Counterdepth Refrigerator: Frigidaire Gallery or Samsung?

9 years ago

I'm trying to decide between the only two counter-depth refrigerators that are within budget:

Frigidaire Gallery 22.6 cu.ft. side-by-side FGHC2331PF

Samsung 18 cu.ft. French door RF197ACRS.

Both are around $1200-1300. I've already ordered the Frigidaire from Sears, but I'm thinking of changing my order to the Samsung because it's 3 inches narrower than the 36" Frigidaire. I think it would look better in my small kitchen. I also think that having a smaller fridge will encourage me to keep it tidier with fewer forgotten items rotting in the back. And I also like how the Samsung does not have a water/ice dispenser on the door.

The problem is that I've never owned any Korean appliances before. I've read a lot of horror stories online about Samsung and LG refrigerators requiring frequent repair. Negative reviews for the Frigidaire seem to be mostly about the noise and the water/ice dispenser.

Have any of you had any experience with either of these refrigerators?

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Comments (7)

carolmka
9 years ago
I have a Frigidaire basic fridge that works great. its 3 years old. Its not counter depth. On the flip side I have a counter depth Kitchenaid that I love but thats over your budget. I would say get the biggest fridge that fits the space. We aren't horders but the fridge side is always stuffed.
hvtech42
9 years ago
Samsung and Frigidaire refrigerators are both known for some wacky designs that are a pain to service. I myself had a Samsung where the defrost heater was part of the evaporator coil. Nearly impossible to replace. I would never buy Samsung anything again. I was looking at a Frgidaire but I read that at the time, they were making the ice maker PART of the sealed refrigeration system! That scared me off. I think GE (the new, made in USA french door series) and Whirlpool are better, for fridges at least. I'm not sure whether they are still using those designs, but that's what I found through research in the past.

They all break. The key is to buy one that's as easy and cheap to repair as possible,
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@Louise Smith How nice for you that you live in a more 'European' town or city with markets and fresh produce nearby. My family lived in an English city for a summer; our neighborhood had a high street with a greengrocer, butcher, bakery, cheesemonger, wine shop, little and a farmer's market, all within walking distance. Once, I ordered food from various farmers for my MIL's birthday a couple days ahead of time and when I went to pick up the potatoes, the farmer said "oh, dearie, I'm not sure you really want these taters- when we dug 'em this mornin, it was rainin and they're a little muddy."...... I WAS IN HEAVEN! We later lived in a small suburban neighborhood of Wilmington, Delaware with a farmer's market that sold fresh Delaware & Jersey produce , including local eggs, dairy and cheeses right on the property! It was wonderful- many afternoons, the kids and I would walk out our back door to 'see what was for dinner'. There were 3 large grocery stores within a mile of our home and I never had to 'stock up' except in the fall, when I would fill the walk in chiller with bushels of local squash, potatoes, apples, pears, asian pears, onions and garlic from farmers. Of course, I always has a car in Wilmington; I was able to drive to the farms. My family also had a thriving business- and sure, I'd go to BJ's for bulk toilet paper and paper towel, but not much else, it wasn't necessary. Oh! and a Trader Joe's was about 3 miles away- sometimes the kids and I would go there to get something fun & delicious and frozen. What fun! I miss those days. As American cities become more urban; for those who live closer to the center, grocery stores get fewer and farther between, sometimes 6-8 even 10 miles away. Adults with families often work two or more jobs. People in cities are often forced to shop from bodegas with high rents and higher prices. Some don't have cars and plan bus trips - most have to plan weekly shopping, and are often forced to choose wholesale stores for food to feed their families. Those people need big, cheap refrigerators. There are also people who live in rural places where a trip to town is 45 minutes each way, making shopping a weekly or bi-weekly event. It would be nice if we could all shop healthy food daily- but the USA isn't set up that way. While you can say refrigerator size needs to change, it's actually the food supply chain that needs to change.... It is a system that gives the best food choices to the wealthy that is making the US Obese, not the refrigerators that support it.
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dodge59
9 years ago
Good point, hvtech42.

While looking up a Frigidaire problem for a poster here, I found that some of the evaporator coils were not replaceable as they were built into the foam.

As much as I like my 8 year old Jenn-air, (albeit a much larger fridge, 48 inches, Were I to buy a smaller fridge, I would certainly check out the new GE's, they do, (unlike the expensive competitor), have the latest technology.

As far as Samsung, alto I do prefer their dual evaporator design as opposed to 2 compressors, 2 condensors, 2 evaporators etc etc, (for those that "Must have" separation of air between fridge/freezer), but I keep seeing too many post of parts being hard to find and taking a long time to procure~~~~~not something one wants to run into with a "busticated fridge", ya thinks?

Gary
Janet
9 years ago
We have the Frigidaire model in our cottage. It has been problem free except for the freezer shelves which kept falling. My husband braced them in with little plastic clips and they are fine. It was a very affordable counter-depth which we needed, and we have been pleased.
mary
8 years ago
I'm facing same dilemma. I ordered a samsung french door fridge and then realized it's too deep. So I'm looking at either a smaller counter depth samsung french door or a frigidaire side-b-by side with the non-smudge, easier to clean stainless.

Our realtor said samsung and LG were best but reading reviews, both samsung and frigidaire get good and bad.

any input would be appreciated
MaggieB
8 years ago
I have a Frigidaire counter depth in my house. Overall it's great, but we started having problems with the icemaker after a year. Despite multiple visits from repairmen and calls to customer service, we never were able to get it working. Our freezer shelf does fall easily.
User
8 years ago
Neither one. Up your budget and go with the lowest Whitlpool/Maytag that gets close to your number.

Counterdepth Refrigerator: Frigidaire Gallery or Samsung?

Comments (7)

carolmka

hvtech42

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