please parole me from appliance 'decision prison'!! (cross post)

13 years ago

[Posted on Kitchen Forum - -it was suggested that I seek help from this forum, as well - thanks in advance!]

Ok -- we've made the final decisions on layout, but before I can put in the cabinet order, we need to make decisions on appliances (really, the d/w and range will take normal 24" and 30" cut-outs - we really just need the OTR microwave measurements, but that decision probably rests on the range choice.)

The refrigerator choice is made: Kitchen Aid French Door Counter-Depth KFCS22EVMS. Hurray!

Dishwasher will probably be Bosch Evolution 500 Series SHE55M15UC (although I'd be open to a Kitchenaid if we need to put together a "package").

So that leaves cooking appliances. I am not a gourmet, but I do cook about 5x/week for our family. We have heard good things about GE Profile, but can't stand the styling of the stainless appliances (with the football-shaped front) so they're not high on the list.

Basically, we're between Bosch and Kitchenaid, based on features, price and style of each line. (Yes, I know Kitchenaids supposedly blow up when the self-clean function is used. I don't rely on that function, but would use it before the end of the warranty period if we got a KA, just to be "safe".)

We want: gas cooking, convection, 30" range, stainless steel styling with black (not stainless) cooktop. What would be nice (but is not mandatory): "true" convection", slide-in style for finished look and additional backsplash area.

The options include:

Kitchenaid Architect Series II slide-in gas range KGSS907SSS

http://www.ajmadison.com/cgi-bin/ajmadison/KGSS907SSS.html

Bosch Evolution 500 series DLX HGS5L53UC freestanding gas with "convection" fan but not "true" convection

http://www.ajmadison.com/cgi-bin/ajmadison/HGS5L53UC.html

and, the possible "splurge" (drumroll please) --

Bosch 700 Integra series dual fuel slide-in

7282U

http://www.ajmadison.com/cgi-bin/ajmadison/HDI7282U.html

I love the look of the Bosch slide-in, and have gotten rave reviews from 2 family members who own it, but I am not sure if I can justify the extra $1000 above the cost of the Bosch freestanding range. Also love the Kitchenaid styling, and the KA has all the features I want, but I am concerned with reliability. My appliance salesperson owns all KA cooking appliances, and has not had problems, and tells me that they hear about equal problems with KA, GE, and Bosch, so I don't know what to believe.

There is another Bosch 700 series freestanding that I would consider, but it has a ss cooktop, and I think that would have to be a pain to keep clean.

Please help with any insights you may have -- slide-in or freestanding? worth it to pay extra for "true" convection over basic "fan" convection? worth extra $1000 to splurge on the top-of-the-line Bosch when in reality the less-pricey Bosch would handle most cooking chores well enough?

Thanks so much!!

p.s. Not sure how to attach multiple weblinks in this message, so I hope you don't mind copying/pasting the URLs for the Bosch items.

Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchenaid slide-in gas range

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

NEWKITCHENPLEASE
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
We just bought all Kitchen Aid appliances. We got the counter depth french door fridge, the dual fuel slide in range, the wall oven/microwave combo, the dishwasher and the range hood. Sorry we haven't really had a chance to use them all yet but we had the same dilemma and also read about the kitchen aid self clean blow up problem. We bought the extended warranty on the ovens and the fridge but are hoping that we won't need to use it.
Mind you, we havent' quite got the range hood working properly yet but hopefully this week someone will solve our problem for us.
Good luck with your appliance shopping
jgs7691
Original Author
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
@Newkitchen- thanks, that's what I was thinking if we were to go with all KA -- get the extended warranty and just include that as the cost of peace of mind. How are your KA appliances working for you, otherwise?

