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  • #1

    Help with mini-fridges...

    My Google fu is strong, but I've been struggling with this one.

    I'm looking for a mini-fridge (compact fridge, dorm fridge, take your pick of names) for my niece. I need it to be shipped to Texas.

    The best deals I've found that involve affordable or free shipping are either through Wal-Mart, which I will not do business with, or eBay sellers.

    Are eBay sellers reliable for these sorts of things? Does anyone know of any reasonably affordable mini-fridges online that I may have missed? (1.7 cubic feet minimum size.) Anyone have any suggestions?

    If y'all need me, I'll be in the kitchen repeatedly slamming the door of my full-size fridge into my head.

    "The Customer Is Always Right...But The Bartender Decides Who Is     Still A Customer."
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  • #2
    Amazon has some good choices and the shipping is free if you have Prime.
    Don't wanna; not gonna.

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    • #3
      Quoth 42_42_42 View Post
      Amazon has some good choices and the shipping is free if you have Prime.
      I don't have Prime, and (nothing personal), I'm not dropping the coinage to get Prime.

      Some stuff on Amazon has free shipping, some doesn't. I've noticed that the most inexpensive choices on Amazon do not include shipping, and once you had their shipping charges, it comes out to about the same as the ones that do include shipping. Basically, they're offering you an illusion of choice without actually offering you much choice. Not an unusual marketing technique, but still frustrating nonetheless.

      "The Customer Is Always Right...But The Bartender Decides Who Is       Still A Customer."

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      • #4
        Quoth Jester View Post
        Are eBay sellers reliable for these sorts of things?
        Depends on the seller. Mostly, yes, and Ebay's policies are designed to protect the buyer far more than a seller. My usual procedure when dealing with a new (to me) seller on Ebay is check their reviews, and look at WHY they have any negatives* if they do, and what positive and neutral reviews say about them.

        Just be aware that if you get anything from Ebay and have to return it, you as the buyer are liable for return shipping costs.

        *Bit of an aside. Got my vacuum from Ebay, and the seller had some negative reviews, all either 'I'm in <country not the U.S.>, I didn't know the plug was different here' or 'I had to pay customs fees for <country not the U.S.>, no one told me I would have to pay customs fees!' Really, people?
        You're only delaying the inevitable, you run at your own expense. The repo man gets paid to chase you. ~Argabarga

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        • #5
          Try shops which are based in Texas - even brick and mortar ones located in the same city/general area as your niece.
          Seshat's self-help guide:
          1. Would you rather be right, or get the result you want?
          2. If you're consistently getting results you don't want, change what you do.
          3. Deal with the situation you have now, however it occurred.
          4. Accept the consequences of your decisions.

          "All I want is a pretty girl, a decent meal, and the right to shoot lightning at fools." - Anders, Dragon Age.

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          • #6
            Quoth Jester View Post
            I don't have Prime, and (nothing personal), I'm not dropping the coinage to get Prime.
            Usually they offer you a free trial for 30 days about once a year. If they're offering you that right now, say YES to the free trial. Then go into your account settings and set Prime to NOT automatically renew, and you're good to go. You'll get the benefits of Prime for FREE for 30 days, then it will automatically cancel itself so you pay nothing!
            "Eventually one outgrows the fairy tales of childhood, belief in Santa and the Easter Bunny, and believing that SCs are even capable of imagining themselves in our position."
            --StanFlouride

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            • #7
              Does it need to be delivered to the house? A lot of stores have in-store pickup (Home Depot, Lowes). Pick the store closest to her.
              Life is too short to not eat popcorn.
              Save the Ales!
              Toys for Tots at Rooster's Cafe

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              • #8
                She lives in the sticks, and there are not a lot of chains that close to her. One chain that did have a good deal and did offer in store pickup had none of that item in the store nearest her. But I'll check again, of course.

                "The Customer Is Always Right...But The Bartender Decides Who Is                 Still A Customer."

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                • #9
                  Jester, trying to figure out what sort of specs you're looking for.

