Test drives

Last weekend Maggie, Steve and I went appliance shopping. We were having new granite countertops installed on Monday and we were anticipating the need to replace the dishwasher, stove and fridge. The assumption was that they would look too shabby with the new countertops. We went to a large showroom that had a variety of all three appliances. It was a self-contained appliance store, not a Lowe’s or a Home Depot, and it had a parking lot with easy wheelchair access. Perfect.

Maggie thought that place was hilarious. There were so many things to pull on and touch. Keep in mind that Maggie does a lot of “cooking’ and she gets a say on how the new appliances handle. Dishwashers are boring because there is just one handle. Stoves are not important because her mean mother does not let her near that. (Burn much?) But the refrigerators? Now that was good test driving material. Steve positioned her so that she could try out each door. There were at least 50 refrigerators there and she test-drove probably 30.

Steve was playing used car sales person to her buyer.

“So, ma’am, you like the feel of this.” (Signs yes)

“That’s one of our best sellers.” (Looks at him quizzically)

“What will it take for you to take this home with you today?” (Laughs uproariously)

Though we were just looking, we did garner some important information. Never would have thought this, but we now know that we cannot consider getting a water dispenser, and especially not one with a sensor that cues it to run. Maggie would have water running everywhere. The sensor would be particularly entertaining. Every time she stuck her hand even in the vicinity, she would get water.

We also learned that a full door fridge would not do. Right now, we have the fridge on top and freezer on the bottom. A full side by side will be entertaining for her to open but there will be numerous dents in the door as it repeatedly hits the wheelchair. (Oh, by the way, you might want to stay away from the floor models in that particular showroom). That discovery plays perfectly into my plan, however. I want one of those two-door fridges with a pull out drawer freezer on the bottom. No dents, no water dispenser. No problem. Right on.

We did not buy anything last week and likely will not do so for a while. All three appliances are old, but all are functional. We ultimately decided to wait until they break. We are not good consumers – we actually use things for their entire useful life.

Bonus – When the granite was installed, the appliances looked fine – in fact better than ever.

Here are a couple of "before and after" or not quite after - there's no backsplash and no faucet. Oh, and the counters are clean which weill not last more than a day. Note the turkey in the before picture #1 - This was Thanksgiving morning. Counters a bit more cluttered than usual.