In 2006, I bought a 2.2 cubic foot Panasonic microwave oven: model NN-T995SF from Best Buy.  The microwave cost me $299, which I thought seemed kind of expensive at the time. However, I bought it anyway–for three main reasons:

• at 1250 watts, it was one of the most powerful microwave ovens Best Buy had available
• with 2.2 cubic feet of interior space, it was one of the biggest microwaves in the showroom, so would be the most flexible with respect to what could fit inside
• this unit had microwave inverter technology–a feature exclusive to Panasonic that helps to moderate the power output of the microwave, which helps to keep the edges of food from drying out and getting hard during cooking

On top of these benefits, this model of Panasonic microwave oven had  another unique feature unlike any other model–a smooth dial that can be used to rapidly scroll through the seconds and minutes until you reach the time you want the microwave to run. With a gentle press, this cool little dial becomes recessed and lies completely flat against the surface of the microwave. It’s pretty snazzy looking–adding to the already slick look of this stainless steel microwave.

For five years, my microwave worked like a dream–then, out of the blue, it would start “cutting out” a few seconds into the cooking cycle. It didn’t do it every time–and when it did, I  could temporarily fix the problem by opening the door, then closing it again. I can only assume that the problem was in the sensor that tells the microwave whether the door is fully closed. It’s also possible that the door hinge had actually become loose, and that the microwave door wasn’t closed all the way. Whatever the case, when the problem started happening with increasing frequency, I decided it was time for a new microwave.

Why I Wanted to Buy the Same Microwave

Until my Panasonic microwave had trouble when it reached five years old, I loved it to death. I never had a problem with it’s capacity, with it drying out my food, or with its appearance. So, after doing quite a bit of research on other microwaves that were out on the market, I decided just to buy the same microwave again. The only problem was, Best Buy no longer carried that model–no store did.

So I did some more research–and finally discovered that Amazon.com carried what was basically the same microwave, but with a different model number. (The first microwave’s model was NN-T995SF, and was manufactured in November 2006. The second microwave–the one on Amazon.com–was model NN-SD967S, and was manufactured in April 2011.)

Good enough. Presumably, the new model oven would simply be a slightly upgraded version of the original. It looked identical, was the same brand, and operated at the same wattage. And the news got better–the model on Amazon.com was listed for more than thirty percent off the MSRP for that model oven–which was substantially less than what I had originally paid. (I had paid $299; MSRP on Amazon when I purchased the new model was listed as $239–and Amazon’s price for the new model was only around $160!)

So I ordered the microwave using my free Amazon Prime 2-day shipping, and my new microwave arrived on schedule–just two days later. The box was in excellent condition, and the unit was extremely well-packed inside the outer carton–no damage whatsoever.

Everything about the new microwave seems exactly the same as the first–except that the glass rotating plate inside the new microwave might be just slightly lighter- weight, and the display is just slightly brighter–probably because it’s brand new.

At almost half  of what I paid for my first oven, the Panasonic NN-SD967S Microwave on Amazon is a great value, and I’m glad I found it. And I’m also thrilled not to have to give up the microwave I loved!