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Sigh...another request for appliance help, but very focused!
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Posted by lisaraz (My Page) on Sat, Nov 7, 09 at 10:33
| I join the legions of exhausted, frustrated appliance choosers on this site (and thanks everyone for all I've learned already!). We're needing to make some decisions shortly, and I've been working with two appliance sales groups who sell different lines. Call the first one A and the second one B.
A is a large company selling fine lines, who works closely with my builder and offers builders' discounts where applicable. They sell Thermador, and as everyone knows, Thermador has a great package sale going on now.
B is a small, more elite company who doesn't sell Thermador. My builder's kitchen guy used to work for them, and there's a little bad blood between them. Apparently getting specs from them in a timely way might be difficult.
My choices are basically a Thermador package through A, or a random grouping through B. B sells Miele, A doesn't. B sells Monogram Advantium (I don't like the lines on the Profile Advantium), A doesn't. In an ideal world, I'd have Miele speed and regular oven, Wolf 36" rangetop with griddle, Miele dishwasher, Subzero 48" CD s/s fridge. But budget is an issue, so I can't do that package and I'm trying to do the best I can for the least I can. (There are lots of other fabulous things out there, but I just can't process any more information, and my local places, e.g., don't carry Bluestar.)
So much for the background. Here are the packages I'm choosing from:
A: Thermador line:
- 30" professional convection micro/true convection oven combo w/ additional glide rack (one comes free with oven, I think)
- 48" s/s CD fridge (can also choose 30"fridge and 24" freezer Freedom columns for basically the same price)
- 24" dishwasher
- 36" range top with griddle (and island trim)
- 36" hood
- 1000cfm internal blower
Price before tax: $14,435 - and I might also get a 10% builder's discount, which would total $12,991.
B package:
- Viking 30" stainless convection oven with infrared broiler
- sharp convection microwave with trim kit
- 48" stainless viking fridge
- no dishwasher (we have a 2yo kitchenaid, but if Therm wants to give us a new one, okay!)
- Monogram 36" rangetop with griddle
- Monogram wall hood with blower
Price before tax: $13,597
What do you all think? And, how should I choose between the columns and the regular 48"? the columns are shallower front to back because they're fully integrated, so the cu. ft. space is the same. Installation of the columns next to each other is more difficult.
Thanks so much!
Lisaraz |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Sigh...another request for appliance help, but very focused!
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| I personally wouldn't go with a total Thermador package (or any single brand for that matter) so I'd go with dealer B. On the other hand, I would not get a Viking fridge - they're had serious problems in the past and I'm not sure they've been corrected. As far as getting specs, you can usually get them from the manufacturers' web sites and not have to get them from the dealer. |
RE: Sigh...another request for appliance help, but very focused!
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| Even the salesman who loved and recommended the Viking oven to me commented that their fridges had major issues, and others told me the same. I'm not even sure I'd risk the oven after hearing Viking horror stories for service. Why not get the Miele oven, since it was your first choice? Where I looked at the Viking it was more expensive than Miele. I looked at the Thermador oven, and although it looked cool, it was more expensive than any other I looked at, and I wasn't sure it offered any reason for that. Another company that had a bad reputation for service, so I'd be afraid of having a whole kitchen full. The Columns, though, seem to have rave reviews, so I would seriously consider them if I had the budget. In option B, could you get a less expensive fridge (maybe KitchenAid or Monogram) and then be able to do the Miele oven (also a savings, I think) to have the speed oven-oven set you really want? |
RE: Sigh...another request for appliance help, but very focused!
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| I wouldn't go for a whole package from the same vendor either, except that it's such a great deal that nothing else compares when trying to get good quality for a low(er) price. The only reason B's package is what it is is because he used as many floor models as he could, to give me a better deal. The Viking fridge is 6,000. He doesn't carry kitchenaid, and I'm not sure Monogram would be much different. I guess I'm thinking Thermador is the better bet. (we'll get the extended warranty, and company A takes care of all sales and service issues). |
RE: Sigh...another request for appliance help, but very focused!
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| I think you're wise to go with the Thermador pkg. What's important at this price level is service, not just from the mfg but from your distributor. As long as your builder can get you good client referrals on the service from this distributor, I think A's pkg wins over B. And I agree with rhome410, get the Columns over a SxS. Huge wow factor! |
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