Not at all. I just bought an old school top freezer fridge for my rec room kitchenette in black bc I couldn't justify the cost of an expensive model or an additional $125 for stainless. I'm really happy with it. Buy what makes you happy and fits your needs. That's what matters.

Lg and Samsung can both fit your needs and your budget if you can wait for Black Friday deals. Last year there were several French doors available in your price range.

I have three properties and lots of fridge experience. An 'old school' at the farm in the barn. A workhorse but i would not want it for daily home use. Like pointed out above, it is not at all consistent cooling. I have three cheap temp discs to monitor the fridge. (the grocery store ones) I have the temp control labeled for weekend, turn up, and turn it down to a marked dot when we are not there. The back two bottom shelves are lined with water bottles because anything pushed back freezes. It is for my garden produce mostly so i have about a dozen layers of newsprint in the crisper drawer to prevent freezing of tender greens. No frills, top freezer works fine. I was left on all winter by mistake in an un-heated space, (never do that), but it still works as always, and just ok. I even put it up on a 2x12 pedestal to get it off the barn floor. I do not like top freezers at all but a barn does not need more than a 5-600 fridge.

I win for the worst fridge ever made at my vacation home...all the bad temp problems as above but the highest end of bad. And the door pops open 10-20 min after closed. (the light switch is the size of a hubcap and it puts pressure on the door. I have a big 3 inch velcro strap to keep it closed). But so many house guests cannot remember to use it so i duck taped the switch but have no light. Did solve the problem. Also the 'old school' cannot handle heavy use or be at all full. It also has water bottles lining the back bottom shelves. The 'crisper' drawer i call my 'second freezer'. That one will go away when i renovate. Just dealing with it for now. (a kenmore from Sears)

Probably look at LG bottom freezer without all the bells. That is under or around 1,000.

I have an 8ys now Liebherr that i love. It has all the problems most have but i do the easy fixes myself and do a twice a yr maintenance on the dual compressors. And check the drains monthly. Never needed to have it serviced. Bad ice maker, great when it works, but i know how to fix that as well. I've replaced it twice. Great consistent temp and fresh foods last forever.

I think stepping up just a bit from the old school is so worth it. If you ever keep fresh veggies on hand you will be glad you did. A bottom freezer with drawers is so nice. Having veg and daily use at standing height is a dream.

I use old school ice trays at the farm and it is no biggie.

This is from AJ madison website. But i would check or buy local to see if service is available. I have no experience with it at all. Just doing research myself for the future renovation.

hi, Everyone -

Thanks so much for the great input. I want to make sure, though, that we all understand that by "old school" I mean just a regular, plain top freezer -- not those 50s throwback types.

I just don't want to have to fix ice makers, etc in the next year or two -- I'm re-hanging my house, so I've got enough battles to fight without having to throw a refrigerator into the mix, lol.

Sorry - I'm "re-habbing " my house

I will second plllog's advice, especially the part about asking around at independent dealers and servicers and not being too phazed by the on-line complaints.

Something else to bear in mind: internal ice makers often can be removed easily. (Obviously, no-go with through-the-door dispensers.) So, if there is a model you otherwise like but for the internal ice-maker, look into what is required to remove the icemaker.

That said, there does seem to have been a sharp uptick in problem rates for all kinds of fridges in the last couple of years. I base this on what I'm seeing in the reports of the annual membership surveys by Consumer Reports. CR surveys its members for their experiences with major appliance purchases made in the preceeding five years. Three years ago, when I had to go fridge shopping, and was looking for a bottom freezer fridge -- I was looking at both french-door and conventional door models --- non-icemaker models by Whirlpool had a problem rate of 8% (which is roughly 1 in 12) over the first five years of ownership. By comparison, top-freezer models (without icemakers) were running about 6% to 7% rates (rougly a 1 in 15 problem rate.)

The latest survey results at CR now show Whirlpool FD and BF models have jumped up to over a 20% problem rate for the non-icemaker models and 25% for the icemaker equipped ones.

