What a waste-why are the fridges on in stores? (Sponsor Home Depot's stores included)

[brunes]

I completely agree with you, I can understand a TV being on but why would a fridge need to be on? to see how cold it can get?

The way the TVs are hooked up and calibrated at most FS and BB stores (read: not properly AT ALL), they might as well not even be on because you can't judge anything by what you see in the store anyways. The only way to judge a TV in a store is bring in your own laptop and play a calibration video direct from it to the set, and demand the remote so you can properly adjust the settings.

[Dirkus]

Refridgerators smell bad when they are unplugged. With the tight seal the door has there is a chance of moisture building up inside and mold growing. Have you ever closed the cottage at the end of the year? You always leave the door open or it will be funky inside by the spring.

I know everything counts but this is small beans...Why not go after the grocery stores that have no doors on their dairy and freezer isles? And by the way, frozen goods should be maintained at -18 C if you want them to last, so the outside method won't really work.

[YLSF]

I have a hard time believing a brand new fridge that has never been used will smell when off! I haven't seen this before but if this is happening (fridge's being on in stores) you should right to some media that covers "green" stories...

[gerbil]

Refridgerators smell bad when they are unplugged. With the tight seal the door has there is a chance of moisture building up inside and mold growing. Have you ever closed the cottage at the end of the year? You always leave the door open or it will be funky inside by the spring.

I know everything counts but this is small beans...Why not go after the grocery stores that have no doors on their dairy and freezer isles? And by the way, frozen goods should be maintained at -18 C if you want them to last, so the outside method won't really work.

that's true that Refridgerators unplugged smells really bad ... but store's like HD can have the Fridge on Display unplugged.

[gman]

No I actually have no problem with someone wanting to temporarily turn on the unit for any of these purposes. What I have a problem with (and what I started this thread for) is the current case of these stores leaving the fridges on 24/7. Up until now all the solutions you put forth have been more pie-in-the sky type of solutions. The power bar is not (and is something that could be implemented within 5 min. if they so desired to pursue it).

Just because of this thread, I happened to check out the fridges in a Sears. All the fridge were turned on. i.e. all of them has its internal built in lighting on when I opened the door but none of them were cold including the freezer. It was as warm as outside the fridge. They were multiple brands and different fridges.

In other words, it appears there is a way (which seems to be common for all the fridges in that Sears) to turn on the built-in light without turning on the air compressor.

[brunes]

Just because of this thread, I happened to check out the fridges in a Sears. All the fridge were turned on. i.e. all of them has its internal built in lighting on when I opened the door but none of them were cold including the freezer. It was as warm as outside the fridge. They were multiple brands and different fridges.

In other words, it appears there is a way (which seems to be common for all the fridges in that Sears) to turn on the built-in light without turning on the air compressor.

You just turn the thermostat all the way up....

[Siefer999]

that's true that Refridgerators unplugged smells really bad ... but store's like HD can have the Fridge on Display unplugged.

fridges smell bad after absorbing odours from the food that is stored. a new fridge should not smell bad. in fact, it should have that new-fridge smell to it.