We take everything our customers tell us about our products very seriously. That’s why we’re starting an ongoing blog about our top-rated products. We also now list product reviews on all shopping pages, so you don’t even have to dive into the product page to see how highly-rated the item is. So for our first top-rated post, I’d like to highlight LG’s apartment-size bottom-freezer refrigerator (LRBP1031), which had the most positive reviews on our site.

What appealed most to customers about this refrigerator was the sheer amount of storage space available, even with its compact size (24″ width/10 cu. ft.). One customer had this to say, “its slender size allows it to fit almost anywhere,” while another said, “the design was well thought out since it makes use of all available space.” Other features like cabinet depth makes the design sleek, while digital controls offer optimal cooling. The LRBP1031 is perfect for small galley kitchens or office kitchens.

Reading customer feedback on products is essential when shopping, so do your fellow shopper a solid and leave a review after purchasing from AJ Madison.

Thanksgiving Day is less than two weeks away! Aside from finding the perfect turkey at the market, the best recipes from your friends and synchronizing everyone’s travel arrangements, you need to make sure your kitchen appliances are ready to tackle the big meal.

If you don’t have the cooktop space and/or oven capacity for the traditional Thanksgiving dishes like pumpkin pie, sweet potato casserole, stuffing, gravy, cranberry relish and more, now is a great time to replace your old kitchenware for something bigger and better. If you need the space or ability to help you prepare your Thanksgiving dinner, it’s best to order your range, cooktop or wall oven now, before you begin to cross into “last minute” territory.

Electrolux EW30GS65G

Higher-end ranges and wall ovens sometimes feature a meat probe or meat thermometer. This device helps with determining the exact temperature inside any cut of meat (in this case, a turkey). One feature I’ve come to learn about and love on Electrolux ranges is the Electrolux Perfect Turkey Button. Aside from just having a meat probe, the range automatically cooks whatever sized turkey you have, adjusting all cooking conditions in order to churn out the perfect Thanksgiving turkey. This feature, among many other cooking features, is available in either an electric, gas or duel fuel configuration with a whopping 5.6 cu. ft. capacity to cook even the largest turkey and anything else for the big feast. If you want  a hassle-free holiday this year and a range that will practically fit your entire meal, this line of ranges is a solid choice for a no-hassle Thanksgiving dinner.

It is 4 a.m.—It’s still dark. You are searching for a parking space in an already packed lot, and off in the distance you see a mass of people has started to swarm the entrance to the store. A competition for savings—Black Friday has arrived!

What if you could avoid this frightful scenario and still get the best deal of the day? Get ready for the convenience of AJ Madison’s Black Friday/Cyber Monday savings.

Here’s a sneak peek at what we’ll be offering:

Viking Appliance Packages
Amazing Free Shipping Offers
Instant Savings on your favorite brands

Check back or visit AJMadison.com on November 27 for full details!

Every so often in the AJ Madison office, we receive news and information on a home appliance so new and interesting that it sparks a debate on how to classify it. Companies like to throw a curveball in their product line-ups and introduce new devices that either combine features of previous devices or bring something entirely new for release. Though we always discover and sell the latest products, some items take us by surprise.

Fisher & Paykel CookSurface (CG363ML)

Fisher & Paykel have recently released the CookSurface, a 36 inch, 3-burner cooktop that works like no other gas cooktop. This smoothtop cooktop uses gas sealed burners instead of electric elements! The burners and pan supports sit hidden underneath the cooktop’s ceramic glass surface, and gently rise with the push of a button. This appliance can sit flush across a countertop, exactly like an electric or induction cooktop, but with gas instead. Now gas-cooking enthusiasts like myself can enjoy the style and convenience of a smoothtop that electric users have had for so long.

With the CookSurface, various visual and audio cues help make the cooking experience precise and exciting. When using the dials to control the device’s burners, the CookSurface indicates the strength of the flame with both a red LED indicator status bar and audible tones. The supports are durable and sturdy in structure, and are also designed to help contain spills away from the gas burner. The product was also designed for safety in mind, with the three-in-a-row configuration, decreasing the possibility of burns and other injuries (particularly those involving reaching across other burners).

Along with other products in what Fisher and Paykel are calling “Tomorrow’s Kitchen,” this really breathes new life into cooktops. If you’re updating your kitchen and want to include the latest in cooking appliances, the CookSurface is one great place to start.

Just in time for Halloween, AJ Madison made some magic happen to offer free shipping on all appliance orders over $1,199. This means a savings of $100 or more. Think of all the Halloween candy you can buy with that savings!

So, before you go trick or treating, log on to AJMadison.com and choose those appliances you’ve had your eye on. You know there’s another holiday—involving a large fowl— right around the corner, that a nice Viking range would be perfect for.

Let’s face it. That brown, 20-year-old Westinghouse refrigerator just doesn’t liven up the room like it used to. The display on the range is broken, and the dishwasher, whose color can only be described as “ashy beige,” has a hard food disposer that makes a dissonant crunching sound every time it’s in use. Not to mention you’ve wanted to replace cabinets, tiling and counter tops practically for a while now.

Believe it or not, it’s time to update your kitchen!

