FINALLY! Upright Freezers IN STOCK nearby! Should I get a larger store brand freezer? Or...

[NurseJackie]

FINALLY! Upright Freezers IN STOCK nearby! Should I get a larger store-brand freezer? Or should I get a smaller brand-name freezer? Being able to stock-up on frozen foods will definitely be an advantage if the covid crisis gets worse and worse over winter.

Insignia 21 cubic feet $800 + $170 Geek Squad 5-year service warranty. ($970)

Or

Frigidaire 15.5-cu ft Frost-free Upright Freezer $770 + $100 Lowe's 3-year extended protection ($870)

The Frigidaire costs less... but it's $10 more (per cubic foot) ... but it's a brand name ... but it's smaller ... but the Lowe's extended warranty is shorter ... but is the quality better because it's a brand name?

The Insignia costs more... but it's $10 less (per cubic foot)... but it's a name I don't know... but it's larger... and the warranty is longer... but the warranty costs more... but I could use the extra space... but am I asking for trouble?

What would you do? Which would you pick? (I've always been ambivalent about extended warranties... but I'd hate to discover that I've got a lemon on day 91 of a three month warranty.) Any thoughts, advice, or experiences to share?

11 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	Store brand (WITH extended warranty plan)
	1 (9%)
	Store brand (no extended warranty)
	5 (45%)
	Nationally-known name brand (WITH extended warranty plan)
	3 (27%)
	Nationally-known name brand (no extended warranty)
	2 (18%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

[FarPoint]

1. I have a Large Upright....

Frost free....packed up/full....Costco is my Friends too.

[NurseJackie]

39. Frost-free is a big consideration for us. I remember how my mother struggled to defrost our old...

Frost-free is a big consideration for us. I remember how my mother struggled to defrost our old chest freezer. It was an all-day project and she'd borrow chest coolers from neighbors and she'd used thick-cardboard waxed vegetable boxes (saved from the grocery store) to hold everything in the freezer, and HOPEFULLY things wouldn't thaw too much.

The chest freezer had a garden hose hookup on the bottom, and for several hours she'd have a fan blowing into the freezer, and she'd pour warm water down the sides to loosen the frozen sheets of ice/frost. If I can avoid having to do that, it would be a bonus!

[moonscape]

57. I have a chest freezer and had to defrost it for

the first time early this year. Have had it 5 years or so. Learned an amazing trick. Put a shopt vac hose in it, leave it blowing air in, and pretty soon the ice just releases and one plucks it out and then shop vacs the water left. It took 30 min and was remarkably quick and easy.

[Me.]

2. Following THe JUst In Case Law

I always get an extended warranty, at least for the immediate future.

[NurseJackie]

40. Yes, I'm becoming more risk-averse the older I get.

Typically I avoid extended warranties. But these days, I don't feel as lucky as I used to.

[Me.]

45. Don't Know About Age NJ

have you had to pay for a repair recently? Yee Gods.

[Turbineguy]

3. We have an insignia freezer

for a year now, no problems. We've had an Insignia portable A?C for 3 years, no problems.

[NurseJackie]

4. I've been looking at "buyer reviews" and the one-star comments always worry me.

But then again, I have to remind myself that unhappy buyers are VERY motivated to complain (either for revenge or to motivate action to resolve the issue) ... while happy customers tend to go about their lives, enjoying the product, and never bothering to return to the website to leave feedback or reviews.

[Alpeduez21]

9. I look at percentages of reviews

1-3% of one star reviews doesn't bother me at all. 10%? I steer usually after reading them. The middle reviews are often most informative. 3 or 4 stars.

[Mad cow]

5. Is the frigidaire made in the US?

That is something I take into consideration.

[NurseJackie]

8. China and Mexico

[Beakybird]

6. I used to be upset that our refrigerator leaked,

but now it's just water under the fridge.

[nolabear]

18. ...

[TexasBushwhacker]

7. What's the energy rating on each

Freezers can suck up a lot of juice.

[NurseJackie]

10. $59 for the large, $32 for the small.

That's the annual estimated price on the yellow energy label.

It's definitely something worth considering. There's a difference in energy use, but there's also a difference in how much space is being kept cold (about 1/3rd more).

