A Tale of Two Advantiums

The GE Advantium is the most successful of the speedcookers on the market. Then again, it could be one of the only successful speed-cookers on the market. It uses high powered halogen bulbs to cook up to 8 times faster than a regular stove.

Consumers are buying this unit:

The 110V over the range

The OTR has a vent, intuitive controls and can be used as an ancilliary oven with cooking speed up to 4 times faster. GE actually manufactures a faster 220v model as well, but a seperate electrical line needs to be installed.

Consumers are not buying this...

The 220v wall oven

I like the speed of the unit, but for $2199 you can almost buy a Bosch convection double wall oven.

GE vs Frigidaire

I couldn't figure the difference between these two ranges, so I asked Neil.

Neil and I actually grew up together in Needham, and he has been at Yale for 20 plus years, so he knows the difference. Lets look at these two very popular slide-ins, the GE Profile vs the Frigidaire Gallery.

They both have convection (fan forced heat for even cooking), a bridge element (connecting two burners for continuous heat) and a fifth warming element (guess).

The GE has stainless knobs and a triple burner (varying heat control for different types of pots), so ostensibly it is a better range.

However, the GE Profile costs $2059.....the Frigidaire...$1299.

New Products

Every year in April there is a new appliance show in Boxborough. This year was somewhat sparse, because we are almost four years in a recession. Manufacturers have decreased their R&D and focused on their core competencies.

There were a few kernels of innovation:

Big winner: Frigidaire induction slide-in with convection and warming drawer

Second Place: GE 20 cubic foot french door

Distant Third: AGA 36 inch professional

GE French Doors

I was never a fan of GE. They had tons of products under several different labels with zero value propositions for customers, GE Profile, GE, Hotpoint, the now defunct RCA.

Two years ago, they launched GE Cafe with great new product and very different style. Special note to manufacturers and "branders" alike: People buy products first and labels second, and labels succeed only because of the product.

The success of GE can also be attributed to their new french door products. French doors are side by side refrigerators with a bottom freezer. So while Whirlpool, LG, and Frigidaire were focused elsewhere, GE stole the market with LED lighting, bigger sizes and more current styling.

Have a look at their best: The Profile PFSS9SKYSS







At approximately $2700, this is a little high subtract the all encompassing informational dispenser with just a regular one... and the scaled down piece is $350 less.

GE vs Frigidaire

I have to respect Electrolux. They bought Frigidaire in 1993, and promptly shuttered the factories and retooled. They were the first to aggressively market stainless steel by 5 years. They have dominated the lower middle to middle commodity products.

Until now. GE has lowered their prices to compete in this segment. The best two (non Bosch) well capitalized companies are now vying for business. Ultimately You will win, but which is better...and is the GE stated strategy just marketing or actual execution.

Lets look at a couple of popular ranges:

Gas:








The GE 5 burner range in stainless is $999...Nice range, but the Frigidaire has a griddle burner as well as convection for $200 less.

Electric:








GE is better looking with stainless handles and accents, but it is 10% more.

Perhaps there will be more price changes next month.

I Dont Get It

An appropriate title for a confusing situation....So here we have a Viking all induction 36 inch cooktop.





Versus the GE induction range with a convection oven and second oven underneath.





The Viking cooktop is over $4500 and the GE range is just over $2400 seems a little high for half a unit....

The Best Ranges (For Now)

Its almost Thanksgiving, which means cooking.....and thus means ranges. Beats thinking about the Lions being beaten down yet again.

But which to choose? Following are my favs for value...

The Frigidaire FGF368(Gas)/FEF368(Electric)

Just a great basic self cleaning range...Stainless steel is only $589











The Bosch HGS5053/HES3053

I like this range. It has a power and simmer burner, convection and a griddle burner for good measure. Its manufacturered bt Frigidaire, but looks better under the Bosch name and is $120 cheaper....











The GE PHB925

You can buy a 30 inch induction cooktop for $2000 or buy this range with convection and double ovens for $2499....Best performing cooking product in the store.

Shallow Depth Refrigeration

This site is tied in with Google Analytics. Yesterday, I was looking at keyword search details, and 7 out of the 10 reasons people look at our blog in the last 30 days is for shallow depth refrigeration, which may be a good reason for a post.

Quite honestly, shallow depth looks aesthetically cleaner in a kitchen, as the black or gray sides are not shown. The refrigerator is 24 inches deep, so it is also dimensionally similar to standard cabinets.

There are two types of shallow depth products: Regular (there is no official name for this) and integrated.

Regular shallow depth products are 24 inches deep plus the door. This is the largest segment of the shallow depth category. It includes SubZero, KitchenAid, GE among others...



Integrated fits within a 24 inch panel and is best for paneled applications. Best brands include: Thermador, Liebherr, Miele, Gaggenau and SubZero...

Electric Ranges...Basics

As I wrote with gas, the basics of free standing stoves is easy to understand, of the two, electric is even easier. Most electric ranges have a glass top called ceran. There are only two places where these tops are manufactured with Schott being the primary supplier.

So lets look at the real differences between electric ranges...

The top

1. Basic 4 burner
2. 4 burners with warming zone
3. 4 burners with oblong or griddle type burner
3. Induction...Magnetic heat. Fastest and best form of cooking (gas or electric)



Oven

1. Basic radiant oven
2. Convection..fan forced heat to keep a more even heat



Drawer

1. Storage
2. Warming Drawer - keeps food warm for up to 3 hours
3. Second Oven



1. storage
2. warming drawer...keeps food warm for up to 3 hours
3. second oven

Two companies seem to dominate our electric range sales, Frigidaire and GE. Frigidaire has decent features for the price. GE is a little more upscale and has the only induction range in the free standing category.

