Seba
Member
Posts: 16
|
Post by Seba on Sept 27, 2012 17:04:57 GMT
Can someone in the forum please provide me with some info with respect to bringing a washer, dryer and refrigerator from the US? Does it make sense? How is the selection and prices in Dhahran? What are the different appliance stores in the US? What I saw in xtras website(english) they do seem more expensive than in the US?
|
|
|
|
Post by vpainter on Sept 27, 2012 18:08:29 GMT
You will have a much greater selection of style and type of washers and dryers if you buy in the U.S. Appliances can be bought at Sears, Lowe's, Best Buy, to name a few and actual appliance stores in your area.
Most bring a refrigerator with them so they can have an ice maker and water dispenser, the Aramco refrigerators do not have those features and are quite small. So the Aramco refrigerator is used by many people to hold drinks. Being very hot here you tend to drink more.
Many of the homes have space for both refrigerators in the kitchen, a few styles do not and then the second refrigerator is in the gae.
We have an Amana 27 cuft side by side, plus the Aramco refrigerator in our kitchen.
|
|
|
|
Post by expatwife on Sept 29, 2012 10:13:07 GMT
You can find them all here, may not be the same versions but they are all here. Finding one that you like in 110V may be the issue. In our house all of the outlets are 110V. So for iron and water heater, tv, cable we have to use converter/transformer (the electronics that we got here). Converter/transformer are very costly, too. I'm looking fwd to get my stuff from US here.
|
|
|
|
Post by malaika on Sept 30, 2012 16:36:26 GMT
We used the washer, dryer, and refrigerator supplied through housing. But if you are particular then bring it from the states, especially if you already have a shipment coming. The main issue is the salt water, so convert your water to soft water so your clothes last longer. I wash my hair in the sweet water because the salt water was burning it.
|
|
|
|
Post by jp_fizzer on Oct 1, 2012 8:12:41 GMT
Hi, I have picked up a washer/dryer to ship but I had not thought about a fridge because that was supplied by Aramco. I hadn't even thought about it possibly being too small. I was wondering if somebody would mind measuring the standard Aramco fridge? The one we currently have here is pretty small (18 cu. ft I think), it measures 30" wide, 30" deep and 66" tall. We have managed to live with it for a few years now but with a family of 4, we would definitely like a larger one (or two). If the Aramco one is same size or smaller, I think we will purchase another one to compliment it. Sounds like it may be difficult to purchase a 110v fridge there so we are better off to buy one here and ship?
I was also curious about the 220v appliances that is sounds like are more commonly for sale in Saudi Arabia. Are their plugs the round prongs like in Europe? I was just trying to determine if the standard 110v/220v converters used for travelling in Europe would be appropriate to bring to Saudi Arabia?
thanks,
-jeff
|
|
|
|
Post by GroveWanderer on Oct 1, 2012 11:08:52 GMT
Most of the 220V appliances here (nearly all the ones I have seen) have the UK-style plugs with the three big rectangular prongs.
|
|
|
|
Post by vpainter on Oct 4, 2012 4:47:17 GMT
Malaika, if you mean convert raw water to sweet water for the washing machine, please note there is a substantial fine if you are caught with such conversion.
jp_fizzer, we just got a new Aramco refrigerator, they claim it is an 18 cuft, but it is definitely smaller than the old Aramco refrigerator we had that was also an 18cuft. It's probably a 17cuft. Freezer is definitely smaller, I could not put back everything I had in it. I held out changing mine out because I had heard from others it was smaller, but my old one died. Aramco frigs do not have ice or water dispensers, nor an ice maker.
|
|
LQ1
Member
Posts: 19
|
Post by LQ1 on Oct 7, 2012 7:41:26 GMT
Hi Seba,
Ive been here in kingdom for almost a month an looked at all the prices of appliances an furniture here. My advice to you is buy everything from there wherever you are coming from? Because the brands here aren't the same an the prices of course are more expensive. Also like everyone else mentioned the aramco camp is set up for 110 volt appliances not 220 volt. And it's hard to find those appliances here. So do go out an buy whatever you think you will need to furnish your house when you arrive. I'm so glad I bought all my appliances and I can't wait to receive my boat shipment. Best of luck to you all still in the hiring process.
|
|
Seba
Member
Posts: 16
|
Post by Seba on Oct 11, 2012 17:23:58 GMT
Thanks to all of you for your responses. I am assuming that the three-plug rectangular prongs (UK style) is used for electrical outlets?
|
|
|
|
Post by tfcfan on Oct 11, 2012 17:34:13 GMT
"LQ1,"
How was the quality/prices of the furniture shopping? I've heard there is now a pottery barn open in the kingdom?
|
|
|
|
Post by SugarLandTX on Oct 12, 2012 11:43:19 GMT
Seba,
In response to your question, the plugs that come with anything you buy from USA will most likely fit the homes in Aramco compound.
Most of the items you buy locally from Saudi are 220V and comes with Type G (UK) with three straight prongs plugs. You will need an adapter to plug them in one of the outlets.
|
|
|
|
Post by vpainter on Oct 12, 2012 22:42:43 GMT
JP_Fizzer, my Aramco refrigerator measurements:
Freezer section inside: 24" Wide X 14 3/4" High X 18" Deep
Refrigerator section inside: 26" Wide X 40" High with 17 1/2" deep shelves.
Hope this helps. I did interior measurements because this supposed 18 cuft refrigerator is smaller than the one we did have that was also 18 cuft.
|
|
|
|
Post by vpainter on Oct 12, 2012 22:44:14 GMT
tfcfan,
There is a Pottery Barn now open in Dhahran Mall. There is a new European Furniture store opening called iDesign and we have a Midas contemporary Furniture - both on Dhahran Road going into Khobar. There are also many other traditional KSA furniture stores and and Ikea.
|
|
|
|
Post by gbhatia on Apr 16, 2013 20:05:27 GMT
Can anyone tell us what brand of refrigerator is supplied by Aramco ? We were at Sears to pick up an icemaker and the sales person insisted on knowing the brand it would be used in as the manufacturers all make the kits. I wouldn't think there would be an issue in interchanging them but I thought I would ask so I can order the correct one from Sears  Thanks |
|
|
|
Post by Hadia on Apr 17, 2013 5:15:06 GMT
Our Aramco appliances are all Electrolux (refrigerator, oven/range, dishwasher), but I'm not sure if that's the case for everyone else.
|
|
