Under-counter fridge-freezer

[Vimtoad]

This is going to be my last thread, I promise.

In my new flat is an old fridge-freezer, the brand is Beko but I don’t know the model number or anything. It is way too big for my needs – I’ve had to pad out the freezer with loaves of cheap bread, and my stuff takes up less than half of one of the three shelves in the fridge – and not only that but the lining of the freezer is a bit damaged and it seems to be running the whole time and I think it’s costing me more than it should in electricity.

What I’d like to do is get an under-counter one because I am replacing the battered horrible-looking worktops anyway and it might be nice to have the extra counter space. Although I don’t need much freezer space I find that a normal ice-box isn’t *quite* big enough, whereas the fridge space is way too much (I normally only have ham, cheese and butter and maybe a bit of salad), and so when I found out that you can get fridge-freezers – more freezer space, less fridge space – that fit under the counter I thought that would be ideal. And separate doors has to be better for economy, right?

But are they any good?

There aren’t that many to choose from, and they all seem to be at the cheaper end (Argos has one, and there’s a black one as well whose brand I forget).

Once again, any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks for reading!

[don]

Re: Under-counter fridge-freezer

Vimtoad wrote:

But are they any good?

In a word no. Sorry to ruin your’e good idea 😉

Vimtoad wrote:
There aren’t that many to choose from, and they all seem to be at the cheaper end (Argos has one, and there’s a black one as well whose brand I forget).

Two are Argos value and the black one is branded Russell Hobbs. I will wager that they have all originated from the same Chinese factory. The only thing I can guarantee is it will be poor quality in build and finish.

Time to think again I’m afraid 🙂

Don

[Vimtoad]

Re: Under-counter fridge-freezer

Hmph. Although your answer was what I was expecting. They did look too good to be true.

What should I do instead? I seem to be stuck between getting one that’s way way too big for me, or getting one that isn’t big enough. Should I just stick with the one that I’ve got, and console myself that it’ll be a couple of years before sucking up the extra running costs works out more expensive than the cost of a new one?

[don]

Re: Under-counter fridge-freezer

You may need to compromise on something 😉

In which case the best I know of is the Hotpoint RSAAV21P for capacity and quality.

Don

[Vimtoad]

Re: Under-counter fridge-freezer

Thanks! I guess multiple tubs of ice-cream aren’t a necessity (and if I can’t get my oven working there’s no point keeping a stash of fish fingers etc). Shame though, I bet loads of people would like more than an ice-box but less than an entire freezer, and it looked like the ideal solution.

[Vimtoad]

Re: Under-counter fridge-freezer

OK, so although I bought the washing machine (it’s very nice, thank you for the advice :)) I put off the fridge purchase and now that model doesn’t seem to be readily available.

What would you buy if you were buying one today? Same requirements as before – under-counter, ice box, cheap to run.

I keep seeing a brand called “Fridgemaster” but surely nothing with a name like that can be any good… and Lec turns up a lot too. (Well, it does if you order “price: low to high” anyway.)

Also, any ideas about getting rid of the old one, short of sneaking out in the small hours and leaving it in the nearest public space? I had been under the impression that a charity would gladly take it off my hands but they either don’t like Beko or they want me to take it to them (I don’t have transport). I think I can pay a tenner to the delivery guys so I may just do that, but since it works and everything it seems a shame that I can’t find someone to take it for free.

[don]

Re: Under-counter fridge-freezer

don wrote:
In which case the best I know of is the Hotpoint RSAAV21P for capacity and quality.

Don

You could always take the old one to your local recycling centre 😉

Don

[Vimtoad]

Re: Under-counter fridge-freezer

I could, it’s the “take” bit that gives me an issue as I don’t have a car.

I was all set to get that fridge and then it told me it would be 8-14 working days for delivery, which gives me a problem with availability and work commitments and so on. I was hoping to grab something similar that would deliver for me tomorrow. (Or to be told that there’s a snazzy new one out that’s even better. Do fridges have an annual season for new releases? Although I suppose under-counter is no longer the in thing and no R&D is being pushed that way.) 🙂

[Martin]

Re: Under-counter fridge-freezer

Vimtoad wrote:but since it works and everything it seems a shame that I can’t find someone to take it for free.

You could contact your local branch of ‘Community Furniture Project’ or Charity organisations that also deal, like them, with white goods.

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