Over the last decade or so, refrigerators have come a long way.

From what was essentially a cold box for storing food to Wi-fi enabled, touch-screen machines, people are looking for a lot more from their refrigerators these days.

For those who don’t need all the bells and whistles, a popular brand is Insignia.

The company has gained a reputation for producing quality refrigerators at reasonable prices.

Who makes Insignia refrigerators?

We’ll take a look at the answer to this question and several more.

Who Makes Insignia Refrigerators?

Insignia refrigerators are largely produced in China by a company called Haier.

Haier also makes other appliances, such as air conditioners, washing machines, microwave ovens, and more.

It is also a majority owner of General Electric, another large appliance company.

The fact that the company manufactures its products in China has raised eyebrows, causing people to wonder about the quality of its appliances.

However, Haier is ranked 11th on Kantar BrandZ’s list of Top 100 Most Valuable Chinese Companies.

Insignia refrigerators are only sold at Best Buy.

Best Buy is a large electronics retailer headquartered in Richfield, Minnesota.

The retailer is probably best known for its personal electronics, such as computers, TVs, and game systems.

However, it also sells several home appliances from a variety of brands.

Insignia is Best Buy’s in-house low-price label.

Just as Walmart has Great Value store-brand products, Best Buy has Insignia.

Best Buy contracts the production of its Insignia appliances out to Haier.

Why Are Insignia Products Cheaper Than Other Brands?

Retailers like to have their own brands because it saves them money and allows them to pass some of those savings on to consumers.

There are several ways Best Buy saves itself (and customers) money with Insignia products.

Manufacturing Insignia appliances and accessories in China saves money on labor and material costs.

China is the most populous country in the world, which means it has a large supply of workers.

Since the supply of workers is so high, wages stay low.

This means that it costs less to manufacture goods since it is cheaper to hire people to make them.

China generally does not follow the same labor laws that exist in the United States, such as minimum wage.

China also abolished certain import and export taxes on goods made in the country.

This keeps costs low for businesses.

In addition to making its products overseas, Best Buy saves money on its store-brand merchandise simply by virtue of it being a store brand.

“No-name” brands don’t advertise or do large amounts of market research like big brands.

They simply make goods that are basically the same as the products already on the market—ones that have already been proven to sell.

The money saved on marketing and brand exposure is passed on to customers through low prices.

Best Buy also makes far more of a profit from Insignia branded merchandise because there is no other company to split the gains with.

When Best Buy sells Apple products, the retailer must mark the prices up in order to make a profit since most of the money goes back to Apple.

With the store brand, there is no need to mark prices up because the store can keep far more of the margin.

What Do People Like About Insignia Refrigerators?

The main draw of Insignia appliances is the price: it is considered the “budget brand” at Best Buy stores.

The 18-cubic-foot refrigerator with a top freezer runs for about $530, though sale prices drop as low as $499.

This is a very basic refrigerator.

There is no water dispenser or smart capability (an ice maker can be purchased separately for $60).

However, this model was rated the best budget refrigerator by US News.

Its compact size makes it perfect for people in smaller homes, and its enticing price is a major draw for those looking for a good deal.

Even Insignia’s fancier refrigerators are relatively lower in cost.

Its most expensive refrigerator sells for $1,599, compared to brands like KitchenAid, which sell some refrigerators for upwards of $10,000.

Reviewers of Insignia refrigerators have also noted that they are very energy-efficient.

The most basic model costs between $25 and $40 per year to run.

The way it is made also makes it easy to switch which way the door opens.

As mentioned, these refrigerators are only sold at Best Buy or on its website.

This can make them less accessible than name brands that are sold at many retailers.

However, Best Buy offers free delivery and installation in most areas.

What Are Some Drawbacks Of The Brand?

Insignia began selling refrigerators relatively recently, so there are some unknowns about these products.

It is hard to know how reliable or long-lasting its products are without more data.

Since most people are looking for a refrigerator that will last them a long time with few problems, this may be an issue.

Within a few years, we will have a better idea of the quality of the products over time.

The wallet-friendly refrigerators are attractive to those looking for a good deal, but concessions must be made for great prices.

Many customers have left reviews that their refrigerator makes a loud noise, though most are satisfied with it, otherwise.

Other reviewers are unhappy with the drawers inside the refrigerator.

Some say there aren’t enough drawers.

Others have issues with the lightweight plastic the drawers are made of.

Finally, many reviewers comment that the light inside the refrigerator is very dim, making it hard to see what’s inside.

Overall, however, the 18-cubic-foot model has 4.4 out of 5 stars on Best Buy’s website, with more than 3,000 reviews.

What Are The Best Insignia Refrigerators?

As previously mentioned, the Insignia 18-cubic-foot top-freezer refrigerator is excellent for shoppers on a budget or those with small kitchens.

It comes in both black and white, but at $499, the white model is about $80 cheaper than the black one.

It stands about 66 inches tall and is 32 inches deep, including the handle.

There are two moveable wire shelves and three door racks in the fridge, and one wire rack and two door shelves in the freezer.

A three-year protection plan on this fridge will run you $79.

For consumers looking for a versatile, attractive refrigerator, Insignia’s 17-cubic-foot convertible refrigerator/freezer is rated at 4.7 out of five stars with more than 1,000 reviews.

This model can be either a refrigerator or a freezer, with a liquid crystal display for changing the temperature.

It comes in stainless steel, making it a sleek addition to any kitchen.

Although it stands at just under 65 inches tall, this model costs more than the top-freezer model at $829, thanks to its higher tech and nicer finish.

There is also a smaller, 13-cubic-foot version that will run you $649.

