Does anyone own an LG appliance?

[aggie94]

I'm looking for feedback on LG appliances, particularly refrigerators. We have been shopping for fridges in anticipation of moving into our new house in (cross your fingers!) about three weeks. I am looking for a very particular fridge with particular specs, and only two manufacturers make what I want: LG and Kenmore (and I understand from Sears that the Kenmore fridge I'm interested in is made for them by LG). Both have their pros and cons, and at this point, I'm leaning towards the LG fridge (having never actually seen it in person, only online) but would like to hear from people who have experience with their products, since it's not a brand I'm familiar with.

TIA!

[Chefzhat]

Eva, I just went through this process. I would have purchased an LG refrigerator, washer and dryer - but in my area no one would service them (although they would sell them!) I ended up with a Kenmore fridge and Bosch washer and dryer for that reason alone.

If you can get them serviced, go for it! They seem like great products.

Debie

[HejazSunKat]

Well, my cellphone is LG! :D Ok, that's probably a leap from a major appliance huh? The biggest thing I have bought of that brand is computer monitors (bought for my last job where they got daily use) and they were great. What kind of model were you thinking of? I got the following off of Consumer Reports but they are talking about the LG bottom freezer models which were well rated (and this info is from August, 2004):


Large; 36 inches wide:
18 LG, $1700
19 Maytag, $1700
28 GE, $1000, CR Best Buy
42 Kenmore (Sears), $1000, CR Best Buy

Both bottom-freezer models have French doors. The top-scoring LG LRFC25750[WW] (18) is especially quiet; the roomier Maytag MFD2560HE[W] (19) performs as well, offers a stainless finish, and has a water dispenser and crank shelves for the same price. Among the side-by-sides, consider the GE GSS25JFP[WW] (28) for its touchpad controls and temperature-controlled meatkeeper; the Kenmore (Sears) 5470[3] (42), if you're willing to trade those features for stainless steel, a bit more space, and lower energy costs

[gertdog]

Hi Eva,

I can't comment on straight LG models, but I do have a Kenmore bottom-freezer refrigerator which is manufactured by LG. We bought it in July of this year. I looked at all kinds of fridges, including the LG models carried by Best Buy. They are almost identical to the Kenmore made-by-LG models, but the Kenmores seem to cost a little less for the same features.

In any case, the model we bought has been very good. I love the gallon-size door bins and the slide-out shelves, and I particularly like the temperature controls. They are up front and easy to use. The freezer is convenient, although it you choose a model with an ice maker (we didn't), you lose a lot of space to that.

We really wanted a bottom-freezer model and ended up choosing the Kenmore over the LG primarly because of price- the Kenmore model was on sale at Sears for about $150 less than the equivalent LG. But another deciding factor was that Consumer Reports has no data on LG repair histories.

Anyway- good luck and have fun shopping- hope you find what you want!

[Jasmine-Rose]

What a timely inquiry!

Eva, I have an LG front load washer and dryer and I love them. I did a lot of research before I replaced my 20-year-old set, comparing LG to Whirlpool Duets and the Maytag Neptunes and the Sears models. I wanted front-loaders for the low water consumption and for a number of other reasons, and I came to believe that LG was the best option. I know your query wasn't about these specific appliances though and I'm posting to tell you about my service experience.

My washer and dryer were purchased this past February. A few weeks ago the washer broke. I called LG and they told me that the error message I saw on the digital display meant that I need a new direct drive motor, and that they would find someone in the area who could service it. They assured me that the repair was a simple matter of replacing the motor which was easy to access and not much bigger than a pie plate in diameter. I called back a few days later and they hadn't found anyone, but they told me that if I knew of an appliance repair place that would take on the job, they'd authorize them to do it. I called a local place from which I'd purchased my Amana bottom mount refrigerator (LOVE that 'fridge :D , and the service at that place is fantastic!!!), and they agreed to do the repair. I brokered a deal between LG service and the Maytag store. Soon after I got a call telling me that the part that I needed was on backorder and that the units coming in were all spoken for, so it would be another 4-6 weeks before I could get the needed part. I very calmly and politely requested that the service rep see if there might be another solution (I truly was calm and polite - no sarcasm there). After all, the washer was less than a year old and I couldn't be without my washer for two months! Next call I got was from the rep and she told me that I'd be receiving a brand new washer to replace the faulty one!