[WheelWalker]

14. Totally agree with you. Chest over upright. Always.

[Kaleva]

62. Apparently, rooting for chest freezers can be a violation of TOS

[NurseJackie]

25. Mostly for the convenience.

I understand the benefits that a chest freezer offers with regard to power outages and energy efficiency. But being able to easily load/retrieve and SEE what kind of inventory we have is a value to me as well. Also, being able to rotate old items "back to front" rather than "bottom to top" makes things easier as well.

Both have advantages and disadvantages, so I'm considering how we'll use it on a daily/weekly basis. (Also, we have a generator in the event of long-term power outages.)

I hope it doesn't get that bad. --- Thanks for your thoughts and advice.

[Wellstone ruled]

12. Private Label is either

LG or Samsung. Both use the same Compressors for cooling. Save your money on the Warranty,if there are any Manufacturer issues,they will show up in the first couple months and the Manufacturer Warranty has you covered. Better yet,buy one from Costco,you have a two year Implied Warranty.

[NurseJackie]

26. Costco was our first choice... but looks like nothing's going to be available until January.

We'll re-check again before we make our final decision.

[Wellstone ruled]

32. Do a on line order

that way you will see what is in inventory or you move to the head of the line when Freezers hit the dock. Notice they are featuring LG which is rated one of the best. BTW,if they are back ordered,they do keep you updated. When Trump put Tariff's on Imports last year,that created major Supply Chain delays as Manufacturers had to work out Tariff assignments. We still pay the tariff up charge.

[NurseJackie]

38. Just checked... Costco has chest freezers (manual defrost)...

... but no upright freezers in stock. It may be that we're forced to choose a chest-freezer. But I remember how much frost my mother's chest freezer had in it (and how difficult it was for her to defrost). It was nearly an all-day project... but I guess the rubber gaskets may not have fit too tightly and as a child I grew up in the humid-humid South.

[Wellstone ruled]

42. Actually a Chest Freezer is

the most efficient to operate dollars and cents wise,just a bugger to remember where the heck you put that extra bag of Pork Chops of Ground beef you put in there two months ago.

That frost build up can be mitigated by putting old blanket or furniture blanket over the top. Make sure it is a few inches below the seam where the cover meets the chest bottom. Works like a charm. Especially on Humid days.

Costco has free delivery on online major appliance and Furniture orders. Don't forget to purchase extra baskets .

[NurseJackie]

43. I've seen youtube videos of organization strategies...

... using baskets and plastic bins from Ikea. Another youtube video showed a guy who had attached a white-board (dry-erase) that he used to keep inventory locations and dates. I thought that was brilliant.

[Wellstone ruled]

48. Amazon has replacment Baskets for

every Freezer possible. Ikea sold a upright frig freezer combo with a I-pad for content inventory and restock ordering. Believe it was LG,think the retail was 4900 in 2008 dollars. Our Appliance Department had one for eight or nine months,finally ended up doing a close out for 1400. Do remember that thing coming back after less than a month,the I Pad crooked. We ended up sending that thing back to the Appliance Wholesaler and eating the loss.

Hey the White board idea is great. Knowing me,I would forget to update the darn inventory. But,that comes with being older than dirt.

[Klaralven]

54. With chest, manual defrost there is less freezer burn.

Some are also rated for use in a wide range of temperatures so they can be put in a garage, on a porch, etc. Frost-free uprights have a narrow ambient temperature operating range.

[WheelWalker]

13. Bigger is not always better. Freezers are more efficient when kept full.

Do you need a bigger freezer? If you're only going to keep it 1/2 to 2/3 full, I'd recommend the smaller one. I never get an extended warranty. I've never needed one, either. Just lucky?

[whistler162]

24. That is why god made plastic jugs

you can fill with water to put in the freezer.

[NurseJackie]

31. That's a time-tested trick that I've heard of too.

The blocks of ice will "hold" the cold longer than an equal space of empty cold air (in the event of an outage).

[NurseJackie]

37. I typically feel the same way. I've been lucky too and never bothered with them...

... but these days, I don't want to push my luck too far (without having a backup).

