Are you sure it's not available anymore? I did a google search and a bunch of online places claim to have it in stock - of course that doesn't mean they do.

It sounds like if you do go with a different fridge you'll have to have new panels made anyway. Why are you so against ice and water in the door? You might be able to panel over them but why - I find the ice in the door to be very useful.

Thanks Weissman. I called many of the online vendors who claim to have it in stock & was told that in fact they could no longer get it. I even called Jennair- the very helpful rep made a couple calls to local large vendors in my area hoping they would have some stockpiled somewhere. One told me they could definitely get it for me. I went in spent half the morning , gave my credit card & was assured they could get it. Then yesterday get a "tail between the legs" call saying they were wrong & can't get it.

My "issue" with the dispenser is two-fold, and honestly may be totally misplaced. If I'm crazy and it's a non-issue I'm happy to hear that. 1) Nearly all the models I have seen with dispenser, he dispenser is either black or white- neither would look great with my setup. I have only found one model, a Frigidaire, which has a stainless dispenser. All others have only black or white dispenser (which I don't like the look of). I worry about paying extra $ for panels for a Frigidaire when I'm not sure it has the longevity of the other brands. Care to weigh in on that aspect?. That leads to #2; 2) I'm afraid of investing the extra $ for custom panels and having the water from the dispenser leak, drip or otherwise damage the panels. Is this an unwarranted concern?; 3) I guess thee is a #3--I like the cleaner look of no dispenser on that side of the kitchen.

I found that Kitchenaid makes a new frenchdoor model with no dispenser that looks like it would do, but it's more than $1k more expensive and does not come with handles so that's additional expense on top. Trying to do this for less than $3-4K or the cost of a built-in.

Again, thanks for your insights!

Sorry you couldn't find the model you wanted. Personally, I'm more into function than form so I would recommend buying a fridge for it's features and reliability, not appearance. Also, I personally don't care for panelled appliances - I like a fridge to look like a fridge, a DW to look like a DW, etc. I don't really know much about Frigidaire reliability so I can't advise you on that. KA on the other hand makes very good fridges with good warranties (at least they used to). I've had mine for six years without any problems - and my older Whirlpool is still going strong in the garage after 27 years.

GE makes several CD models with stainless dispensers. I don't have the spec book in front of me now, but I think there is a SxS that is panelable and doesn't have a dispenser. I'll check when I get to work.

By the way, to answer your other question, I do occasionally get a drip down the front of my SS door but I wipe it up right away. I would imagine if you did the same with a wood-paneled door, you wouldn't have any problems.