aj madison appliances -- or?

When I was buying appliances for my reno on the UWS, I priced out the Sub Zero, Range and Dishwasher I had to get at all the stores. I was offered the best prices by Drimmers -- they beat PC Richards by a lot and AJ Madison. They will match or most times beat any price you are quoted. Delivery and installation went smoothly, though the Sub Zero installer took a while to get the positioning right with the already installed cabinets. All appliances are working great. I looked at the appliances elsewhere and then just called on the phone and arranged everything. Their number is (877) 338-3500.

Thanks for this. After I posted my question I started searching the discussions here by store name and Drimmers has had only praise. I'll follow up, thanks!

I've purchased several items at Drimmers (ask for Isaac). Very very helpful, installation went very smoothly. I actually made an error when ordering and they helped me change the item out with a very minimum charge.
Would definitely buy from them again.

Call Buyer's Edge at 800-377-3700. using group number 215. They are the Builder's Division of PC Richards and beat the prices of both AJ Madison and PC Richards. The only hitch is you must give them the exact make and model number of the appliances you've selected. I've bought all the appliances for 3 kitchens through them over the past 15 years, including apartment sized washer/dryers. No problems at all. You can purchase additional service through them, just as you could through PC Richards.

For example, I just selected a refrigerator, range, microwave, and dishwasher using Liebherr, Miele, and GE Profile products for my new apartment. I paid around $1200 less than the AJ Madison prices listed online, including tax and shipping.

I do like AJ Madison and bought sink vanities and basins through them. The service was great and they replaced a damaged piece immediately without any hassles.

Thanks ph41 and Jelj13. Will Buyer's Edge schlepp the stuff up from the basement? My contractor will install but won't carry up the appliances, so I need delivery to the apartment itself. P.S. How are you liking your Liebherr? That's what I want! (tiny kitchen, so the 24"). I'm told PC Richards doesn't offer extended warranty on Liebherr.

PC Richards doesn't offer the extended warranty on Liebherr, but I couldn't find another place that did. I called Liebherr and they said there are many places in the Manhattan area that are authorized for repairs. None of these seemed to have an extended warranty either. But I checked the blogs and found very few repairs listed except for the ice maker. I rarely use ice and the ice maker takes up a lot of the freezer space, so I didn't install it. I'd rather buy a bag of ice or make a few trays myself if I have company.

Buyer's Edge will deliver right into your kitchen if you're in an elevator building. I don't know what happens if you don't have an elevator. You would have to check with them.

I have a galley kitchen with a tiny butler's pantry and a rear door in the back. I put a 36" wide, 24" deep, French door Liebherr in the pantry area. It was the only one I could find under $5,000 that fit so I could open the back door. Some of the counter-depth refrigerators are much deeper than that.

The refrigerator keeps my produce fresher longer than any other refrigerator I've ever had in the past 30 years. It has LED "runway" style lights in the refrigerator part so you can really see everything. There are LED lights in the 2 drawers.

The other good thing about the Liebherr is that there is more usable storage than in most refrigerators with the same cubic capacity. I discovered this on Consumer Reports where they listed the real capacity of various brands o refrigerators.

HOWEVER, this refrigerator weighs a TON and 2 men had to struggle to get in over the doorsill into place. You have to be sure to save the leveling tools Liebherr sends because they're metric.

This is great info. AJ Madison says they do offer extended warranty on Liebherr....but now I'm leaning toward Drimmer's and your Buyer's Edge, so time to do more research. I do live in an elevator building, but the delivery guys are required to bring the appliances in from the basement, which means carrying them down 21 steps from the street, rather than thru the lobby. Horrible. You sound like me, obsessive research. What did you choose for your stove in your little kitchen?

Another vote for Drimmers. Purchased my Miele dishwasher from them. No issues.

It's a shame about going down through the basement. Maybe you could ask for a waiver for any super-heavy appliances providing you put up a bond against damages, etc.

I bought a GE Profile™ Series 30" Slide-In Double Oven Gas Range, PGS950SEFSS (5 burners, including a griddle, triburner (similar to Wolf), and 1 convection oven . I found that the kitchen was too narrow to have a single oven range with cabinets opposite it. The double oven meant easy access AND the addition much needed cabinets.

