What Happened to That Iron?
June 21, 2012 Well, I didn't say what I did the other day because I didn't want to come off ... you know ... bitchy. But since quite a few of you asked/mentioned it, here's the story.
I bought the iron because I saw it demo-ed at a Trade Show. I was sold on two main features - the iron could go thru 4 layers of fabric easily and it WOULD NOT SCORCH. EVER.
That 4 layers of fabric? As in you can press pants without flipping them over? Yeah, I call B^$# S@*& on that one! (Sorry, residual potty mouth from last week.) It won't even go thru 2 layers! I'm sure the pants used to demo that feature were made of the loosest linen weave on the planet. I'm embarrassed to admit I fell for it.
And my poor husband irons his shirts and pants inside out because he doesn't like getting that shiny scorch marks on his clothes. (Yes, you read that right ... I'm coming clean here admitting I don't iron my husband's clothes. I don't really iron ANYone's clothes ... unless it's for a piano recital or something. I avoid buying clothes that require ironing.)
Oh, and it MUST have auto-shutoff ... I'm not allowed to own an iron that doesn't have auto-shutoff. I NEVER remember to turn off my iron. When I'm making something I never know when the last time I use it is gonna be.
So. I bought the iron. For $160. Crazy, right? I know. I don't normally spend that kind of money on things. However ...
We were both very disappointed with it because it didn't go thru 4 layers (I was hoping it would cut down my yardage pressing time). But I'd been looking for a new iron because my old one had started scorching my precious work and it was making me paranoid. And at least the iron seemed to be holding up on THAT promise. (Oh sweet irony!)
About a month after we got it, the auto-shutoff started malfunctioning. My husband would go to press his clothes in the morning and find the iron had been on ALL NIGHT!!! But it was past the 30 satisfaction guarantee and when I called they told me I shouldn't be relying on the auto-shutoff anyways. I should be UNPLUGGING IT AFTER EVERY USE.
Seriously? Who DOES that? (If you do, please don't take offence!)
Well, last week I was using the iron and it made a few horribly scary popping/snapping sounds ... then I could smell electrical burning ... then it started cooling down.
So.
I took it to the office of the company that demoed the product. Turned out the control panel was fried ... and rare but known defect of this iron. They wouldn't give me my money back, but they replaced it. I wasn't totally happy about that, but at least I'd have an iron that worked. Or so I thought.
The next day I was using it for all of about 10 minutes when the scorch happened. I was pissed. So I went back. First I was accused of not knowing how to USE an iron (I assure you I've never tried to make waffles or play golf with one!) and then I was insulted because the woman had the nerve to doubt my word the fabric was 100% cotton. She was trying to blame me for having the iron too hot for the fabric. (More inside my head swearing ... ) She even went so far as to call her demo lady on the phone whom she described as an "expert quilter". This expert quilter had never heard of Lecien or Robert Kaufman fabric. 'Nuff said.
In the end I got a full refund. After which I drove straight to the nearest hardware store and bought a really pretty T-Fal ... FOR LESS THAN HALF THE PRICE ('cause it was on sale)!!!
So there you have it ... all the gory details. Thank you for letting me vent. I hope you don't think less of me for being ... unkind. But I will fight for my rights if a product doesn't work as promised ... and costs a small fortune. And I don't appreciate being insulted or talked down to. I never used to be brave enough to stand up for myself ... but I am now!
I agree with the many of you that when it comes to irons and quilting, cheaper is better ... sadly, we seem forced to accept this little appliance is now made to be "disposable". Shame, really. I don't like to be wasteful. But some things just aren't made well. Why is that, I wonder? I mean, if they can put a man on the moon for heavens sake - and that was like over FORTY YEARS AGO - why haven't they figured out how to make a good iron that lasts? Is that really too much to ask?
Reader Comments (37)
Way to fight back, girl! I am so disappointed in what people consider "customer service" these days :(. Here's to the new iron and no scortching!
Good for you!!! You should have even added in a "don't your even know who you're talking to? I'm the "Smokin' Hot Quilter Chick" adored by millions and I need to get back to my adoring fans so give me my money back now" LOL I really don't know why companies feel they need to defend their knowingly defective products to the ground and force us to be mean to them. It's a modern mystery. I'm glad you got your money back and can march on. I love your new project book by the Fig and your projects. Keep sewing K!!
Well...it happens to the best of us. I went to a trade show with my posse of girls who work at the same quilt shop as I do. We saw the "miracle" ironing board cover...and we all got one. Well, it was a HUGE piece of JUNK...and did not do a single thing it said it would. I learned my lesson and no longer buy into the "demo", though I do admit it is hard to resist when you see how great they make things look!!!
Still using and loving my Walmart iron, and yep, I do UNPLUG(G). I had a friend who taught me something I thought was SMART. She plugged her iron into the same outlet that housed her light ( automatic switch on the wall). So when she turned off the light, the iron was OFF too. . Clever girl.
I am so with you! They double the price of things, call them new and improved, and reduce the quality down to nothing. Way to fight for your money! Hope the new one works well.
Good for you! I too am tired of companies that sell crap and then have the nerve to be offended when you bring the POS back and ask for a refund. Hope your new iron works well.
