Jenn-Air refrigerators are made by Whirlpool, who also makes Maytag.

It's a bit more correct to say that Maytag made both Maytag and Jenn-Air. Whirlpool was a competing company (with a much better reputation) until a fairly short time ago. They are changing over the product lines some, but I would make very sure that the Jenn-Air you're thinking of purchasing is actually a relabeled Whirlpool/KitchenAid (same company) and not a relabeled Maytag.

steve_o's point is fair. When I looked at that Jenn-Air, I'm pretty sure it was made by maytag, since it looked nearly identical other than for prettier trim. It is possible they've changed the model line since I looked in June, but that's what I can tell you based on my own study.

I was under the impression that they were all made by Amana. In any event, I have the counter-depth, French door JennAir. It's fine but very small. I can't imagine having a counter depth and not having a refrigerator in the garage. If you don't entertain at all, it should be fine.

thanks for the info. My concern is that some are re-labeled Maytag. I headed over to the appliance store today and plunked down $1300 for a 20cu ft CD btm drawer. It was a scratch and dent - one on back panel, 2 scratches on either side and has the full 1yr. warranty. I was surprised to learn the scratch&dents are purchased from the mfgr. and not damaged @the dealership. I know Whirlpool now owns Maytag, etc., but it will be some time before Whirlpool quality goes into the Maytag label. I loved my 25yr old, never had a problem w/it Whirlpool SxS I'm wishing myself better luck w/this than the Maytag; maybe the assemblyperson on my Maytag was having a bad day @work!

My mother had a Maytag fridge that was the pits; everything either rotted or froze. The repair guy told her the Maytag fridges were made in China. Has anyone else heard this?

I am now looking at a counter-depth 36" fridge and can't tell the diff. 'tween the Jenn-Air, Viking, and KA interiors. Are they ALL made by the same guy? Any feedback on customer service from any of these?

Tean, you got a great price. Good luck with it!

This reminds me of textbook companies. There are dozens of them, but they are all wholly owned by just a few companies, and these few are always contemplating merging with each other.

I am beginning to think that all domestic appliances are made by one manufacturer, but nobody knows who it is. Does this rank as a conspiracy theory?

I went to an appliance place today that highly recommended the Jenn-Air but did tell me it was made on the Maytag side of the Whirlpool business. This is not good news to me. OTOH - I love those pro-style handles. The KA, which is identical inside, is made on the Whirlpool side of the business. She was very knowledgeable - but I am more confused than ever.

The best thing that could happen is if this full out deceptive marketing would stop. The fact is that only a few companies are making most of everything, so it would help the consumer if these companies just fessed up and stopped using names of companies that no longer exist and simply said....this one does this and costs this, and that one does that, and costs that. Instead consumer choice is promoted while what we really have is no choice at all. Remember the press release concerning the acquisition of Maytag by Whirlpool. The WP spokesman had the nerve to say that this was going to give the consumer more choice. OK, we are stupid then..or this rep must have thought so. There is no great exceptional choice that is being presented.

One or 2 companies are making this stuff and sticking a different name plate on it and deceiving the consumers into believing that they are getting the XXX product that their mother and father always bought and had good luck with.

Several years ago I had trouble with my KA washer. The repair man showed up and replaced a part. I asked him if I was getting a KA part since I paid more for the washer. He told me it was a Whirlpool part and that there was no difference between them. Insides the same, outsides have a different name and glossy knobs and panels. Thank you very much.

In 2005 if you bought a Hoover vacuum cleaner you were buying a Maytag product.

Want a Gaggenau---go get a Bosch.
Want a Thermador.--go get a Bosch
Want a Bosch - buy a Bosch
Want a KA--go get a Whirlpool
Want a Maytag--go get a Whirlpool
Want a Whirlpool - buy a Whirlpool
Want an Amana go get a Whirlpool
Want a Kenmore-- you never know what youre gonna get but pick from Whirlpool or GE.
Want an Asko and can't find one? - Go buy an AM-TECH.

I am tired of being lied to.

jerrod, there are differences between KitchenAid and Whirlpool. Sure, they're subtle -- stuff like all the shelves in the 'fridge on rollers, not just one or two; or a better warranty (the compressor in my KA is warranted for five years, not just one or three). Is it worth the extra cost? Hard to say. Enough people must think so or the brand would be defunct.

KitchenAid/Whirlpool is no different than Lexus/Toyota or Sony/Aiwa. They're built more on feature differences and product promise than actual differences on the innards. You can consider that an illusion of choice, but, obviously, many people do not.

BTW, I think you meant Eurotech, not AM-TECH. And Eurotech is not the same company as ASKO. They may both be owned by Antonio Merloni, but they are no more similar than the locomotive engines and aircraft engines that GE makes.

