The Microwave Saga

February 17^th I lit out for Sears to do some appliance shopping.  I had already made my list and knew exactly what I wanted:

·         One Kenmore cook top—induction

·         One Electrolux double oven—regular and convection

·         One Frigidaire microwave

I had all the measurements and knew which model (and their numbers) of each appliance had the features I wanted and would fit in the space available. The measurements of the spaces that each appliance needed to fit were also on my list.  I was loaded for bear.

When I got to Sears I found a sales lady and told her what I wanted.  She was a happy camper!  She was a new employee just learning the ropes, so I knew that patience would be a virtue.  (I had been a new sales person once, trying to figure out the cash register, etc.)  I understood.

So, we began the process. First on my agenda was the oven because they only had two that met my criteria and I was worried that my first choice would not be available.  It was.  Then we worked out the details for the cooktop.  There was more than one cook top I could be happy with, but again my first choice was available.  Finally, on to the microwave of which there was only one model which would fit in the space and was in the right price range.  We would pick up the appliances and save the delivery charges.

I wanted the microwave to go under the counter for a couple of reasons.  One, I did not want to use up any of the valuable counter space by placing the microwave on the counter.  Previously, it was located above the oven.  Second, when I was having problems lifting things above shoulder level, I was unable to place items in the microwave. So, I wanted the microwave low enough for my needs in that situation and also accessible by wheel chair.  The cabinet maker had installed the cabinet with space for the microwave.  I had the measurements and this was the one microwave I could afford and that fit. It was available too.  I was on a roll!

The Microwave Space

Then we began to ring-up the purchase:  first the cook top, then the oven and finally the microwave.  They would all arrive on the 28^th of March.  What!!!!!  So, the sales person checked on the cook top.  It would arrive on February 21, in just three days.  The oven would arrive on February 28, in a little more than a week. And, finally the microwave would arrive on March 28^th.  Then she rang up the sale and announced that everything would be delivered on March 28^th to the store for me to pick up.

What?  I had to wait until the end of March?  My question was, “Why were the oven and cooktop not available now until March?” So, the sales lady voided everything, called the manager for approval and started in again.  This time, I suggested that she separate the microwave from the other appliances and charge it separately.  Well after three or four tries (the manager had to be summoned each time), she finally got the delivery dates to match my time table.  After all, Jim and I could put the microwave on the shelf under the counter, but we needed the expertise of our contractor for the other two items.

So, appliances were arriving on time.  I began to worry about whether the microwave would fit in the space.  I must have checked the measurements listed on the Sears web site every day to reassure myself that all was well with the microwave.  Then one day on the web site I noticed that there was a frame to fit around the microwave to give it the appearance of being built-in.  Ah hah!  So, I ordered the kit listed for the microwave…only instead of ordering from Sears, I saved $100 by ordering from Amazon. 

In three days the frame for the microwave arrived.  I was very excited.  I opened the box, drew out the frame and held it up to the microwave space.  It was way too big! Installing that frame would cover parts of the drawers below and beside the microwave space.  So, perhaps they had a smaller frame?  Yes, there was one 3 inches smaller and one 7 inches smaller.  Surely one of these would fit.  That’s when I decided to bring in reinforcements for the microwave project.

I gave Jim the specifications for the microwave and ask him to measure the cabinet and see what size frame I should order for the microwave.  He measured and immediately announced that the microwave on order would definitely NOT fit in the cabinet we had constructed.  Therefore, a different microwave would have to be selected.

At that point, I started looking on line for a new microwave.  I checked Consumer Reports again, because by this time I couldn’t remember what the recommended brands were.  I assembled my list of models with the features I wanted.  Then, Jim called from H. H. Gregg in Richmond to tell me about a microwave he saw there.  He thought I should look it up on the computer and see what I thought.  So, I started to work on that.  The second phone call came and he was at Best Buy where he saw another microwave I should consider.  (I was still working on the first one when he gave me the model information on the second one.)   A few minutes later he called again.  He was at Mennards and had another microwave for me to look up.  Then, about a half hour later, Jim called again.  He was in Dayton at Home Depot and had another great microwave for me to check on.  I still had my list of choices from earlier in the day and none of them were ones Jim wanted me to look up on the internet.

Later when Jim came home from work, he suggested that we go to Lowe’s in Greenville and see what they had available.  So, we picked up and headed for Lowes where we found a GE microwave with all the features I wanted.  Jim measured and determined it would fit the space by 1/8 inch.  We made the purchase, brought it home and slid it into the space—thus ending the great microwave saga.  

The microwave slides into the space with a hair to spare on each side.

Notice the two inches at the top for continuation of the saga.

Today I canceled the order for the microwave from Sears. I am not sure what the moral for this story is.  Maybe it is that things are as complicated or as simple as we make them.