side by side fridges : smeg, bosch or just plain old samsung?
izreen
12 years ago
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gsciencechick
12 years ago
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12 years agoRelated Discussions
Recommendation: Side by side Counter depth SS Fridge
Comments (9)The Ikea Datid or Nutid S23 are worth checking out - basically the same thing as the Whirlpool WRS965CIAM with different handles and missing the beverage rack (which can be ordered from the parts department if you must have it), but with an excellent 5-year warranty, and often a lower price. Similar refrigerators are also sold under the Kenmore, KitchenAid, and Jenn-Air brands, the latter two which Whirlpool owns. There are two heights available, the taller ones are about 72"h, almost 3" higher than the shorter ones for a bit of extra space inside if you have the height available. The Ikea is short only, Jenn-Air tall only, and the Whirlpool and Kitchenaid available both ways. These are new designs, with sleek LED lighting, wide glass shelves, and icemakers that don't take up any room in the main freezer compartment. There are minor feature differences between the different brands, but they're all the same basic design, and a vast improvement over the outmoded refrigerators Whirlpool was making until last year. The Electrolux Icon (and less-expensive Electrolux, Kenmore, and Frigidaire offshoots) are also worth a look, as are Samsung and LG....See MoreThe latest on Samsung and Bosch?
Comments (13)>About 2 years later, our microwave broke. It would cost more to fix than to buy a new one of a different model. Bosch does not make microwaves, they import them from China like almost everyone else. Microwaves are disposable: they're almost always cheaper to replace than to repair. You don't give any details about the specific one you had trouble with, but I'm assuming you got an expensive built-in model. Lesson for next time: instead of a built in microwave, make an alcove in your cabinetry that you can stick any old $150 microwave into. >Just last week (a little less than 4 years later) our fridge doesn't cool. There is an ice buildup at the back preventing it from reading the proper temp, or something like that. Bosch customer service has been less than helpful. Stuff breaks. It doesn't sound like your fridge has been a lemon, a non-major malfunction in 4 years on any appliance is nothing alarming. As for customer service, what were you expecting them to do? Repair it for free even though it is years out of warranty? What makes your situation so special that you think you deserve that treatment other customers wouldn't get? Again, you give no information about the particular fridge you have, but freestanding refrigeration is Bosch's weak point because they outsource it as well. The french doors are rebadged Whirlpools, which are good units but you're paying a price premium for the Bosch logo on the front. The side by sides used to be imported from Daewoo in Mexico, now they are imported from China. Let's just say the reviews on those, erm, haven't been too great. >My advice is to avoid Bosch. My advice is to avoid appliance packages of any kind because you will never get the most for your dollar. If you'd done your research like the OP is doing, you would have known that the Bosch DW and cooking were good choices (interestingly enough, those are the two you apparently didn't have problems with) and you would have gone elsewhere for your microwave and fridge. I don't even know why I bothered wasting the time to write that post as most of these people visit forums once and never come back since they rarely have anything else to contribute. This post was edited by hvtech42 on Sun, Aug 31, 14 at 16:58...See MoreSamsung or Electrolux side by side refrigerator?
Comments (5)Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and comments. I think side by sides are one of those things that you either love them or you hate them. My past two fridges have been bottom mount freezers and I definitely like them. But at this stage, with 4 kids, I was looking to have something that the kids could access themselves. Right now, my older two, who are the only two that can help themselves, have to climb up into the fridge just to get out the milk or a yogurt cup or something. But, I should also add that our current fridge, while a hideous monstrosity, still functions just fine and will take up a new home in the garage right next to the chest freezer. So, we do still have plenty of storage for large items. I mean, really, there's no need to have 3 gallons of milk in the house at one time, is there? ;) Two could easily be kept in the garage. Thanks, again. I didn't know about the JD rating of the Samsung, and with your comments, I think I'm definitely leaning that way....See MoreCan't decide between side by side or French Door!
Comments (37)danajw, I had the same problem deciding on a fridge last fall. I had a SxS that frustrated me everytime I had to find something in the freezer. Also didn't care for the narrow fridge space too. So, I kicked around the idea of an allfridge/allfreezer but was disappointed in what I found. Fridigaire & Electrolux Ikon had poor construction & maintenance issues. Whirlpool Sidekicks were too "boxy" with no option for a riser like the Fridigaire model. So, I went with the GE Profile FD in ss. Have never liked it! I don't like the layout of FD fridges. I have a family of 6 at home & I am frustrated again at the hide & seek game I have to play to find anything. There is not enough storage room in the fridge because I had to remove 2 shelves (comes with 6)in order to make 2 complete, accross the fridge shelves. Using 6 shelves is a nightmare for a family greater that 2. With multiple tall milk, juice & soda bottles, I had to lower the shelf to get around the light on the roof which is centered in the middle. The fruit & veggie drawers are great and the 1 large pullout tray across the bottom is my favorite because it holds so much & I can PULL IT OUT to find something. When I was looking at a different manuf's model the salesman compared the pullout drawers & told me the one I was looking at was too flimsy & that GE is one of the most solid on the market. I thought, "so what? how often will I use this drawer?" Price difference was minor so I went for the GE. As for the doors, I wish I had gotten 1 door just for the convenience of 1 door to pull & for storage. Too many little buckets... To me, the worst part is the freezer. In the store, they all look SO BIG. But when you get it home & fill it up you realize that NOTHING can be above the level of the bottom of the drawer above it. I am constantly shuffling things around to get them flat so that I can close the door. Not fun when kids help themselves and don't put things back in the exact place. I moved my SxS to the basement when we got this fridge. Now here is the unbelievable part of my story. I emptied all the items from the SxS into coolers, brought in the new fridge, turned it on to fast cool & when I loaded the new freezer, I had SO MUCH FROZEN FOOD LEFT OVER that we had to put a good deal of it in the old fridge in the basement!! I never thought that the SxS held so much more than the bottom drawer freezer. Unless you have a very small family or buy very little frozen food, I find this is a difficult model to live. I had the room for a wider fridge but did not want to spend so much more money on a fridge. We are learning to live with it. I have no complaints with the GE Profile performance except that sometimes the food in the way back tends to freeze & I lower the temp. I would not recommend a bottom drawer freezer unless you have another freezer too. Sorry this is so wordy. Sherry...See Moreizreen
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