Appliance reviews- what to trust?
When searching for appliances, either to buy or just get some reviews, I used this website. Consumer Reports rates ABT a top company to deal with. Check them out -
http://www.abt.com/category/13/Appliances.html
We cross-referenced as many sites as we could--Amazon, lowes, Home Depot, etc. We went with the series that had the best overall reviews. Also make sure to double check that the bad reviews are on the actual product itself and not the site or shipping or anything. I hate it when people give 1 star because they had a shipping issue even though the product is great!
Consumer Reports is among the most reliable. They actually test the products before determining which will get their best review. You won't find their reviews on-line without paying for a subscription, but; issues of the magazine are available at the library.
Six years ago we bought a Bosch dishwasher on clearance from Lowes. Had it repaired once under warrantee when a pump failed. Otherwise super happy with it. Perhaps the quietest appliance we own.
Five years ago LG French door fridge. No issues other than the door seal is worn but still seals. At same time a Verona dual oven and range. The high heat wok burner has never worked correctly but then I am not sure why we ever wanted that feature to begin with. We don't own a wok. The ovens are often but not always off ten to fifteen degrees on temp and we use a separate thermometer now.
joan_crystal said:
Consumer Reports is among the most reliable. They actually test the products before determining which will get their best review. You won't find their reviews on-line without paying for a subscription, but; issues of the magazine are available at the library.
I use CR exclusively. I'm mainly interested in their reliability ratings.
cats said:
When searching for appliances, either to buy or just get some reviews, I used this website. Consumer Reports rates ABT a top company to deal with. Check them out -
http://www.abt.com/category/13/Appliances.html
I've used ABT to purchase dehumidifiers. They're an excellent company. When I purchased a Bosch dishwasher from Karl's, they used ABT as a comparison to give me their best price.
Save CR, none of the commercial reviewers have any integrity whatsoever. I've found the HD consumer reviews to be outstanding, and, surprisingly, run with integrity. HD does not seem to suppress negative reviews.
Another +1 for Consumer Reports. They are always our first source, and often our only source. They accept no advertising and are impartial. The only problem I have found is that product model numbers in the CR charts often don't match up with specific vendor offerings. This is not CR's fault. Model numbers are forever changing and updating, and also many vendors use their own. Nevertheless, CR's reviews will always point you in the right direction.
Well, but with Consumer Reports, you get a very limited number of very specific models reviewed. Every time I have looked at CR for information on appliances I'm considering buying, I find that they have not reviewed any of the appliances that are actually available for purchase! So, am I supposed to buy another model from the same manufacturer, hoping for consistency across the brand? It's confusing.
Consumer Reports will often tell you what features to look for in a product they are reviewing. Even if the exact model is not available, their report still serves as a good guide when making a selection.
There are not that many big appliance manufacturers anymore....
Whirlpool = Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Jennair, Maytag
Electrolux = Frigidaire, Electrolux
Samsung & LG make some other their own, then rebrand Whirlpool & Frigidaire and vice versa
Bosch -- Bosch, Thermador, Siemens
GE -- their brand, plus private brand
Kenmore -- from almost any of the above
Haier bought Fisher Paykel which bought DCS etc.
Then there's IKEA -- which is pretty much all Whirlpool, but with much better warranties.
Wolf, Viking make some things themselves, others not. They're too small to make many key components (like compressors for refrigerators) - which are apparently sourced from above.
Appliances don't last like they used to. Buy a reasonably reliable brand, with a long warranty (and/or buy additional warranty), and know that before you want it to, it'll be better to replace than repair it.
I have to admit, planned obsolescence does seem to be a big factor in most manufacturers' plans. 
How I wish we could go back to the days before computer chips made up a big part of any appliance. When our stovetop died two years ago and we had it repaired, it cost $400 because what went out was the computer chip that governed the stovetop, timers, and so on. I seriously considered just buying a new one with an extended warranty, but WTF? It would have had a computer chip somewhere, too.
It would be so nice to go back to less complex equipment and longer life spans for everything in the house. But that's not in the cards.
Now that's very interesting... because I've read mixed things about whether the extended warranties are really worthwhile. I know with my Amex card I get one year of additional warranty, so that I would be covered for 2 years total with a standard purchase. The PSE&G worry-free plan we're paying now is more than the cost of the extended warranty so that doesn't make much sense. Hmm....
Everyone was focusing on Consumer Reports. I'm saying to check out the ABT website above for reviews. ABT carries a wide variety of brands and price points and there are many reviews to consider.
All of my appliances are old and I love them and I keep paying my repair guy to fix them because I don't even want to think about this brave new world (about which I hear very little good.)
What we're replacing is the very most basic set possible- seriously, select the cheapest stove Home Depot carries and that's the one they put in 
Plus the matching microwave. We've been in the house 5 years and I've always felt guilty replacing them because they do work. But, we cook all the time and I'm ready for an appliance with some features!
But on that note, is there anywhere to donate a serviceable, needs-a-cleaning range and OTR microwave? I can't deal with Freeycling it right now.
Donate working appliances to Habitat for HumAnity store.
And yes, get appliances you'll enjoy ! To me cooking appliances that really do the job and a quiet dishwasher that truly cleans are SO worth it.
Other than looks, high end refrigerators -I could care less about.
But an oven that roasts well (convection) and bakes perfect cookies, and a cooktop that has high power burners to sear and boil water quickly and then very very low ones to melt chocolate and butter are a totally worthwhile investment!
Oh -add to that a quiet, high CFM range hood!
Thanks!! The ReStore is a good thought. Looks like they have rather high standards though, and they ask that things be "thoroughly cleaned" - I realize how lazy it sounds but I just don't have time to do that right now. I wonder if there are other options
Is the range self-cleaning? That should make it clean enough, or at least make the job much easier.
PeggyC said:
Is the range self-cleaning? That should make it clean enough, or at least make the job much easier.
No. It has NO extra features.
We're finally buying new appliances for our kitchen, and I'm finding myself down the rabbit hole of internet reviews. But what's legit??
We were leaning toward a Samsung French Door refrigerator, and JD Power ranked Samsung fridges highest in consumer satisfaction last year. Yet the reviews on Lowes.com and Gardenweb are awful!
Any words of wisdom? Sources you like? Personal experiences to share?
We're looking at your pretty standard appliances- french door refrigerator, slide-in 30" range, OTR microwave. I don't want to spend a fortune (not an option anyway!!) and we don't need a lot of bells and whistles,but I also want to get quality, reliable appliances that will last us many years.