Kenmore Elite oven--Sear's reputation now & how often are real sales?

8 years ago

We need to replace a 27", 20+ year-old wall combo with a wall oven on the bottom and a microwave on top. The cut-out opening is unfortunately the driving factor in what I can select between. None of the options are perfect and exactly the same size as our current opening, but it appears that the Kenmore Elite comes closest to fitting in as far as height.

http://www.sears.com/kenmore-elite-27inch-electric-combination-oven-stainless-steel/p-02248913000P?prdNo=3&blockNo=3&blockType=G3

If I were going to choose based on factors other than size, the Elite isn't what I'd choose as far as features. And, I don't recall reading anything good about Sears recently.

What is the current reputation for Sears Elite appliances (and Sears itself)? Do they still have the occasional super sale on appliances? If so, is there a pattern to these? I'm trying to figure out who manufactures this oven combo too.

Of the extremely limited choices I have for my 27" size width, this Kitchenaid would be my first choice as far as features, but it would need more extensive cabinet alternations and creativity because it is much shorter than the Sears Elite and my current wall cut out.

http://www.kitchenaid.com/shop/major-appliances-1/wall-ovens-2/wall-ovens-3/-[KOCE507ESS]-407578/KOCE507ESS/

Thanks for any information you might have.

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Comments (9)

sjhockeyfan325
8 years ago
I read very recently that Sears is close to extinction (again). I don't think that necessarily matters, unless you need warranty service.
hvtech42
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Sears has a poor reputation for service in pretty much all respects. Not the best technicians, excessive amount of visits required to complete repairs, etc. And unfortunately with Kenmore appliances, they are the only ones that do the service in the warranty period.

However, despite the poor service reputation, a lot of the Kenmore appliances themselves are quite good. That particular one is made by Electrolux, which has a good reputation for ovens, better than KA. My parents recently bought a similar model to the one you linked (convection microwave/oven combo, but the 30" version) and they love it. I can confirm it works really well. Also I have an induction range from Electrolux which I'm a big fan of.
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needinfo1
Original Author
8 years ago
hvtech42--

This and your response to my other thread are immensely helpful info. I'm glad to hear that your parents are happy with their Kenmore Elite, and I think we'll definitely give this one a strong look. I'd read that some of the Sears' ovens are built by Electrolux but wasn't sure about this particular model or whether having Kenmore appliances built by Electrolux was a thing of the past.
needinfo1
Original Author
8 years ago
Interestingly enough we stopped in at Sears today to look at one of these. Using the appliance411 interpretive code to discover who manufactured this, we discovered that the Kenmore Elite we were interested in is made by Frigidaire.
jormydog
8 years ago
Frigidaire is owned by Electrolux.
needinfo1
Original Author
8 years ago
So if the tag indicated manufactured by Frigidaire, this would be comparable to a Frigidaire appliance and not an Electrolux appliance. Correct?

Or, is the quality, reliability and durability of both Frigidaire and Electrolux the same?
jwvideo
8 years ago
Frigidaire is simply the Electrolux's North American
subsidiary for major appliances. If an Elux appliance is made here, it is made in a Frigidaire factory.

The "Electrolux" brands are used for the more upscale models with
Frigidaire brands being segmented between plain Frigidaire, Frigidaire
Gallery and Frigidaire Pro (which sometimes aimed at the Elux market, too.) They pretty much all come out of the same factories. There will be some variation in materials, but the differences are mostly a matter of features and capabilities and design/aesthetic/appearance.

Going upmarket does not necessarily mean more reliability and durability. Sometimes the extra features mean that there are just more things that can go wrong and result in more problems as you go further upmarket (which apparently has been the case for SxS and FD fridges bardged as Electrolux and Frigidiare Pro).
hvtech42
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Frigidaire is just a brand name. Not an actual company. Has been since almost the beginning. For the first 60 years or so it was owned by General Motors. The brand was then sold to White Consolidated Industries, was was in turn bought by Electrolux. Yes, most of the Electrolux factories in North America are former White Consolidated plants, which built and continue to build Frigidaire branded appliances, among others.
User
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
But, they do have their own plants with Elux signage .

Like the $200m govnt jobs program in Memphis.

Kenmore Elite oven--Sear's reputation now & how often are real sales?

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Kenmore Elite oven--Sear's reputation now & how often are real sales?

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