I guess I am wondering if the bad rap on KA appliances is mostly due to reporting bias (i.e. you're more likely to go on the web and post a review or give a negative mention if you've had a bad experience - or a mind-blowingly great experience - than if everything just works as advertised.)
Related Discussions
Importing appliances into Canada from USA
Q
Comments (52)
Hi Pelican Dave here in Toronto. Bottom line - purchasing stuff in the U.S.A. is often EASIER than in Canada. You often get better service in the U.S.A. We purchased our top of the line Subaru Outback from Van Bortel in N.Y. last summer and paid only $USD 30,500 (just had to email for a quote - that's it) all options and freight in, vs $CAD 48,000 best quote in Canada. Only additional cost - $190 + GST for the federal import fee - that's it. No Canadian dealer style B.S. of attempting to further pad the sale with glass etching fees - or worse "administration fees" for their sub-par service. Of course we paid Canadian (PST/GST/$100 AC) taxes to register it (but never paid any US taxes). Now that we are literally building a new home within our old home's 105 double brick exterior walls (totally gutted the interior - even gutted the studs, joists, etc), we're in the market for all new appliances, bathroom fixtures etc. Canadian dealers and distributors can go F*** themselves as far as I am concerned - and put that arrogant disservice attittude right in their ...... but I digress :-) You will pay no duty on any appliance manufactured in USA/Canada/Mexico, otherwise, as I understand it, duty is limited to 6.1%, since Canada is part of the World Trade Organisation. GST is collected at the border, and is calculated on top of the duty. Legally you are supposed to voluntarily declare your purchase to the provincial government and pay P.S.T. as well - as if you would - LOL. P.S.T. is not applicable to any energy star rated appliance in Ontario anyways. I plan to do the same for our bathroom fixtures. If you thought appliance fixtures were a rip off in Canada, check the Canada / US price differences on sinks, toilets, tubs, etc - often up to double the price in the U.S.A. Too many stupid, compliant, lazy Canadians, make for continued windfall profits for greedy, sleazy Canadian distributors, and their compliant, wimpy dealers. If only more dealers were like Walmart Canada, who temporarily pulled all Lego products off the shelves, until Lego cried Uncle, and agreed to sell their products here at the same price as in the U.S.A.
...See More
anyone bought appliances from ajmadison.com?
Q
Comments (40)
We spent $20,000 over the last three years with AJ Madison outfitting our guesthouse and home. All new washer/dryer (Bosch and GE), dishwashers (Bosch and GE), stoves, and refrigerators—the works. The dishwasher in our house never worked right. We had technicians out five times in the first six months before I contacted AJ Madison. I emailed the sales agent I had dealt with for all of the purchases. She referred me to Kellee in the “Client Experience” department. This is the email I got from her: Hello, Thank you for reaching out. We apologize to hear you are having troubles with the unit. While AJ Madison offers a 30 day return window on un-used and un-installed items, the manufacturer provides a full year of coverage. Should the technician deem the unit non-repairable, GE with authorize a direct replacement and organize the exchange. Should you have any additional questions, please give GE a call at Since I purchased AJ Madison’s “White Glove” delivery service and had it installed, this absolved AJ Madison of any responsibility, from their point of view. Lesson learned: don’t bother with their delivery service which was mediocre at best. Better to use someone local that you know and trust. Anyway, AJ Madison’s “30-Day guarantee” is worthless if had your appliance installed. How would someone know the appliance was defective if they had not installed it? I responded that I bought my dishwasher from AJ Madison, and I expected them to replace a defective product they sold, just as when I bought a KitchenAid mixer from Target and it went out two months afterward. I took it back to Target and they replaced it on the spot. The next email I received from AJ Madison informed me that if I continued to have trouble, they would be happy to call on my behalf to schedule service. I can do that. I DID do that, several times. After this, I never heard another word from them. I thought a retailer with the bulk of appliances they sell, that AJ Madison would have the bargaining muscle to take care of their customers; obviously, that’s not the case. Several friends had urged me to use Best Buy, Lowes, or Home Depot, which take back appliances that are defective, but I thought I’d support a lesser-known supplier for better service—my mistake. I’m so sorry I ever dealt with AJ Madison. They don’t stand behind their appliances and they don’t stand behind their word.
...See More
please parole me from appliance 'decision prison'!!!!
Q
Comments (32)
jgs - The fan on the micro/convection works well. I have not yet used the convection feature on either oven. As noted above, I also bought all three appliances at Sears along with my LG frig. They will only beat prices on "brick and mortar" stores, though, as it happened, they beat AJMadison anyway because some of the stores had better sales. They will look up your local stores to check prices (though you should come prepared too) - Best Buy, PC Richard, Lowes, etc. As for the stove sticking out, it does stick out a bit. I am reposting the photo that you referred to. I believe the angle of the photo makes it appear worse than it actually is. There is a piece of granite behind the cooktop that is about an inch and a half (I don't have a tape measure handy.) I'm thinking that the cooktop cannot go all the way back to the wall for safety reasons though I don't really know if that's true. I do not find it obtrusive; I think the stove is set right. (If not - no one tell me, please!) Both the contractor (who I trust) and the granite fabricator said it should be this way. The only complaints that I have thus far is that the black glass attracts a lot of dust and that we have had to fiddle a bit with calibrating the oven. We think we have it right now (the instructions allow for a plus/minus 25 degree adjustment) but I think I am going to call Bosch in to check it. As an aside, we bought the 3 year Sears warranty for all of the big appliances - not the micro/convection. I wasn't sure if I would like the big grates but I love them! And I did keep the chunky/clunky brushed nickel hardware. Everyone has been complimenting them; they look great next to the SS appliances and especially the stove with the clunky knobs. And Boxer ... how did I miss your original post about this range too????? I searched and searched while I was choosing appliances. Weird! In looking at the photo, I just realize that you can't see the granite piece in the back. The edge of the cooktop lines up exactly with the adjacent countertop. The front protrudes in the same way that the front of my french door frig protrudes in front of the cabinetry. Hope that makes sense!
...See More
Appliances in. Please help me pick lights.
Q
Comments (66)
Oh, I like that a lot in both sizes. It's nice to see they didn't squash the glass funny when they enlarged it. There's gold highlight like my chandelier does. It's funny, I never thought of those lights as farmhouse until you mentioned it. I can see that now. I now realize I have more than one picture of farmhouse style in my mind with some I like better than others. I'll search more tomorrow too. Oh, have to tell you - I was emailing back and forth with Lightingdirect about lights (obviously) and the same guy asked me in two different, replying, emails about the same lights,"What's the project you're working on?" The first time I answered saying they were a possibility for over an island. He sent me an email with additional info I requested and I replied saying thanks. I then got another email saying your welcome and asking, again, what project I was working on. Any idea what's up with that? They've been helpful with any questions I've asked. This was the first person to do that, and I just found it strange. Maybe I'm missing something.
...See More
jgs7691
Original Author
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Ok, I realize I've made a mess by cross posting.

I appreciate any advice the appliance forum users may have - if possible, can you respond to the thread on the kitchen forum (linked below) so that the advice can be kept in one place for ease of search by future users facing similar dilemmas?

Here is a link that might be useful: Link to same thread on Kitchens Forum

please parole me from appliance 'decision prison'!! (cross post)

Comments (3)

NEWKITCHENPLEASE

jgs7691
Original Author

Related Discussions

jgs7691
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

please parole me from appliance 'decision prison'!! (cross post)

Comments (3)

NEWKITCHENPLEASE

jgs7691Original Author

Related Discussions

jgs7691Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

jgs7691
Original Author

jgs7691
Original Author