Depends what expensive is to you. Good starts around at $1k plus. Can you get a workable unit for $500 that after a few tweaks will be good? Sure can. I have a Haier with two faucets that can hold three sixths or two slim quarters. All it took to make it perfect was a tower cooler, better faucets and a longer beer line.
As Doug said...they can be expensive and their are other options which can be made to work. I assure you that you won't find anything brand-spanking new for $350± that is going to work right out of the box. Even though they may look ok, many of those ultra-inexpensive units are stripped down models of lesser-quality units and won't have all the necessary equipment to pour. As a result, you end up having to purchase (separately): 1.) beer line of the proper length (6' - 8') 2.) quality regulator 3.) keg coupler 4.) forward-seal faucet 5.) tower cooling fan and hose 6.) CO² tank Also keep in mind that you will have to install all of these 'upgrades' yourself, and even after doing that the refrigeration on the unit may or may not achieve the temperatures at which you like to serve your beer. Before shopping bargain-basement, keep an eye on Craig's List or Bar/Restaurant closings for used commercial equipment like BevAir or True. The equipment built by those two suppliers are virtually bullet-proof.
Don't waste your money on a $300-$400 kegerator. With respect, how can you tell if they look ok? Consider that a professional model is $1,300 or more how do you think they get to a $300 price point? Like @DougC123 states, $500 is your entry. And that will require some extra expense. Look on CL for used kegerators. A 40 year old BM-23 can be a better investment than a brand new Nostalgia. Trust us on this one. Cheers. Edit - Scroll through some posts from the last few months to see what you are getting into with cheap kegerators. It isn't difficult to get great draft beer at home but you will regret being cheap here.
so basically if i bought something like this http://www.walmart.com/ip/Kegorator-Beer-Dispenser-Mini-Barrel/5679263#about id have to spend more money on other stuff to make it work
Look, that is a piece of shit. To be blunt it is a piece of shit. I think the technical industry term is POS. Yes, you will need upgrades. Now I m not saying it can't be made into a reasonable unit but everything about that thing is crap. The finish, the hinges, the coupler, the regulator. What is left? It is a crime of industrial engineering. I mean it. I hate that garbage. I have seen it. I also note that the Nostalgia I saw most recently did not have the same regulator or coupler, so there may be some changes from this one pictured. Doubt it though. Even the damn drip tray is pathetic. "Spring loaded top mounted tapper". What the fuck man? Ok. I am just offended. So you know how I feel. Cheers.
From the Ad copy with my comments in bold: The Nostalgia Electrics KRS2100 Kegorator (first and foremost, they spelled Kegorator incorrectly) Beer Keg Fridge dispenses beer quickly and easily. Swivel casters make the Nostalgia Electrics Kegorator beer keg fridge in black mobile enough to move around the clubhouse, pool area or anywhere else that you want to get the party started (Swivel castors...not industrial wheels?). The included long-lasting C02 bottle is good for about four 15-gallon kegs. (The 2.5# CO² tank is the smallest made.) This beer dispenser features a semi-gloss tap tower (Semi-gloss is high-tech for plastic) with a spring-loaded top-mounted tapper (I've been in this business 23 years and have absolutely no idea what a "spring-loaded top-mounted tapper" is...lol) to make pouring a breeze. A chrome guard rail and drip tray finishes the look of the durable counter and gives the Nostalgia Electrics KRS2100 Kegorator Beer Keg Fridge a sleek and modern look that works well in any setting (When the guard rail becomes a selling point and the drip tray is chrome and not stainless...well, let's just say it's not a great unit). Avoid. Dude, I know that Bill's review and mine are both harsh, but you have to understand how bad these low-end units are. Save some money up and but something used that'll give you 20 years of pleasure instead of a year o' pain and a 90# paperweight.
Not for nothing but another option is building a keezer. I am not handy at all but was able to assemble a respectable unit at a similar price to that Nostalgia unit. It took lots of reading this forum to make my plans, but the expertise is here. Use it. I'm NOT saying building a keezer is comparable to a quality commercial kegerator. I do believe it's a step in the right direction, plus if you build it, you'll have a much better idea how to fix or improve it. Check out this other thread for some ideas: http://www.beeradvocate.com/communi...omemade-keezer-kegerator.354667/#post-4367433
