Planned obsolescence - Problem with replacement prices
Very poor experience with this company.
The toaster I bought in January 2019 started to develop a malfunction in October 2021 (so just beyond the 2 year warranty period) by burning toasts. I inspected the appliance and noted that a few heating elements were no longer working. I contacted Gastroback explaining the problem and provided photos showing the issue and was told to return it to them for repair.
After 5 weeks waiting, I received a reply stating that the item could not be repaired due to unavailability of a replacement unit. I consider that I should have been made aware from the very beginning that no spares or replacement unit were available for this item and therefore that it could not be repaired. This would have saved me spending money unnecessarily for shipping it with further negative carbon footprint. That a 2+ year item cannot be repaired is shocking and shows that the era of environmentally responsible and sustainable companies has not yet come. Consumerism and planned obsolescence still seem to be very much the norm for this company.
Moreover, I was offered to buy a newer model of toaster "at the present conditions" for which I was quoted a price of EUR 70 including VAT plus shipping cost. Actually, after checking the company's website, I found out that this very model was currently being offered for EUR 59,99 including VAT plus shipping cost, i.e. EUR 10 less than the quoted price. No need to say that I consider this as a very unscrupulous approach, which was another shock.
In conclusion, I will no longer deal with this company and recommend everyone to do the same.