BS: Best refrigerator brand?

Subject: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: gnu
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 04:01 PM

As I sit here and listen to my 1 year and 7 months old Frigidaire snap, crackle, pop and HUMMMMMMMMMMMM I am pissed off. The last one died at nearly 8 years old. This one started acting up at 8 months old and was serviced at that time but it's slowly become more noisey. SOB wakes me up some nights. Mum has a Frigidaire 51 years old and it works perfect.

When NAFTA came in, the Yanks had only one year guarantees on such quip and that became the norm here too from the usual 5 years.

So... what kinda reefer should I buy when this piece a shit lets go?

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 04:17 PM

We bought a Whirlpool and an extended warranty of three years. We were assuming that if the original parts were designed to wear out. Then most things that could go wrong would in an extra couple of years.

But I would check for defects and manufacturer recalls if I were in your shoes.

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: gnu
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 04:54 PM

Good idea. Thanks.

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 04:59 PM

A few years ago somebody went to a junkyard and plugged in all the refrigerators and they all worked...I would get a second hand one. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 05:01 PM

Bosch

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: Ann N
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 05:05 PM

My LG fridge is nearly 12yrs old and still working (touchwood) It's a basic under counter model with an ice compartment, nothing fancy, and it wasn't expensive when it was bought, but it's lasted longer than the 3 fancier fridges my friend next door has had in the same time :)

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 05:05 PM

Don't know about brands, gnu but when our freezer died after what I thought was a short life (maybe 4 years - I expect at least 10 from white goods...), the repair guy said they don't last as long since that got rid of the cfc refrigerants. I think he reckoned the alternative put more strain on the compressor.

The replacement was a Frigidaire. That died (noises but no cooling) after a few months. Same guy came and he said something on the lines of "I know what this is and it's a fault with them". Anyway, I don't what (warranty) repair he did but the things been working fine maybe 3 years now.

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: gnu
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 05:16 PM

Ohhhh... the refigerent issue... nothin to do with the environment... to do with the patents running out... ALL about $$$.

Fact is, if the original refrigerents are used in closed sysytems that operate for decages, they are not a problem, plain and simple. It's all about the money. The new problem for the consumer is the planned failure of the quip... SSS for the bastards that make the shit quip that fails long before it should. A ONE year warranty? It's reprehensible.

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 05:30 PM

Before trading off your old one just due to noise, be aware that lots of "refrigerator noises" are caused by slightly misaligned racks, loose bottles and other "detritus" in or on top, or other clicks and clacks that respond to the slight vibration due to the rotating compressor. It can be difficult to find just where the noise is coming from, so the proper prcedure is "move everything" - including shifting the 'fridge just a scosh to make sure the feet hit the floor fairly evenly.

This isn't to say that you don't have an actual refrigeration noise; but you shouldn't be hearing things due to abnormal refrigeration processes after such a brief time.

In the US, there are some 20 or 30 "brand names" but there actually are only two, or may three, makers. The sellers buy from those makers and put their own nameplates on them. It's often difficult to tell who actually made them, and the retail sellers can buy with "special features" that can affect ultimate quality; but there's seldom enough difference in quality to invoke any real "brand loyalty."

There is a lot of difference in "inside design" with respect to shelf construction, adjustment range for shelf positions, door space to fit the bottles and jars you use, and of course the ease and efficiency of installing/using the icemaker and/or dispenser if you want one of those.

Of course you also have to be very careful about getting one that "fits the hole" you have to put it in. Popular styles now are HUGE. One outlet near me had nothing on the floor the last time I looked that was smaller than 26 cubic ft or less than $1200 (US). (They had several above $3200.) We bought a new one recently (18 cu ft) for about $700 that meets our needs (from Home Depot, although they're not a lot better than other dealers we checked out).

A factor in going to HD was that they pick up the old one at no additional charge when the new one's delivered (at least here). Others - like Sears or Best Buy - wanted another $80 to haul the old one off. Lowe's "recycling policy" was so complicated I never figured it out - beyond that it would cost me quite a bit more money.) Our old one had been on the list for replacement for a while, due to a leaky icemaker, but finally died with a failed compressor. We think it was about 14 years old, but I couldn't get a a complete part number to check it out due to a "slightly defaced" nameplate.

I don't know that the "Prince of Darkness" brand exists in your area, but it would be the only one I can think of with a reputation meriting a recommendation (to avoid).

