[Shop-talk] To kill a refrigerator

[Dennis Lambert]

I didn't live through the great depression, and have the utmost respect
for those that did - I've heard the stories and many sound horrific -
but I'm still pretty darn cheap.  In retrospect, I lived with my 1973
Sears refer much longer than I should have.  Yes it was well
constructed, but also harvest gold!  Finally went to the store and
purchased a Kitchen Aide that was more $ than most, but like Randall
says, the others looked and felt like they were made from Coke bottles
and beer cans.  After the purchase, my electricity bill dropped about
$25/mo.  After rebates, discounts due to a small scratch, and a few
bucks the store threw in due to a delivery snafu, my payback was about 2
1/2 years.  My local Utility company gave me a $50 rebate for buying an
Energy Star appliance, and also gave me $35 for giving them my old,
working refer.  (They use this program to accumulate pollution credits).
One other thing: it sounds like the elderly couple actually have the $
for a new refer or the husband probably wouldn't be trying to sabotage
the old one - they are going to be paying for a new one whether the old
one breaks or he convinces the wife to just buy one.  OTOH, I don't know
how old they are - maybe a 2/12 year payback may be too long to
consider...
Dennis

<>
<> Add to that the price, which could easily be several MONTHS
disposable
<> income for a retired couple ... I wouldn't buy a new one either !
<
<Payback for a refrigerator that was built in the 70's is probably a
<bit less than 2 years.  I'd bet the savings are about the cost of
<financing it.
<


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