You already know the answer you have read reviews and still insist on buying this

The Flex Duo is not the same as other true split double (not wall) ovens. I am asking for feedback from people who have the Flex Duo or have true double ovens. Thanks for those reading who are actually trying to be helpful.

"I have had a terrible experience with my Samsung fridge and don't want to buy Samsung kitchen applicances and also I read some bad reviews where the heating in these ovens varies based on whether you're using both or one"

Given what you wrote, Patricia Colwell's response is understandable and not "weird". What is not understandable is why you are still looking at this Samsung range after what you wrote. Yes, I see what you said about the storage drawer space, but that is a few inches compared to, well, all what you wrote.

cailgirl, I've been down this road with appliances. The truth is there are bad reviews for everything out there. I could tell you how disgusted I am with Whirlpool, and someone else will say the opposite. It's pretty much a crap shoot these days with appliances. It certainly doesn't hurt to ask for feedback. However, I've learned to shop for the features and price that appeal vs any particular brand.

Thanks Sophie. That's helpful. Have you used it before? Does the bottom one seem manageable to reach or does it feel very low?

We have a double oven and love it. It's a Whirlpool. Had it for nearly 4 years.

friedajune - I was taken aback by Patricia's curt response that seemed to miss that I was asking for advice from people who had experience with these appliances. But since it seems that my post is not clear to at least two people, I'll try to clarify again for those readers who would actually like to give useful input.

I am considering the Flex Duo b/c it seems better than other brand's split ovens b/c it has the extra drawer. I want to hear from people who have it to see if the complaint I read about the uneven heating is common or more of an anomaly. I also asked if there are other brands set up like the Flex Duo since I had a bad Samsung fridge experience.

I also want to hear from people with other brand's split ovens to see about their experience with those. I hope this is more clear.

Thank you auntthelma. The bottom oven is manageable to reach?

I can pull most stuff out of the bottom oven. I worried about that too. If it's a whole roast turkey, I get my husband to do it. I'm an office worker - age 60. I'm in good condition, but not an exercise type.

Haha, sounds great. Thank you!

I had to replace my GE Profile washer recently after only having it for a few years. My husband replaced the parts that should have fixed it but no, it still acted up and leaked water! The moral of my story: Before buying the fabulous Whirlpool washer that replaced the GE hunk of junk (it never worked properly), I read reviews from customers, companies, and so forth. I did not want to make another mistake! Reviews online, especially from established firms that take the time to use the item, are your best bet when choosing an appliance.

Thanks Bev. Do you have recs for good websites for kitchen appliances?

auntthelma - Do you use the smaller top oven for things you'd otherwise use a toaster oven for? I'd like to know if it's realistic for me to not have a toaster oven if we get one of these split ovens. Thanks.

I've never had a toaster oven, so not sure. But we use it way more often than the lower oven.

Ours came with a 'toast' setting that turns itself off after 2 minutes just like a toaster oven. It also has a 'hold warm' setting that sets to 170 like a warming drawer. So it is designed to take the place of the warming drawer and toaster.

Yay, this sounds perfect. Thank you so much.

I too have the Maytag dual oven. I have had it for ~15 years. Had to replace one of the upper oven elements once. No problem. I love mine. I love that I could eliminate a countertop toaster because the top oven has a toaster built in! Works great.

kathi_steele's ideas · More Info

I use ajmadison.com for appliance reviews.

Thanks Kathi. I had no idea these ovens existed in 2004! It's been a while since I've had to buy applicances and I'm really excited about it.

Just be aware that these days ajmadison also funnels the reviews from the manufacturers' websites, if they allow reviews, and many manufacturers tend to suppress bad reviews in any quantity.

It's gotten pretty hard to find actual ajmadison customer reviews for big-name appliances on ajmadison.

IMO the Korean brands (LG, Samsung) of major appliances have great visual style but aren't, as yet, reliable.

While I generally prefer European appliances, we have had good luck with some Korean ones. We have an LG washer and dryer in a rental and they are fabulous - so good my brother bought the same ones.

Irma took out our Daewoo fridge in the islands, and I bought another one last week. That thing is a champ: energy efficient, not bothered by brownouts, power surges, salt air, rats, snakes or geckos.

But agree, don’t ignore reviews and your own experience with a brand. Don’t get me going about GE and Frigidaire.

My new house came with an LG double oven range, and I loved it very much the 6 months I used it. I use the top oven the most, it has a fast broil setting that nearly like grilling. It is easy to use and clean. For my recent remodel I chose the LG duel fuel double oven, I really wanted gas. I also love this one! Yes, the bottom oven is low, but doesn't seem too much of a problem. I often use both ovens at the same time but the top most often for most things. And I also have a toaster oven out, I just haven't tried to use the small oven that way. Maybe I should.