                  - Does it have to be a mini? Mini fridges tend to be less energy efficient than full-size (even a compact full-size). What are the maximum dimensions that will fit the space available? Also, what sort of budget are you looking at?

                  - Does it need a freezer compartment, and if so, how big? Does it need to hold a couple ice cube trays? A half-gallon carton of ice cream? A 30 pound frozen turkey?

                  Have you considered "showrooming" at the local chains, including WalMart? I realize you don't want to buy there, but take a look at what they have. Once you've picked out a "short list" (including model numbers), contact the manufacturers to see who they sell to who can deliver to your niece.
                  Any fool can piss on the floor. It takes a talented SC to shit on the ceiling.

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                  • #10
                    Fortuitously, I don't have a Wal-Mart within a hundred miles of me. (Yay Florida Keys!) The chains I do have down here are K-Mart and Sears and....that's really it. And they tend to not stock the compact fridges down here, as the stores are small and people down here are not often buying such things.

                    And yes, it needs to be a mini, because her space is small, as is my budget.

                    She'll need it for basic groceries, stuff to cook, etc. It's more than she has right now, and it will help her to eat better and eat less fast food, which I'm all about making happen. Most mini fridges have token freezer compartments, and that's fine for her uses.

                    "The Customer Is Always Right...But The Bartender Decides Who Is                     Still A Customer."

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Hey Jester,

                      I was out shopping and realized there are Targets all around in Texas, so I stopped in and checked my local one. They have site to store shipping, store pick-up, etc, and I saw some decent models of mini fridges. I think you can even check local stock.

                      I'm not sure where in Texas your niece is, but I've been all over some of the larger (and smaller) areas, and there's usually a Target a decent distance to/from areas, unless you're in one of those REALLY small towns that you blink and you've missed them. Not sure what your price range is, but again, I saw some on some decent sales when we were wandering around this last week.

                      Hope this helps!

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                      • #12
                        At work, I use a Magic Chef mini-fridge that Home Depot sold about 4 years ago, it's very similar to this one that they sell now: http://tinyurl.com/ldko4w2

                        If that's too large, you can go with a smaller version of the same idea: http://tinyurl.com/l7o475g

                        Most Wal*Mart and Target stores have similar ones in that 3 cubic foot range.
                        Last edited by Jack T. Chance; 12-08-2013, 08:33 PM.
                        "Eventually one outgrows the fairy tales of childhood, belief in Santa and the Easter Bunny, and believing that SCs are even capable of imagining themselves in our position."
                        --StanFlouride

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Lupus, Target's prices are rather high, not just for me, but compared to other places selling the same stuff. Amusingly, though, they have some mini fridges on their website that are listed both as "unavailable online" and "not sold in stores." Which begs the obvious question of why they are listed on the site. Lol! I do appreciate your suggestions, though.

                          Jack, those fridges are much too large, both for her space and for my budget. I'm looking at dorm type fridges, on the 1.7 cubic foot size, unless I find a great deal on a larger one, say up to 3.0 cubic feet. But thanks!

                          "The Customer Is Always Right...But The Bartender Decides Who Is                           Still A Customer."

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                          • #14
                            Does your walmart aversion extend to sams? My club stocks the dorm fridge and you dont have to be a member to shop there. In fact, they're having an event for nonmembers...

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                            • #15
                              Quoth Jester View Post
                              Jack, those fridges are much too large, both for her space and for my budget. I'm looking at dorm type fridges, on the 1.7 cubic foot size, unless I find a great deal on a larger one, say up to 3.0 cubic feet. But thanks!
                              3 questions:
                              1. What budgetary range are you trying to stay within?
                              2. What are the maximum dimensions that will fit in the space she has to work with?
                              3. What stores are near her that would sell mini-fridges?
                              Last edited by Jack T. Chance; 12-10-2013, 05:53 PM.
                              "Eventually one outgrows the fairy tales of childhood, belief in Santa and the Easter Bunny, and believing that SCs are even capable of imagining themselves in our position."
                              --StanFlouride

                              Comment

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