Are You Considering Purchasing an Appliance Online??

If you're over 35 or so years old, I'm sure you remember going to Blockbuster on a Saturday night, browsing through aisles of videotapes, ultimately deciding which of one or more VHS tapes to bring home.  You might also remember the launch of Netflix (in 1997 - I looked it up), as the DVD format allowed them to create a business model in which you could order one or more discs and have them arrive in your home a couple of days later, which you then mailed back inside the included special envelope.

You're probably also aware that Blockbuster is now extinct, a victim of the VHS tape cartridge becoming as irrelevant as a Polaroid camera, and that Netflix had the foresight to reinvent itself as a leader in delivering streaming services (including original content) to your home through your smart TV. 

These are just two examples of how consumers' purchasing habits change with time.  Billions upon billions of dollars are now spent on purchases that are made completely online.  You can do your grocery shopping 100% online with your favorite local supermarket, or use one of the mega-retailers like Amazon or Walmart. One of my sons lives in Minnesota.  I've been able to order a gift certificate to his favorite restaurant without flying out to Minneapolis.  Who ever thought you would be able to purchase an automobile without ever leaving your living room?  Not me!

Major appliances can be a bit trickier to purchase online.  Customers often come into our store, open the door of a range and turn the burner knobs to get a sense of a particular appliance's feel, or open a refrigerator and gauge the durability of the door bins.  The ability to "touch and feel" an appliance that will be in your kitchen for the next decade (hopefully!) is often part of the buying process.

Yet, in 2025 approximately 87 billion dollars were spent on online-only appliance purchases!  Frankly, that number surprised me; I thought the number would be lower, but I found that dollar figure was consistent through multiple websites.  

Less surprising to me was the fact that over 62% of consumers research appliances online before going into a store to purchase.  Personally, I've learned when beginning to interact with a new customer to ask whether they had seen any particular product online that piqued their attention.  Most of the time, the answer is "yes".  At that point quite often my customer will then open their phone and show me a particular piece.  Researching different appliances online is a huge time saver for many people.  When I started selling major appliances in the mid 90's it was common to see a customer come into the store multiple times. The first visit might be to research alternatives and get a sense of price, often followed a few days later by a return visit to purchase.  Online research has replaced that initial visit for many consumers.  These customers have not only narrowed their search, but also have a good sense of what their planned purchase is going to cost.

Here at Manny's we recently upgraded our online page and ordering "platform".  We wanted to make it easier to find the information that is important to you.  We also made the actual purchase simpler, and have increased the security of the actual transaction. 

Whether you choose to make the actual purchase online or in one of our stores, we hope you'll find our site easier to navigate as you research.  

I'd like to offer a few suggestions to someone beginning that research process.  If you're not sure what you should be asking or looking for, here's where I suggest you start:

Refrigerators :  Know the space in your kitchen!!  Refrigerators vary in height, width, even depth.  It's important to know the width available in your kitchen, as well as the height of the cabinet over your refrigerator, and even the width of the doorways leading into your kitchen.  Sometimes we run into situations where a customer has confirmed the space available for their fridge, but we are unable to fit the unit through an in-between doorway.

In short, measure twice, even three times, and deliver once!

Ranges.  They are generally the same size (29 7/8", built for a standard 30" opening.)  Please realize that we are not allowed to disconnect or reconnect a gas line.  If your range is electric, you'll need to purchase a power cord that matches your dedicated electrical outlet.  If your range is gas, know that stoves come out of the box set for natural gas. If you have LP gas a different set of orifices must be used. This "conversion" should always be done by a professional!

Dishwashers:  Dishwasher deliveries do not include the installation of the unit.  Manny's does provide installation service, but an additional fee is involved (in this case if you do decide to order the unit through our website, a flesh-and-blood sales professional will reach out and discuss installation options with you.)  

Over-range microwaves:  As with dishwashers, delivery does not include the installation or taking down the existing microwave.  Again, we will contact you to discuss those options as well.

Air Conditioners:  Know your window size!!  Also, confirm the voltage of the outlet you plan on using before making the final purchase!

Laundry:  We will set up your new washer for you, provided you purchase a set of hot and cold fill hoses from us (manufacturers stopped including hoses in washers sometime around 2010).  Electric dryers, as with electric ranges, require the purchase of the appropriate power cord.  And again, we do not connect or disconnect gas appliances; that applies to a gas dryer as well.