I want to point out that the samsung flex oven has a limited temperature variation between the two ovens, and you cannot open the bottom oven door without opening the top. You can open top door alone or the whole door. Just some things to keep in mind.

@chiflipper, you could very well be right about LG and Samsung. I still say the lack of quality is all over the place. Our Whirlpool washer lasted just 4 years. We replaced it with an LG which has been great. However, I'm well aware of the possible short time we could have it. Like I said...a crap shoot.

I had a kenmore elite double oven 30" gas range for 5 to 6 years until I replaced it with a 48" range as part of a major renovation. It needed one service call. Worked well, lower oven fit anything including turkeys. Was a little lower than ideal but not that bad. If I was getting another 30" range i would buy a double oven range again without hesitation although given Sears issues another brand like GE probably better pick.

I looked at the double oven Samsung with storage drawer in person, in a store. I really wanted it for all the reasons you listed in your post. And... the ovens seemed too small. I wasn't sure I could stick my oven-mitted hands in there to pull out what was cooking, even just to pull out the wire rack. I ended up getting the same gas range from Samsung with a single oven and storage drawer about a year ago. It has a stainless steel cook top, 5 burners and I could not be happier. Just go see it in person.

Speaking of washers, I have a Speed Queen. What a work horse!! Would not give it up for the world. Has knobs instead of electronics. It rocks!!!

There seems to be a fair amount of prejudice here against Samsung. I wanted induction, not gas and did a LOT of research before purchasing the Samsung chef collection. I found the Samsung to be very highly rated among induction ranges. Mine also has the flex duo oven and a warming/storage drawer at the bottom. I used the dual oven feature for the first tine the other day, backed a soufflé on the top portion and baked chicken below at a much different temp. Both came out perfectly. I’ve had mine almost a year and am very happy with it

Sue, the problem is when they fail, the customer service is horrible. And I mean, horrible. I am glad you are not having any difficulties, but all the reviews/reviewers don't lie. They are just telling their horrible customer service stories.

They don’t even have warranty service providers in more than half the country. So if you ever do need service, you may wait a month before some can be scheduled to make the trip. Because no one wants to make a 200 mile round trip for warranty work that doesn’t even pay for the gas, much less the time.

I had service from them on a different appliance. Contrary to what others have said, they were out right away and fixed the problem. On the other hand, my expensive kitchen aid stove required a new electronic control board for $1200.00 at a few yrs old. When it went out again a couple of yrs later and a burner went out as well, the service dept told me I should consider myself lucky it had lasted 6 yrs. you can get equally good or bad service from any company.

I’m with Sue, I read so many reviews my head was spinning. I ended up with Samsung appliances. I can’t attest to their longevity but so far the refrigerator cools well and the oven cooks nicely and for us that’s all we need our “junk”, as Sophie so elegantly put it *insert major eye roll here*, to do for our family.

"...I should consider myself lucky it lasted 6 yrs."

@Sue, I had several sales people tell me something similar when when I was looking for a new washing machine. Two of them said 5-10 years but count yourself pretty lucky if you get to 7 years.

Chloebud, I heard the same thing...basically appliances are “disposable” and you are lucky if they last 10 years honestly! I hate that they are so expensive and basically guaranteed to not last

dtrivino, I know! Gone are the days of a Maytag washer lasting 30+ years. Both my siblings have Maytag washers that are pushing 40 years. However, they're both well aware that kind of quality is looooog gone.

It’s very sad because appliances haven’t gotten cheaper so what gives?! It’s very disheartening but I suppose it is what it is if you want to cook or do any laundry in home LOL!! My LG dryer is going to be 5 years old and the tech told me to “get ready to buy a new one soon”....sad

I've had an LG washer and dryer for 13 years and they are working fine (knock on wood). My Samsung fridge on the other hand (and other models) has been part of several class action lawsuits for their failing cooling mechanisms. It seems so random what lasts and what doesn't, which makes buying new applicances that much more difficult. If one brand was reliable, I'd happily pay more for it, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

Honestly, it seems to be all over the place with brands. Our daughter's Samsung washer and dryer are 8 yrs. old and doing great. We've only had our LG washer/dryer a year so too soon to know. Geez...I hope it's too soon to know! I guess these days the best thing is to just hope for 5-7 years and be thankful. Kind of depressing!

One thing I discovered that I didn't know before is some credit card companies will extend a warranty for 1-2 yrs at no charge. We bought a 5 yr warranty when we bought our new LG set. Our credit card company extended it for another 2 yrs, so now it's 7 yrs instead of 5. Glad I called to check!

A poster here once said to consider that you are leasing, not buying appliances. That idea does not sit well with me- but oh well.