Why are irons such junk? Last year I burned through THREE of them! I'm now using a moderately priced Rowenta and it's still steaming after 8 months. And I've noticed that the irons in hotel rooms are completely useless. My mother's iron lasted for years and years... what has happened to quality? Maybe Apple needs to start making iRons!
I have a Tefal, too, it's a few YEARS old now and still works really good! And yes, I unplugged everytime and put my ironig board aside ... because I haven't that much space;-) Hildy
Awesome! Way to go! I'm a believer in exchanging/returning/correcting wrongs. It's not always the easiest thing to do but if you don't speak up maybe no one else did either.
Good for you!
I do unplug my iron every time, but I'm not offended! :) Mind you, I've never heard of an iron with auto shut-off either. I not sure if that's because they don't exist over here (UK) or if I just buy cheap irons??
S x
Good for you for standing up for yourself! And I agree - customer service these days is so bad at so many places.
I have the same TFal iron and I love it. It did "spit" at first, but that is resolved. AND it has the auto-shut off.
Good luck and here's to scorch-less ironing!
Oh my. That "expert quilter" had no idea who she was talking to! PRETTY BY HAND!!! So glad you got your refund. And, no, you aren't the only one who depends on the auto shut-off! :)
You are not the first person I have heard having bad experiences with this iron! It seems to be a horrible iron with a huge price tag!
I had Rowenta do similar things to me. It was maybe 2 yrs old. The scariest part? The auto shut-off stopped working and it started over heating and making noises. Scared me straight. I ALWAYS unplug my iron when I'm done. ALWAYS. ;p
I hear you, Kristin. I woke up this morning to find that my Rowenta iron had puddled all over the ironing board. Usually it only leaks on my hand when I'm using it. I will be interested to hear how your new iron does, because OBVIOUSLY I'm in the market for a new iron.
Good for you for standing up to the rude retailers.
ps. Love the idea from greg that maybe Apple should make irons - iRons. cute.
And I thought Canadians were supposed to be the nicest people on Earth! Kidding, kidding! I would have done the same thing. I hate expensive appliances that don't work like they should. And irons just seem to be poor quality these days. I have resigned myself to never put water in my irons anymore. They just leak and make a mess so I just use a spray bottle if I need steam. I luckily have had one for several years that seems to still be working ok as long as I clean the ironing surface of it every once in a while. Of course now that I have said something it will probably break! I hope your new iron works much better and doesn't make you want to scream obscenities.
No kidding! Amen on that! So glad you got your money back... wow what a fiasco for you! (I am one who unplugs the iron after I am done BECAUSE it won't shut off! hahahahaha... but I also now have an electric tea kettle that shuts itself off because I have melted more than my fair share of kettles to the electric swirly burners - so bad that when I smelled the 'burning metal smell' I picked up the handle of the kettle and the coils were so stuck to it that it looked like a slinky (a flaming red hot slinky no less) Hubby is very patient with me. (I also have to use battery operated tea lights... don't ask how I almost burned down a bookcase by leaving a candle burning A.L.L. night on a bookshelf....) Ya.. I am still married. Happily. :o) Not sure why he puts up with me... he also finds my needles like your hubby does... I am so so so very careful, but when we were first married, I think he had as many in his feet as I did my pincushion. I know. I know. I am a lucky woman. :O) So glad your iron has been replaced. :O)
So happy that is taken care of! In defense of this iron,I received one as a gift a few years ago,it works perfectly. But,I am on full alert now! I have a cheapie Black and Decker that has gone on forever and ever upstairs. My Rowenta just up and died, I loved that thing. How dare they give you a hard time! They say,for every bad thing,that person will tell 250 people. Popular as you are,they are toast.
Good for you (I don't iron my husbands clothes either!)
WooHoo, so happy to hear you say that - I thought I was the only one on the planet who didn't iron my husbands clothes & was so guilty about it (mainly cos my FIL made a comment he didn't raise his son to iron his own clothes!) Now I feel vindicated! There are more of us out there! Phew
I am so glad you stood up for yourself and got your money back. I think if more of us would do that they maybe would quit making shoddy merchandise. I think I attract lemons and if there is going to be one I will get it. Either that or people accept substandard products. Good for you!!!
I'm glad you stuck to your guns (irons) and got your money back! I, too, do not iron my hubby's clothes, nor do I buy clothes that need ironing, I spend enough time ironing while I'm sewing, why do it when I don't have to? You are not alone in this. :)
I love my T-fal--mine was a $30, and I keep it plugged into my surge protector with my sewing machine and Ott light. One click. My iron is several years old now, and it still works great. I think you'll enjoy it. I had heard the thing about not buying an expensive iron too, but I do like a non-stick surface.
I now buy cheap irons and toss them away and go on to the next. They don't make them hot enough and to last so they can keep selling them! My kids bought me an Oiliso when they first came out and i went through 8 of them as the company kept replacing them until I was tired of sending them back. They are all junk!
I have one of these and love it!!! But, it is my second one in over two years. My husband dropped the first one on the floor while ironing. Ii just can't believe what a hard time they gave you. Shame on them . I have a small travel Rowenta too. It is also my second one in three years. My first one just up and died one day. I do unplug it every time even though it has auto shut off. Don't trust it that much. One more thing... I don't iron my husbands clothes either, thus he broke the first one. Gotta draw the line somewhere right?
I always unplug my iron!! I'm not offended! ;)
V x