Dualit Toaster - potentially dangerous problem

italiastar

I have a dualit toaster which was given to me a present. Earlier this week, the mechanical timer got stuck - ON - and burnt my toast to a cinder - fortunately my smoke alarm went off before it took the kitchen out. I contacted Dualit and they confirmed that the toaster was manufactured 4 years ago. They said that all they could do was offer me a replacement timer for £27, adding that "The Timer on this product is a mechanically wound part and can therefore, over time, lose elasticity. It is for this reason, we do recommend in our Instruction Manual that the appliance is not left unattended during use and is switched off at the socket when not in use."

Sad as it may sound, I'd always wanted a Dualit - to me they were (I stress were) the Rolls Royce of toasters. I could never justfy the cost, and was very pleased when I was given one. I never even considered it breaking so soon, let alone potentially burning my house down.

I've checked the sale of goods act and it only gives redress against retailers, not the manufacturer - I can hardly ask the person who gave it to me for these details as it may appear that I'm not happy with their gift. Also a search on Google for Dualit Timer fault and reviews highlights that this is a common problem - look at the reviews on Amazon.

Does anyone have any ideas as the company does not seem interested. I will try watchdog as this looks like a story for them

wealdroam

Even if you did know the details of the retailer, you would have no rights against them.

The person who bought the thing would have to pursue them.

neilmcl

Can we assume its a Dualit Classic type with a manual eject lever. In which case I'm afraid this is down to user error. These are not designed to be "popup" toasters and they are quite correct in their literature in that you should never leave them unattended. Also, as the above poster mentioned apart from this you have no legal redress as you were not the consumer.

italiastar

neilmcl wrote: »

Can we assume its a Dualit Classic type with a manual eject lever. In which case I'm afraid this is down to user error. These are never designed to be "popup" toasters and they are quite correct in their literature in that you should never leave them unattended. Also, as the above poster mentioned apart from this you have no legal redress as you were not the consumer.

Unfortunately, I'm afraid it's not "user error" - I'm not questioning the pop-up, which incidentally has no effect on the power to the elements. The problem is the timer which stops turning before the end of it's cycle leaving the elements permanently on - looking at it will not make any difference to this occurring.

Can I ask, how many people watch their toaster in case it catches fire and is this a warning on all similar appliances?

I_know_my_ABC_and_my_CMYK

italiastar wrote: »

Unfortunately, I'm afraid it's not "user error" - I'm not questioning the pop-up, which incidentally has no effect on the power to the elements. The problem is the timer which stops turning before the end of it's cycle leaving the elements permanently on - looking at it will not make any difference to this occurring.

Can I ask, how many people watch their toaster in case it catches fire and is this a warning on all similar appliances?

I always stay with my toaster.

Years ago my son was making toast, left the kitchen to do something and when he went back there were flames shooting all under the kitchen wall cupboards.

Fortunately I have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen so managed to put the flames out, but it destroyed 2 of the cupboards and we threw the toaster in the bin.

Never leave a toaster alone it is so easy for the timer to fail or the pop up handle to catch on something at the side of it and not switch off.

We were lucky.

italiastar

I_know_my_ABC_and_my_CMYK wrote: »

I always stay with my toaster.............................

We were lucky.

Thank you - I must admit that it's not something that I considered could happen - it's surprising that in this day an age such an appliance is allowed (I'm not trying to be sarcastic with this comment). I would have also thought that a fail-safe mechanism would have been designed - particularly with the more expensive ones. These manual toasters have the benefit that they can't jam - no pop-up mechanism, so it they get the timer sorted, they're OK.

Regardless of the appliance and whether it should be attended or not, it has still developed a fault which prevents it working as designed - the Sale Of Goods Act (I know it doesn't apply in this case) say's that an item should work for a reasonable time - what is a reasonable time for a £150 toaster, which claims to have been designed for commercial use, producing 60 slices per hour, which is only used domestically, producing about 60 slices a month?

Gers

Even with toasters that have a pop-up feature the timer can break down and toast can burn.

You've had it 4 years and used it frequently. I have no official view, apart from the one you don't agree with, however 4 years seems reasonable.

I love my Dualit toaster but would never leave the kitchen when it's toasting and would do the same with the other type.

Mmmm - no bread in freezer and all this talk of toast has got me wanting a piece. :eek:

kwaks

I happily leave my toaster unattended when in use. However I do have the foresight to pull it clear of the cupboards above it before use. As my kitchen is not made primarily of a flammable substance with a low combustion temperature it would take a bit more than a bit of toast burning to "take my kitchen out".

I_know_my_ABC_and_my_CMYK

We had a professional toaster when I worked in catering.

This one toasted so quick that as soon as you pushed the catch down you have to lift it up or it burnt.

I_know_my_ABC_and_my_CMYK

kwaks wrote: »

I happily leave my toaster unattended when in use. However I do have the foresight to pull it clear of the cupboards above it before use. As my kitchen is not made primarily of a flammable substance with a low combustion temperature it would take a bit more than a bit of toast burning to "take my kitchen out".

What is your kitchen made of?

Auntie-Dolly

If you pay for a new timer you still have a top of the range toaster for £27.