BARGAINS: KEEP IT COOL AT A DISCOUNT : INSIDE INFO.

Byline: Trisha King and Deborah Newmark

Anyone interested in major appliances will be blown away by the selection at Baker & Wells/Fator's. In refrigerators alone, there are always at least 70 units - from 2.5 cubic feet to 30 cubic feet and even larger customized units - on their 20,000-square-foot showroom floor.

In business since 1947, Baker & Wells/Fator's offers everyday low prices. For example, a major discount chain recently featured a special sale price of $799.99 on a 20.7-cubic-foot Amana refrigerator (model number TR21VW). The everyday price here is $669.88.

Baker & Wells/Fator's shops its competition to make sure that they not only have the best prices (they'll meet or beat any verifiable price), but also the best selection in low-end to high-end appliances. If you're planning a new kitchen, you'll find many ideas in their ``kitchens,'' using the latest products, including Sub-Zero's free-standing refrigerated drawers.

In addition to refrigerators and freezers, you'll find an enormous selection of washers and dryers, 60 dishwashers, trash compactors, microwaves, range tops and free-standing ranges.

Brand names include KitchenAid, G.E., Miele, Magic Chef, Maytag, Whirlpool, Dacor, DCS, Thermador, Wolf, Viking and many others. Upstairs you'll find sinks and tubs (regular and hand-painted) in all shape and sizes, as well as plumbing fixtures and hardware with names such as Kohler, Price Pfister, Jado and Moen.

Aside from everyday low prices, a fantastic selection and free in-house designers, customer service is of the highest priority. Their motto, ``Where quality and courtesy is not old-fashioned,'' is certainly reflected in their low-key salespeople. Manager Mike Shuman stays in touch with his customers by not only offering his pager numbers for two area codes, he also has an 800 number in his home. Now that's customer service.

If you can wait a couple of weeks, their biggest sale is an annual three-day parking lot sale. Occurring this year on the weekend of June 20, the sale will feature extra discounts, as well as plenty of vendors putting on demonstrations.

Baker & Wells/Fator's is located at 9640 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Chatsworth, [phone]; and at 9030 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, [phone]. Hours for the Chatsworth store are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. The Beverly Hills store is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and closed Sunday. MasterCard and Visa are accepted.

Bargains Galore is one of those great stores where every week the merchandise changes. Lately, they have in stock decorative flags for $12.99 (elsewhere $20 and up), Dr. Seuss hats for $5.99 (elsewhere $15) and reading glasses for $2.99 (retail $10 and up). Make Bargains Galore a regular weekly stop. Bargains Galore is located at 2272 Honolulu Ave., Montrose; [phone]. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

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