I found this upright cooker that I liked.
http://www.arda.com.au/factsheets-20110715/RVU90FWS.pdf
It has a few features that I really want 1) the writing in the control panel is under glass so it won't wash off; 2) It has oven temps in 10 degree increments instead of 20/25 like many do, 3) the burners have a nice deep well around them.
It is on sale right now for $400 off, plus a free grill and a free range hood). The problem is, it is an Australian made product, that is supposedly available in 80 countries worldwide, but only available through one chain store here in OZ. And there are only 17 left in QLD and they won't be getting any more (could just be a model change?). The other problem is, I can't find a single product review for this entire brand, let alone this particular model.
Would you purchase it, or keep looking?
Re: Off Brand(?) Appliances
Well, how do you feel about Australian workmanship? If something is made in Germany then I don?t hesitate to buy it because I think "ohh, awesome engineering, a little bit anal, it?ll work work great and last forever"
That's a very good question. I don't have an opinion about Australian workmanship. Although I agree with you about the German workmanship.
ETA: DH just informed me that Aussie workmanship can be very very good, or it can be just thrown together sh!!t.
Ha! Extremely helpful. How's the warranty?
Edit: False cognates. Meh.
I can't even find any warranty info.
This is from the website:
Since 2001, Arda has been recognized as a leader in European-style kitchenware.
Arda?s new range of cooking appliances is now distributed to Europe, America, Australia, Middle East, South East, and African countries.
I bought an off brand upright cooker without looking at/finding reviews. I did see it in the store though, was able to touch it/look at it up close and see that the material looked sturdy. For the price I paid, I'm very happy with it. A better known brand would've been at least 3 times as expensive, which I couldn't afford back then.
One of the functions did stop working, but that was well after 4 years (most of those cookers here have a 2 or 3 year warranty here) and due to a poor power line in my old house so a more expensive one would probably have had the same issue. Fixing it would cost me about 100 euros (still haven't done that). In the off chance that the more expensive one would've survived the power-thingie, I could have this one fixed approximately 17 times before spending as much as the more expensive one would've cost.
If I'd have to choose again, even though I could possibly afford the more expensive one now, I would still go with the off brand.
My food blog
What I'm looking forward to in 2012:
Eating our way through (northern) Italy on vacation
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