I originally was going to take the Café version, but people were complaining that the Café had metal dials that heated up when the oven was on. GE was considering changing the dials.

I had a great experience with sink/vanity replacements from AJ Madison. I forgot that AJ Madison did offer service for the Liebherr, but I prefer ordering both the appliances and contracts from a single vendor.

Thanks, Riversider for a vote for Drimmers. Jelj13, while I see reviews for Drimmers, I don't find any sites or forums or people reviewing Buyer's Edge -- except you. How did you know about them-- and, feel confident going with them?

Your stove sounds great. I don't have room for a 30" range...or rather, I don't cook, so I 'd rather have more counter space, so I'm going with the 24" Bertazzoni gas range & hood. They get a lot of press, but not too many reviews, other than a few complaints about trouble lighting the oven. (But since I've never turned on an oven in my life, I probably will never find out.)

For vanity I'm getting a Kohler Poplin base -- I'm going to order from Build.com, which has gotten good reviews here on StreetEasy. Sinks, faucets and shower fixtures, etc. have been chosen, but the contractor is buying those. It's the appliances and accessories he wants me to be responsible for.

PC Richards lives on reputation. It's all they have in this day an age of internet shopping.
Last year I had to replace a 42 inch built in ge profile refrigerator. As the elevator is also 42 inches, I thought it might be wise to go with a reputable company.
The survey guy came and measured and said no problem. But when the delivery guys came, they didnt even want to attempt. After a 2nd appointment and refusal to deliver, I was furious. I wrote a letter to the Richard family asking about their slogan "105 years of honesty,integrity, reliability."

Sure enough, they sent a team that got that fridge into my apartment.
It involved removing one of the doors among other things.

Point is you wont get that with any other appliance place.
I remain and now more so, a PC Richards customer.

We have bought from AJ Madison and we can only say good things about them

I found out about Buyer's Edge because their ads were placed in the Employee Center at 2 very well known, large firms for which I worked. Both of these employers said they only let Buyer's Edge advertise because they were reliable. Employee Services told me that large appliance chains get good deals from the manufacturers by guaranteeing that they will order a minimum number of appliances from them. These "buying deals" assure that they meet their minimum quota. I don't know if that's true since I didn't hear it from Buyers Edge directly.

For appliances, you're really using the Builder's Division of PC Richards. That's what appears on your receipt with the address of PC Richards headquarters. The appliances are delivered in a PC Richards van by men wearing PC Richards logos.

However, they don't send anyone out to "survey" the delivery. They gave me the clearances they needed on the service elevator to deliver the Liebherr because it is very tall. I cleared it with my super. The super said others in the building had ordered the same refrigerator and had no problem if it was uncrated first. The PC Richards delivery men were very careful and accommodating, so everything came in perfect shape.

You don't see many reviews of the high end appliances, even on Consumer Reports. My contractor and friends were very helpful on that.

Have you considered buying an 18" dishwasher to maximize cabinet space? Miele and Bosch have some excellent models that can hold a lot more than I expected.

Frankly, I needed to have custom cabinets built due to the shape of my kitchen, meaning extra costs. So I set a budget for the appliances and worked within that for my selection. For the dishwasher, range, and microwave/hood, I also considered the HANDLES. Although they are different brands, they look as if they match.

I bought the sink, sink accessories, soap dispenser, drawer customizations (Rev-a-shelf), and faucet through Build.com. I used them before for upgrades to the bathrooms and kitchen before selling my last apartment. The prices were great and delivery was prompt.

For drawer pulls, I used goingknobs.com instead of Build.com. They're in NJ and gave me the best price with shipping and tax on the model of Amerock pulls I ordered. Shipping was slower than build.com though.