If you are looking for the best Insignia refrigerator you can get, check out the 25-cubic-foot, French door refrigerator with a built-in water dispenser and ice maker.

This model has a bottom freezer drawer with a capacity of 7.8 cubic feet.

It has a stainless-steel finish, LED lighting, and a door open alarm.

It stands over 68 inches tall and 36 inches wide, so it will require more space than other Insignia models.

This refrigerator costs $1,499, with an optional three-year protection plan for $139.

Do Insignia Refrigerators Come With A Warranty?

Insignia refrigerators come with a one-year limited warranty.

Because they are a house brand of Best Buy, there is no manufacturer to speak to if the refrigerator stops working.

You will need to go through Best Buy.

Thanks to the pandemic, customers have been reporting difficulties getting in touch with customer support.

However, Best Buy also offers its Geek Squad Protection Plans that can be purchased any time during the return and exchange window for the product.

There are two Geek Squad plans to choose from: a three-year plan and a five-year plan.

The price of the extra warranties depends on the cost of the refrigerator.

Benefits of purchasing one of the plans include free repair or replacement, parts and labor, and reimbursement for spoiled food.

What Other Insignia Appliances Are Available?

Insignia does not just make refrigerators.

The brand’s name is on a large number of appliances at Best Buy.

Insignia manufactures four different models of ice makers.

Three of the models produce gourmet ice, and one makes the ever-popular nugget ice.

They can produce anywhere from 26 to 44 pounds of ice per day.

They range in price from $99.99 to $374.99.

All four models have four stars or higher based on customer reviews on Best Buy’s site.

Best Buy’s selection of Insignia washers and dryers includes single machines as well as matching sets.

The cheapest model costs $450 for one machine or $900 for both.

The line has front- and top-load options, stackable models, and machines that are Energy Star certified.

Features on some of the machines include but are not limited to soft-close lids, reversible door hinges, and out-of-balance detection.

Many of the models have hundreds of reviews, and none have fewer than four stars.

In addition to larger products, Insignia has several small appliances.

On Best Buy’s website, you can find Insignia pressure cookers, wine and beverage coolers, air fryers, and toaster ovens.

Many of these products are highly rated as well as attractive, such as its line of retro mini-fridges.

The brand even has several sizes of automatic trash cans, which use motion sensors to open on their own.

Does Insignia Make Products Besides Appliances?

Appliances are not the only Best Buy merchandise with an Insignia label.

Just about any name-brand product you can buy from the store has a store-brand counterpart.

This includes both electronics and their accessories.

Insignia offers a wide selection of TVs.

Their lineup includes screen sizes from 24 to 75 inches.

Most of the televisions are Smart TVs, which operate on Amazon’s Fire TV platform.

Features include HDR, Bluetooth connectivity, and even adjustable height.

About half of the TVs have 4K resolution, a specification which refers to the number of pixels on the screen.

4K is one of the highest resolutions available on the market currently.

Insignia’s television products are highly rated for sound quality, picture, ease of use, and value.

While Insignia doesn’t create other electronics products, it does have accessories for just about any device by any brand.

Insignia offers screen protectors for the Apple iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Surface Go, Amazon Fire, and Samsung Galaxy.

The store brand also makes charging cables for these devices, as well as for game systems such as the Sony PlayStation and Nintendo Switch.

Best Buy also sells Insignia products compatible with any device, such as Bluetooth speakers, mice, and keyboards.

Finally, there are plenty of goods that are simply useful to have on hand: surge protectors, hard drive docking stations, ethernet cables, and mouse pads.

Perhaps some of Best Buy’s biggest money-makers are game systems and their accessories.

Insignia has an entire line of accessories for Xbox, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.

These products include necessities like controller charging stations, wireless headsets, and extra-long charging cables.

There are also fun additions, such as Xbox controller thumbstick covers and Nintendo Switch cases.

While there are brand-name options for all of these products, Insignia offers them at lower prices without compromising on quality.

Very few of these items have fewer than four stars from reviewers on Best Buy’s website.

Is Insignia Best Buy’s Only House Brand?

Best Buy has five main store brands: Insignia, Rocketfish, Platinum, Modal, and Dynex.

The Insignia label can be found on the widest variety of products.

The others generally stick to one category of goods.

For example, Rocketfish is dedicated to TV and gaming accessories.

Rocketfish’s line of home theater accessories includes wall mounts, wireless rear speakers, and HDMI switch boxes.

For game systems, it offers charging stations, extended battery packs, and USB adapters.

Most Rocketfish products have thousands of reviews on Best Buy’s site, and all are rated close to five stars.

Like Insignia and Rocketfish, Dynex also offers TV and home theater accessories.

However, the majority of Dynex products are computer and cell phone accessories.

This line includes charging blocks and cables, phone cases, screen protectors, and computer mice.

Dynex is not as widely reviewed as Insignia and Rocketfish, but its products still have excellent ratings.

The Platinum brand can be found on accessories for laptops, smartwatches, and digital cameras.

This includes laptop briefcases, camera flash kits, and bands for the Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch, and Fitbit.

Unfortunately, this store brand’s line of phone cases is only compatible with the iPhone 11, 12, and 13 models.

It does not carry cases for Android phones.

Modal also has accessories for personal devices, but a much smaller selection.

It offers cell phone charging cables and bumper cases for the Apple Watch.

It has cell phone chargers compatible with both Apple and Android devices.

Out of these five brands, Insignia has the largest inventory.

The brand offers many of the same products listed above, plus, of course, its line of appliances.

The post Who Makes Insignia Refrigerators? (Updated 2022) appeared first on The Cold Wire.

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