Toasters - a bit of a vent

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82121812#Comment_82121812

They are assembled in Crawley for the classic and above range, cheaper models are made overseas. They held the patent for the elements used in their classic and above range too, which they won an innovation award for, so until the patent ends (which it may have now) others arent using the same element as they didnt licence the patent out.

As always, just because its made in the same factor doesnt mean its to the same standard or same parts. Many factories are capable of producing goods to different standards and designs so just the location of the factory doesnt tell you anything.

In 2024 Which? actually awarded the overseas built toaster from Dualit above the uk assembled one which was funny, but where the UK one wins hands down is in repairability. Personally, think they are too consistently winning awards from reasonable organisation like Which? to be purely a £10 toaster in a £200 box but clearly they are never going to be 20x as good given the principle of diminishing returns.

Chief_of_Staffy

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82121846#Comment_82121846

Sadly you can swap out China for anywhere, these days. British or Italian or other European brands used to be highly indicative of not only domestic production but decent quality. Of kitchen appliances, DeLonghi were the worst in my experience. Overpriced doesn't cover it - a kettle that likely cost £3 to manufacture on sale for £120, and bought by muggins like me who thought that money would buy something decent. At least with the larger appliances such as cookers, the options are there to get excellent quality, albeit by spending an absolute fortune. For smaller ones, the choice is no longer there. They're almost all rubbish.

MyRealNameToo

Well they dont claim better build quality directly, though they do make a deal about it being made by one engineer who's initials will be on the base plate, but more that they are designed to be serviced so elements etc can be easily switched out unlike their overseas ones that basically go in the bin if they fail.

Murphybear

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82121812#Comment_82121812

The last time I bought a cheap toaster it stopped working in about 3 months. I binned/recycled it and invested in a good one. It’s still going strong after 20 years