John

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 05:38 PM

I currently have a Magic Chef brand. I bought it used three years ago for $100. I swore off buying new refrigerators and washing machines after having a couple of new ones last less than three years each. I buy 'em used for around 25% of new price and they last as long as new ones.

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: artbrooks
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 05:39 PM

Lots of different options, but Consumers Reports likes Kenmore (Sears), Whirlpool, LG and Frigidaire in what I'd call the "traditional" top freezer style. If you want to PM me with your size and layout preferences, I'll give you their top 5 or 6 with model numbers.

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 05:52 PM

The new problem for the consumer is the planned failure of the quip... SSS for the bastards that make the shit quip that fails long before it should. A ONE year warranty? It's reprehensible.

I agree with most of that gnu but you usually can BUY an extended warranty ;-)

I wonder though whether some consumers are part of the problem in another way though. I guess you are like me in that you get a cooker, fridge, etc. wanting a good life out of the thing and intending keeping it until say in 15 years time it has become beyond economical repair. Maybe these days, some do look at these items (for want of a better term) more as "fashion/disposable" things that you replace when a new feature comes out or you redecorate the kitchen, etc. ?

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: gnu
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 05:56 PM

BWL... I'm with you. There are lots of places to buy a good one second hand for a third or less of the price of new. Next time, that's what I will do.

Art... as for Sears, I will NEVER do business with them again. Oddly enough, it was because of a fridge... my fridge, stove, washer, dryer were to be delivered when I moved into a new house in 1984... they didn't arrive on the appointed day and when I called I was told the reason was that the fridge was not in stock and when it got to the warehouse it would cost me $80 more. I told them to deliver ASAP, went out and bought elsewhere and when Sears arrived the VERY NEXT DAY I told them I didn't know anything about it... they showed me the contract which had the delivery date on it and I said, "Oh... yeah... I signed THAT contract but you broke it." The Lounsbury's truck showed up at that moment and I asked them to get their truck out of my driveway.

I REALLY hate Sears. Still, to this day. Over only $80. I have given Lounsbury's over $20k of my business since that ATTEMPTED $80 shaft.

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 07:16 PM

Turn it upside-dwon and shake it. Then turn it back but don't turn it on for 24 hours. May do the trick. Did with ours once.

Good luck

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: Neil D
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 10:40 PM

Bought a GE in 1995 and it's still going strong, knock on wood.

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 11:07 PM

We got a really good deal on the fridge (Black Friday sale) And we got a North Carolina energy saving rebate. If you buy new, look for energy star and a rebate.

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 10:11 AM

On makers and branding, our Morphy Richards microwave combi broke a couple of months back. We got passed back and forth between Argos, the retail store where the item was purchased and Morphy Richards.

Morphy Richards side of things goes that they do not manufacture microwaves at all but licence Argos to use their name on machines they have manufactured for them.

Anyway, we got a replacement which was a Hinari. My mother wanted this one as the controls are identical to the ones on the Morphy Richards. she was used to.

There are a couple of differences with the machines themselves so I'd say they are different models but I'd feel confident they were made by the same people.

I then looked up Hinari on Wikipedia and found they were described as a maker. They seem to belong (via Alba/Harvard International) to Home Retail Group, the same group that owns Argos...

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 11:36 AM

As a former appliance distributor salesman, I can tell you there is no one best brand. One must consider many factors: what are you willing to pay? what features do you want? what is the size of your family? are there space constraints? does eye appeal matter? is it economical to use compared with other models of similar size and features? does it have more or fewer problems, over time, than other similar models? is it important for you to buy an American made product? As you can see there are factors that are inherent in manufacture to consider (these can be discerned online or consumers' magazines), and factors that are particular to your situation.

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 11:56 AM

Those are all good points John. But I gathered that Gnu's quest is for durability. Are there ar brands that tend to last longer?

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 02:10 PM

It has been my professional experience that most kitchen appliances, regardless of price or manufacturer, are durable for years if correctly used. Sometimes a particular model or series has a problem which is common to an entire production run because of a common part failure. These are usually taken care of for free.