(Also, realize that today's laundry products are usually larger in capacity than even a generation ago.  Be aware of this and (please!) double-check the depth of the location you plan on placing your laundry units.  Front-loading washers (and their matching dryers) are generally 3-5" deeper than top-loading style units, so double-checking your depth is even more critical!)

So whether you plan to sit on your couch or in front of your computer and take advantage of the convenience online purchasing offers, or if you are one of those 62.7% of consumers who use the Internet as a research tool prior to heading out to your nearest Manny's, we will keep doing our best to make this process as convenient as possible.  

And, as always, if you are unable to find answers to your questions online, we encourage you to reach out to any of the sales pros at any of our thirteen showrooms.  We're always ready and happy to help you out!

Garage ready freezers?? Heat pump dryers?? What are these all about??

On March 11, 2020 a customer of mine ordered a small GE chest freezer.  We did not have the unit in stock, so I ordered the freezer from GE directly.  I told the customer it would take 5-7 days, and he was satisfied with that.

The arrival of the freezer did not exactly go according to plan. On March 13, 2020, as you might remember (or maybe you're trying hard NOT to remember!) the country effectively shut down.   My customer received his freezer on November 29. He was one of the lucky ones. This wasn't atypical at the time; it took literally a couple of years for the industry's freezer inventory to catch up.

No, I don't miss those two years between 2020 and 2022 at all!

I had several consecutive inquiries about purchasing freezers this weekend, which is what prompted me to remember the above story.  As I don't believe I've ever blogged about freezers, I decided it was time.

Freezers normally come in two styles, upright and chest.  As a general rule, chest freezers are better for long-term storage, while uprights are more convenient for day-to-day use.

Let's start with chest freezers:  They come in a large variety of sizes,  anywhere from 3.5 cubic feet in volume (roughly the size of a large dorm refrigerator) to 22 cubic feet (slightly over six feet wide), with lots of choices in between.

Chest freezers are almost always manual defrost.  Manual defrosting is actually better for the long-term shelf life of your food than automatic defrosting, as that slight defrosting of a freezer three times a day can cut into the extreme shelf life (say, over 9-12 months) of your food.   Of course, this does mean that with a manual defrost freezer you'll have deal with the inconvenience to emptying its contents occasionally and thawing the unit out,  usually once every 12-18 months.  On the other hand, chest freezers tend to be less expensive than the more popular uprights.

Upright freezers outsell chest freezers approximately four to one nowadays.  Our customers seem to prefer the convenience of both easier access to their food and the automatic defrost feature.  Sizes range from 4.3 cubic feet (about the size of a dishwasher) up to 22 cubic feet (about six feet tall, two feet nine inches wide).  Smaller uprights will still be manual defrosting like chest freezers, but beginning with the 13 cubic foot size and up auto-defrost becomes the norm.

Size and style are by far the most important considerations when it comes to purchasing a freezer.  I find most people  prefer the auto-defrost models if available.  One other noteworthy feature to be consider would be whether you need a  "garage ready" unit.

What is "garage ready", you ask?  

Units with this feature can still maintain the zero degree temperature necesary to properly freeze food even when the outside temperature drops as low as zero (as opposed to traditional compressors, that have a hard time controlling temperature when the ambient temperature drops below 50 degrees.) They also have sturdier compressors that are built to not burn out from overuse in hotter garages, and will operate properly in more extreme temps, say 110-115 degrees.  If you plan on placing the freezer in an unattached garage, you might want to consider this option.

 

Finally, we've recently seen the introduction of "convertible" uprights, meaning that you have the option of using the appliance as either a freezer or a stand-alone refrigerator.  As "refrigerator only" models have always been scarce in the appliance industry, having an option to acquire more fridge storage has an appeal to some of our customers.

"Should I wait for a sale?"  I've found that freezers generally don't fluctuate much in price from month to month.  Even during the "louder" promotional periods (Black Friday or July 4 for example), freezer prices tend to stay the same.  In other words, there really isn't any reason to delay a freezer purchase in order to wait for a discount - buy the freezer when the time is right for you!

On an entirely unrelated subject, I've also been getting a lot of questions about heat pump, or ventless dryers.   Traditionally ductless dryers were common only in certain applications (8th floor of a Boston high rise, for example) where carving a four inch diameter hole in a wall simply isn't feasible.  With concerns about energy usage more and more in the public's consciousness, we've been receiving an uptick in questions about ductless, heat pump operated, dryers.