[safeinOhio]

15. Never had a problem with a freezer. I'd go

cheap.
Do get a vacuum sealer. Much better than zip lock bags in the freezer.

[NurseJackie]

28. I can't live without my Foodsaver!

I even use the heat-strip to reseal the bags for potato-ships, boxed cereal, crackers, frozen veggies, etc.

[Ilsa]

41. I like mine, too. My frozen

Chicken and other products do great in the freezer for long periods.

[BGBD]

16. Don't listen to the poll

Go with the insignia. It's bigger, that's the only thing that you need to worry about in an upright freezer.

Keeping things cold isn't a new technology and there haven't been any major advancements that Frigidaire is going to have over anyone else. Most of the parts on the two freezers are likely identical, or possibly even from the exact same supplier. This also isn't a fridge that is going to have a ton of bells and whistles that could work differently across brands.

Also, getting the extended warranty almost always isn't worth it. Getting it is dependent on how risk averse you are, but you will probably never use it. Again, this is a freezer. It isn't an advanced piece of tech with a lot of moving parts. Most freezers will last a long time without needing any service. The Insignia comes with a one year manufactures warranty. In new products like that, if they are going to break they will break during that time. If a freezer lasts the first year of use without any problems it will probably last for much longer without any problems as well.

Again, the freezer is all about size. The bigger it is the more you can store in it. 21 is a thrid bigger than the 15.5. This is a no-brainer to me.

[NurseJackie]

36. You make many valid points. Thanks for the advice.

[ProfessorGAC]

63. Seconding BGBD

Given a replacement cost of a grand, spending 10-20% on the warranty for something very unlikely to fail in that term.
And, I'm a proponent of store brands, although where possible I like to buy made, or at least assembled in the US.
Not a jingoistic thing; merely trying to support our eroding manufacturing sector.
But, 3 of my bigger TVs are store brands.
And, I said no to the warranties.
Excellent post, BGBD.

[Maeve]

17. How much space do you need?

Freezers work best when kept full---will you really use the increased cubic feet? And have you checked Consumer Reports (or something similar) to see if they have any ratings that would push you one way or the other?
I'd tend to the Frigidaire, but we're getting by with an extra fridge in the garage and that small extra freezer space, so....

[NurseJackie]

35. That was something we considered too.

A new fridge/freezer for the house then move the old fridge/freezer into the garage was an option... and we might revisit it if all other options don't work out for us. But for now, the goal is to have a dedicated freezer.

I think we'll definitely be able to use the space. I do buy a lot of frozen foods (although I prefer fresh veggies, that's not always possible, so the bagged and frozen veggies do well for us) Frozen meats, dinners, entrees... and then using our "FoodSaver" vacuum bagging system for leftovers (or bulk cooking projects)... well... seems like we're always struggling to find room.

I think that Freezer-Space is a lot like BOOKSHELVES. The more room you have, the more ways you find to use it! Books just "magically appear" to fill your empty shelves (it seems.)

[Maeve]

47. Then go for the bigger one

As noted, things usually go south early rather than just as the warranty runs out. Extended warranties are seldom worth it, but I also understand "belt and suspenders" thinking (Hubby is a great one for backing up his back-ups and it has saved the day more than once!)

If all else fails--flip a coin. If you are disappointed in the way it falls, go the OTHER way, cuz that's what you really wanted!

[JDC]

19. Lowe's offers a partial refund of unused extended warranty plans

I don't know what the percentage is, but it is still a very nice program.

[NurseJackie]

34. I'll have to ask about that. I know that my husband qualifies for a 10% Military Discount at Lowe's...

I'll have to ask about that. I know that my husband qualifies for a 10% Military Discount at Lowe's… but that only applies to regular priced items (and I don't know if it also applies to higher-priced appliances.)

We like Lowe's much better than Home Depot. I'll only go to HD when it's something I can't find elsewhere and I need it faster than Amazon can deliver it.

[lapucelle]

20. I don't know anything about freezers, but I am always excited when I get to buy new appliances.

The Good Housekeeping top 5 picks include models by Whirlpool, GE, Kenmore, Frigidaire, and Insignia, so I would assume that Insignia is a brand you can trust.

