Over researching stuff before buying - I just want a toaster. But I am stuck in the reviews!

[cakeorwine]

Upgrading a toaster. You would have thought that would be simple.

Who knew there were so many toasters out there!
So many functions - some of which I hadn't even considered.

And then the reviews - seriously. In the old days, I would have just got one. Possibly looked at the Which magazine to see what they think - but it's just a toaster.

Now I am worried about if it will toast evenly. Will all the toast get done. Will it be wide enough?

And that's just come from reading the reviews.

And then it's a Google search to get the best price

Does anyone else over research on what should be reasonably straightforward purchases?

*I still haven't made a decision yet

Yes, but I really enjoy it. I can get engrossed in anything for a period of a day and then decide. I feel like it makes spending money on very boring things a bit more fun

Yes I do. But believe me, once you've got one, you'll forget all the intricacies of your research and be perfectly happy with whatever you chose. Fwiw we have a Curry's own brand 4 slice retro looking thing. Our only criteria were 4 slices and under a certain budget. We've had it for 12 years. It's fine, and we use it everyday.

I don't do research and/or reviews.

Just buy one in the first shop I go in which sells toasters.

I do exactly the same. Before I buy something, I will spend hours researching and comparing. I actually find it such a headache but I'm always determined to get the best I can for the price.

Yes I do but I've got OCD so obsess over decision making! In the end it's so hard to decide that I usually don't make a decision at all because it's so overwhelming.

What helps me is to reduce my options (so choosing your favourite 3 for example) and then research from there otherwise new toasters will just get thrown in the mix and you'll end up even more 🤯

Google choice overload - it happens when we're presented with too many choices and our brains go into overdrive trying to process them all.

Oh god, this is me. Then when I have finally decided I will agonise over getting the best deal 🫠. I cannot even shop on ASOS as I find the choice so overwhelming!

I'd research a big purchase like a washing machine. Not a toaster that I could get from the supermarket for probably twenty quid!

There is a surprisingly wide price range on toasters!

I do exactly the same. I've added a new criteria though for my next toaster search - one that doesn't show crumbs. mine looked pretty out of the box but has a rjm around the edge that collects crumbs and impossible to clean. avoid.

costco had an offer on a dualit one with matching kettle a little while ago.

And now MN is showing me adverts and reviews for the best toasters.

Yes I do this too. As regards toasters, it really annoys me that the dimensions of the actual slots are seldom included in the specifications, goodness knows why not!

Dualit all the way. We've had ours 20 years.
There, decided for you!

Just get a dualit, can't go wrong

That ruled out one of my choices as the dimension were too small - this came up in the reviews!!

Yes … I’ve been boiling water for tea / coffee in a saucepan for at least two years - got so entirely lost in kettle research I just gave up in the end.

🤷‍♀️

If you have a decent budget get a Dualit that can be repaired. These are made in UK and the repairs make them sustainable.

If not, get the first cheap one you see in your local hardware store. This puts cash back into your town's economy.

Stop reading about toasters now.

I don't research that much, I have reasons for shopping the way I do which makes life easier.

Don't get a Dualit, toasting is uneven and loads of bread doesn't fit! Don't know why people love then so much (they do look pretty though). I hate ours.

Well that hasn't helped

🤣🤣

not me but DH does this for every single purchase and it drives me round the bend. It makes sense for a large purchase but he spends hours researching the best light bulb or whatever else it is. Aargh.

Yes - I get paralysed by indecision.

However in this instance I can help - Dualit. Ours is 20 years old. Toast is really crispy and not wangy at all.

I started a thread about something similar in the past. These days I've come full circle and I try to go to a good shop where staff are well informed and go on their recommendations. The money saved, if any, is far outweighed by time and stress of online research.

Trying to book a break with friends or even a restaurant is so difficult now, everyone sending each other links so we can all simultaneously waste time. The admin work required to go on holiday sometime is enough for me to want to never leave the house again. Its exhausting

I have seriously skewed priorities when it comes to buying stuff, I can faff for weeks about a household appliance, reading every review of every dishy on the market. But spend hundreds of thousands on a house I walked round twice. Probably explains why I live in a wreck.

See - I love holiday research.

I don't mind toaster research - but it's surprised me that I am doing this. I never knew I was so worried about getting toast just right.

I do this but 9 times out 10 the miracle toaster/ iron/ fridge / microwave is no better than any other and still gas niggles.

The best things I've bought have been the ones that were cheap and I'd liked the look of. My microwave stops beeping the second you open the door. My old best reviewed one had to finish its routine even though I'd removed the contents - drove me mad as I use it s lot. Tesco basic iron worked as well as the heavy best seller I'd just replaced it with.

Honestly ignore reviews and buy something cheap that looks nice.