Re-reading Gnu's initial post, his Frigidaire should still be under the initial manufacturer"s warranty. He should call out a factory tech...and as often as needed. If it is truly unfixable, it should be replaced. Perhaps a local consumer agency can help if the manufacturer balks. I had a Frigidaire for 18 years, replacing a perfectly working appliance only because it did not fit in my current kitchen (didn't want to remodel the room). The replacement, a GE, has been in place for 25 years, and has had nary a problem. Both were/are middle of the line units. I was not selling appliances at that time, and there was no internet, so maybe we were unbelievably lucky in making choices...or maybe we just follow instructions well.

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 02:40 PM

I don't know about the instructions.

I think all I need to know about fridges I learned from my granny.

Don't leave the door open.

Keep the radiator thingy on the back clean.

Keep it level.

What else is there?

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: gnu
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 03:20 PM

What else is finding one that isn't a piece of shit that fucks up in less than a year. As for instructions... plug it in. That radiator thing on the rear... I ain't got one on accounta mine has a fan that hits that radiator thing UNDER the fridge which, of course, is one more thing that can go wrong, go wrong, go wrong

Planned obsolescence and planned failure is out of hand. Just wait until your new vehicle with satellite antenna is over the warranty period and they shut it down and tell you how badly they are gonna fuck you up the ass so you can drive it again. My satellite antenna is gettin disabled before the warranty is up.

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 03:26 PM

Are you talking about the "on star?"

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 03:33 PM

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 03:51 PM

Whoopsy...trigger finger on the mousy click.

I note,Gnu, on re-reading that you're out of warranty. When did the problem start? Was it serviced during the warranty period for that same problem? If so, you might maybe be able to have it fixed for free.
I suggest you contact Frigidaire customer service to give it a shot. Also, if the store you bought it at has their own service department, they might want to accommodate you. Good luck.

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: gnu
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 03:55 PM

OnStar... on planet. I got yer Ford... no OnStar but Ford can communiate with my truck if they want to do so. I am SURE they fucked up the front wheel alignment right after the warranty was up. Even though it doesn't say that the front wheel alignment is only covered for one year in the owner's manual, they say they can't cover it because I may have driven over a curb in the past 7700 km... that's right... 7700 in 18 months and my front tires are scalloping. I am PISSED! And I know they zapped my castor shims from outer space THE BASTARDS!!!!

Maybe they are the ones communicating with my fridge in the middle of the night???

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 04:50 PM

We have had a two-door (freezer one side) Frigidaire for at least 25 years (can't remember exactly, may be older) and no mechanical or noise problems.
The two vegetable drawers, however, have plastic fronts and those have annoying breaks.

McGrath, if you are still with this thread, does Bosch have all metal drawers? Bosch is expensive here, but if we do replace (unlikely) we want to avoid plastic (if possible !).

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: Ron Davies
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 09:46 PM

Well, Gnu, one thing--you're certainly on the right track in writing Sears out of civilized society.    Jan and I had a Sears which lasted about 4 years.    She--against my counsel, since I had read about them--- had bought an extended warranty which lasted through 2011.

So we had a chance first-hand to find out about warranties, and Sears repair MO.

By the way, John from KS may be right about refrigerators--when he was in the business.   But things have changed--and not exactly for the better.



Anyway, 17 April this year (Sunday) the freezer wouldn't freeze at all and the refrigerator was warming up--50 F and climbing.

So Jan called the Sears repair number.   Nobody available til Thursday.    Jan explained it was a serious problem described in detail.

Repair woman came out Thursday:    Her reaction:   Oh, this is a serious problem.   I don't have the parts.   You'll have to make another appointment.   First time a service rep can come out is next Thursday.    And we will have the 2 parts necessary (compressor and evaporator?--I can't remember exactly)   sent to you.


OK, I said:    when do we get a substitute of the same capacity as the one which no longer works?    She said not til there have been 4 repair trips and Sears still can't repair the appliance. Meantime, our options:   $80 towards another refrigerator or you can buy 2 college student type ones (i.e. tiny).

Remember we have an extended warranty.

Jan pointed out that refrigerators used to last a lot longer than 4 years--what's wrong with Sears now?    Repair woman:    Don't blame Sears;    refrigerators are contracted out to Whirlpool and other manufacturers.   She didn't mention for some reason how they are made by the most poorly paid work force Sears can find in the world.

And why pray tell did the Sears repairwoman not have these parts in her van?--hard to believe for instance that a compressor going out is a unique event.