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/appliances/g32216041/best-freezers/

[Baclava]

21. Small chest freezers are back in stock at Lowes here, thats what I want

[MineralMan]

22. Brand names matter less these days.

If you take the back access panel off, most of them have pretty much the same refrigeration systems in them, and that's the part that is the issue, really. Both of the freezers you're looking at probably have a unitary compressor system made in China.

I'd go with the one that offers you the most space and has the longest extended warranty. The prices are not that far apart. Either one should last at least 10 years, or will fail quickly. Refrigeration is not rocket science and almost all freezers use imported components for refrigeration.

I'd go with the store brand with the longer extended warranty.

[NurseJackie]

49. Thank you! I guess I'm still stuck in my old-school ways of looking at things...

... I should be focusing on specs and warranty. (And with regard to features, I only need it to be airtight and cold.)

Thanks for your feedback and thoughts!

[SWBTATTReg]

23. Do you really eat that much to make buying a freezer and maintaining it / the contents worth it?

I'm finding myself having to constantly check our chest freezer to make sure that I've used something in there first, prior to using something out of my normal fridge freezer. I'm not knocking it, especially if you have to drive quite a ways to the store, but if you live in a pretty urban area, w/ lots of stores, etc. around, you probably can always get stuff at a reasonably price and let them pay for the freezing.

[NurseJackie]

29. That's definitely something to consider. In the past it was easy to make twice weekly trips...

... to the grocery store (and/or costco, depending) to get what we needed. Grocery store is a 20 mile round trip. Costco is a 40 mile round trip. --- But as I get older, I'm finding that being out in traffic and around people in the store isn't as entertaining as it once was. And the added risk of covid, well, it just makes me want to stay home more and go out less.

At least the wine and gin are shelf-stable. 🍷🍸🍹

[SWBTATTReg]

33. Ha ha heh...as the two of us get older too, we find ourselves not eating as much, and just ...

like you, not too terribly excited about going out shopping as much. So we do shop more at the grocery store and have more stuff at home to cook etc., but it is a chore to make sure that stuff doesn't stay in the freezers too long, otherwise, you'll get freezer burn.

I have to admit, I do miss going out and dining at the buffets, etc. Sure we don't eat as much, but it is nice to have someone else do the cooking, the cleaning, etc.

Take care and be safe!!

[lettucebe]

27. Hope they don't sell out while you're waiting for the results of what strangers think

I do a lot of background studying before making a purchase so I get it, but if there's been a shortage, seems now's not the time to be thinking it over.

[NurseJackie]

30. You're right about that! I expect we'll be making our final decision in the next 24 hours.

[Clearly fogged in]

44. A search found that

Insignia was made for Best Buy at Frigidaire. This is common. I believe Sears and Whirlpool were like that - what they do differently (in this example) is produce the knock off with more or fewer features; the knock off and the name brand model numbers interweave like this: #700,800,900 for one, 750,850,950 for the other.

[NurseJackie]

46. You're better at google searching than I am! I had tried earlier...

... but the results were muddy and inconclusive. I suppose I shouldn't be too terribly averse to store-brands, since everything else in our home is a Kenmore from Sears... even our sink disposer.

Thanks for the info!!

[Clearly fogged in]

51. For the most part search engines are snowflakes

If you ever want to get anywhere with one you have to stop talking like a person - they're find it annoying. Oh the humanity...

[BumRushDaShow]

50. I have a baby Insignia that I got at Best Buy 3 years ago

It's a 3.5 cuft (it's just for one person) but it has been a godsend. It looks like this (chest freezer)-



The brand has been solid (at least so far) and I have a temp sensor in there that sends its temp data to my weather station console and it has been good with its cycling, keeping the temp below 0F (the warmest that I have it set to go in the cycle is about -3F and it drops down to -12F to -10F every 6 hours based on how much is in there (it is packed at the moment).

I finally got both of my sisters to get some kind of deep freezer this past summer (they got uprights like what you are looking for). They both have those side-by-side upright fridge/freezers and wanted something for overflow so they got smaller uprights (one found one over the summer and the other finally got one a couple weeks ago since they had been sporadically sold out everywhere for the past couple months).