Top freezer fridges have also seen an increase in problem rates, but the rate is much lower than for other kinds of fridges. Non-icemaker top-freezer fridges -- including Whirlpool branded models --- have gone up to a 10% problem rate in the first five years of ownership. It is 1 in 6 to 1 in 5 for the icemaker-equipped top-freezer models, which tells you that icemakers are trouble but that pretty much any one major brand top-freezer won't be significantly less likely to have problems than other brands.

There is a caveat to reading these results. Like much else at CR these days, you only get gross numbers with no breakdown on the kinds of problems. For example, one CR member may be complaining about cracks or breakage in the thin plastic of a crisper drawer. Another's fridge may have lost its compressor. The first kind of problem can be seriously annoying and may make for problems with keeping veggies or greens as fresh for as long, but it does not keep the fridge from functioning. Duct tape can get you through
until you can fix the thing :>) Not so with compressor failures, freeze-ups and
etc. that keep you from using the fridge at all. Different order of magnitude of seriousness.

Still, the trends in the CR surveys are cause for concern and a good reason to call around to local appliance servicers and dealers to get a sense of what they are experiencing.

If you are interested in a conventional door/bottom freezer, the GE and Kenmore branded ones seem to be the least unreliable. The non-icemaker Kenmores actually have a defect rate as low as the top-freezer fridges, according to the CR survey results. Don't know who makes them for Kenmore but it might be LG. LG also might be making them for GE under contract, as well. Whirlpool bottom-freezer brands, however, have problems rates more than double even without icemakers. When I was fridge shopping three years ago, I almost bought the predecessor of the WRB322DMB that plllog mentioned. (The reason I bought something else was a vagary of holiday sale pricing where I got a Kitchenaid FD version for less than the WP conventional door.) We had a very long thread here where several others wound up getting that WP and, with several years of followup, were still pleased with their purchases. Here's the link if you are interested:

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2312819/need-a-new-refrigerator-any-recommendations-on-which-one

I also note that, FWIW, the WRB322DMB is one of CR's recommended models for bottom freezer fridges (as is the same thing when sold by Whirlpool under its Amana brand).

But, given the large spike in problem rates for Whirlpool fridges, I would hestitate unless and until, as plllog recomended, I could get servicers to tell me about the kinds of problems they are actually seeing.

The fridges we're recommending aren't '50's units or retro styling, just tech that's been out there for a good while. Nobody complained much about the uneven cooling and stuff freezing because they all used to be like that. You get used to the quirks and work around them. Bottom freezer has been around since the '30's, at least. The Whirlpool I found has that, in your price range. You might as well like what you get. :)

Edit: I don't ever trust CR, but JW's complaint rates would give me pause. OTOH, without knowing what the complaints are, it's hard to know if it's really a quality issue. For instance, how much of it is shipping damage? If it is a broken crisper, was it replaced under warranty immediately but still listed as a failure? Probably. But did it break because the eight year old pulled it out to stand on to get at the cake on an upper shelf?

Do you have a Costco near you? If so, you might consider checking their policies and buying from them. They're generally known for having a stellar returns policy and you can't beat big box pricing. Instead of worrying about the fridge, get whatever they have and figure they'll take care of you if it doesn't do the job. But make sure that appliances are included in their no questions asked policy, etc.

I have a 22cuft Kenmore top freezer with icemaker. It is actually a GE with a Kenmore label. It's been running for 20+ years. It was around $800 when I got it. I expect a similar thing would be around a grand. The only time I had a problem with the icemaker turned out to not be the icemaker but the saddle valve (it plugged up).

In bottom freezer models, I like the Samsung layout. But I don't think they come larger than 18cuft. (single door top/bottom.)

Wow - thank you all so much for all the great advice and info!

I will definitely look at Samsung, LG and GE (I've read too much about compressor failure in that Whirlpool, unfortunately - so now I'm spooked by all their fridges).

