Woot drops the price on a GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra Nugget Ice Maker to just $264.99. The deal includes a 90‑day warranty, saving customers a full $184 compared to the brand‑new retail price. The refurbished model sits in the same category as a fresh version, offering cutting‑edge technology without the new‑tag premium.
What is nugget ice? The machine churns soft, chewable cubes that stay cool longer than typical crushed ice. In a test kitchen, journalist Jennifer Pattison Tuohy called the countertop gadget “the family’s favorite kitchen tool,” noting how the ice made drinks taste better and got kids drinking more water. The Opal 2.0 can churn up to 38 pounds of ice each day, and it doesn’t need a plumbing hookup. It can even schedule production or turn on via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
But there’s more than a bargain on the surface. Best Buy and Amazon are also slashing prices on the same model: Best Buy lists the unit for $359, while Amazon offers it for $449 with a side tank—and a $50 discount. For buyers who want the newest tech, those options remain attractive, though the refurbished retail is hard to beat.
The coffee‑shop style machine demands routine upkeep. GE tagged a scale‑inhibiting water filter and a reusable air filter to ease routine chores, but maintenance still tops the user manual. The company claims the upgrades lessen the “battle” against limescale, yet regular filter changes linger in the maintenance checklist.
These discounts appear at a time when the market has shifted toward energy‑efficient, smarter home appliances. A refurbished unit tells customers they can enjoy the same performance at a fraction of the cost while reducing e‑waste. Still, it raises a question: how much longer will consumers stay loyal to new versus refurbished tech?”