Miele Independence Series KF1911SFSS

Refreshing your kitchen can be expensive, yes, but you don’t have to do it all at once. Whether you’re replacing everything because of wear and tear, or because you want to increase your home resale value, you’re better off replacing your home appliances first before you gut the entire kitchen. Keep in mind that even buying all high-end appliances is cheaper than the average total cost of granite counter tops and oak cabinets, and upgrading the look of your kitchen is a lot easier than removing everything and starting from scratch. If you want to start updating your kitchen, but don’t want to break the bank, your best bet is to scope out replacements for your refrigerator and cooking appliances.

Since you’re updating and not doing a complete overhaul (no sledgehammers necessary), you’re going to want to find appliances that fit into the spaces of your soon-to-be “junk.” For built-in products, such as wall ovens, cooktops and refrigerators, you will need models that fit the spaces provided. If you have freestanding appliances and want to replace them with newer freestanding appliances, you can play with the dimensions a bit, but only if you want a slightly smaller appliance (in terms of width, capacity, etc.).

With new appliances also come new functions that were introduced since you last made changes to your kitchen. A friend of mine recently removed a black built-in refrigerator discontinued in 1991 in favor of a Miele Independence Series KF1911SFSS, which not only made his kitchen shine with its all-stainless steel glory, but came with a slew of amazing bells and whistles. The brilliant proprietary lighting inside startled me, since I’m used to the lone, dim light at the front of a refrigerator. The idea that a refrigerator can send out messages over Wi-Fi for service issues is a feature I still talk about here in the office.

Even if the new fridge functioned the same as the old one, the look of it brought a breath of fresh air into the kitchen. My friend didn’t replace his cabinets or anything else yet, but the one refrigerator made a huge difference in the overall appeal of the kitchen. Adding a different color or style to your kitchen, from replacing only the refrigerator to replacing all kitchen appliances, can make a great impact and lasting impression on both the look and value of your kitchen.

Here’s your chance to save big. Take advantage of AJ Madison’s Electrolux and Frigidaire free shipping event.

AJ Madison is offering free delivery on all orders — no threshold — for Frigidaire and Electrolux appliances. These brands can now be shipped directly to your door at no extra cost to you.  Don’t let shipping charges keep you from outfitting your home with new appliances.  Act fast – this offer is for a limited time only.

The October 15 deadline has passed for states to get their “Cash for Appliances” details to the federal government. Since then several state plans for distributing cash rebates to residents who purchase high-efficiency appliances have started shaking out. The $296 million in federal funds won’t be distributed until after Nov. 30., so many states are looking to a 2010 springtime roll-out, when most industry insiders say people start sprucing up their homes.

Under the New York plan, which is proposed to start February 2010, customers get a set amount per energy-efficient appliance, as well as an additional amount if they recycle their old appliances. For example, consumers get $75  for purchasing Energy Star refrigerators and $105 with documented recycling. For more information go to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority site.

Professional-style appliances are great for those who want their kitchen to look like those in restaurants.  Designer appliances, however, are for those who want the same functionality as professional-style devices, but a little more dazzle and color than stainless steel and black cast-iron.  As featured on many home redesign shows like Spice Up My Kitchen and Bang For Your Buck, designer appliances serve as a stylish and lower-cost alternative to suit your aesthetic needs.

Dacor Epicure ER30DSCH

A major difference in features between pro and designer-style can be found on the appliance’s control panel. Want digital controls for your range? You’re not going to find that on a pro-style model. Many designer-style models give users the ability to alter the specific temperature, delay baking or even a “favorites” option, remembering the exact conditions the oven has to be set to for a popular item. A digital clock or timer, as well as a meat probe (to determine the true inside temperature of a roast, for example) are also features frequently found in designer ranges.

Besides controls, designer appliances give the consumer a greater selection of colors, finishes and styling options, as opposed to the stainless steel standard of pro-style. Designer appliances are great if you think a bronze trim will go well with the rest of your kitchen hardware, or a hidden rotating display console is pretty neat.  With designer models, you have a wide variety of options in terms of maximizing the look of your kitchen and bringing some color to the room.

A prime example of Designer-Style appliances is the Dacor Epicure ER30DSCH. It has an adjustable-view digital console for one-touch baking, Illumina control knobs that light up when their respective burners are in use and a whole slew of finishes to make the range blend in with the surroundings. If you’re big on style and functionality, this range and other designer appliances will work wonders with your kitchen.

New Designer Badge

I got the privilege last night to take a sneak peek at Viking’s new Designer line. This new series is a stunning combination of smooth curves, straight lines and wallet-friendly value.

First off, Viking’s new Designer logo, what those in the know call a “badge,” is super sleek and incorporates the smooth lines of the appliances and a next-generation look. The handles on the new Designer items are updated too. They’re a mix between a pro-style handle and the old curved Viking Designer handle. Just take a look at these slick wall ovens.

Viking Designer Series DDOE301SS

Viking is really trying to make luxury affordable with the new Designer series—you can get a full stainless steel kitchen with range (or cooktop/single oven), refrigerator, dishwasher and microwave for $8,750. Now, that’s an amazing value! This line is perfect for those customers who want a clean, professional look on a practical budget. Stay tuned for next week’s AJ Madison blog with details about Viking’s new Designer offer.