GE's all-in-one laundry unit

"Just how does a heat pump dryer operate?"  I refer you to this informative link on LG's website.

https://www.lg.com/us/home-electrification/heat-pump?srsltid=AfmBOoqewVnwQekGwKLBnOBh7l_JkiqfDFialZrEwCAX4BJ_pBbCOzP0

All sounds great, right?  Well... there a few drawbacks you should be aware of when making your purchase decision:

• drying times will take significantly (45-60 minutes) longer.  (see exception below.)
• you will pay a few hundred dollars more for these dryers
• because of the newness and sophistication of the technology, repairs tend to be more expensive.

In the past few years GE and LG have introduced a newer style, full size front-loading "all in one" unit.  These units have addressed the drying time issue for the most part, and also have the advantage of being able to operate on a standard household plug (as opposed to a dedicated 40 amp oversized outlet.), These units do cost more (in the $2000 range) as opposed to more traditional pairs ($1200-$1500 for a typical top-loading set, $1500-$1800 for a front-loading washer pair.)

While ventless dryer sales are still a small percentage of the laundry market, the industry does expect this segment of the market to grow.  More and more consumers are paying attention to energy output and sustainability.  In addtion, many utility companies are offering rebates on heat pump dryers, which should help to address the difference in price.

As always, feel free to reach out to any of the sales professionals if you have any questions on the above.  Addresses and phone numbers for all thirteen Manny's showrooms can be found on the front page of our website

 

As I write this (July 30) the annual Massachusetts tax holiday weekend is still 9 days away, but we're already busy prewriting quotes for customers. If past years are any indication, each day between now and August 8 will only get busier!

(For specifics on how we go about "pre-writing" an order for you, scroll down a bit to my 7-17 entry.)

Now, please don't take this the wrong way, but -- we really would rather you don't come into the store that weekend!! 

No, if it's possible, try to come in early.  Not only will we be able to spend more time with you, but we try to order merchandise on a "first come, first served" basis, minimizing the chance of the inevitable temporary stock-outs that can hinder your delivery time turnaround.

We're trying our best to stock up extra merchandise as we prepare for the extra business!

We now also have a better idea of the deals the manufacturers are offering us (you can find a copy of our current flyer linked on the front page of our site).

I'm going to use the three-piece GE stainless steel package on the front page of our circular as an example of what you can save right now (in addition to the tax savings, of course!)

Right now, as per our ad, you can purchase a decent, albeit basic, three-piece package (refrigerator, range, dishwasher) for $1817 (vs. a regular price of $2727.)  This package gets you a top-freezer style refrigerator built for a 30" wide space, a decent but not overly feature-loaded electric range, and one of our more popular basic dishwashers. (Please note that I've included links to product info on our website.)

GTS18HYNRFS Refrigerator  https://www.mannystv.com/refrigeration/top-mount/top-freezer-refrigerators/ge-appliances/GTS18HYNRFS

GRF400SVSS Range   https://www.mannystv.com/cooking/ranges/freestanding-smoothtop-electric-range/ge-appliances/GRF400SVSS

GDT550PYRFS dishwasher  https://www.mannystv.com/kitchen-cleanup/dishwashers/built-in-dishwasher/ge-appliances/GDT550PYRFS

If this kitchen suite isn't exactly what you have in mind (and to be honest, nearly everybody tweaks and customizes the advertised suites), we can use this set as a baseline and adjust accordingly.

For example, if you need a gas range vs. electric, we can get the equivalent model GGF400PVSS for $70 more.  https://www.mannystv.com/cooking/ranges/30-free-standing-gas-range/ge-appliances/GGF400PVSS

If you want a larger refrigerator, we offer the GTS22KYNRFS  for $899, or $200 more.  https://www.mannystv.com/refrigeration/top-mount/top-freezer-refrigerators/ge-appliances/GTS22KYNRFS 

If you have a larger kitchen and can fit a contemporary-looking French door model like the popular GFE26JYMFS, you can get that for an upgrade of $1200.    https://www.mannystv.com/refrigeration/french-door/french-door-bottom-freezer-refrigerators/ge-appliances/GFE26JYMFS

Or, let's say you'd like a quieter dishwasher with a stainless steel tub v.s. plastic, and a third rack.  The GDT670SYVFS is a great seller, and would only cost you $649, or $230 more.   https://www.mannystv.com/kitchen-cleanup/dishwashers/built-in-dishwasher/ge-appliances/GDT670SYVFS

All these combinations will still fully qualify for the tax savings!

