I want to buy one for my daughter’s new apartment. Probably mostly shorter-term storage. Not sure this is necessary at all, but she will like having it. Doesn’t need more as if she ever buys much, it probably will end up in my cellar.
I’d normally say to look on Craigslist or some equivalent. When people get rid of those wine cabinets, it’s usually for a small fraction of the purchase price.
I don’t know the odds, or if this is even desirable, but for that same $200 you might find a 100 bottle cabinet that’s a few years old. Less sure there is enough savings in a 30 bottle fridge to be worth the hunt.
The only worry about going cheap on these units is they usually go with crap refrigeration parts. Bought one at Sam’s Club whose thermostat died a month after the 1 year warranty Fortunately I have a relative that does fridge work, and he jerry-rigged a new one on that’s worked perfectly for nearly 8 years now.
The expensive ones are crappy in terms of reliability, too. It’s just not a product and/or industry that is strong on reliability. There are undoubtedly some exceptions out there, but that’s just my overall sense of it.
100 bottles would probably be too big for her. 30 is about right.
I am really not looking to save money and would pay a bit more - more concerned about the crappiness factor. If there is something better for a bit more, I might get it. If this is ok, price is certainly fine. Really looking to see if anyone has experience with these cheap wine enthusiast units. Do they do ok with temperature? Do Burgundy bottles fit? Are they loud? Etc.
I bought a 42 bottle Fridgedaire model about 6 years ago and it’s still going strong. It was on sale at Lowes for somewhere around $200. It’s quiet and seems to keep everything about 55 degrees. The racking isn’t great and a bit annoying, but it works well. Something like that might be your best bet.
I’ve had a 35 bottle GE Profile for 7 years and it has worked great. My other Fridgedaire kitchen appliances have been crap. I will never buy Fridgedaire again.
Sounds similar to mine which I would like to sell ever since I moved out of apartments a while back. Mine has racking for 20 Bordeaux-type bottles or smaller Burgundy but enough space on the bottom (without racks) to store about 12-15 more. I think the most I ever got in there were 42 bottles. Made by Summit Commercial Products. PM me if interested. I live in central NY but make trips.
We got two “48” bottle fridges on Craigslist, one 7 years ago and one 6 years ago. Both cost around $60 and both are still doing great.
Not that I have offsite storage I’m getting rid of one and hope it lasts as long for the next guy as it did us. We’re giving it away so if it craps out it’s not a big deal.
We bought an Avanti 52 or whatever capacity at Sam’s Club probably 10+ years ago for a good price. Still going strong and I use it for every day wines or special bottles pulled from the slightly newer twin Eurocaves that purportedly have 250 capacity each. That depends on shelving and bottle size, of course.
The Avanti is reliable, does not take up much space and is quiet.
I got a 52-bottle Vissani from Home Depot on sale for $150 (list 200, maybe 250 iirc) three years ago. Though it doesn’t appear to be available now; the best they have is a 50 bottle for $350. That being said I’ve been pleased with it so far.
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Fortunately I have a relative that does fridge work, and he jerry-rigged a new one on that’s worked perfectly for nearly 8 years now.