some of our 16yr old kenmore (re-branded Frigedaire) kitchen appliances are starting to show their age.

we are looking at gas stoves and refrigerators.

i looked at wirecutter as a starting point but their suggestions are based on data collection rather than actual hands-on testing.

i figured i could head to my local library and see if they still subscribe to the consumer reports magazine (they had for years. i always remember that april is the car reports!)

anyone with access to consumer reports and feels like sharing?

thanks in advance.

stay well.

rob

Somone might, but I would say try not to overthink it.

We just had this conversation over thanksgiving with my 6 closest neighbors, we all had different makes (except ranges, GE profile, came with the house) or fridges and washer/dryters.

they all seemed about the same.

We did buy a new fridge 6 months ago, Fridgiedaire, french door, counter-depth, no water in door -- and its fine. We looked at 3 others in the same $ range and specs, numbers were nearly identical. We have always had counter depth, so knew that our choices might be limited going in.

---

Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

My library card gives me access to Consumer reports through their portal. But.. their ratings are not that useful for appliances.. they mostly look at features and cost, and not actual reliability numbers.

I'll simplify,

1- NEVER Samsung. Their quality is horrible, and durability is about zero. Guaranteed to fail as soon as the warranty expires, if not before.

2- LG Quality control has been suffering desperately lately. They are at the level of Samsung now.

We recently replaced a Frigidare dishwasher and microwave and a GE Profile stove with all GE appliances. So far so good, except GE's microwave lighting scheme is incredibly stupid. Who puts a pin halogen bulb with NO reflector ? Really ? There's room for a huge LED strip, and they just dropped in this crappy halogen pin bulb.

Just remember that a few companies make most of the brands we know.

Whirlpool also makes KitchenAid, Maytag, Amana, and Jenn-Air
Electrolux company currently owns Frigidaire, Tappan, Kelvinator, and Gibson appliance
Haier manufactures GE, Hotpoint, Cafe, Profile, Fisher 7 Paykel, and Monogram
LG and Samsung pretty much makes everything under their own name.

If I was buying, I would look sat something from the Whirlpool family.
I would also avoid Samsung like the plague.

---

“No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.” -- François de La Rochefoucauld

"Those who cannot accept the past are condemned to revise it." -- Geo. Mathias

The German word for contraceptive is “Schwangerschaftsverhütungsmittel”. By the time you finished saying that, it’s too late

what Ombligo said.
I would avoid LG like the plague as well.
Our formerly busy appliance service guy told us 15 or so years ago when we redid the kitchen, "whirlpool or their stuff for other badges."
So far (knock steel and plastic) he's right.

---

!#$@@$#!

proofraed by OwEn the c@t.

^ what Fritz said above...and by the way, Consumer Reports is trash too.

---

“Live your life, love your life, don’t regret…live, learn and move forward positively.” – CR Johnson
Loving life in Lake Tahoe, CA

Quote
Ombligo
...If I was buying, I would look sat something from the Whirlpool family...

I would check out the reviews by Yale Appliance. Search their blog for articles about repair rates and in-depth reviews. [www.yaleappliance.com]

In that same vein -- check out AJ madison.

its an online appliance store -- but they have *tons* or models, the ability to compare features, and prices -- so a great place for research. lots of bundles, rebates, and options you wont see in the big box.

---

Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

I went with Samsung, because it was by far the cheapest, I liked KitchenAid if I wasn't on a budget. If you are looking for a deal, I was able to use a 25% off Home Depot movers coupon on my range. It saved me over $200. Ended up with a $1k range for $568 after the sale price and the 25% off were stacked.

---

C(-)ris
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/29/2021 06:43PM by C(-)ris.

Quote
C(-)ris
I went with Samsung

Do you remember the model number?

---

In tha 360. MRF User Map

One thing is to consider the individual appliance -- a basic range is pretty foolproof. It is when you start adding electronics that things get flaky.

Samsung Ranges work pretty well, but its refrigerators, dishwashers, and microwaves are not reliable at all. There is a reason the brand is the least expensive - it's called cheap components and built-in obsolescence.

The days of appliances lasting 30 years or more are over. The manufacturers can't make money on something you don't replace.

---

“No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.” -- François de La Rochefoucauld

"Those who cannot accept the past are condemned to revise it." -- Geo. Mathias

The German word for contraceptive is “Schwangerschaftsverhütungsmittel”. By the time you finished saying that, it’s too late

Quote
Filliam H. Muffman

Quote
C(-)ris
I went with Samsung

Do you remember the model number?

This one: [www.homedepot.com]

---

C(-)ris
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

helpful.

thank you.

but no clear "winners".

blogs have 15% very dissatisfied (1 or 2 stars), no matter if you spend $1k or $2k or $3k.

my point is throwing money at a given brand/model, still produces a 15% dissatisfaction rate.

now i am depressed AND confused.

maybe jdc was right?

don't over think it

thumbs up.

rob

Ombligo,

Correction. Haier may own Fisher & Paykel but they aren't manufacturing their products for them. That's significantly different than owning the company and manufacturing the products. A friend purchased a F&P fridge about 10 months ago. Very happy with it. Pricey by his standards but he's happy with it nonetheless.

Robert

Quote
C(-)ris

Quote
Filliam H. Muffman

Quote
C(-)ris
I went with Samsung

Do you remember the model number?

This one: [www.homedepot.com]

Thank you.

---

In tha 360. MRF User Map