The new washer will be delivered on Monday. While it has taken a bit of time to get this resolved, overall I've been very pleased with LG's customer service. I wouldn't let the fact that there's no authorized repair place in the area stop me from purchasing the units - LG wants to broaden their network of service reps so they were delighted to find someone to take on the job, and the Maytag guys are happy to be the only authorized service place in the area. They got in up front and I'm sure it will work to their advantage. They said that LG has been good to work with so they have no complaints, either.

May I suggest that you do some research at That Home Site (http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/appl/) ?. I have found that website to be a great source of information about all kinds of things. Good luck with your decision.

[slawrence]

I have the LG front-loader washer and dryer and LOVE them. In fact, in my divorce I asked for custody of them. I have been very happy with them. When I was in the market for a refrigerator, I went straight to the LG, however, since they don't make either the right-side opening or a bisque-colored one...can't quite remember which reason I got something else. I was very impressed with the LG refrigerators I looked at, but they just weren't going to work in my new home. I would buy LG with confidence, especially after Jasmine-Rose's experience with the replacement. Good luck-those big purchases are difficult decisions to make.
Sue

[cinbis]

We just bought a Kenmore Elite fridge. It has the pull out freezer on the bottom and French doors on the top with water on the outside. So far I really like it. The only problem I'm finding with this style is that there isn't a lot of room for tall items. The only place they fit are in the doors. Fortunately, we still have our old fridge in the pantry so I can store tall items in there. I'm not sure if this is made by LG, but it seemed very similar to the LG models we looked at.

[aggie94]

Thanks for all the feedback! I'm pleased to hear so many positive things.

The fridge I'm looking as it a bottom-freezer refrigerator with French doors. Only two manufacturers (Kenmore and LG) make it in counter-depth, which is a must in our new house. (That's from what I could find - if anyone has info that someone else has a French-door counter-depth bottom-mount fridge, I would love to hear about it! I checked Amana, Maytag, Kitchenaid, Whirlpool, GE, and Jenn-Air and none of them have one.)

The Kenmore Elite that cinbis has is one of the two, but it's the front-door electronic panel and water dispenser that I don't want. The LG model doesn't have that feature, so that's why I'm leaning towards the LG, even though Stephanie is right that the Kenmore brand seems to offer more features for the $, even though the manufacturer is the same.

I will definitely look into service issues, if I can even find someone locally that carries the fridge I want. I won't buy it without seeing it in person first. I have a list of retailers in the area that I printed from LG's website, so I'll have to start calling around and making a few visits. I'll also do a little more research at the Garden Web's appliance forum. Thanks again, everyone!

[Beth]

Eva, is the freezer the same? I like that fridge, but do want an ice maker, but don't want to have to bend over and pull out 2 drawers before I can get to it -- a little lazy and annoyed, but mostly sensitive to it because of my neck. I'm hoping to replace my appliances and countertops this spring.

[aggie94]

Beth, I think the freezer is the same on both. If you have an icemaker, it'll be the basket in the far left corner of the freezer, so you'd have to pull out the freezer drawer first, then the top basket of the freezer to get to the ice. That's the way it was in our last bottom-freezer fridge too (Amana). I'm pretty sure it's the same on both the Kenmore Elite and the LG. Unfortunately, the Kenmore Elite's in-door water dispenser did not have an ice feature as well.

[Beth]

Samsung has a bottom freezer that open with 3 drawers and the ice maker in front of you. I like that feature, but I also like the 3 door refrigerator and a counter depth would be nice.

[cinbis]

Kenmore also makes a freezer on the bottom with French doors on top and water on the inside. I think those have the ice maker inside as Aggie94 described. I'm not aware of any counter-depth models in this style. This fridge barely fit in our space....it's big!