And I will ABSOLUTELY look into Costco's refrigerator return policy - that is a great idea!

Thanks again to all of you for all your help. I can't tell you how invaluable your feedback has been!

I had no interest in an icemaker. I wanted the refrigerator on top because it's easier to see/push pull items into or out of and I seldom use the freezer. One concern was that the door be able to hold the size of milk carton I like to use and similarly that the shelves could be moved around in such a way that the same carton would fit also fit on them and I would still be able to use all the shelves. As to longevity I have the whirlpool and I've had no problems. I think that new products tend to fail in the first couple of months or not at all. Because all of the stores send you a request to review after the first week or so they end up recording the failures as people like me, who have not experienced a failure, delay in writing reviews because longevity is part of the point of the product and longevity is not known after two weeks.

hapagrrl:

As you seem to have ruled out Whirlpool, Costco is probably no help. Costco does have an unwritten, very liberal satisfaction/full refund guarantee but they only carry Whirlpool brands for the types of fridges you want.

A couple of things to check out or bear in mind if you do decide to consider buying large appliances from Costco.

If you want delivery (which is usually included in the price), check
the "shipping and terms" tab on Costco's product page. Used to be that some areas could not get
delivery of fridges. Sometimes whole states --- say, Montana and Alaska --- and
sometimes just particularly rural or remote areas of certain states. Sometimes there
might be an extra charge for delivery to them. Read the tab to see if
there are restrictions for your area.

Another thing to bear
in mind is that, while Costco.com will deliver the new fridge (and haul
the old one, if you want), Costco rarely comes to retrieve one you
decide to return. You have to haul it to a Costco warehouse yourself or
else arrange for somebody to do it for you.

Although you are ruling out Whirlpool products, l still suggest that you call around to servicers to see what you can find out about what the problems are. As plllog says, the problems might be mostly minor things -- broken support brackets, cracked crisper drawers --- or they might be major ones.

Seeing numbers of reports of compressor failures might or might not be significant. FWIW, some percentage of early product failures (as noted by practigal) is inevitable for every mass produced product. There is even a name for it: "infant mortality." Thing is -- Whirlpool sells so many refrigerators that even a tiny percentage of compressor failures can translate to a large number of complaining people. And, there is nothing like inept or intransigent warranty service to push a dissappointed customer into a vitriolic, internet-posting crusader. Plus, these days, there are shills and trolls paid to muck-up on-line reviewing.

Anyway, if you do get some feedback from services, please let us know what you learn.

I think of old school as top freezer, no frills.

This is Costco

Costco Canada i'll have a few different choices i just found out on a search.

Surprised my mother just went this way again. She has loved my fridge...bottom freezer, but she just gave up and went with 'old school'. And once again she is on her hands and knees at 85. Went with what was on the Sears floor and did not want to change the upper cabinet. (that cabinet has never been used as it needs a ladder from the shed)...oh well

We just want you to be happy, : ) no need to get all the frills.

That might be an exactly perfect fridge. I can only encourage you to take some of your commonly used large sized items and try to put them in a floor sample somewhere to make sure they will fit. Surprise sizes would not be appreciated at delivery...

Milk and eggs should not be stored in the door, the temperature is more stable within the refrigerator "proper"

I just purchased the linked Costco fridge in black last month from Lowes. It was $648 and included the ice maker. I've been very happy with it fwiw.

Wow, it seems we evidently got super lucky with the refrigerator we got from Sears in 2000 when we had our modular home built. We plugged it in the Monday before Thanksgiving and have had zero issues since. It's "old school" with a normal refrigerator on the bottom and freezer on the top with an ice maker in the freezer.

We are not concerned about one area of it being 1/2 degree cooler than another either.

Deeebert I completely agree but just before a party or holiday dinner I want the ability to move everything to darn near anywhere in the fridge...doors are built to hold gallons or quarts I wanted mine to be able to hold a gallon...other buyers wanted to make sure six packs fit in the door....