The New Refrigerator

We've been in Paris now for about seven years. When we first arrived and bought our apartment, we bought a new refrigerator, washer/dryer (one unit), and TV. The oven, dishwasher, microwave were included with the apartment. Everything worked perfectly the entire time we lived on rue de Seine (don't ask about the toilet, there's always something). We took the refrigerator, TV and washer/dryer with us when we moved to our new apartment.

Once we moved, the spell was broken. We assumed ownership of some of the previous owner's appliances. Almost immediately the dishwasher broke and we had to replace it. Then, the washer/dryer went south last year. While it still worked, the timer on the dryer didn't work and I was afraid that it would catch everything on fire if I left it alone.

Now, we've had to buy a new refrigerator. It was just delivered today.

To say that they "don't make 'em like they used to" is an understatement. Our original refrigerator in the US lasted for 23 years. The salesman at BHV says that they should last around 10 years now. The new gas that replaces freon, for some reason, doesn't last as long.

The refrigerator saga is quite long and has been time-consuming. Part of the problem is our fear of French appliance repairs. For both the washer/dryer and the refrigerator, we had the Darty apres-vente service come out. In both cases, the man had to call his office to figure out the problem. This doesn't build confidence. Then, in both cases, the repairman has determined that the problem is the "carte electronique", the computer brain for the appliance. It is probably a card of some kind that they slip into place, but for the washer it would have cost us Euro 300 and for the refrigerator is was Euro 210.

In each case, after we got the cost of repair, we've decided to buy a new appliance. Even though the repair has six month warranty, it is only for the problem that was fixed. Other things can break down and they won't be covered. So, we figure that if we pay for the repair and then something else goes wrong (or, God forbid they didn't find the problem the first time!), we will end up spending enough on repairs to buy a new machine.

The washer/dryer was pretty easy. We went to Darty first, but they didn't have a good selection, so we went to BHV and bought a new one.

The refrigerator was much harder. All in all, it took five trips to stores. First we went to BHV. On the same day, we went to Darty. We were still undecided about replacing the refrigerator or repairing it.

It was finally decided to replace it when the machine really started to act up. So, Saturday morning we went back to BHV. We thought we wanted one model but found out that it wasn't frost-free. The last time I de-frosted a refrigerator was in college and that was a long time ago. Old technology.

So after much back and forth with Terry (I wanted a nicer model than he did), we settled on another model, took the bus home to re-measure the space, took the bus back to BHV, and bought it. The salesman said that it would be delivered in 15 days. We were happy and relieved and even treated ourselves to lunch on the 5th floor, one of my modest pleasures.

On the way home on the bus, I looked at the sales receipt. Instead of delivery in 15 days, it said, delivery at the end of Week 21, which would mean about 25 days. The final blow came after we got home that day and the "Alarm" light came on, meaning that the refrigerator was dangerously warm inside. After two trips to BHV, we decided this could wait until Monday. Stores are closed on Sunday in France. So, Terry called the salesman, put a hold on another machine that was available immediately and told him that we'd be in first thing on Monday morning to buy the new one.

Back we went on Monday, bought the machine and it was delivered, without incident. A little bit of honking in the street because the BHV truck was blocking the street, but this is Paris, deliveries are permitted in the morning.

But, we're not finished yet. The delivery man told us that the refrigerator can't be turned on for four hours because it has to "settle". Then, it will take 4-8 hours to get cold. I remember this from the first time. I wonder what would happen if I didn't follow instructions and turned it on now? Even though we have a five year warranty, if we don't do it correctly, it will break down after five years and one day.

So, I've put all the food from the refrigerator into bags and in the bathtub with ice on top. I'm waiting to turn it on and try it.