Also, be aware of package rebates that are available only to independent retailers like Manny's!  Buying two or more qualifying appliances (they need to be the same brand) will kick in extra cash after the sale!  Not every model qualifies, but most of them do.

So, yes, we strongly encourage all our customers who plan on taking advantage of the Bay State's tax holiday to visit our showroom as far in advance as possible.  We're ready and eager to help you out!!

It's That Time of Year Again!

Andrew Beyer is a respected author of several popular books on Thoroughbred racing, and for decades has been the horse racing columnist for the Washington Post.  Once, when asked about his job, he explained, "The Post lets me go anywhere I want, and lets me write about anything I want, with one exception.  On the first week in May, I have to be at Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby."

**Just in case you were curious, Beyer is held in such high esteem in the racing world that his writing about "speed figures" (a number that compares the quality of races run on different tracks at different distances to one another)  became so popular the horse racing universe calls these numbers "Beyers".**

Well, the same applies to me and this blog.  I have a lot of freedom to write pretty much whatever I want appliance-related, but when the beginning of August rolls around, I write about the Massachusetts Tax-Free Weekend.

This year, the chosen weekend is August 8th and 9th.  This will be the twenty-second time the Bay State has given its residents a tax break on purchases up to $2500.  That dollar figure is important!  Of the nineteen other states that offer a tax break this time of year, no one, absolutely no one, offers a tax break on purchases anywhere near that amount!

In the early 2000's many states chose to give their residents a bit of a break on sales tax for a weekend or two in August.  The intent was to help consumers with their back-to-school purchases, and give retailers a jolt in what might be a quiet time of year otherwise.

(And here I take pause and recognize that to residents of New Hampshire, a tax-free weekend means zilch.  Purchases are always tax-free in their state!)

I still have no idea what conversations occurred in 2004 behind closed doors that caused the Mass. State House to come up with that $2500 figure; most other states' programs have $50 to $200 limits on purchases.  I imagine this stimulus helps get a few more consumers out to stores, and also helps keep those purchases in their respective states.  The (probably unintended!) result of our $2500 limit in Massachusetts is that our entire annual business cycle has been turned inside-out.

Here in Mass., the tax-free weekend has become a behemoth that seems to get bigger every year.  It's not Black Friday and the days leading up to it that are our biggest business days.  Not even close!!  

Customers start asking a month or more in advance questions like "Is there going to be a tax free weekend this year?"  (yes!)  "Should I hold off my purchase until that weekend?"  (the answer varies.) 

Retailers open early and stay open late. Employees brace themselves and hold on for dear life as consumers swarm into our showrooms ready to make purchases coinciding with the tax holiday.  Who can blame them?  Who wants to pay taxes if they don't have to, right?

So first, let me go over the ground rules as put forth by our fine state:

1) The purchase must be made, and - very important!! - paid in full during the two-day window of August 8-9.  (If you want to finance your purchase through a Manny's credit card, that counts as paying!)

2) The purchase must be either picked up at a Massachusetts store, or delivered to an address in the state.  Yes, that means to our non-Mass. customers I'm very sorry, but unless you can pick up your purchase we legally cannot waive the tax.

3) The no-tax purchase limit is $2500.  The good news: that limit is per piece.  If your entire order exceeds the $2500 limit, you can still pay no tax on each item that is individually $2499 or less.

4) You can take delivery or pickup your purchase at any time (remember, due to space constraints 98% of our product is NOT available for immediate pickup.)  As always, we will schedule delivery with you on a mutually workable date, or have your item ready for pickup within a few days.

A note of caution:  if you come into our stores that weekend, please be patient.  We will take care of each of you as quickly and efficiently as possible.  Also realize that by the close of business August 9th Manny's will be 2-4 weeks out on our deliveries, and we historically experience about 25% temporary stockouts.  Everybody from the store level up to our distributor tries to bulk up inventory, but it's physically impossible to pre-order enough goods to keep up with the avalanche of business we've learned to expect that weekend.

