Shop Avanti Model RMS550PS - SIDE-BY-SIDE Refrigerator/Freezer

Description

Avanti Black w/Platinum Finish Doors SIDE-BY-SIDE Refrigerator

Features

• Freezer with Total Capacity: 5.5 Cu. Ft. (Refrigerator Capacity: 3.3 CF & Freezer Capacity: 2.2 CF)
• Two Removable, Adjustable Glass Shelves in Refrigerator Section
• Door Bins for Additional Storage
• Vegetable Crisper with Glass Cove
• Molded Decorator Top

Customer Reviews

Great Unit
Bill56431

I went into the project of acquiring a new compact refrigerator/freezer with a lot of apprehension. Fortunately, I've had a much better experience than the previous reviewer.After researching many different units and designs, I became convinced that a unit with double doors would be required to provide a suitable freezer. I also decided that something larger than the common 3.2 cu. ft. unit would be needed.A taller refrigerator/freezer was unsuitable for my application, so when I came across the Avanti RMS550PS with side by side doors that maintained 'counter' height, it seemed like the ideal solution.After reading about bad experiences with shipping damages for compact refrigerators in general, I decided to buy directly from Amazon (at a higher price at the time) rather than some of the 'other buying options'. I dreaded the thought of a hassle with returning such a unit, especially to a third-party, and it appeared to me that alternative sources delivered by freight shipper/trucking companies and their 'free shipping' included only 'curb-side' delivery unless a premium was paid.I figured that if Amazon could offer free two-day Prime delivery (at the time I purchased the unit), they must be using UPS. I understand that UPS also uses over-the-road trucks, but my experience is that merchandize handled by UPS is delivered in better shape than the alternative shippers.The refrigerator arrived as promised. The cardboard container had small tears at two bottom corners, but the refrigerator itself had no damage at all. I judged the shipping container to be clever, but skimpy. The refrigerator sat on a styrofoam/cardboard pad. The corners were protected by 8" wide styrofoam protectors, and an outer cardboard shell was slipped down from the top over the refrigerator, and secured by three fiberglass bands. This made it easier to handle the unit and easy to unpack it without tipping the unit over.The corner protectors do not fully cover the sides, front, or rear of the unit, so with the lightweight cardboard container, the unit is susceptible to damage to any of the panels.In general the unit appears to be well-designed and engineered, but I agree with the previous reviewer that Avanti's assembly and QC functions are lacking. The doors are somewhat misaligned, though that is compensated for by the door gasket and doesn't appear to impact operation. If I had noticed the misalignment before putting the unit into service (and filling it up) I think the alignment might have been easily corrected.After securing a safe delivery, my biggest concern was about the adequacy of the freezer function. I notice that manufacturers don't specify attainable temperatures. I tested it over a period of days. I set the thermostat initially to '5' as directed by the manufacturer. The unit ran all day and all night, and finally turned off the next morning. The freezer compartment measured minus 20 degrees F. I did not test the refrigerator section at that time. I then set the thermostat to 4, and after a few more trials, ended up with a setting of just a bit over 4.The unit now performs as follows: Compressor turns off when the freezer compartment reaches minus 10 degrees F and comes on at plus 10 degrees F. The refrigerator section is at 36 degrees when the compressor shuts off and about 38 degrees when the unit comes back on.Since the HACCP specs are 40 degrees F for refrigerators, and 0 degrees F for freezers, I consider the numbers above to be good. The freezer passed the 'ice cream test' maintaining the same brand of ice cream as shown in the Avanti images (a cream-rich brand) in the ideal state between too hard and too soft. I should add that I keep my room warm; about 78 degrees F.The duty-cycle of the unit seems okay to me. It runs for about 25 minutes and stays off for about 50 minutes. That might seem like it runs a lot, but it the nameplate is right, it's using only about 100 watts! The compressor in it must be very small. This might also explain the very quiet operation of the unit.Another interesting feature of the freezer's design is that the small loops of tubing carrying refrigerant are routed through the fixed shelves in the freezer compartment. This provides even, efficient cooling in that compartment without the need for fans etc. I can put a bucket of ice cubes in the freezer and they don't melt, refreeze, and stick together.I value the additional space in this unit. The refrigerator section alone is about the size of the 3.2 cu. ft, units and the freezer section adds almost the same amount of additional space.Space utilization in both sections is good. The vegetable bin is large. The refrigerator door doesn't include a beverage can dispenser that takes up a lot of room. Since the refrigerator door/bin depth is generous, the shelves in the refrigerator itself are not excessively deep, making access to the rear of the shelves easier. Since each of the two doors is narrower than the single door on a upright unit, it's easier to get in and out of the unit. I like the glass shelves and slots in the sides for height adjustment.The unit is also attractive, including the embossed top. All panels of the unit are stiff, suggesting the use of poured-in foam insulation.Two things I miss with this unit: the lack of automatic defrost for the freezer section. Auto defrost would make the unit perfect. A more complete parts layout in the manual would be helpful. A call to Avanti got me quickly to a very knowledgeable service agent who answered my questions.I've been using the refrigerator for three weeks. Read more ›

SOME OF THE WORST QUALITY CONTROL I HAVE EVER SEEN!!!
PHIL

First off, I love the compact side by side concept. That being said, the manufacturer has a SERIOUS quality control issue. The 100 plus pound item arrived in a very skimpy cardboard box with VERY little packaging material (thin Styrofoam on the edges only). When I went to open it I tilted the box to one side and heard screws or bolts rattling in the housing. When I removed it from the cheap cardboard box, there was a dent on almost EVERY panel. Not just small ones, but Quarter sized and larger. Thinking that wouldn't be the end of the world, I proceeded to forgive the bad packaging and was hopeful that the product would be good. Well, when I opened the doors, BOTH of them fell off. It appears as if the hinge pin which pivots the top part of the doors are too short. Being the eternal optimist, I opted to remove the top panel ( 2 simple screws to hold it down) to see if I could fix it. Well it was then when I was convinced that it needed to be returned because ALL 3 of the screws used to bolt the metal panel where the pivots recess into were stripped out when it was manufactured, which means it NEVER worked properly and left the factory like this!!!! Oh-- I did find out what the rattling was in the housing, there were 2 nuts just floating in the housing which I could not find a home for.I really wanted this to work, but all the odds were against me. Bottom line, VERY POOR quality control, and equally poor packaging. What a Shame!

bad packing - good refrigerator / freezer
al morris

a little banged up in shippinghad to fix: refrigerator door which was fork lifted out of alignment top which was popped loose by same fork lift back corner on refrigerator side which was split by samethe packing was the problem, if anyone is readingand didn't get invite to rate packingrate it two stars… just a small upgrade would have saved itcardboard and styrofoam good but styrofoam too thin for weightso it cracked and let the fork lift at the refrigerator where the cardboard splittougher cardboard would have helped too… split at edges around top and bottomcools well on 5-6, freezes refrigerator side at 6 settingmine is quiet so if yours Is loud, maybe something wronggood value if it doesn't quit like some have writtenwill get back if it goes south