Interesting item on the Consumer Ally page over at WalletPop about a 1.7-cubic-foot compact "refrigerator" sold by Sears. Wondering why there are quotes around the word "refrigerator"? According to the post, the "Galaxy White 1.7 cu. ft. Compact Refrigerator" (model #91772), which Sears calls a "thermoelectric refrigerator [that] chills your food without noise and vibration" and describes as having "no harmful refrigerants," isn't really a refrigerator after all.

Consumer Ally writer Mitch Lipka notes that a complaint he received from a consumer about this compact appliance "brought to the surface issues with the idea that this is really not a refrigerator. It's really a place to keep your lunch or a soda cold for a while. Purchasers, even on Sears' own site, shared concerns for its lack of cooling power."

Check out the rest of this story on Consumer Ally, a good read by Lipka, the Boston Globe's Consumer Alert columnist.

And if you're in the market for a compact refrigerator for home, work, or a college dorm, use our free buyer's guide to these appliances. Remember, the largest compacts we tested hold only about one-quarter as much as a typical full-sized refrigerator; the smallest hold one-tenth as much. And none were tops at both refrigerating and freezing.—Steven H. Saltzman | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: See our ratings of compact refrigerators (available to subscribers) to find the right model for your needs. And learn about the federal government's $300 million State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, also known as cash for clunkers for appliances.