So if you want to get to the front of the crowd and minimize possible delays in shipping, we encourage everyone to come into our store ahead of time and pre-order.  This way, not only will we have more time to help you pick out the perfect product, but you will be less likely to have to wait for one of us to be free, and will increase your chance of a faster, fully stocked delivery.

This is the process Manny's has devised to give us the best chance of taking care of everyone:

1. You can come into any of our Mass. stores before the weekend.
2. We help you pick out products as we normally would.
3. We "prewrite" the order, taking all necessary information in the form of a "Quote."
4. You allow us to make a copy of your credit card info (or leave us a check, but personally I much prefer not having to handle a post-dated check!) so that you don't have to come back into the store on the weekend.
5. Sometime in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday August 8, about the same time that the morning birds begin chirping, we stagger into the store, giant coffee in hand, and start processing these charges.  By processing the charge on the weekend, we can legally save you the tax.  
6. We convert the Quote into a Sale, email you an invoice (it will look just like your quote, except that the receipt will say "Invoice" instead of "Quote" in the upper right-hand corner of the receipt. 

Be assured!  This is the legal way to beat the worst of the crowds, and for us to take better care of our faithful customers.

Each day for about two weeks leading up to that weekend, our business grows.  The earlier you can get into our stores, the better - for you as well as us!

(As always, please reach out to the sales pros in any of our Massachusetts locations if you have any questions!)

Note:  As I write this, manufacturers are still finalizing promotions and discounts to coordinate with August 8-9.  I will update this blog when we get closer to D-day, once we have more specifics.

Happy Birthday To You, America!

Before I get into describing what Manny's is doing in conjunction with our country's Fourth of July celebration, I'd like to give a shout-out to our delivery department, and specifically our delivery teams.  These guys will be delivering anywhere between ten and fourteen homes a day.  Even in the middle of summer, when temperatures can frequently exceed ninety degrees, our drivers are still out there lugging 300-pound, 28 cubic foot refrigerators and concrete-block-laden front load washers into your homes.  It amazes me how they can keep up with their packed daily schedules with amazingly few issues or problems.  

On behalf of all of us, I thank you for your hard work!

Now back to the July 4th sales event:

I remember America's last birthday celebration, the Bicentennial of 1976.  I was fifteen then and played trombone for my high school band as well as my hometown Bicentennial Band.  Between the summer of '75 and summer of '76 I had the privilege of marching in, just to name a few, the Palmer Bicentennail Parade, the Monson Bicentennial Parade, the South Hadley Bicentennial Parade, the Wilbraham Bicentennial Parade, and so on, and so on.  At least the towns did a good job staggering their events and avoiding scheduling conflicts so that every other week or so a different city or town was celebrating.  It shouldn't be a huge surprise to hear that except for the few in which family was involved, I've religiously avoided parades for the rest of my life! 

People's entertainment tastes and choices have definitely changed in the last half-century, and parades just don't seem to have the same appeal anymore in general.  My city does have plenty of flags flying above city hall, and its annual July 4 firework celebration is still extremely popular.  Our 250th birthday is still being observed and commemorated in many ways.

And yes, holiday celebrations include retail sales events as well, and Manny's is no exception.  

For example:

• We have an array of discounts and promotions that can save you money on anything from a single washer to a complete kitchen suite.  
• We offer deferred financing on any purchase over $399.  
• We also have rebates on many purchases, especially on kitchen packages of two or more pieces.  To me this our biggest advantage over Big-box competition - many of our rebate promotions are exclusive to independent retailers.  In other words ... these are rebates that you would NOT get at a Home Depot, Lowes, Best Buy, etc. Depending on your individual purchase, this extra rebate can get as high as $600 or even more.   I've said this before, but I like to refer to these as our "Thank you for buying local rebates" !!

Right now we can save you hundreds of dollars on select refrigerators and laundry sets.  We can also help you put together your dream kitchen, recommending appliances that fit your taste, needs, and budget.  For examples of both, take a look at these deals from our July 4th circular:

 
We can also add a $500 rebate to the Gallery package (the first package shown on the second page,) or $800 in rebates on the Professional package to lower your bottom-line price even further!

I also want to remind everyone of our new Scratch and Dent outlet center, adjacent to our Westfield showroom.  Customer response has been enthusiastic and at times overwhelming -  sometimes we can't get the merchandise unpacked and tagged quickly enough!  

!

How much can you save, you ask?  A lot!!

