorrow”.
Ask if delivery is included in the price. Stores
usually say it is an extra cost until informed that their competition is
offering, free delivery. Sales people know it's a point
that can make or break a sale, and will offer it if they
think they may lose the sale.
Options available on a modern refrigerator can
be confusing. With all the choices it’s easy to become overwhelmed. Any
option is a good one if you know you will use it. Plus, having already
decided upon appearance and price range your options choice will be
lessened.
For example digital temperature control readouts are
very modern looking, but no more accurate than a simple numbered dial. Icemakers or water dispensers are useful if you do a lot of entertaining,
or drink a lot of water. With this option look for a model where the dispenser is
simple to operate, even for children. Avoid models that include a
digital display as part of the dispenser assembly because they add
unnecessary complexity. Don’t forget they will require a new water
filter every four to six months that will cost between $50 and $100.
See-through shelves and drawers have become popular.
They make it easier to see what is inside the refrigerator. Their only disadvantage is they collect more spills and food debris.
Humidity controls in vegetable
drawers can be advantageous. Their purpose is to keep the vegetables
crisper, longer. Their presence should only add a few dollars to the price
and is an option worth considering. Although most come with non adjustable
door shelves some models offer removable door bins instead
of the more common metal bottle rails. The bins
are much easier to clean but can add $100 to the cost. Usually not worth
the investment.
Energy saving features are becoming
common including refrigerators that go into a sleep mode if the door hasn’t been
opened recently. Although they may save you money they can add greatly to
the refrigerators complexity. They require computer boards to keep
track of operation, which will add to the cost of
any future repairs. If you live in an area where electrical power outages
are common, avoid digital appliances. Power
fluctuations can seriously affect the electronics.
Name brand appeal can be important. It may be
the final deciding factor as to which refrigerator you end up buying. If
the company has been around for some time obviously they are doing
something right. If the refrigerator name is new to you perhaps further
research is required. Also, a manufacturer with a proven name will have a
service network in case anything fails during your warranty period.
In
conclusion, take a few extra minutes to envision what you want before rushing off to the appliance
store. A few minutes preparing yourself will be worth the effort. It’s
easier to
envision different styles in your kitchen while seated there with the
latest advertisements in front of you. Trying to do this while standing in a store, in front of a line of
fifty refrigerators is almost impossible. Plus when you do make the trip
to the appliance store with a list of
preferences (price, size, type, and style) you will find the
experience much less stressful. And your decision will be one you can
happily live with for the next ten to fifteen years.
By
Donald Grummett
Copyright © 2007
Donald Grummett. All rights reserved
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