[Imc] The Fridge & Freezer Report

[Mike Lehman]

Here's what I discovered about our options, followed by my
recommendation.

A new refrigerator will cost at least $400. It would be relatively
small, but efficient. Yearly operating cost: ~$55-$60

A used refrigerator, with 6-month guarantee would be $290. The thing is
around 10 years old. Questionable deal. at Dick van Dyke

A new 9 cu-ft upright freezer (like a fridge, but all freezer) is $270.
A little large for our needs, plus they are less efficient than
chest-type freezers. I forgot to check operating cost on this one. At
Dick van Dyke which, has a good 7-year guarantee at no extra charge.

A new 7.2 cu-ft chest-type freezer would be $180 at Best Buy; $229 at
Dick van Dyke. This one is about half again as wide as a regular fridge
and about hip-high. Operating cost= $25 year

A new 5 cu-ft chest-type freezer would be $158 at Best Buy; $175 at Dick
van Dyke.
This is about as wide as a regular fridge and about hip-high. Operating
cost= $21 year

Recommendation: We might consider the new 7.2 cu-ft chest freezer, but
it takes up a little too much room for our situation.

I suggest we go with the 5 cu-ft from Best Buy:
1) It's cheapest, both to buy and own.
2) It could fit in the front room where the snack rack is currently. We
could simply set the snack rack up agaisnt the freezer and the freezer
against the staff desk. This might help increase frozen sales. It could
be moved to the back room when the heat is over if we ned a little more
room in the fall and winter.
3) No one has said that the old fridge doesn't keep soda cool. There are
larger, dorm-type fridges available for under $200. Their freezers are
inadequate for our needs, but, if and when the old fridge goes, I
suggest we consider something like that. Until that should happen we are
money ahead.
4) Dick van Dyke has a good extended guarantee, but I doubt if we'll
have a problem. It's only a few dollars more if people think we should
go that route and is already included in the price of the unit, not as
an extra charge. It may not apply for units not in home use, as I didn't
check on that.

I am putting this out for comment now, because the meeting this Sunday
may be a little too small (with the holiday weekend) to make a decision.
We may not want to wait another week and with Cinncy coming up we may
the same problem the week after. I could go ahead and obtain the unit if
everyone assents to it, but I'm not sure if this will work
procedure-wise. Let me know if we do want to move on this, otherwise I
will bring it up at Sunday's meeting and hope we can act then.

Mike Lehman