How about a four-door counter-depth refrigerator with an ice and water dispenser and a convertible middle drawer for less than $1500?

Or, how about a slide-in induction range for under $1000?

(Sorry, but in both cases legal ramifications prevent me from printing the model numbers on these two deals.  Rest assured however; both pieces are name brand units that sell briskly at their regular price!)

Merchandise in Westfield is constantly flowing and changing, but as of this writing (Tuesday 6-23)  I have decent quantities of both the above pieces in our Westfield showroom.  

The majority of our pieces come with full manufacturer warranty, and in many cases have never been anywhere near a customer's house.  

So if you are in the market for a new appliance, give us a call, email, or stop in and visit us.   We currently have thirteen showrooms in three states (addresses and contact info are on the front page of our website), and we are all more than happy to help you make a purchase that will make you both proud and happy for years.

Finally...

Happy Birthday USA!

Is Your Refrigerator On Its Last Legs?

I've always wondered why we have a huge spike in refrigerator sales in summer months compared to cooler times of the year.  The spike seems to makes sense, as we all know the temperature is much warmer in July or August than in January or December.  Yet - refrigerators are inside - they aren't trying to work in your backyard in 90 degree heat!  So it shouldn't matter what the outside temperature is as long as your kitchen is that same 68 or whatever-temperature-you-prefer degrees.  Refrigerators should sell the same year-round, the way washers and dryers do, right?

Well, it turns out that your fridge is indeed working harder in the summer.  Kitchens are harder to cool than the rest of the house due to the heat generated by your appliances (like your fridge, for example.)  Humidity rises significantly.  We may not be aware, as the humidity is usually lower inside than out, but it's still much higher than in winter months.  Ambient heat, moisture, and condensation buildup - they all do add to a refrigerator's workload.  

Your older fridge might have been limping along for months, until that uptick in temperature and humidity is just enough to push the compressor past its literal breaking point.

This link expands on the above, if you're interested in a deeper dive into this phenomenon.

https://appliancerepairshymon.ca/why-refrigerators-break-down-more-often-in-summer/

So, moving on.  Let's say it's time for you to replace your refrigerator, whether by choice or necessity.

What should you be thinking about?

The most important question I will ask you is "how much space do you have to work with?"  And by space, we mean the amount of height under your overhead cabinet, the width allowed between cabinets, and even the depth your kitchen will allow (I'll explain why that's important below.)  And, please, please, don't tell me your refrigerator is "average size"; that doesn't help!  While ranges, dishwashers, vent hoods, and even laundry for the most part conforms to standard sizes, manufacturers make many refrigerator styles and in many sizes.  

Once we know how much space you have to work with, then it's time to narrow down the choices.  I'm going to go over each style (meaning where the freezer section is located), starting with the smallest and most economical and working my way up the "food chain".

(Real quick here:  When I say a fridge is 33 or 36 inches wide, they are really just a hair under that width.  They are designed to fit certain width categories.)

(One more thought: There are always a handful of outlier size models, but for the sake of not being too too long-winded I'll stick with the choices 99% of our customers will be facing.

First, the top-freezer model that many of us grew up with:

These are by far the most economical units.  They range in width from 28-33" (no full-width 36" units are currently in production), and in height from 64-68".  Most models still come in the older black and white colors in addition to the ubiquitous stainless steel.  

We can usually reverse the swing of the doors, which can be useful if your fridge happens to be on the left side of a wall (normally you want the doors to swing away from your prep area to allow cooking to flow more easily.)  Most do not come with icemakers, but one can usually be added on for $129-$149.  Price is generally between $600-$1000.

These are still great sellers in apartments, smaller homes, households on a limited budget or who see their kitchen as simply a "work area" and not, as is so often the case in today's open floor plans, the focal point of the house.  They also make great second, or "garage", refrigerators.

Next, we have the single door bottom freezer.

This is a small category these days, as the split-door "French Door" units have largely replaced the single-door.  Excepting a small handful of specialty units, these units are available between 30 and 33" inches wide, and 66-69" high.   They almost always have an internal icemaker in the freezer that utilizes a standard 1/4" waterline attached to the rear of the fridge. No manufacturer currently builds a single-door bottom freezer with an external ice/water dispenser (if you want a dispenser, then you'll have to step up to a French door model.) 