Also why do we have to have the parts shipped to us?--the repairman/woman should bring them with them.   If the parts arrive and disappear from our porch--certainly possible--then what?    Their mantra appears to be:   put the burden on the customer

So I called the repair number about our problem--and I also found a website detailing the joy Sears has brought to all sorts of people.   Including a person who found out something interesting: not only does Sears have come out 4 times--but it has to be for 4 separate issues;   if it's the same issue it counts as one visit--no matter how many times Sears comes out.    Substitute of the same capacity:   not bloody likely.


Then we got a preprogrammed call==disembodied voice-- telling us that one part would arrive on time--but the other would not.    So we would have to make another appointment---for yet another Thursday.

At this point we lost it. Jan told them they'd best have that part to us by the time of the original appointment.

And she told me we would not wait for them anyway--we'd go buy another refrigerator--and never again a Sears.

So we did. Home Depot GE.   Delivered the next day.    Salesman tried to get us to sign up for an extended warranty.

(to be continued)

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: Ron Davies
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 10:14 PM

So I asked my old question:   how many times does the repair person have to come out before we get a new one of the same capacity?    He said: only once.   Used to be 3 times but that's changed, he said.   OK, I said: let's see that in writing.    He gave me the brochure--fine print said it's still 3 times.    So he said we can call the warranty department to confirm it's just one time.   He dialed, I spoke to the warranty department.    Woman said it is in fact still 3 times.

i.e.   their extended warranty is just about as much a ripoff as Sears' is.

End of story:   we did not cancel the Sears repair appointment--after all they had to come pick up the parts--which in fact had both arrived in time the week before.

But when the repairman got there Jan told him about how the Home Depot people had taken the Sears machine away.   And it had leaked all over the floor.   Turns out the 2 parts we had been sent would not have been enough to repair it.   So if we had waited for Sears he would not have been able to repair the thing anyway.

But of course we would still have a a long road before being given a new one of the same capacity--if ever.    He also said that he had been told nothing of the nature of the problem by Sears management--and that's SOP.

And food spoilage:   I got as many different answers from Sears as people I spoke to:    you have to keep all the spoiled food;   you have to take a picture of it;   you can just make a list of it.

So I refused to do anything but make a list. When the repairman got there it turned out I didn't even need to do that;   he just called in the figure and I got a check for that.

However that's no mystery to me;   Sears thinks their man repaired the appliance and we are still happy Sears customers--despite waiting weeks for a repair with no reasonable recourse given---and remember:    we had an extended warranty. That's probably why getting the spoilage check was easy.

Sorry, however, I can't give an answer to the thread question:    I suspect our GE may be OK--but we won't know for quite a while on durability.


Anyway:   in case anybody was ever tempted to sign up for an extended warranty on a refrigerator--probably any brand--I only have one word:    Don't.

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: Ron Davies
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 10:24 PM

Hard to believe Consumer Reports thinks Kenmore refrigerators are just great.    To put it mildly, we would disagree.

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: Bobert
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 10:28 PM

Sorry, Ron... I have always bought Kenmore and with the exception of a washing machine that had to have a new $30 part put on it have had extremely good luck with them...

We just moved and bought gas range, refrig and dish washer from Sears and all seem to be very well designed...

Maybe you got a lemon???

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 10:37 PM

Last time I replaced a refrigerator that was about 10 years old (2000 vintage), the repairman said nowadays for most makes the expected lifetime is about 10 years. FWIW. The problems is that nowadays all the parts are enclosed so they can't repair 'em.

When my parents left my childhood home, they finally gave up the one that had been there for the 40+ years they had been in the house. The freezer in the basement was 30 years old.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: Janie
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 10:45 PM

Consumer Reports is worth the cost of a trip to the library or of an on-line subscription when doing research on major appliances.

In my small house I use my living room as the office for my private practice, and use what was intended to be the dining area of the kitchen as our den/family room. I really regret not paying a bit more for frig and window AC that rated at or near the top in terms of noise of operations.

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 11:45 PM

We bought the Warranty from Lowes Home improvement. There was a hairline crack in the water and ice dispenser tray. They sent the part out in a truck big enough to move all of our furniture. So far so good.

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: Rapparee
Date: 22 Jun 11 - 12:05 AM

We bought our Amana back around 1996. It's moved from Indiana to Kentucky (where it was in storage for three years) to Idaho -- when we plugged it in out here it fired right up and it runs quite well, thankyouverymuch.

