Cheap kettle?

Southend1

Thanks all. Tesco looks like a good bet. I'll definitely have a look there tomorrow.

Ben84

Having owned, used and taken apart kettles of various decades 1950s-2010s, I's say that kettles have become cheap consumables (more comparative to lightbulbs than an appliance). Even the expensive new kettles I've seen are very poorly made compared the average ones from the 70s and 80s (paying more gets a more fashionable design, but not much in the way of quality) and I doubt any that have made it out their box will be working in 2044 (my kettle is from 1980). So, I'd either go for cheap new and accept it probably won't last very well, or buy vintage.

lollipopsarah

I got a lovely white one (sorry) from mr m for about £6 and it's far better than the one I had before.
I hate the chuck away society that we have become, but needs must.
xx

Ben84

lollipopsarah wrote: »

I got a lovely white one (sorry) from mr m for about £6 and it's far better than the one I had before.
I hate the chuck away society that we have become, but needs must.
xx

It's a mixed thing really. Some items are better quality than ever before, but not all. Others, if you're willing to spend more you'll get a long useful life. Small appliances however have generally hit a bit of a quality low and how we use and buy them has changed a lot. On the up side however, a kettle doesn't cost a weeks wages for the average person any more.

ian103

we brought a lovelly looking breville kettle, quite expensive, lasted 14 months, breville couldn't have been more unhelpful / uninterested - will never buy / recommend breville again - we now have a morrisons cheapie and it works very well - less than £6

Owain_Moneysaver

Cheap plastic Morphy Richards kettle from Tesco, must now be at least 6 years old ... I doubt it cost more than £10.

loracan1

Hate the argos cheap brands - bought one of those last time and took it back it was such a nasty, cheap horrible thing (never have dreamt I'd be a kettle snob) Spent an extra couple of quid and bought one from Asda, along with a matching toaster. £7 each, still going strong 3 years later and looks way better than the Argos one.

T_T_2

I bought my current kettle from Tesco for around a fiver. It's cheap, it's plastic, it looks horrendous but it boils water (eventually). So long as you don't want something that looks like a work of art and you don't mind waiting 30-45 seconds longer for it to boil then these cheap as chips kettles are absolutely fine.

ljonski

That extra 45 seconds electricity could be more expensive in the long run

Badger_Lady

This is the best kettle I've ever owned, and is just slightly more at £15:

http://www.tesco.com/direct/tesco-tk39-brushed-stainless-steel-traditional-style-kettle/206-9841.prd?pageLevel=&skuId=206-9841&sc_cmp=ppc_g__



It boils much more quickly (I get so bored waiting for my Dad's when I go to his house) and its element is concealed in the bottom so you don't have a 'minimum' amount of water to put in. You can literally put one cup's worth to save on energy.

Mine's been going strong for 5 years and is still exactly as new. And I think it looks like a much more expensive kettle than it is!