Downunder Fridge from Repco

Submitted: Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 22:24
ThreadID: 30272 Views:11390 Replies:6 FollowUps:12
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Hi Guys
I ‘am new here & realize you get a new post everyday about fridges but I seen (Click Link - www.repcoshop.com.au/ASP/Catalogue/CatPage4.asp) these 50 Litre fridges at Repco today and wondering has anybody seen one in action or have one they can comment on.
They have the same Danfoss compressor the Weaco’s have and the manufacture has put their balls on the line offering a 5 Year Warranty.
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Reply By: 4145derek - Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 22:54

Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 22:54
Hi Willo

Too many times I see complaints about fridges.

Best to stick to a brand name. I have not seen a test on these units yet.

Waeco, Engel, EvaKool are all known.

Contact me if you like I have specs on all the latest units (Except these)

Regards Derek
AnswerID: 151972

Reply By: bouncer - Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 23:01

Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 23:01
Hi Willo61,
Looks like a Reefer fridge to me, I have the same model Reefer Click Here great fridge.

AnswerID: 151974

Reply By: gonebush SA - Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 23:07

Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 23:07
we bought the 35 litre 3 way from repco, very good fridge. we have just got back from 2 weeks in quite hot temps with out any problems. yes in the days of high 30's - 40 it didn't ice up inside but the drinks were still cold enough to enjoy, hubby tried using our little desk fan and pointing it onto the coilingfins/ back of it to help it out on a real stinker of a day and that was amazing the difference it made, dropped the temp down to 2-5 deg.inside running on 240 volt, we have used it quite a bit on all power sauces with out a grumble and it's so nice not to have things floating in water and running to the shops to buy ice all the time. and from what we have heard around that repco are good helping out with any problems that might occur, one thing to keep in mind is that the repco fridge and the k mart fridge are the same just with different names put on them, so look for the sales. good luck
AnswerID: 151975

Reply By: russ36 - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 06:15

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 06:15
i reluctantly bought to downunder 50 litre on boxing day when i couldnt find any stores open to sell me a waeco or engel...i was nervous about it but had no choice as i was on a trip away that afternoon.. in the summer heat on a trip to the gulf, i lost vegetables because the intense cold ruined them, and my beer cans kept freezing up. it was so hot up there that the heat nearly killed us in the middle of the day. these are the sort of conditions that you would expect any good fridge to struggle in, but in these temps i still had "over performance" from it. it really is a pleasure to own great gear that performs beyond expectations
AnswerID: 152002

Reply By: Boo - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 08:53

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 08:53
Hi Willo61,
We bought the 70 litre model late last year, have used it several times for extended stays camping in very hot weather and it has been fantastic. We use it as a freezer as we also have a three way Chescold that we use as the fridge. Couldnt be happier with its performance and its construction. There made up in Qld in the same factory as the Tropical ice boxes. Heres some web addresses for you to have a look at,(still got the brocher sitting on my desk here)
hope it helps,
Boo.

www.downundericeboxes.com

www.tropicaliceboxes.com
AnswerID: 152012

Follow Up By: ACDC - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 20:19

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 20:19
These fridges are made in Taiwan not QLD they are the same as the Reefer fridge,i have visited the factory where they are made by Ruey Shing refridgeration who make industrial fridges as well so they know there stuff.
I have data logged one of the 50 litre models and they outperform a Waeco and Engel easily!! which i have also data logged.
Downunder flog them to Repco but not for much longer!

Yes you guessed it i sell them as well i got sick of selling Waeco's and Engels so looked for something better and found it, from the replies above it seems i was right.
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Follow Up By: Leroy - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 20:55

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 20:55
never met a disappointed engel or waeco owner. Don't know why you got sick of selling them...

Leroy
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Follow Up By: ACDC - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 20:58

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 20:58
I have plenty of them!! some people just don't like to admit it.
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Follow Up By: Leroy - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 21:02

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 21:02
the majority of people i know have engels and the odd waeco and no one has a prob keeping the bevies cool. Even here on the forum you get the odd prob with both models but generally not many issues at all.