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: Janie
Date: 22 Jun 11 - 06:38 AM

How fast can it run a mile?

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: andrew e
Date: 22 Jun 11 - 08:04 AM

Our Westinghouse [Aussie] has been going for 9 years.
Just replaced the seals.
Great, even on a very hot day.

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 22 Jun 11 - 01:12 PM

My daughter has a Kenmore (Sears) frige, about 15 years old now. No problems. We have had several Sears products over the years, and few problems. A kitchen stove was one, and quite good, but then we decided we needed a two-oven, and found another make on sale that fit the bill.
We had a Sears riding lawnmower when we had a little farm, and even used it to keep a couple of trails through the woods clear. Belts from Sears were expensive, but the supply store for our service garage had the right ones and very cheap. That was our complaint- Sears parts were expensive, and took forever to deliver.

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: Ron Davies
Date: 22 Jun 11 - 08:54 PM

Issue is not appliances bought more than 5 years ago; it's items bought now.   Problem is quality has recently gone right down the tube--and for the reason I cited:   appliances are built all around the world, and the ruling factor by far is price--how cheap they can be made.

I hope, for instance that the Sears items you just bought work fine for years, Bobert.   But our refrigerator was just fine for 4 years.    Then it stopped--dead.   It seems likely that any new item bought now will in fact work fine--for about 4 years. Then you're on borrowed time.

And for serious problems, an extended warranty is worse than useless--since it will lock you into the same lousy brand--and you won't get a replacement til the day after hell freezes over.

I was blown away by the huge number of people who felt strongly enough to share the joy given them by Sears.   Pages and pages trashing Sears on the website I cited--and most had far more serious problems than we did.

The way the thread is going reminds me of an old skit on Prairie Home Companion---Talking Positive in Minnesota:   Your neighbor has just bought a new car:   "Some people don't have any problems with those cars" (whatever make your neighbor has just bought).

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: I don't know
Date: 23 Jun 11 - 04:59 AM

Beko which have Bosh parts and cast a lot less. Have had mine 5 years with no problems, fridge and auto-defrost freezer.

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 23 Jun 11 - 02:06 PM

Re Sears Kenmore:

For many years, Kenmore was not a manufacturer's name. It was (and probably still is) a "Store Brand" that might be made by almost any manufacturer. The actual manufacturer's name was a fairly closely guarded secret, but by going to the Sears "parts store" and then cross-referencing individual parts it was sometimes possible to find out who made a specific "Kenmore" model.

Although it's been a couple of decades since I did any extensive research, GE, Maytag, and Westinghouose were makers who's stuff commonly got relabelled as Kenmore, and most of the makers I identified are (or were) quite reputable names. It's a lot easier now to find out who made a "house branded" appliance than it was "back in the day."

There was some debate "back then" about whether Sears chose good builders but specified "cheaper" components in the re-branded Kenmores, but there seemed to be little easily discernable difference. Other "house brands" sold elsewhere were known to do so, and some of the "reliable" makers built cheaper models so crappy they refused to offer them under their own name.

In my area at least, the Kenmore name is almost completely missing from on-floor offerings at Sears, and you see the actual manufacturers' names on the stock for sale there.

The same effect is fairly widely recognized in music instruments that Sears used to sell, with "house brands" like Harmony & Silvertone appearing on instruments made by an assortment of makers. Sometimes, if you were very careful you could get a "famous name" guitar for a discount store price from Sears; although when that was true it was very much more difficult to identify the real builders, and those instruments whose lineage has been traced are now priced accordingly in aftermarket exchanges.

The same is true for "riding lawnmowers" in the style that pretends to be a "tractor." If it's not a John Deere, it was (almost certainly) made by MTD regardless of what brand name is painted on its nose. (ZTR style mowers are a different matter. There appear to be more manufacturers than brands.)

John

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 24 Jun 11 - 07:56 AM

Surely as 'Musicians' it is the COOLEST fridge we should look for ??

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 24 Jun 11 - 11:04 AM

JinK--

Sears sold virtually all house branded merchandise until fairly recently...whether clothing, tools (Craftsman), home electronics (Silvertone), or appliances.

As to appliances, Whirlpool was by far the major (if not the only) supplier for fridges, laundry and cooking. The major differences were in the cosmetics and control panel, and some deleted or additional features. I was told (in the days before I was in the business), that Sears also had reverse treading on parts so that you would have have service done by Sears. I don't know if that's factual.