Steve-o
Thanks for the correction about AM-tech VS Eurotech.
My main gripe is that even though the products may have better warranties or one has better "something" chances are the design and production of the units are coming from a common area. You get no chance at having a design coming from a completely different point of view--a different approach. That is the thing I am looking for.

Different ideas, different approaches...different technologies, different techniques. You can't get this when everything is coming from one place or even one parent company. Today saving money is the rule..so I am afraid that product designs and engineering are coming from one central place within a company.

This is what I mean by basically the same thing underneath. Often times there is a problem with product XYZ. This same problem shows up with product ABC...because it was made using the same company design.

What kind of real choice is this? This is not what I want when I choose a product. I don't want to pay $300 more for a better shelf only to find out the same motor with or without flaws is found underneath a unit with a totally different brand name. This is especially true because in the past brand names have been associated with good performance and reliablilty.

Go to the gaggnau web site and read about their DW. It's as if there is nothing better on earth....next go to BOSCH and read about their DW...nothing better on earth...then forget about the verbiage and look at the features...identical--although they may be CALLED something else(example: my KA washer had a tm SURE CARE agitator that was supposed to roll the clothes over while the whirlpool had tm XTRA ROLL agitator that was supposed to roll the clohtes over--these looked and acted the same to me). Same price...I bet not. Well one may have a stronger motor or something...but why call it a completely different BRAND? Take the bottom off of the thing and I bet you see the same design and in the case of my washer--the same parts made by the same company---oh but I BOUGHT a KITCHENAID. Consumers are buying because they are falling for the sham--then wondering why their expensive new whatever is breaking just like the cheaper units. That's what I meant by being tired of being lied to.

I don't trust any of these companies to do the right thing.

Different ideas, different approaches...different technologies, different techniques. You can't get this when everything is coming from one place or even one parent company. Today saving money is the rule..so I am afraid that product designs and engineering are coming from one central place within a company.

This is what I mean by basically the same thing underneath. Often times there is a problem with product XYZ. This same problem shows up with product ABC...because it was made using the same company design.

From that perspective, I agree. I'm still a little surprised the Whirlpool/Maytag deal went through considering how many appliance sales it puts into one company. But we're the "business-friendly" U.S. these days and consumers can just whistle. :-o

This isn't happening just in appliances, either. In the automotive industry, companies buy and sell technology all the time -- for a while, one of Honda's SUVs was an Isuzu with an "H" on the front of it. And at least one very famous-brand LCD TV brand contracts out its smaller sizes to a no-name manufacturer, simply putting their name on it. It is regrettable, and it makes so much of the world look alike.

Here are my thoughts on the subject. A refrigerator is a big box to keep things cold. I think it is like any product a hit or miss. As in cars, some are lemons, some are not.
I have had 7 houses, and are now building #8. I had a GE I loved, next house GE hated also have had a Kitchen aide that was fine, and a Jenn-air which I liked. Three Maytags. The one I own now has frozen all my food products that were placed near the side walls. I have had it fixed twice. I would love to own Sub Zero, or THermador built in, but $6,000. is a lot to keep things cold. And again who knows, lemon or not?? So, with this all said I have ordered a Jenn-air with the professional handles. I like the look. I just am not convinced that one is better then the other. I went for look, and local service. I almost think that is MORE important then the name brand.

Sanborn5 - you've boosted my confidence in my own decision to do the same. I've been second guessing myself on EVERYTHING lately concerning our remodel. I like the pro handles too. Are you getting any of the other appliances with pro handles as well?

I also like the look of the Jenn-Air's handles - but do they have the same horrible customer service as the Maytag, KA, etc? Or do they have their own customer service?

I got the Wolf 36" DF range with the six burners, Dish Washer Bosch, and because of the handles not quite looking the same I thought about getting the exposed control panel on the top, but KD suggested a panel to match my cabinets, so I got the SHV45 all integrated - and it will look just like my cabinet next to it with the cup pulls. I got the vent-a-hood NPH, because it looked just like the Wolf hood for less $$$ and quieter from what I have been told. Also, the bosch 500 plus W/D and GEJEM31 microwave. I swear my refrigerator was the hardest choice for me. But they are ordered and as I said, I liked the look, we recessed the wall so I got the full depth, and will not look back. My appliance store is a family owned for over 25 yrs and I believe I will get great service from them.

Sanborn you may have a point. Local service? Good service? does that exist anymore?

The medical field now has radiologists reading studies remotely from India. They log on to their computers read the pictures, dictate and it's ready in the AM for the hospital staff.....Hmm can remote appliance diagnostics be far behind...It certainly may not be any worse than what we have now.

OK I am jaded that's all. :)