<p>We did, finally, buy a small refridge for my son today. This thread might be helpful to others had I taken notes, but sorry, all I have is a blur of memories. Started at Staples to pick up a surge protector and a CAT6 cable. Then on to Kohls where my son was taken by their display model 3+ cubic ft marked down to $89. (We would return later to find that the beat up display model was the only one left - I vetoed the purchase). Then we tried Target, which had a great price ($55) on a small one that my son felt was too small (1.7 cu ft). On to Walmart where the small one was $65, again too small. Checked out my least favorite store in the universe, PC Richard & son. They had a nice selection but prices seemed uniformly higher than the big sell everything stores. This was when we stopped back at Kohls and learned about the display model (should have asked when we were there the first time, duh!). So, we head down to the other side of the strip (Route 22) and we stop at another Target, which looks a little nicer but doesn’t have anything different. On to Home Depot, where I am afraid to ask because I will feel like a stupid idiot if they don’t have refrigerators, but they DO have refrigerators, even little ones, but nothing memorable. We go to the nearby Walmart, that’s right, a second Walmart and they have the same small one, but they also have a larger model (2.7 cu ft) that was not at the other Walmart. This one had no price on it, so we drag the box over to the price checker machine and it scans $89.99. We are done! It is just the right size, Haier, made in China, my little contribution to the destruction of our way of life. (So, was that 9 stops at 8 different stores? ) :)</p>
<p>Oxymoron…stating WalMart and made in China as two separate sources. Had to get that in there~~~~~~you made me smile.</p>
<p>Went to Sams, bought a frig.</p>
<p>My parents (grandparents of DS’s) say, “So…it IS a self defrosting unit, isn’t it? You can’t give a college student a non- self- defrosting refrigerator. It will just freeze up. What…do you expect him to defrost the thing every month?”</p>
<p>??? </p>
<p>:o My bad.<br>
I still don’t know and don’t care.</p>
<p>I would have needed valium after 8 stores in 1 day.</p>
<p>has free shipping. I love online shopping :-)</p>
<p>I can remember schlepping my minifridge the college every year–of course, microwaves were unheard of back then. What a royal pain in the rear! I was thrilled to learn that PSU provides a microfridge in each dorm unit when DD decided to matriculate there.</p>
<p>Upon arrival last weekend, I was thrilled to see that the freezer compartment was quite large–enought to fit about 10–that’s right, 10-1/2 gallons of ice cream. By providing the fridges and microwaves, it really saves the parents from one headache (as well as a lot of headaches for the university).</p>
<p>Sears carries mini-fridges also, in a variety of sizes.</p>
<p>You either have more patience than I, or like to shop more than I do. When Wal-Mart was out of the 2.7 cu. ft. (they had one at 3pm, it was gone when I returned at 6 pm), I just went to Sears and settled for what they had. I took the floor model, but it wasn’t beat up.</p>
<p>We found a good selection at Best Buy.</p>
<p>Having been to every fridge-selling store in the planet, and realizing that there was no way (short of tying it or DD to the roof) it would fit with all her “necessities” in the car, we took the easy way out. Ordered online (3.3 cu ft for $97) from Best Buy and picked it up at the store closest to school.<br>
Also learned 2 things:
- you can’t tip it more than 45 degrees or it screws up the coolant and then you have to wait 24 hours before turning it on.
- her school doesn’t allow them any bigger than 4 cu ft.</p>
<p>One stop shopping. A nice one, not too small, not too big, from Best Buy. A Haier, and no, it was not self-defrosting and yes, he used it for 4 years and it did not freeze up. He donated it this past June post-graduation.</p>
<p>As for defrosting-- DD had to unplug fridge for breaks. Just clean it out, put a towel in the bottom and prop the door open. By the end of the day, the towel has absorbed the water. Hang the towel to dry while on break.
Leave the door open when gone or it will smell really bad.</p>
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<p>Oops. Didn’t know that. It rode all the way to school on its side because I didn’t want to block the view. He turned it on right away and it was cooling when I checked. Hope the motor hasn’t burned out or something!</p>
<p>4 cu. ft. is the limit at son’s school also.</p>
<p>The frig you get may depend on the use. My D uses hers for food, including frozen foods. Almost all of the small, inexpensive units have a freezer section consisting of an aluminum compartment with a plastic door. They are not safe for storing frozen food and every one I have seen has had a problem with icing. When the ice builds up, the plastic door breaks and it is downhill rapidly from that point. You just have to give up with the freezer section. We made lots of stops at different stores until we finally found one with a separate well-made freezer compartment.</p>
<p>How quiet are these little refrigerators? I thought about getting one for son’ single dorm room, but I am afraid that the hum of the motor might be annoying. Does anyone know how quiet they are- or which models might be quieter?</p>
<p>The one we got is very quiet - just a low hum which is barely detectable. Before you get a frig think carefully about its use. My D has special dietary restrictions and used the frig heavily. The vast majority of kids are going to eat almost all their meals from the cafeterias. Even the small frigs are heavy and take a lot of space when moving.</p>
<p>wow, you guys are real pros! 
This is the one we got at Walmart (Haier 2.7 cu ft) except it was $89.99 at the store.</p>
<p>The guy helping us move in at son’s college told us we should wait to turn on fridge if it was on it’s side. That is the first we heard about that, and of course my son ignored his advice and plugged it right in. So far, so good.</p>
<p>Best Buy was actually the next store on our list, but mercifully we bought this one and came home.</p>