4 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Commercial Fridges

Starting a restaurant is a big leap. Because restaurants have such tight margins, it’s imperative for them to save money wherever they can. This makes the equipment-buying process extremely important.

One way you could save a decent amount of money is by getting a good deal on a commercial fridge. However, you can’t just buy the cheapest fridge available. This could come back to haunt you in the form of frequent breakdowns.

So, the question is: what should you look for when buying commercial fridges? And even more: what mistakes should you avoid? We’re going to cover the latter in this article.

Without further ado, here are 4 mistakes to avoid when buying commercial fridges.

1. Not Setting a Budget

Commercial fridges aren’t exactly cheap. As such, they’re not the types of equipment that you can just casually throw money at. You have to have an idea as to how much you can spend before actually setting out to make a purchase.

Therefore, the first mistake we’re going to discuss is not setting a budget. You need to set a ballpark budget and stick to it. If you don’t, you could end up massively overspending.

Or, you could end up spending a substantial amount of money on one fridge while spending a very small amount of money on another fridge. Sure, your expensive fridge could serve you well. However, the cheaper fridge could end up giving you trouble.

It’s important to get a general idea of what each type of fridge costs. This will help you build a baseline budget. Then, you can deviate from that baseline depending on just how much you have to spend.

2. Not Considering Size Limitations

Another mistake that’s made when buying commercial fridges is not considering size limitations. This applies on two fronts: 1. the chosen fridge might be too big to fit into the restaurant, and 2. the chosen fridge might not have enough space to accommodate various foods and beverages.

To avoid this problem, you should first draw an outline of your restaurant complete with dimensions and measurements. You should then fit hypothetical fridges and other equipment into certain portions of the room. This way, you’re 100% certain about the amount of space you have.

In addition, you should consider just how much food and/or beverages you’ll need to get through a general day or week. Determine this number and then add 1/4 of it. This is the amount of fridge space you’ll want to have present.

3. Not Choosing the Right Type

There is not just one type of commercial fridge. There are a number of different types, in fact, and they all provide something a little different in terms of benefits and drawbacks. If you’re not aware of this, you might end up with a fridge that’s less than optimal for what you need.

So, in that vain, let’s discuss some of the more popular types of commercial fridges. These include:

Bar Fridges

Bar fridges fit underneath bars and are generally used to store chilled cans and bottles. Generally speaking, they possess glass windows, allowing their users to locate different items within them before they’ve even opened up.

Deli Display Fridges

A deli display fridge is a chilled enclosure with a large glass cover over the top of it. It enables restaurants to showcase sandwiches, meats, desserts, and more, all while keeping them cool.

Drawer Fridges

Drawer fridges are generally used in the food prep areas of restaurants. They contain an array of drawers, each of which holds a different type of food. They provide a great convenience for cooks, all while keeping their contents cool.

Under Bench Fridges

Under-bench fridges are usually located under preparation tables. They contain large doors and can generally store large items. They’re similar to bar fridges, but don’t reveal their contents when closed.

Wine Fridges

Wine fridges are used to store — what else? — wine. They contain wine racks and generally reveal their contents when closed.

4. Mindlessly Buying the Cheapest Option

As was noted above, starting a successful restaurant isn’t easy. As such, you might try to cut corners when purchasing equipment. This could benefit you in the long run. However, it could also come back to haunt you.

It’s common for new restaurant owners to purchase the cheapest option available. This is true with fridges as well as an assortment of other equipment. The issue is that, in many cases, this equipment is cheap for a reason.

For instance, it might be used; or, it might be made by an obscure company. Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s an inferior product. However, it certainly increases the chances of it being.

Used equipment is hit-or-miss. Some works great consistently while some breaks down consistently. Therefore, buying used equipment is a gamble, regardless of how cheap it is.

As far as buying from obscure companies goes, there’s nothing to base your purchase on. If the company hasn’t developed a reputation over years of business, it can be difficult to gauge whether or not it’s selling you something worthwhile.

This is particularly true if the company hasn’t received many reviews from past customers. At that point, you’re just shooting in the dark.

This is why, in general, it’s wise to buy fridges new, and from reputable and proven companies.

Looking to Buy Commercial Fridges Right Now?

Now that you know of mistakes to avoid, maybe you’re looking to buy commercial fridges right now. If so, look no further. Snowmaster has you covered.

We offer a variety of commercial fridges, from display fridges to storage fridges to drink fridges and more. Regardless of the type of fridge that you’re looking for, we have something that will accommodate you.

Check out our selection of commercial fridges now!