Frugal Fridge / Energy Efficient / Buy now (on sale), have it delivered later? Consumer Reports...

 Seems like one of the most economical fridges (low-cost to purchase
new and low-cost to run) is a traditional top-freezer model. I read in
Consumer Reports that fridges with two vertical slender doors use a
lot of electricity vs. a top-freezer. They also seem to cost 2 to 3
times the price of a top-freezer model. And heck, you can't put a
pizza box in one either. :-)

Evidently, there are now new energy efficiency standards for fridges
in 2007, but the CR article I read is several months old and didn't
have any of the newest models in there. I don't think CR has done a
fridge article since.

Anyone know which new models would be good to buy? Should I just go by
the top-rated models in the article and look for similar models by
these manufacturers?

My other question is delivery - won't be closing on my house for
several weeks, but what if I find a good sale *now*? Will places like
Best Buy, Lowes, Home Depot, etc, do delayed deliveries of a few
weeks?

I want to buy a new fridge, so I'm not looking to be convinced to buy
used as the "most" frugal option. Looking for some good new models.

Thanks.

  One other thing... Consumer Reports, I think it was on fridges--though
maybe it was on their washer/dryer article--said not to bother with
extended warranties on a fridge.
Typically, I'm not a big fan of extended warranties with the
*exception* of purchases like TVs--that today at least, seem to be
throwaway items / unrepairable / not worth repairing--and in some
cases, certain electronic devices that have a reputation for dying on
you in a year (portable DVD players, etc). I bought a 3 year warranty
on a TV, and sure enough, the thing died on my after a thunderstorm
one summer--2 weeks before the warranty is up. In my area of the
South, we have a ton of thunder/lightning storms, and this probably
stresses electronic devices. So maybe the extended warranties aren't
so bad after all. Can't always be there to unplug stuff.

Also bought a 2 yr warranty on a Dell laptop. Pretty expensive device,
and with the way the power is around here... After 2 years, I figure
it's "obsolete"... well, not really. Serves me well and I'll use it
till it dies.

Anyway, should I consider extended warranties on either a new fridge
or a washer/dryer? I'm thinking it was the washer/dryers CR said not
to bother on with extended warranties since they're generally so
reliable. Not sure about the fridge though.

 mikeerdas@yahoo.com wrote in


No.  

 Second that.  My DH and I don't generally buy the most
expensive in any line, and we have a policy of not buying
extended warranties or service contracts.  We have, indeed,
had a couple of things that cost us money, but in the long
run, we come out ahead by eating the repair/replacement
costs and not paying for service we may or may not need.

Basically, the extended warranties are insurance, and
self-insurance is probably the most frugal choice in
general, for anything the loss of which won't seriously
affect your financial position.   You insure a house because
of the immense financial pain it would be if it burned down.
  You don't insure your dishwasher, because you could afford
to replace it.

Bonita



Paul wrote:

 Paul wrote:

If it's built that badly it needs the protection of an extended warranty
once the 1 year manufacturer's warranty runs out, do you really want to
buy it? Run that one by the sales rep. when you are looking at
appliances and watch their head explode when they can't come up with a
logical reply...

Rick