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The Garage Dealer has released its Garage Cabinets Rankings for 2008. The winner in the highest-cost Premium category is Whirlpool's Gladiator series; the winner in the intermediate-cost Solid Silver category is the Ultimate Pro line; and the winner in the low-cost Economy line is the Stack-On series.
Sandpoint, Idaho (PRWEB) June 10, 2008 -- The Garage Dealer is pleased to announce its 2008 rankings for America's best garage cabinets. The winning manufacturers are ranked highly for three main reasons: (1) they offer high-quality products; (2) they successfully and quickly deliver their products to the consumer; and (3) they offer excellent customer service when consumers have concerns and questions.
Our rankings are based on our own experience dealing with these manufacturers. Over the years, we have amassed a wealth of knowledge about these manufacturers and their products as we've offered their products on our website http://www.TheGarageDealer.com and on its companion site http://www.GarageCabinetsOnline.com. We divide our rankings into three categories, based on the cost of the products reviewed. The winner in the highest-cost Premium category is Whirlpool's Gladiator series (not including its RTA line); the winner in the intermediate-cost Solid Silver category is the Ultimate Pro line; and the winner in the low-cost Economy category is the Stack-On series.
Whirlpool's Gladiator series clearly outclasses all its competitors in the Premium category for quality products. Gladiator offers a complete line of cabinets and benches, including some truly awesome appliances like refrigerators, freezers, and a trash compactor, and all its products work together in a seamless symphony of welded steel. The metal is thick, powder-coated, and heavy duty, and the thick maple workbench tops deliver unbeatable style and workspace durability. The cabinets come completely assembled, which is a huge plus for many of our customers.
The drawback with Gladiator is the time for delivery. These cabinets usually take two to three weeks to deliver. However, considering the fact that they are already assembled (how long does it usually take you to assemble RTA products you order?), it is well worth the wait. Damage is rarely an issue, and when damage in shipping does occur, Gladiator happily resolves those problems, although re-shipped items often take another 2-3 weeks to ship again.
We've found that Whirlpool is not quite as responsive to customers as some of the smaller manufacturers. However, in the rare occasion an issue does arise, they will resolve it with a little follow-up from us. The only problem is the number of people Whirlpool has handling its customer service. The garage cabinets are not handled separately, so the specialist knowledge tends to get diluted among Whirlpool's representatives.
This is not a problem with our number one manufacturer in the intermediate-cost Solid Silver category, Ulti-Mate Garage Pro. Ulti-Mate confines its customer service for this product to two people, and when there are problems (which rarely occur), they act quickly. This line has an extremely low damage rate and rarely takes more than 24 hours to ship. We have experienced an extraordinarily low return rate, as the cabinets are easily assembled by the customer.
These cabinets are not as durable as the Whirlpool Gladiator line, and the much-lower price reflects the difference. They are meant for use inside a protected garage where they will not be subject to moisture or expected to hold heavy-duty steel machines and equipment. However, they are still thicker and more durable than other products in their class, and they easily outclass other products for style, function, and ease of installation. We love to recommend Ulti-Mate because of the overall quality of the product and the responsiveness of the company.
Now for our Economy class. Stack-On is in this class because of its low cost, but Stack-On truly offers exceptional style and durability and could easily be priced higher. We do experience a slightly higher return rate for these products, because customers sometimes expect a thicker product. These are not heavy-duty cabinets, and it is sometimes hard to judge from the website how light the cabinets are. The good part about Stack-On is that they are pre-assembled. They also ship within five to seven days, and the customer service department (one person) is very knowledgeable, responsive, and helpful. We highly recommend Stack-On to anybody who needs some stylish storage space without breaking the bank.
Further details on these product lines can be found at http://www.TheGarageDealer.com.
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