Gaggia coffee machine - Currys

dtmark

Hello!

I used to help out a bit on the other forums, but can't recall my login - has been so long! Am after a favour...

We like proper coffee. For our first two machines we had DeLonghi ones which cost about £80 and lasted a few years each.

We wanted a better one, so we went for the base Gaggia model called the Cubika which lasted about 8 years.

That was dying, and in the meantime unknown to me, Gaggia had gone into administration. They were then bought by Philips and we bought a new Cubika plus machine - normally 189.99 but we got it half price in some sale.

The new one doesn't appear to have the build quality of the old one.

Six months in the pump started failing and the machine began to leak internally.

We returned it and were told it would have to be repaired. Five weeks later it was back, collected it, took it home, plugged it in, and it still has a failing pump and is not able to dispense a cup of espresso.

The repair notes just say "leaking" and I presume that's been fixed.

If I return it now, what am I entitled to?

What I want is the pump fixed (it has been descaled three times in six months, did the same with the old one - we do live in a hard water area).

However I'm thinking that the quality of these Gaggia machines isn't what it once was. Reviews are very variable. That said, there isn't much in the sub £100 price range that really compares. I would however pay more (e.g. the full 189.99) for a better one.

Is it still a year's guarantee and I should perhaps insist on a refund (or part-refund given it did work for 6 months?)

Thanks all.

bazster

As far as the law goes the 6 months is crucial. If you notified the retailer of the problem less than 6 months after purchase, the law presumes that the fault was present when the item was sold and there can be no question that it is the retailer's responsibility to sort it out (replace, repair or refund). If it was more than 6 months then the onus is on you to prove that it was faulty when sold.

Either way, you might be better off going down the route of the manufacturer's warranty. You presumably have the paperwork, but I'm guessing it's unlikely to be less than 1 year.

My original Gaggia Cubika packed up a few months ago, it was a very solid machine and lasted a good few years, but frankly didn't make great espresso (not hot enough, no crema). I noticed that Philips had redesigned the Cubika and made it much more plasticky, so I got a Gaggia Classic instead and I'm absolutely delighted with it, it makes much, much better coffee than my Cubika ever did. You can easily find them online for less than £200.

pulliptears

I'd be amazed if cubika's ever sold for £189. I only paid £120 for mine. I like mine, makes a lovely cuppa but I have heard people say they have had problems with build quality.

dtmark

It wasn't faulty when sold - it worked fine. For about six months. We were really quite pleased with it but had nagging doubts about the build quality from the start.

I suspected an internal leak had caused the system to depressurise e.g. the pump can't build any pressure and fixing one would fix the other but it hasn't. Water used to leak out of the machine onto the work surface from somewhere inside (e.g. not the spout or tank).

Additionally, although we use Illy coffee in it which is especially fine and packs down firmer than say Lavazza, I'd have expected somebody to observe that the machine doesn't actually dispense properly. If you use Illy coffee it would probably take about half an hour to produce a full cup versus say 20 seconds when it was new. However if the repairer just ran the pump without coffee in it to check it worked, then they wouldn't have noticed.

I'll check on the exact dates and times as it looks to be important. I'd wondered if Gaggia machines were just poor now, but your comments are encouraging.

If the first return was over six months from purchase, guess then I take it back again for a second repair and if it was less, then I demand a refund.

SuperHan

You still can't demand a refund if the first repair was in 6 months/the fault is decided to be inherent. It will almost certainly need to go off for another repair. It is usually 3 repairs before the retailer will consider a refund. And an exchange is more likely than a refund, but Currys will normally let you use the value paid against another machine if you don't want the same model again.

bazster

dtmark wrote: »

It wasn't faulty when sold - it worked fine. For about six months. We were really quite pleased with it but had nagging doubts about the build quality from the start.

Whether it was actually faulty when sold is irrelevant. The law presumes that if a fault becomes apparent within six months then the fault was present when the item was sold, whether you knew about it or not. This is why the 6 months is crucial: less than 6 months and you have to prove nothing, more than 6 months and they might ask you to prove it was faulty when they sold it to you.

dtmark wrote: »

I suspected an internal leak had caused the system to depressurise e.g. the pump can't build any pressure and fixing one would fix the other but it hasn't. Water used to leak out of the machine onto the work surface from somewhere inside (e.g. not the spout or tank).

These things are actually very simple inside, I took my Cubika apart several times to fix it (and I could've done so again, but I was a bit fed up with it and decided it was time for a new one).

dtmark wrote: »

Additionally, although we use Illy coffee in it which is especially fine and packs down firmer than say Lavazza

I use Waitrose own-brand espresso coffee, which works very well.

dtmark wrote: »

I'd wondered if Gaggia machines were just poor now, but your comments are encouraging.

My other half works in a high-end retailer who stocks Gaggia, but they've always refused to stock the Cubika (including the old all-stainless one) because they considered it poor quality. Also, when Philips first took over Gaggia, they were handling parts and service before they re-started manufacturing, but they declined to supply parts/service for the old Cubika.

dtmark wrote: »

If the first return was over six months from purchase, guess then I take it back again for a second repair and if it was less, then I demand a refund.

The timescale for rejecting an item outright is short (6 weeks I think?). With the item being around 6 months old, it's up to the retailer whether to repair, replace or refund. The point about the 6 months is that if it's under then you don't have to prove anything. If it's over, they can expect you to prove that it was faulty when you bought it (but they probably will not).

You can ask for a refund, but they don't have to give it to you. They can choose to repair it again, or they can give you a replacement.

Note, though, that these are all remedies with the retailer. As I said before, it's most likely still under guarantee so you could take it up directly with the manufacturer and ask them to do something about it.

dtmark

Thanks very much everyone, fantastically helpful.

Good taste with the Waitrose espresso by the way - we like that too

pulliptears

I'll add some of the Waitrose to this weeks shop if its recommended then! Currently using Costa beans but not too impressed.

I also use the Illy beans quite a lot.

bazster

pulliptears wrote: »

I'll add some of the Waitrose to this weeks shop if its recommended then! Currently using Costa beans but not too impressed.

I also use the Illy beans quite a lot.

I use the Waitrose ground coffee (in a silver tin) not the beans (in a black tin if I remember correctly). I've never found a grinder that worked to my satisfaction. Do you have one you can recommend?

pulliptears

bazster wrote: »

I use the Waitrose ground coffee (in a silver tin) not the beans (in a black tin if I remember correctly). I've never found a grinder that worked to my satisfaction. Do you have one you can recommend?

I have the delonghi one, its only a cheap thing but it works for me

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002BWPTP6/ref=asc_df_B002BWPTP68448390?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&!!!!!hydra0b-21&linkCode=asn&creative=22206&creativeASIN=B002BWPTP6&hvpos=1o2&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9619840371031314482&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=

I liked the fact it had 3 different grind settings unlike other budget grinders so I can use it not just in the Gaggia but the cafetiere as well when I can't be bothered with washing out the Gaggia

OH dreams of the Gaggia Burr Grinder but they start at £75 so he can keep dreaming

lil.smartie

Gaggia MM is fab

Will also try the Waitrose ones this week. I had a Gaggia Classic but now have an inbuilt Whirlpool (from Ikea) which is pretty good for the cost Aromocoffee.co.uk do ese pods which are really good too and sealed in individual packs to keep it fresh. I like their Boost best, but a variety pack is a good place to start & they send you a discount code with it too.

Kate