SubZero unvented that and owns that category.

Sophie, can you say more? I always learn a lot from your comments!

I presume you meant invented. When you say they own that category, why is that? Is it because people keep buying them to keep up with the Jones'? What makes a currently produced SZ inherently better than a Monogram?

It’s not Chinese owned for one. And it sets the standard if you want fully integrated. It’s the one designers and installers are used to working with. Less mistakes. Better customer service support too.

For an $1800 price difference it's a no brainer. You are talking about $100 a year over 18 years. SZ is hands down the best in it's category.

Thanks Caroline. The way you break down the pricing makes so much sense. Can you elaborate on what makes it the best in it's category? I'm just missing the piece where x or y about the SZ is better.

Kendrah, Trust me it was tough to swallow spending $10,000 on a fridge. Ours is now 4 years old and we have not had any issues with it. As jt fields describes above, produce literally lasts for *weeks* in this refrigerator. I usually throw it out before it spoils. My husband was really truly sold when we had a power outage for the weekend and the ice in the freezer didn't even melt! That's how well sealed this thing is. Truly outstanding quality. I also have a SZ beverage fridge, by far the most used daily appliance in my house since everyone's always in and out of there looking for a beverage. Same thing with that, not one problem and the build quality is exceptional. Yes the beginning outlay is tough to justify but we have no regrets.

We have an 11 year old Monogram built in, and unfortunately the newer ones are not reliable like the earlier ones (our 1999 one) that were built by the commercial refrigeration company for GE. This 2006 one has had a service visit roughly every 18 -24 months when it stops cooling, either for a control board or an inverter (although there was the one "fun" episode where the dispenser decided to shoot water and ice across the kitchen when no one was there). This isn't an isolated case - I have a good friend with similar issues on a like-generation Monogram - she actually keeps an inverter and a control board on hand to do her own repairs these days (my last service call, the week before this past Thanksgiving, had a week out as the first available, even for a no-cooling issue, and that's in the DFW Metroplex where service isn't an issue.)

I would stay far away from Monogram as a fridge.

Thanks JT, Michelle, and Caroline for your specificity and experiences. The shooting water and ice sounds poltergeist-ish and unfortunate.

I put a 36" French door style SZ in my renovated kitchen a couple of years ago and I have to say I truly love it. I buy a ton of produce and salad greens can stay looking as good as the day I brought them home two weeks later (so long as they aren't wet to begin with but that's a different problem). I can't get over how much longer food stays in good shape in this refrigerator. I do wish there was a bit more space on the inside of the doors, but I suspect I'm condiment/pickle crazy and that's the real issue.

Another vote for Sub Zero. When we sold our home a few months ago we left behind a 30 year old 501F (36" all freezer) that was still running flawlessly. Oh it did have repairs over the years but nothing monumental. The matching 36" all refrigerator needed a compressor at age 25 and we decided that it was probably time to replace it.

We have a 42" French door SZ in our new home and while it has taken some time to get used to a smaller unit I do love it.

SZ's customer service has been excellent. When my son managed to break the handle on the freezer I called SZ on the phone to order a replacement. The freezer was probably 10 years old by then and Sub Zero had updated the handle. They not only sent me a new style handle for free but they also sent another handle so that my refrigerator would match.

We had a GE Profile side by side at our vacation home and the refrigerator failed to maintain a temperature below 40 degrees. After 5 service calls the last tech said that GE had redesigned it because they had so many problems with it. We requested a replacement under the lemon law - luckily we had purchased the extended service contract. However it took another 6 months of multiple phone calls and badgering before they got around to replacing it.

For what it's worth - my brother worked for GE and the only reason he had GE appliances was because of the great discount they gave him. But he still had to deal with the same below par service.

We have settled on the SZ, thanks in part to all of your useful comments. We will get a 36" wide freezer on the bottom.

The integrated is the look I really want, so seamless and built in, love that the compressor panel and hinges are hidden. But, it is so skyscraper tall. The height is just impractical and not a good fit for me with a bad back. While the built in is so practical, I really don't like the side gaps, the compressor panel, the visible hinges. It kills me to spend $8,000 on an appliance and lot love the look of it. Thoughts? Do I just get over it and deal with aesthetics I don't like? Is there someway to adapt to the integrated height that I have not thought of? I have spent time at the SZ showroom and the height just seemed a no go.

Hi, I am replacing my 36x70 column Sub Zero stand alone refrigerator and stand alone freezer. They have lasted 37 years! I love that they have the vacuum seal doors and double compressors. I have had very few problems until the last year with the freezer. I am looking for advice. What is the life expediency and warranty on the Monogram. I am going to have to make modifications to my kitchen because all of the high ent refrigerator and freezers are 84 inches tall. Just need some advice.

Many thanks.

The life expectancy on a new Monogram is probably 6-10 years at best, warranty is not the greatest, either. They are well known for having inverter and main control board problems. We had one and hated it - had to have service every 18 months for a "no cooling" issue caused by one of those 2 items. We have friends in another state who have had the same issue, to the point they keep parts on hand and do their own repairs. I can't steer you strongly enough away from Monogram.

DO NOT BUY MONOGRAM!! Mine died after 2 years and I have to defrost every 2 weeks! If I could do it again I'd get the SubZero!

I had the same dilemma but went with the subzero because of GE terrible customer service.

I purchased a dehumidifier that arrived broken ($280). The GE customer service people were initially helpful and friendly and told me to buy a new dehumidifier. They messed up the process of the return by putting the wrong dates on the rebate slip (all the information i provided was correct) and so never gave me my refund. They said "sorry sir, there is nothing we can do" and recommended i use the rebate slip to buy another GE product!

I am staying away from GE. This was a $280 dollar lesson that I am glad a learned before my $10,000 dollar purchase.