The price jumps significantly over top-freezers, generally in the $1299-$1999 range.  As I mentioned above, the popularity of the French door units the past fifteen-twenty years has impacted the sales of this category, and you will not find a lot of model choices from each brand.

Next we have the side-by-side models (freezer on the left, fridge on the right).

Once upon a time, in the seventies through the nineties, these units were the cutting edge of upscale kitchen fashion.  The invention of a convenient through-the-door ice and water dispenser, lots of shelves to assist organizing your food, and generally larger capacity units (33-36" wide, and 66-70" high) made this style very popular as households began focusing more attention on their kitchen.  

Today all but a handful of models still have a dispenser.  Prices can range from $999 to $1999, and many can still be found in black or white (stainless steel is still the rage!!).

So why did this style lose favor?

The biggest complaint:  the width of the compartments, or lack thereof - especially the freezer side.  On a full-width 36" wide unit, the shelves in the freezer are 12-13" wide.  If you have a smaller kitchen, with the older standard 33" wide opening (very common in New England, my own house included) that freezer width can shrink to a claustrophobic 10" wide!  Frozen pizzas, oversized Thanksgiving turkeys - these became iconic examples of "what can't I fit in my freezer?"  

Your options:  Either buy a second fridge or stand-alone freezer for the basement. Or... you can switch to a French Door model!

Enter the French door unit.

It was the early 00s when Amana introduced a 36" wide French Door unit. (Actually, Sears was able to flex its then-considerable muscles and contracted a one-year exclusivity head-start under their old Kenmore label!) It featured over 25 cubic feet of space, a built-in icemaker, gallon storage, and a third drawer in the fridge for snacks and trays.  The layout of the unit's interior, combined with the symmetrical style of the unit's front, made the French Door an instant hit with consumers, and within a few years other manufacturers responded with French Door units of their own.  

Since then we've seen refinements.  Ice and water dispensers are now available on a lot of the models (Be aware that due to the logistics of trying to freeze ice in the 37 degree refrigerator compartment vs. the 0 degree freezer, these units do store less ice than side-by-sides.)  A fourth drawer can be found on certain models to increase storage flexibility and storage.  Also, these units keep getting larger in volume; some manufacturers make units with as much as 31 cubic feet of space - all staying within the "contemporary kitchen" 36" opening.

Of course, bigger means bigger! As capactity grows, so does the depths of these units. Some of these 28-31 cubic foot models can suddenly turn into behemoths when delivered, as some models can extend as far as 37" from the rear wall.  This is why I mentioned at the top to check your depth limitations!!

The depth of a full-size fridge has also created more of a market for shallower, or "counter-depth" models.  This shallower style has been around since the 90's, if not earlier, but traditionally was marketed for its aesthetic value - by protruding into the kitchen as far the fridge would give a sleeker look to the kitchen.  In recent years we have been selling more of this category, sometimes for the design aesthetic, but sometimes simply because full-depth units don't always look right in a particular kitchen!

A couple of thoughts on the counter-depth category: (there are a handful of side-by-sides available, but the CD market is primarily French door these days.) 

1. Counter depth is really "counter plus the door" depth!  The unit's case will line up at about 24" deep - the same size as a normal cabinet.  The fridge door will extend out another approximately 5". You'll still get that more upscale look, however, as the "reveal" beyond the cabinet is only the door, not the unit's side!
2. You will pay a little more, although not as much more as in the past, compared to a similar full depth model.
3. Most of these units require 36" in width (a handful are 33" wide, but that's definitely a "niche" market.)  Also, unlike full-depth fridges which are designed so that the hinge and door "clear" the overhead cabinet, you will have to take the height of the hinge cap into account if you have a full-depth, 24" standard overhead cabinet (If you have a 12" shallower cabinet, no need to worry!).  Therefore, you will want to double-check your available height - some of these models will rise just above the standard 69-70" high opening!

I know this can be a lot, especially if you're a first-time refrigerator buyer.  If you're confused or have questions, fear not!  You can discuss your individual needs and preferences with any of the sales pros you'll find in any of our showrooms (addresses and phone numbers on the front page of our site.) You can also email me directly at dlunden@hotmail.com

P.S. (in case you were wondering, I've used this email since the 90s when a quote to a customer from David@Mannystv.com was delivered to her junk mail, and I couldn't explain to her how to retrieve my email... or that I was telling the truth and had indeed sent her the quote.  Long story short - I lost that customer!  True story.)