I went to all the local stores within 26 miles and the only freezer suitable had a 1.8 star rating out of 5. So it wasnt suitable. Lowes was a joke. Before covid I could buy one about anywhere. Now It looks like Ill have to order one. I had my new chest freezer stolen while i was in Asia. Looks like I may have to rent a truck and drive 50 miles to buy what I want. Unreal.

I work at Lowe's and we definitely did have trouble getting freezers during Covid. But we've had plenty in stock for at least the last 2 years. I don't know why your store doesn't.

Yup,,,,bought my last one there but now they had 3 chest types and I dont want an upright. Get this...whirlpool is even in that town but laid off many.

I'm in the same position, need a new chest freezer for crab bait...Anyone have a brand they liked or lasted longer?

I ordered my last one online, good price

how big are you looking ?

understand that Lowes and HD basically operate their physical store and their web site like two different entities with a signifigantly larger inventory available online

you get what you get or ask them to order at the store

then there is a completely different inventory available online as ship to store or ship to home.

freezers may not be a fast moving item so your store manager decided not to keep them in stock.
they have several options online.

it is also worth calling area furniture and appliance stores not national chains. as they will often bring it right to where you want it and plug it in for you. We have a store in Southern WI called Brothers Main appliance. they have 2-3 stores in the area and deliver. I have gotten all of my appliances that were purchased new for the last 24 years from them and they will bring them right down the stairs into the basement and everything. prices are not to bad either. definitely worth price shopping some area non big box appliance stores.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Frigidaire-24-8-Cu-Ft-Chest-Freezer/5013992369

WWR, GCP is on point with the order online and ship to store option. It is what many smaller hubs are doing to keep there overhead low and in some area’s possibility of theft or looting low.. sadly. But is a good option if pursued. Hope this helps you out in your pursuit.

I bought one of these for my camp, it was on sale at Rural King in December for $159. They are $199 now. I can’t speak for the quality, but my son got one three years ago. My two freezers at home were bought at Montgomery Wards in 1979 and 1982. I doubt anything made today will last that long.

Try sams club or costco. I know Sam's has them in stock and at a fair price.

Our local appliance guys have plenty

I'll never get a chest freezer again after going upright.

I order a chest freezer online from Home Depot earlier this spring. They brought it and put it in the garage right where I wanted it. I got email telling me the day it would arrive and a time frame. Guys that delivered it called about when they were 30 minutes away. Very courteous and were great to deal with.

this is an argument in my family , well only between my mother an law and I

her dad was a butcher and said never anything but upright , you loose your meat in the bottom and it is ruined by the time you find it.
he died in 77 so he has been gone a while.
he was also a butcher in Down town Madison where you don't get gifted a cow on a short notice phone call , hey I got one , you want it , vet says it's fine to eat but the processor can't get to her in the next 3 days or won't take her cause she has a still born calf still part in her.

My argument is the slightest thing pushes into the door on the upright and it opens up and can't keep cold and you loose everything and burn up the compressor.
I cleaned up after that at the the in-laws house a couple times.

so if your talking storing frozen pizza , steaks and boxed meals and such an upright is great for finding your stuff and using it

if your wanting to get the most in and not have it push your door open the win goes to the chest

even if the lid doesn't seal well you don't loose everything it can keep cold with the chest

if your piling bags of fur in , the chest is the way to go

if your freezing 200# of ground and you organize it in one side of the chest freezer and the next cow goes on the other side the chest holds more

so it really comes down to POU philosophy of use , how are you going to use it decides what is better for the task.

Sam's has all kinds. How big do you want? Free delivery is hard to beat.

While I agree on most of what you've said.
I like the up right for storing food, you tend to rotate it more.
Chest freezers are great for fur storage , and even carcasses if you have a market.
But having to dig out the whole freezer to find something and repack it again ?
Nope to many times food was freezer burnt , and the older I get the less I want to dig to the bottom of a freezer and repack it!
Even trying to rotate a chest freezer is a pain , I tend to just stick everything on top , the older I get.
Try garage sales, auctions, even the market place on Face Book , there's always freezers for sale , even free ones at times.

By the way, the older freezers are way better than newer ones, they just keep working , instead of failing after a couple years.

Literally just picked up a like new 10 cu ft chest freezer for $75 locally. It is replacing a similar freezer I have in my garage. The old one still works great but the lid has separated and I have been piling boxes of traps to weigh it down to seal. We have 2 chest freezers in the basement, one is 20 something sq ft and over 20 years old, the other was bought 2 years ago from Menards on close out. It is around 15-16 sq ft. We keep pork in one and beef in the other. When it comes time to butcher, we organize so all of last years is on top or give it to the kids.

Steve check out this auction website.

https://auctionohio.com/lots#YXVjdGlvbltzdGF0dXNdPWFsbCZsb3Rba2V5d29yZHNdPUZyZWV6ZXI.

You can buy most older freezers on it for under $20.00. Many get no bids and can be bought for a dollar plus an 11 cent buyer's premium.

Keith

All the local Lowes, Home Depot, and Sams Club have many in stock. Guessing probably looked in the wrong department or something.