Leroy
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Follow Up By: Boo - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 22:34

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 22:34
Thanks for the correction ACDC, I was only going by whats on the brocher and it simply lists the address as Qld and then the fridge and the cooler items under that. Shouldnt assume things spose, get caught out every time..
Either way, still cant recommend them enough, great units.
Would like to see the data you have on the different units as the brother inlaw is just about to buy a new fridge as well, and since you mentioned it what sort of price can you do for a unit to the ACT with and without a case?

Boo.
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Follow Up By: ACDC - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 23:03

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 23:03
Boo,
Same price as Repco which is cheap!
There certainly not fancy but they work well!!!
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Reply By: Willo61 - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 22:36

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 22:36
Thanks all who commented.
Well I have about $900 to spend (according to the household chief accountant). With some barging at the local 4WD shop I thought the Waeco CF-50 would be the go. Since then I have seen the Bushman and now these fridges at Repco. (Others at Supercheap / Rays etc.)
The plastic casing & lack of thermal insulation on the waeco does not impress me. IMO the insulated cover as an optional extra is a cleaver trick to suck more money out of you.
On the other hand the insulation on the Downunder fridge is very thick compared to Waeco. Ratio of external volume to internal capacity is 3.1. (155L/50L) Waeco=2.3
The 40 L Engel & Bushman price per litre (Approx $25/L) did not impress me either Vers the Waeco @ $20/L & Downunder @ $18 / L.
The Bushman being locally made (I am in Victoria) impressed me after all I am shelling out almost a grand and don’t want to deal with some repair company in Brisbane / WA.
The only other concern apart from above is how well the internal pipes & other components are braced down, which will rattle apart first? Were they designed to sit on a shelf at home or on the back of a leaf spring trailer @ 100 Kmh on a corrugated dirt track.
Tomorrow I will talk to Repco about warranty & price, maybe they can do better for cash up front (Bottom of catalog says pay nothing till 2007!) The only thing that disappoints me with the Downunder offer is the bleep y looking handles.
AnswerID: 152173

Follow Up By: ACDC - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 23:01

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 23:01
The manufacturer gives 12 months warranty on the downunder but Repco give 5 years so i don't know how that works?
Don't worry about the handles strong as !!!
The internal stainless steel liner has copper tube strapped to it which then has the insulation injected between it and the outer case,not pressed colorbond that wears through like some others.

The Bushman is made in China..
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Follow Up By: Brew69(SA) - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2006 at 06:32

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2006 at 06:32
The plastic casing & lack of thermal insulation on the waeco does not impress me.
Have u ever broken a plastic esky????
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Follow Up By: Boo - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2006 at 19:10

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2006 at 19:10
Hi ACDC,

You mentioned that the manufacturer gives a 12month warranty on the Downunder fridges and its Repco that give 5 years, however we didn't buy ours through Repco and we still have a 5 year warranty. The Downunder brochures state across the front of it that it has a 5year warranty (5 yrs on compressor, evaporator, power supply, condenser & cabinet, with 12months on transformer). This isn't a Repco warranty but a manufacturers warranty.

Regards,

Kerrie.
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Follow Up By: ACDC - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2006 at 20:10

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2006 at 20:10
Hi,
Downunder are not the manufacturer,Ruey Shing the manufacturer give 12 months warranty so Downunder must be extending the warranty to the 5 years seeing they also supply Repco, a little confusing i know!
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Follow Up By: Willo61 - Thursday, Feb 02, 2006 at 10:02

Thursday, Feb 02, 2006 at 10:02
I approached repco yesterday regarding the warranty conditions etc.
The repco salesman claimed Downunder have branches in most states (for me there is a branch in Vic somewhere that the fridge could go back to & be repaired) & in the event of a claim repco would arrange transport back to downunder for repair. There is a warranty card that comes with the fridge (from Downunder) stating in black & white the 5 year offer. No further discounts for full payment in cash.
Disappointing lack of details / technical data sold with the fridge.
I am starting to sway towards Waeco. Can get a CF-50 at almost the same price.
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Follow Up By: ACDC - Thursday, Feb 02, 2006 at 19:30

Thursday, Feb 02, 2006 at 19:30
The only branches Downunder has is probably in there front yard!
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