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

Toast is life. You need to get the right one!

Dualit rubbish - so uneven when toasting.

Researching a purchase is more fun than buying it in my opinion. I sometimes research things I have no real intention of buying, in a pleasant little fantasy that I will. I particularly enjoy researching tech and appliances.

Last time I was 'on' toasters I decided on a 4 slice Dualit Lite in black. But since my existing DeLonghi toaster shows no sign of conking out, I haven't bought it.

Toasters pointless.

Very best toast:

https://www.agaliving.com/cooking/recipes/breakfast/aga-toast

I like a bit of research but then I make a decision and buy. Done.

DH agonises for weeks and then it's finding the best deal. 'This one is a bit more expensive but free delivery and I can get 6% cashback' Blah, blah, blah. Then it's still looking months after he's bought it.
'Oh no, that toaster I bought is now 10% off!'
Drives me up the wall.

Kind of tricky to fit an Aga on my worktop.

Actually get out of your house and go to a shop. Buy the one that looks nicest to you and will go in your kitchen. If it's got a bit of money off (Currys are good for this) so much the better. Repeat every 4 to 5 years or whenever your toaster conks out. Forget Dualit - it's just marketing to make you feel wealthy and superior to your neighbours - much like Audi, Miele, etc.

My last toaster was a Breville, it was a Christmas present from my Mum in 2001. It worked really well and I was perfectly happy with it. When it died a few months ago it took me about one second to decide to get a Dualit but a bit longer to persuade DH, the fact that they were repairable was what swung it. Plus that they sell reconditioned machines. So we now have a very pretty four slot toaster and my three children complain about it all the time 🙄. Apparently it's really confusing that it doesn't pop up. Generally I want something simple that does what it's suppose to do well, e.g. I don't want loads of options on a washing machine or dishwasher.

I would love to do this, and where possible I always prefer a physical shop, but there are fewer and fewer of them, and the ones that remain often don't have their full range in stock anyway - you have to go online for that.

Yes, I do this! It took me 6 months of research to find my coffee machine.

I am the same with all household purchases, holidays and property hunting.

It's a fear of missing out / realising there was a better option out there.

It's OK OP, this guy took a piece of cardboard around all the toasters in Currys to make sure he got one deep enough for UK bread (you have to scroll a bit but worth it to read the phrase 'prosthetic toast')

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/feb/23/tiny-wins-people-who-took-on-the-man-and-won

Well, now you have to tell us which coffee machine you chose!

Sorry I can't help.

I've been trying to decide on a toaster for the last year or two. It has to take warby's bread but two, not four slices because the space is too small. I also want it polished chrome and black to match the microwave and bread bin, or copper silver ombre to match the kettle but then I'd have to move it to the other side if the kitchen and have a new toast area. Every one I've found and liked has ended up with 100s of great review and dozens of bad that I don't want to risk.

Kicker is, we can even afford a mistake buy because we're not that skint but I absolutely hate to waste money and hate returning items even more!

Proper clockwork dualit, though (have one the same age) rather than the newfangled ones)

Yes I do this and it's agonising

I always feel I have been conned or ripped off some how when I buy anything over £30

I think it's only the last 15 years I have done this presumably due to the easier internet access but it has become
More fraught as years go on.

https://www.very.co.uk/breville-curve-collection-toaster-white/1600689932.prd?cm_mmc=google--PLA+-+Generic---_-__&utm_campaign=Generic_Electricals+-+Generic+-+Small+Domestic+Appliances+(SDA)+-+PMAX&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_term=&campaigntype=shopping&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwt-OwBhBnEiwAgwzrUvUeeqZVXhaiQJriHNEWG4sWJDSQhq99l6DEYiO1zvTtLhZOA-Sn5hoCs4gQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#sku=sku24747648

This is a very good toaster

I know what you mean. . And half the reviews are fake….

I used to obsess over restaurant reviews when going away….now I’m more likely to ask in hotel where’s good?

anyway I bought a ridiculousLy expensive Smeg as it was the only one I could find that a slice of sourdough would fit in, long slot toaster …. It’s fine 2 years in.

but I feel oddly embarrassed by having a toaster that clearly cost so much.

We have a dualit, it's awful. One side gets burnt, the other is still bread, only toasts one quarter of each side etc etc I'd be better off with a blow torch.

I like to do my research and am generally pleased with the result. Currently looking at suitcases....
My dualit 4 slice toaster is the business though, slots fit crumpets and teacakes no problem and bread toasts evenly. Good luck with your search!

I bought one that went with my retro-styled microwave. It’s ok, but it’s not big enough for my locally sourced artisan sourdough. Sigh. Should have made some prosthetic sourdough.

My £10 Asda kettle (a Which best buy at the time) is still going strong aged 8.

Totally agree
There are toasters that are sold with the specific advertising that they toast warburtons right to the top - infuriating that mine doesn't but it doesn't show any sign of giving up soon. I'll just have to keep on turning toast round

www.breville.co.uk/VTT571-product-details.html

It's a toaster. What's the worst that could happen? Just buy the one you like. Reviews are either fake or overly critical so ignore.

This. You can get on eBay (graded returns etc) for cheaper. Chose it because you can replace the elements, so I hope never to buy a toaster again!

I'd also recommend the 1 litre Sage kettle @ProperDeep.

I usually default to JLewis for these kind of standard kitchen appliances. Always good quality. My current toaster is the "Simplicity". It toasts! I also have the matching kettle, which boils!!!!!

Thanks, @AnOldCynic. I did like that - but then wondered if I wouldn’t prefer a stove top kettle. So that was another eighteen months of ‘research’ …