Why are shallow refrigerators more expensive?

14 years ago

I posted earlier in the week asking about tall thin refrigerator recommendations as we were contemplating that size option as a way to get more cabinet and counter space. We have decided that when we leave 41" for the refrigerator we really do end up with enough cabinets for our needs so we don't need the high-end tall thin refrigerator/freezers. So I am back to looking at standard 35-36 width models.

My wife would prefer to not have a deep refrigerator because she says things get lost in the back and that it is wasteful. I sort of agree, but the less deep refrigerators seem to cost more than the standard depth ones. Why is that? Are they designed differently in the back or do they just take away shelf depth?

For example the LG LMX21981ST, what they call a counter depth but is actually 30" deep, is much more expensive than their other models.

http://www.lge.com/us/appliances/refrigerators/LG-french-4-door-refrigerator-LMX21981ST.jsp

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Comments (7)

desertsteph
14 years ago
I'd think it's because they are new, people want them and they know they can get the higher price. and they had to reconfigure things to make them.

I lose things in the back also. I've decided that when I move (and it's emptied out and cleaned etc) I'm going to put some 'things' in it that i can put stuff in and slide in and out. like i have a plastic egg holder that came with mine. in 11 yrs I've never put my eggs in it - but I could put my water bottles in it (or salad dressing, ketchup etc) and it'll slide in and out. and I saw (at W) the white plastic ice bins - and I can get a few of those to put things in which will again allow me to slide it out, put stuff in, slide it back in...and back out.

I've also been thinking that just the bottom of some rectangular plastic containers could be used.

having a CD fridge isn't something i'm interested in, nor would I pay extra to get it. losing stuff in the back - I care about - lol!
regfman
Original Author
14 years ago
I'm wondering if they have any engineered features that justify the price. Did the manufacturers move around the cooling hardware in the back of the refrigerator to put it below or on the top? or are they using different materials? or a different design of the cooling system? --- Or did they simply trim the depth by making the side walls less deep and use smaller shelves inside?
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weissman
14 years ago
I think they're just shallower. They probably command a higher price because they're sold in lower volume than full-depth fridges and because the people who want are willing to pay the higher prices. Same with the built-in integrated fridges.

What's really ironic is that they call them counter-depth when in fact they're not - the doors still extrude beyond the counters.
weedmeister
14 years ago
Yep, they just don't make as many.
Buehl
14 years ago
I think there's more to it than that. If you look at air clearance requirements for counter depth (CD) vs standard depth (SD), you will find that a CD requires a lot less than a SD.

I would think that if they had the exact same internals you would need the same clearances. I'm not an appliance repairman or other mechanic, so I don't know for certain...
pete_p_ny
14 years ago
Nothing to do with volume, they are capturing a market that will pay. Same reason the auto industry makes high profit on certain suv or cars. Same reason there is a 100% plus mark up on high end stoves, with the same basic parts as lower end stoves. Yes, less cubic feet for more money.
palimpsest
14 years ago
I second the part about the clearances. A full depth fridge I looked at required 1 inch + clearances on the side, and more on the back and top, while its counter-depth version required on 1/8" on the sides. (Same width and configuration otherwise). This has to be a part of it.

The aspect of less production also plays a role as well, and perhaps the willingness to pay more to an extent. But there is no way that something the requires an inch or more clearance and something that requires Zero clearance (as an integrated fridge does) are just the same thing under the skin that people are paying more for just for prestige.

Why are shallow refrigerators more expensive?

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desertsteph

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Why are shallow refrigerators more expensive?

Comments (7)

desertsteph

regfmanOriginal Author

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regfman
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