Live data from Hacker News

Expensive fridges are dying, leading to fraud claims

nbcbayarea.com

41–50 of 191 posts

Re: Expensive fridges are dying, leading to fraud claims

#41

LG and Samsung are both notoriously awful for this. Even when they come with crazy long warranties, parts will never be available. The irony is that cheaper models are still crazy durable - less circuitry, less moving parts, less "economy" features, more off-the-shelf components. If you actually want appliances that last forever, think like a landlord and buy yourself the boring products.

This raises a good point worth repeating: realities of maintenance.

Even for the 'best' refrigerators, it can be VERY painful to respond to a reasonable defect maintenance issue for certain manufacturers. And it may depend upon the locale you're in.

Tip: Ask questions about repair ETAs when buying new, for each model.

Re: Expensive fridges are dying, leading to fraud claims

#42
I don't think I could bring myself to buy an expensive or "luxury" appliance. I've had the same white 2-door fridge for 5 years and it's probably 15 years old at this point. Never once had an issue with it, not even a burnt-out light bulb.

If you want reliability, buy appliances like you're a landlord.

Re: Expensive fridges are dying, leading to fraud claims

#45
post #5

I recently bought a house with what I can only describe as some "zany" appliances. For example: - An impeller-based washer that doesn't cover clothes in water, even with the "deep water" setting, and soil level all the way up. It frequently doesn't submerge half the stuff during the pre-soak. It's a $1,000 washer and I routinely pour water into it from the sink. - A fridge with a giant ice maker in the refrigerator,…

I recommend Speed Queens for washing machine and dishwasher. We have them in our house and barn the prosumer versions not the coin ops. Have survived everything from nails-horse blankets and even a miswired 220 on the dryer.

Yeah that's what that YT channel above (Ben's Appliance) recommends https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmtLeB4ZplU. I've used them in laundromats. Must be fun having them in your house.

> and even a miswired 220 on the dryer

Wow!

Re: Expensive fridges are dying, leading to fraud claims

#47
post #5

I recently bought a house with what I can only describe as some "zany" appliances. For example: - An impeller-based washer that doesn't cover clothes in water, even with the "deep water" setting, and soil level all the way up. It frequently doesn't submerge half the stuff during the pre-soak. It's a $1,000 washer and I routinely pour water into it from the sink. - A fridge with a giant ice maker in the refrigerator,…

I also bought a house with an ice maker in the refrigerator. I can confirm that it gave us constant trouble until it gave up the ghost. I use ice cube trays in the freezer.

Re: Expensive fridges are dying, leading to fraud claims

#48
post #7

Worked in an appliance warehouse. We had two types of fridges coming back as carry-outs for new purchases: ancient models that were probably as old as I was, and models from a few years before the pickup date. Very little middle ground. Also, without being an engineer or technician, it did always seem to me that fridges were like cars in that you had "luxury" models that were standard frames with fancy (often less-th…

What are some of the brands that you’ve seen that have those implemented-to-a-higher-standard features? I’m in the market for a new set of everything and would appreciate the insight.

Miele, it also is "expensive". On the long term is the cheaper option.

Re: Expensive fridges are dying, leading to fraud claims

#49
The only thing worse than having to pay for premature appliance replacement is.. the process of actually replacing them.

Across different homes, different appliances, different brands, and different vendors it is always a disaster.

Dishwashers especially since they touch cabinetry, plumbing, and electrical.

I would pay an "A Team" premium to have an entire squad come deliver and do all work to accommodate installation.

I've had just about everything go wrong:

* fridge installer taking 3 tries to send enough guys to lift a giant fridge up stairs (2, then 2 again, then finally 4)

* Finding out my condo counters are ADA accessible special short height that is 3/8 of an inch too short to fit 90% of DWs without carpentry work

* DW installer leaving, wanting a plumber to replace water line before continuing

* DW installer leaving, wanting electrician to do hardwire/outlet work before continuing

* DW repair guy leaving, because he couldn't figure how to pull the dishwasher clear of a tile floor ridge

* DW repair guy disconnecting my kitchen sink water line, breaking a part making it unusable unless I made it to the hardware store across town closing in 10 minutes

* Plumber knocking DW door off the spring hinge mechanism so it just drops like a rock now

Basically theres 3-5 different specialists that all need each others work done in a particular order and possibly to do re-work after one of the others breaks something, every every time.

Re: Expensive fridges are dying, leading to fraud claims

#50
post #5

I recently bought a house with what I can only describe as some "zany" appliances. For example: - An impeller-based washer that doesn't cover clothes in water, even with the "deep water" setting, and soil level all the way up. It frequently doesn't submerge half the stuff during the pre-soak. It's a $1,000 washer and I routinely pour water into it from the sink. - A fridge with a giant ice maker in the refrigerator,…

I also bought a house with an ice maker in the refrigerator. I can confirm that it gave us constant trouble until it gave up the ghost. I use ice cube trays in the freezer.

> I use ice cube trays in the freezer.

We'll probably go this route when this thing inevitably dies. This is the way to go unless you're a big ice consumer, which neither me nor my wife are.

Post reply on HN