If you’re wondering how to best buy a refrigerator, online or offline, without ending up with a model that’s unsuitable for your requirements, then this article will help you do just that.
As with anything bought on the internet, an online refrigerator purchase is completely different from buying offline, where you can physically inspect the product, feel it, try the controls, and assess how you’re going to get along with it.
The main attraction of buying anything online is the convenience of not having to go to the shopping mall and jostle with the crowds, perhaps battle with the elements, and spend your spare time doing something you don’t much like. That and the fact that it’s normally much cheaper to buy online.
And that’s fine when you’re looking to purchase a DVD or a book, where it’s not important what it will look like, and you know how big it is. But with a 25 cu ft refrigerator that’s as tall as you are, with LED lights and a built-in water and ice dispenser, you need a little more care.
Plan in advance. An impulse purchase is the last thing you want to indulge in where you’re spending several hundred to a couple of thousand dollars or more on an important piece of kitchen machinery that should last several years.
If any of your friends or family have a refrigerator similar to your ideal appliance then ask to have a look at it. Next, visit one or two local home appliance shops and see what’s on offer.
You’ll soon decide upon the kind of model you would like yourself, perhaps even the exact model. But take your time in assessing what’s available and exactly what your own needs and requirements are.
One of the problems is the sheer amount of choice available. You can have almost any amount of capacity, divided in various proportions between refrigerator and freezer, single door, side by side or French door, free standing or counter depth, with or without child protection, temperature control on multiple compartments, adjustable or fixed shelving, water and ice dispenser on the inside or outside, and a direct linkup to the mains water supply. And plenty more besides.
But, naturally, they all come at a price. Matching your requirements up to your budget is your main task here. And don’t forget to factor shipping charges into the price. And even that’s not all.
Don’t forget the simple practicalities of being able to actually fit your brand new purchase into the space available in your kitchen. How are you going to actually have it carried into your kitchen in all its packing, and have it unpacked and put into its final resting place?
Have you measured up correctly and allowed a couple of inches on all sides as recommended by the manufacturer? Can you book a plumber to connect it to the water mains? Will the appliance have its own electric socket? Some have been reported to be noisy in operation if they have to share an electric point.
Is the floor even and level? This, too, can affect operating efficiency and noise.
Only when you’re satisfied on all these matters should you commit yourself. Online, one of the cheapest and most reliable of sellers is Amazon. Check the reviews both there and on the manufacturer’s web site. Third party sites are better for genuinely independent reviews. Don’t forget YouTube – you’ll often find several video reviews with screen shots of the appliance showing any particular concerns, which can be extremely valuable.
So now you know how to buy a refrigerator, whether online or offline, with the best chance of securing a model that is ideal for your budget and requirements.