For more specific information about electric ranges, please click here for the electric range buyers guide

EnergyStar Refrigeration

Our new site needs work, and it does have issues. We are working to address, but to clarify: All EnergyStar refrigerators for NSTAR and National Grid customers from GE, Frigidaire, Electrolux, SubZero, Thermador and Bosch have $169 instant rebates...Its a little confusing at the present time without question

New Products?

As I mentioned in the last post, once a year the appliance manufacturers show new products in Foxwoods. Predictably, this year was the least inspiring. In a recession, the easiest way to remain profitable is to slash inventories, reduce headcounts and slash R&D. Slashing R&D typically means less new products as was the case on Monday.

Its not all bad. The newer products(2-6 months) may have less features, but also have lower prices. Winners: the new laundry from Bosch, the new Duets from Whirlpool, new GE refrigeration...

Have a look:



Most inspirational product: This disposal "Gator"...lose a ring or other valuable down the disposer and this contraption will fish it out...complete with LED light.

Something New...Finally

Finally, something new worthy of a blog post...The new GE Induction range.





Although its a tad pricy at $2699, this range is a great product with all electronic controls, induction burners, convection oven and a warming drawer.

To review, induction is the fastest (yes even faster than a pro), way more efficient, and emits zero heat, so venting can be conventional...great unit.

Post 701 and Handles

Hard to believe the ole blog has surpassed the 700 landmark. Now social media is the rage because it helps the brand, google rank and corporate credibility. We started The Yale Blog in 2007 to advise people honestly on how to shop for appliances, plumbing and lighting. I never really considered social media back then. Just wanted to be a reliable source of information in an industry that seems to need it.

The Yale Bloggers:





Frigidaire has a new line of appliances. It is updated aesthetically with three different handles styles, which can be good until you try to package their different lines.





Lets look at this new range. It looks different, but it is $100 more expensive than the model it superceded. The older piece also had a second oven, which is not available on this unit. So for $100 more, you seem to be buying less.

Frigidaire has always occupied an interesting niche of affordable stainless steel. Perhaps they should have rethought this latest line. GE, their largest cooking competitor, will have a new line of economical stainless steel appliances in August.

File this post under bad timing...

A Good Top Loader

Ah, the odious top loader...only a product like a Hummer or Dodge Durango wastes more resources that a $399 top load washer, and this workhorse refuses to die. This virtually guarantees years of wasting money to the tune of $200 per year.

This new GE is different. Its almost like a front load machine with 4.1 cubic foot capacity and only uses 16-24 gallons per wash.

Not bad for $400...

Single or Double?

Interesting...but will consumers like it?



Time will tell

Breaking Up Is Hard (And Expensive) To Do

Great tune. Happy Monday, I guess.

Let us presume that you will be planning/consummating or otherwise considering a remodel, renovation or new construction. Let us state further that your budget has been cut.

If you want a seriously different piece of advice guaranteed (not in a telemarketer type of way) to save you some dough, then do not split your appliances.

A single wall oven, which is defined as a stove without burners in a wall, is $700-1800 on average. A very good freestanding range with burners will cost less.

Have a look at a pictorial:

The GE Profile single wall oven with digital LED controls $2289





The GE Gas stove with convection, 17,000 BTU burner and griddle $1299

In With The New

You are the second person to see the new GE Induction range (after me.)



Induction (to review) is much faster than gas, offers lower simmering and emits far less heat in the room. The good news about GEs entrance into the market is Frigidaire and Whirlpool will not be far behind. Then the pricing will be lower as competition intensifies and the technology improves.

Your Choice...Seriously

I will occasionally work on the sales floor to sharpen my dwindling skills. What I would buy seems to be the question Du jour. So lets look at this GE Advantium as a case in point.



The GE Advantium will cook 4 times faster than a regular oven. It has simple preset cooking programs, so it is easy to operate....My question to you (and you to yourself)

Would you use it? (assuming it fits)


If the answer is no, then spend $300 less for a simple microwave.


If yes, does it fall within you budget...If not, look above.


If yes, certainly consider it. (don't worry, we will show you how to use it)

Not For Sale...Yet

Perhaps the most successful brand in 2008 is GE. Their products are really well priced with decent features like high output burners on the stove, LED lighting in the refrigerators and Smartdispense on the dishwasher.

Have a look:



Ironically, GE has been trying to sell the appliance division for a long time and intensively ..In a year when they absolutely knocked the cover off the ball and finally gave someone a reason to buy the company, nobody has the funding.

Inexpensive, Not Cheap

According to most blog experts, I have to connect to readers with short bursts of compelling info. In the last 2 months, I have shorten the narratives to be more hard hitting. The old stuff, in my opinion, is better for people who are looking for the nuts and bolts on renovating, etc, especially the very first blogs up to early 2007.

Shifting gears, there seems to be more housing inventory on the market lately. Unlike years previously, there are, however, tons of ways to distinguish your home inexpensively....


Let's spend less than 2600:

Complete Frigidaire Gallery kitchen with 2 colored Tech Pendants.



GE Profile Range and wine cooler.



For about $2800, how about an induction cooktop, 5 LED replacement trims and 2 low voltage french optic pendants.