At it's zenith, Sears controlled about 40% of home appliance sales, primarily with the Kenmore brand.

Montgomery-Ward also had their house brand; I believe it was labeled Signature, but I'm not sure. Costco uses the Kirkland nameplate. In their time, True Value, Western Auto, Radio Shack and a whole host of companies have had private label appliances and electronics and and...

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 24 Jun 11 - 06:26 PM

On store brands, when I worked for a maker, I think at one time, one of the washing machines our factory produced was a store own brand. Another was a store exclusive (our brand but you wouldn't find it elsewhere). Either way, there was no difference in the quality of components. Different front panel and timer knob and sort of hybrids in terms of features offered in the standard range.

I'm not sure from my POV (stock/MRP) I'd have liked the idea of different qualities of components either. I'd be seeing the doubling up of some parts to hold "grade a" and "grade b" and the potential for a mix up.

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: gnu
Date: 24 Jun 11 - 07:18 PM

Here's a consideration. For 50 years a patent was held. The company that held the patent leased out the "manufacure" of the "systems" They actually made the components, shipped them abroad where they were put into complete systems and shipped back to the country of origin of the parts with a customs duty payable. The government and the big boys got a cut in both countries.

Then, along came Global Swarming and new patents were had while the government outlawed the OLD refrigerents. The new ones have government approved patents and the new quip don't last worth shit. At the same time, the usual 5 year warranties were reduced to one year because the companies knew, KNOW, their quip, especially engineered to fail with the new refrigerent, ain't worth shit. Their extended warranties ain't worth shit because they know their new quip ain't worth shit.

Now, there is an urban legend... a conspiracy theory...

Call it what you want but if all the old fridges in the entire world released all their refrigerents it would not equal the output of one day of "release" of gases from underwater volcanoe activity in the South Pacific Ocean.

Step up and pay THE MAN if you want a fridge or a freezer... and pay him as often as HE sees fit.

Me mum's old Frigidaire works fine and has for over 50 years... but that is harkening back to when people were decent and didn't fuck each other over for a buck on patents and planned obsolenscence quip and ANY other way the greedy bastards can think up.

Star Trek is WAY WAY WAY in the future.

Sorry for the (some may think inane) rant. I'll try to defrost now.

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: Sawzaw
Date: 25 Jun 11 - 11:55 AM

Frigidaire [Electrolux] works for me. The last time I bought a Sears fridge, It was so noisy and the ice maker was so wimpy I returned it.

Who Makes What

The Whirlpool Corporation, based in Benton Harbor, Mich., makes Whirlpool, KitchenAid, and Gladiator products. The company has gobbled up Admiral, Amana, Jenn-Air, Magic Chef, and Maytag and all of these Whirlpool brands account for about 27.3 percent of major appliance sales in the U.S., followed by General Electric brands GE and Hotpoint (25.1percent), and the Sears Kenmore (16.7 percent).

Whirlpool makes appliances for Ikea, Sears Kenmore, and side-by-side built-in refrigerators for Thermador.

Whirlpool's certainly not the only Kenmore supplier. Frigidaire and LG also manufacture Kenmore refrigerators, Haier handles some of its compact fridges, and Danby makes some of its wine chillers, and Sanyo builds some of its freezers.

General Electric , based in Fairfield, Conn., makes appliances under the GE, GE Monogram, GE Profile, GE Café, and Hotpoint brands.

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: Ron Davies
Date: 25 Jun 11 - 01:49 PM

Good your Frigidaire works.    Problem is:   the race to the bottom has resulted in no quality control at all for items bought now--regardless of brand, it seems. All that matters is where in the world is the cheapest work force--which therefore can make the item the cheapest--in every sense of the word. To maximize profit for the seller, and at the same time appeal to the pocketbook of the buyer.

The question is how long an appliance bought now will last---and of course we won't know for quite a while, except for the few that die early--in the next 4 years or so.

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 25 Jun 11 - 02:11 PM

I don't know if it changes your theory gnu, but patents expire after 17 years.

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: gnu
Date: 25 Jun 11 - 03:28 PM

Actually, it's 20 years in the US now.

Subject: RE: BS: Best refrigerator brand?
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 25 Jun 11 - 03:37 PM

true