Sub Zero on CBS Sunday Morning

[mattl]

Interesting!

Sub-Zero: the home appliance company leaving competitors out in the cold

A Sub-Zero refrigerator just might be the answer to some people's dreams.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[DADoES]

 
"'I've gone back to the project 25 years later, and the Sub-Zero is still there working,' he said."

Parents' KA top-freezer, serial March 1995 (27 yrs), is still working with one ice maker head-module replacement.

My KA top-freezer, serial April 1997 (25 yrs), is still here working, with no repairs.

My GE SxS, serial Dec 2003 (18 yrs), is still working, with a few repairs that were much less $$$$$ than a Sub Zero.

 

[circlew]

My former neighbors got one when they built their house in the mid 80's, and soon regretted their purchase. It required frequent repairs, while their old GE in the basement continued without issues.

 

[qsd-dan]

Was there ever a time these had rock solid reliability? All I heard from owners is that they break down often and cost a fortune to repair.

 

[bradfordwhite]

I spent $159 for it NEW in 2019

And it's still working perfectly. I have a separate 3.5 c.f. chest freezer I bought new in 2017 for $49 from Lowes. Incredibly it still freezes solid as a rock.

The frig has glass shelves, an interior light, it's painted white, I can easily lift it, I can set it on the counter, I can fit it in the back seat of my car, it doesn't have a fan, it doesn't have a computer, it doesn't have a heater or a defrost timer.

If it stopped working tomorrow I wouldn't complain and would buy another just like it.

I have learned that when it comes to controlling eating having a refrigerator that fits what one NEEDS, instead of what one wants, makes the difference. I weigh 190 and that's near perfect BMI for me and I do like to eat.

Years ago (2002) I had a brand new Kenmore bisque side by side I think it was 22 c.f.
I had that thing reasonably full... and I was over eating.

I just laugh at people pissing $$ away on a refrigerated pantry.

And have you seen the over weight people? look at their refrigerator.
It's like they feel obligated to over eat.

 

[angus]

I've never understood the hype around SubZero. The units are attractive but I've had Whirlpool and GE refrigerators that went for 25 years with minor or no repair. Yet everyone I know who has a Sub Zero has had their share of expensive service headaches.
Interesting comment that with SubZero/Wolf you are "absolutely buying a lifestyle". I'm not sure that kitchen appliances are going to impact my lifestyle in any meaningful way. Are consumers that uninformed that they need a refrigerator or range/oven to validate themselves? My Whirlpool refrigerator, KitchenAid dishwasher and GE cooktop lifestyle suits me just fine... And no one has ever refused to come to dinner or otherwise socialize with me because I don't have the right appliances.

 

[qsd-dan]

"Are consumers that uninformed that they need a refrigerator or range/oven to validate themselves?"

Ah, the power of advertising. There's a reason it's a multi billion dollar industry.

 

[viewsaver]

My parents built a house in the early 80's and installed a Sub-Zero fridge/freezer. It required repair 2 or 3 times if I recall within just a few years. I was pretty young at the time but I knew it was an expensive appliance and thought it was a pretty big P.O.S. I told my dad that they should have kept our old Whirlpool manual defrost top freezer/fridge from the 60's. He wasn't amused. LOL.

 

[DADoES]

 
Sub Zeros are more likely to be repaired for being a high-ticket purchase vs. a "throwaway" $700 to $3,000 unit.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Sub Zeros have their compressors and condensers at the top, in the hottest air in the kitchen. A lot of these "lifestyle kitchens" have gas cooking appliances. Many of these kitchens prepare large amounts of food. If the ventilation systems are not being used or are not working properly, the grease laden air rises to the ceiling where the fans for the condensers pull it through them, clogging the fins with dust and grease. When the air circulation is compromised, the compressors overheat and shut down. These pieces of equipment need regular maintenance to perform well and they often do not get it. After the demise of the GE monitor tops, most compressors and condensers were moved to the cooler zone under the boxes. In mansions built in the early part of the 20th century, there were cool pantries and the hot kitchen. Often this was an architectural feature to facilitate ice delivery for the ice box, but it also kept the ice boxes and later the refrigerators in a separate, cooler zone and spared kitchen staff from the heat generated by the large stoves. This was a smart idea. but it died when kitchens became smaller.