We grew up with a big Kenmore chest one (my dad used to subscribe to one of those monthly beef cuts services), but my happy memory with it was that there was always a box of ice cream sandwiches in there and the freon smell was just undeniably distinct.

I think the one thing that could happen with these is the circuit board that controls the temp cycling. I don't hear much about them failing until they have been running for some time. The one thing about "name brands" is that I think there is pretty much only a few companies that combined, own almost all of the big name brands - e.g., I think Whirlpool owns Maytag, Kitchenaid, Jenn-Air, Amana, Admiral, etc., Frigidaire is owned by Electrolux, I know those retailers make money off those extended warranties but am wondering if you can go with a 3rd party one (one of my sisters has one of those "home warranty" things and she has used it quite a bit for her oven and dishwasher). Guess you'd have to price that out.

[NurseJackie]

52. Tell me about frost buildup... do you have to defrost it often?

(Or do you live in a humid part of the country?)

[BumRushDaShow]

55. They recommend (manual) defrosting as needed

but so far mine only has accumulated some ice at the top near the lid and that can usually be chunked off. Deeper down is completely clear. And yes it gets humid here in Philly although in winter (and with central air) it gets dry as a desert.

[Kaleva]

53. There's only about 4 companies that make freezers & retail companies slap their names on them

Go with the store brand and I'd skip the warranty. There isn't much to a freezer. If it works fine for 3 months, odds are good it will work fine for many years.

[NurseJackie]

60. Very practical advice... Thank you.

[Kaleva]

61. Same goes for furnaces, boilers an air conditioners.

It's far more economical and profitable for retailers to buy from one of a few companies that make the product and have their name put on the product then it is for each retailer to have their own manufacturing facilities.

[Hortensis]

56. Me? :) I'd buy used, waiting if necessary for people to buy new for Christmas,

and pocket a cool $500 or so for something I wanted a lot more than a pre-depreciation sticker. Lots of used appliances don't actually get much use, but for a good selection at good prices it really helps to live, or at least shop, in cities with lots of people earning urban incomes they're eager to blow. We once did, both, but never felt a need to change our ways.

You don't shell out for a warranty, of course; you buy it working as it should, and if it stops you buy another used and call a used appliance dealer to come pick the old one up free to repair and resell.

So: used and maybe have a strong handyman come install a nice little pond in the back yard (designed by me of course) with the rest. There's also a (I'm not kidding!) $450-550 table lamp I'd love to have and have not forgotten. It's not like we don't have all the lamps we need, but when I like something that much and long, I start thinking that, ridiculous or not, maybe it's really worth it...? Like a new freezer for you perhaps.

[TexasBushwhacker]

64. Medium to large cities often have places that sell scratch and dent specials

They can save you hundreds of bucks and they offer warranties. Get them to deliver. It's not the kind of thing you can do yourself, even with a friend.

[Hortensis]

65. That also, for sure. Back in the 1970s it was normal to

paint your own kitchen (sunshine yellow one time, white walls and uppers and emerald green lowers to go with a forest of indoor plants the next) and install your own appliances, but in those days all our friends were young and hadn't yet loaned (permanently) their handtrucks and dollies to their kids.

[EllieBC]

58. We have a cheapie.

And honestly I hope it lasts lol.

I’m glad you are finding one available. It really helped my anxiety to have a freezer full of stuff (just make sure to use, buy, and rotate) JUST IN CASE everything goes super sideways.

[Ms. Toad]

59. I almost never by anything because of brand name.

I'm not willing to pay a premium just for a name. I buy based on reviews (both professional - consumer reports - and consumer based). As to consumer-based reviews. I always read the 1 star reviews to see if what they are complaining about is something I care about - and, if so, how prevalent it is.

I never buy extended warranties. They are always tacked on to the original warranty - your 5 year warranty likely becomes a 4 year warranty (since the first year is included in the purchase price). So they are priced to appear reasonable for the total years, when they only really kick in after the original warranty expires.

We've owned our freezer for more than 30 years and never had need to have it serviced. We've had our refrigerator for perhaps 20 and needed a service call once.

ETA: We often shop at the Sears scratch & dent outlet. It's now American Freight (americanfreight.com). If you're willing to live with minor imperfections, you can get significant discounts.