I have used AJ Madison in Brooklyn without any problems. All appliances were researched thoroughly online beforehand (and viewed in person at other stores) and when it came time to order, we simply placed it over the phone. I found the prices to be comparable to others, and AJ Madison had all items available to ship. Also, no issues with delivery.
Propinquity, we also went with the 24" Bertazzoni gas range. It was the best looking 24" range for the money and works great, although lighting the burners takes some getting used to. To see the final install: http://www.houzz.com/projects/620071/upper-east-side-kitchen-renovation

Jelj13, I did look at 18" dishwasher and they feel too small to me. A small stove doesn't bother me. I , too, am having custom cabinets built and just bought the pulls on build.com even though we haven't started renovating yet --because Omnia was having a 40% off sale that was ending. novaNYC, what do you mean the Bertazzoni burners "take some getting used to." In what way? Your photos on houzz look fabulous. I'm getting those same drawer pulls! (Those are the Omnias. Or they sure look like them.) The stove looks a lot bigger than a 24", though. At least in the pictures it does.

When lighting the Bertazzoni burners you have to push the knob in and turn to start the ignition and gas. You then have to SLOWLY release the knob or else the flame will go out completely. That's why I say it takes some getting used to. No complaints otherwise. In fact the oven lights much more easily. The stove in the photo is a 24" (camera lens used may make it look larger). The pulls are Laurey 7 1/2" stainless steel we bought from Amazon.

Thanks for the heads up on the lighting the burners. Did you buy all the extra gadgets for the Bertazzoni? The wok ring, griddle thingie, etc.?

Propinquity, No did not buy all the accessories. They also have a toe kick plate available that closes off the underside, but I opted out of that as well.

S & W Appliances were great. Matched all prices and even returned something I did'nt want, (was open box). Great customer service.

Thanks, rraphael. Will research S&W. NovaNYC, what about the "Flat island trim" for the Bertazzoni? Did you get that? I had to Google it to figure out what one is. Found a bunch of postings on island trim on Garden Web. I guess it's there to let the oven vent. But it's listed as an "accessory," so does one need it or not?

Thanks, rraphael. Will research S&W. NovaNYC, what about the "Flat island trim" for the Bertazzoni? Did you get that? I had to Google it to figure out what one is. Found a bunch of postings on island trim on the Appliances forum on Garden Web. I guess the trim is there to let the oven vent. But it's listed as an "accessory," so does one need it or not?

Just in case, I feel I should state that I had a most horrific experience with Appliances Connection (also in Bk.) I chose them because they were local, and agreed to pay extra because I didn't want to destroy local business. Though in general I believe that, I cannot overstate how much they made me regret my decision.

Propinquity, No, we did not use the flat island trim; our range backs up to a wall, so not needed. I'd use the trim if it were installed in an island where you would want a lower profile vent.

Are prices on Miele negotiable? i got the impression when calling around that the price is set and not negotiable. Was I asking the wrong way?

Snuffles, maybe someone else has a better answer on Miele, but from what I've found, all the big dealers watch each other and match their prices, but some appliance maker prices do seem to be fixed. I've been watching Miele and Bertazzoni and Liebherr since March and the only change I've seen is that Bertazzoni is throwing in a free hood if you buy by November 15th. One way to go cheaper is to ask for the architect/designer/contractor discount. My contractor asked me to buy the appliances, but the dealers are saying they'll give me the discount anyway. Haven't found out yet what that number actually will be yet because I'm not quite ready to order.

Snuffles: Miele prices are not negotiable. I looked at several models and was given the list price everywhere. I wound up buying a Bosch and was quoted prices very close to the list price.

I'm guessing Miele and other big names are going with some sort of 'broker' model where any dealer that sells it gets a commission but that its actually Miele that is setting the price, this way the price is controlled at all times that everybody pays.

Maybe Aboutready has some ideas. She renovated her Peter Cooper Village apartment because it wasn't good enough for her, but she still had to bide her time there in order to be eligible to sue them.

ph41, I decided after all the reviews here and elsewhere to take your advice and go with Drimmers . I called your guy Isaac. He's terrific. So friendly, knowledgable and gave great discounts. He explained that Drimmers doesn't outsource delivery to trucking companies, so if things ever arrive damaged, they take responsibility -- not like other stores where you have to fight Customer Service. He said, "Drimmers has no separate customer service dept. We ARE customer service." So let's see what happens . . . but so far, I'm very impressed. I was also impressed with AJ Madison, for the record, but that was with the sales dept and the bad reviews for everything BUT sales scared me off.

Oops -- I forgot to add Thanks, Riversider ,for recommending Drimmers, too.

Thanks for sharing..