Some people are just die-hard shoppers. They will think nothing of hopping into the SUV and heading off to the SouthPark or NorthLake Mall at the crack of dawn to be the first in line for a new sale. These are the same folks who might camp out overnight on Thanksgiving to makes sure they’ll be able to snag some black Friday bargains. If you have a shopper like this in your life, its sometimes better to just give them your own list and let them have at it instead of trying to tag along. In many cases, you’ll just be left in the dust!

Then there is the shopper who likes to do their research before buying any item. For them there can be no great resource than the internet. With just a click of the mouse they can download all kinds of consumer report ratings, testimonials and comparison shop. There are also apps for the iPhone which let you snap a picture of a product in a store and see if you can find a better deal somewhere else. Usually this type of intense research works best when you are considering a major purchase such as a computer, television or big kitchen appliance.

If you happen to be in the market for a new refrigerator you might want to consider the following areas of research:

Capacity. When thinking about refrigerator capacity, you’re basically thinking about how much food and drinks you want to keep cold or frozen. This comes down to a matter of how many folks are living under your roof. A married couple can get away with around 8 cubic feet of storage capacity. That is just on the cold side. Add another 8 cubic feet for the freezer. For each additional person, factor in an additional cubic foot for cold and freezer foods. That will be a good capacity to shoot for.

Size. Talking about the size of your refrigerator has to do with how the ice box is going to fit in your current kitchen layout. This comes down to an issue of standard size (which is the most common) or a custom model that is built in to your existing countertops. The refrigerators that become flush with cabinetry can give a very sleek and elegant look to a kitchen but they also might be hard to replace. There are also smaller kitchens that take a fridge that fits under the counter.

Special features. How much fun do you want to have with your refrigerator? Do you want water dispensed along with ice? Would you like different kinds of ice (crushed or cubed)? Do you want a built in TV screen? A special container for eggs? A lettuce crisper? There a plenty of special features you can add to get the most out of your fridge experience.

EnergyStar. We live in an age where the majority of our kitchen appliances are EnergyStar rated. This means they comply with federal regulations with regard to energy efficiency. But even with the EnergyStar rating you can still compare different makes and models to find the one that will generate the most savings.

Style. This refers to what your new fridge is going to look like. Gone are the days of being able to pick just a white refrigerator. You can now select from a wide variety of colors and finishes.

As soon as you pick out your new fridge, make sure you make arrangements for Junk King Charlotte to show up to get rid of your old model in an easy and affordable manner.