Buying products on price alone often makes the shopping process faster and easier, which is great for less expensive items that will be used temporarily or have a relatively short lifespan, but the same process can result in mistakes or missed opportunities when applied to buying a major appliance such a refrigerator. In fact, the nature of buying a refrigerator, with a relatively significant purchase price and a usable life that can approach two decades, flies directly against the two things that make basing a decision based on the lowest price an effective strategy.
Here are three reasons that the lowest price tag should not be the only criteria when buying a refrigerator:

A lack of after sale support Buying the cheapest refrigerator you can find usually entails a purchase of an off-brand product that was manufactured off-shore, perhaps China, Croatia, or another country where getting after sale support may prove to be challenging. Getting replacement parts as well as information regarding the manufacturers warranty may be even more difficult.
A probability of substantially higher energy consumption The price that is paid for the refrigerator is only half of the equation of calculating the total cost of ownership. The other half, the cost of energy consumption over the life of the appliance, can be substantially different between refrigerators. Generally speaking, a well-made refrigerator that costs more at the time of purchase will be more efficient in terms of energy consumption than a lower priced model. These savings, when accumulated over a span of years, can result in a total cost of ownership that is far less than the combination of a cheaper appliances purchase price and higher monthly energy costs.
More repairs and a shorter usable life Appliances generally carry higher prices for quality parts and workmanship in the manufacturing process, leading to peak performance over a longer lifespan. For example, much of the manufacturing process for Sub-Zero refrigerators is done with handcrafted work using the finest materials, resulting in products that are recognized for performance and durability. Cheaper products are usually manufactured via assembly line with lower quality materials for cost savings in both areas. The end result of this type of process is a high frequency of repairs as well as early obsolescence.

The savings realized with the purchase of an inexpensive off-brand refrigerator can vanish quickly as repair costs mount. Instead, basing the final decision on solid product support, energy savings, and the quality of the manufacturing process will lead to a cost effective purchase that stays in your kitchen for the long term.