Refrigerator Purchase Review at Lowe's
Two Lowe's Refrigerator Purchase Experiences: One Easy, One Not As Easy
Lowe's has not let me down yet! We have purchased two different refrigerators in person at Lowe's and then they delivered it to our house some days later.
For our first home on the East Coast, we had purchased a Samsung side-by-side refrigerator from Lowe's for a home we had just purchased on the East Coast when we were living there. Because my husband, who's a veteran, receives a 10% discount for all of his purchases for his past military service, we have been regular customers. It was an easy process and a great experience from purchasing to receiving. They delivered with a two-person team, took our door apart to fit the fridge through, hooked the fridge up, put the door back on the front door and took all the trash away!
Sadly, 8 years later, our refrigerator stopped staying cold enough! Even after trying to fix it ourselves, it was time to throw in the towel and we had to purchase a new one. Our milk and other food would go bad so quickly. We had moved from the East Coast to the West Coast and this fridge came along with us so there's this bit of sentimental attachment but, it was creating problems! Remembering all of our great Lowe's experiences, we decided to go to the Lowe's in our area in California and bought another refrigerator to replace the old one. This time, we ordered a side-by-side Frigidaire. They had over 3 dozens to pick from in person and we picked one that was about middle range in price. I like being able to open and close each refrigerator to compare. The personnel found a manager who gave my husband a 10% discount for the fridge. Thankfully, the veteran discounts work on both coasts at Lowe's!
Now, the lay-out of my smaller California home has my kitchen located on the second floor! It's weird for a single home so, the refrigerator sits on the second floor. The Lowe's personnel had mentioned that in the notes for us and also mentioned that they needed to take the old fridge away ($50 extra cost added for Lowe's to take the old fridge out, which I thought was a fair deal since that is labor included). However, when the delivery people came, they came with a 2 person team. I didn't think too much about it but they asked to see the existing fridge and quickly told me, this is a 3 or 4 person job so their team couldn't hook it up! Because it is upstairs, they need more people to ensure they don't ding the walls. I totally respect that decision and policy because my movers actually dinged our walls moving our fridge up the stairs and the fridge itself got dings and a zig-zag dent from the move. You can see the picture of my original Samsung fridge with zig-zag dent below from the movers moving it up the stairs of my house!
So then, we had to call Lowe's and explained the situation that the delivery people told us that Lowe's needed to send a 3 or 4-person team. Now, given the situation, Lowe's did a pretty good job of resolving it. They opened a case and told us that they'd call us back. Later that day, they gave us a call and said they found a team for 4 people and will deliver the refrigerator in two days.
This was my old Samsung old fridge. See that big ding or zig-zag dent below our fridge doors? That happened when two movers were trying to move my big fridge up the stairs when we moved into our California house. They didn't take the doors apart before moving it and that could be the reason why that movers caused esthetic damage carrying it upstairs.
Anyway, two days later after they had brought the refrigerator to my house the first time but couldn't install it, my actual refrigerator arrived at my house with two separate big trucks! Each truck had a team of two. I think one team contacted the other team as contractors so they could get this job from Lowe's. Well, it was obvious that Lowe's finds contractors for deliveries. I don't know why but I kept wondering how much Lowe's pays these guys for delivering and hooking my refrigerator up? With this team of four, I hope they pay them well enough. Anyway, one gentleman seems to be the leader. He rung the Ring doorbell on my front porch while the three other guys were busy getting the new fridge out of the box and asked me where the refrigerator was. So, I guided him upstairs where he immediately went to work and took the the old fridge doors' apart to make sure nothing gets dinged on the way down when the guys carry the main bulk down. I was pretty impressed with his mechanical skills. Then, one of the four guys was tasked with carrying the old fridge parts down while the leader continues to take more pieces apart. Before the entire old fridge went down, two guys brought the new fridge up the steps and set it down next to the old fridge. Then, one guy, who was lifting the new fridge up switched off with another guy so that he can take on the lift-down for the old fridge. I'm sure all of this lifting is terrible for their backs so if one guy needs to switch off on the lifting, that third guy offers relief. I was really intrigued by their team dynamics so I just observed without uttering a word to avoid disrupting their process.
So, from the doorbell ring button push, fridge swap, installation and finally, cleaning up all the plastic bags and trash from the new fridge, it took their team about 40 minutes. They were efficient and I'm sure they have other jobs lined up for the rest of the day. I had asked my husband if I was supposed to tip them and he said no. So, I know Lowe's pays them to do contract work and to do these services but the current tipping culture has gotten me very confused.
Anyway, even though there was a hiccup, I am happy with both of my refrigerator purchases from Lowe's on both coasts of the U.S.A. I know I'm really tooting Lowe's horn in this post but I'm honestly happy to share about my home improvement experiences as every big purchase can be frustrating and costly as homeowners.
Read about my experience when I ordered customized blinds from Lowe's.
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Originally from San Diego, California, I'm a San Diego State University alumna, veteran's wife and mom of two kids who were born two years apart. After living on the East Coast for 6 years, we now reside in San Luis Obispo County and here, the exploration continues. In between work and momming it, I like to exercise.
@sanluisobispomom