 

[jamiel]

A very carefully crafted image---not dissimilar to the Kohler complex over on the lake---the toilet museum (!) is quite interesting; and the entire "golf--small town" complex is luxurious and quite fun, actually. We've got a tight kitchen and I'd certainly entertain looking at a more built-in refrigerator solution when we remodel.

It would be an interesting team-up with Speed Queen, tbh....

 

[bradfordwhite]

buying a lifestyle

"I'm not sure that kitchen appliances are going to impact my lifestyle in any meaningful way."

Yep, I've bought my lifestyle and I love it. I deliberately bought the appliances in the colors they are.
My white $50 freezer
white $139 refrigerator
(2) white burners for $15 each
never used black Hamilton Beach pizza/toaster oven from a thrift store for $5
a few small electrics
and my new st.sl. electronic air fry oven for $99

can't forget my 6 gal. GE water heater I got in 2010 that's never needed service. paid $38 used.

If I won the lottery tomorrow I wouldn't change. I might get a dishwasher and duplicates for my new homes
but those scuzzy
UGLY
gray and blue, faky farmhouse, radio active granite, aluminum light fixture, over sized applianced, particle board cabinet clad "kitchens" they are installing in homes would be summarily ripped out- personally.

I literally did a search for "ugly gray kitchen" and this picture is one that came up. lol.

 

[combo52]

Reply #11

Nothing wrong with that kitchen except the ugly floor, the floor itself could be ok in other places or even on the ceiling.

 

BW why no picture of your wonderful efficient kitchen, you have talked about it for years and no proof it exists.

 

John L.

 

[luxflairguy]

BINGO John! Proof needed!

 

[tomturbomatic]

Re: Reply #6 Consumer Validation

It was a joke here in the 80s about how you could spot a yuppie kitchen: commercial gas stove, Sub Zero and a set of unused Calphalon because the only food preparation was morning coffee. All other meals were eaten out. Now the coffee would come from someplace like Starbucks.

 

[angus]

It would be funny if it wasn't so true. As a realtor, I see way too many trophy kitchens with the most "upscale" appliances, the most expensive stone countertops and cabinetry, and every gadget known to man. But it doesn't look like anyone ever even boiled an egg there. Either that or someone spends all their time keeping that area pristine - which is entirely possible. Some homes even have a "secondary" or accessory kitchen in the basement where actual cooking is done so as not to mess up the showplace. Technically I would call that the Italian kitchen. Many of my people upon buying their first home, set up that kind of kitchen to do their heavy cooking/frying and or canning. That way the upstairs kitchen was always company ready...but I digress.

 

[paulg]

Our kitchen / No Sub-Zero yet.

Here’s our kitchen. Seventeen years old now.
We built the house new. We planned on entertaining and I cannot cook, so I advised hubby to design the kitchen and I’ll pick the brand of appliances.
And so we HAD a Kitchenaid dishwasher and refrigerator. Wolf smoothtop, Sharp microwave and Jenn-Air oven. Builder chose the FABER range hood. Who is Faber anyway?
Anyhow, after many repairs we replaced the dishwasher with a Miele. This is the second Wolf smoothtop; the first lasted about fifteen years.
The purpose of my entry here is the fridge. It has failed numerous times and I repaired it each time. Not thrilled. Hubby wants to replace it but I stated that I will continue fixing it until the sealed-system fails.
Initially I was thinking Sub-Zero. I wanted to stay American, however I am very pleased with Miele. I actually had to have them out to check on the new DW under warranty. Their service system truly impressed me.
Hmmm. What to do? Can you put a S-Z compressor/condenser unit in the basement?

 

[combo52]

Hi Paul, Nice workable kitchen and it looks like you are not afraid to use it.

 

I would be very cautious about Miele refrigerators, several our customers have them and are mostly very pleased but more than a few had to have the refrigerator replaced because of problems. I have only seen built-in models, these are the $10,000+ refs, also these refs are built in the US.

 

Refrigerators are getting very complicated and troublesome these days, if I was doing my kitchen over today and wanted best reliability I would probably put two top freezer GEs in built up about 4" off the floor or two basic WP-MT bottom freezer models from the Amana Iowa factory that WP is still running.

 

John L.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Just Watched:

Not just a company, a legacy...

 

Amäna, pretty much made its refrigerators and freezers, when they were a single-line manufacturer the same way...

 

 

 

-- Dave