Emma Bridgewater mug handles keep dropping off!

[Ilovecleaning]

Earlier posts on the same subject are a bit old now.
I love EB mugs and have bought 14/15 but I’m now down to about 7. The handles simply drop off. At £25 each I think this is ridiculous.
I emailed EB pointing out the weakness, making it clear I was not seeking recompense but telling them I am no longer collecting them.

I received a reply explaining their quality control. Not much help.
if anyone else has had the same experience please contribute to the thread and I shall advise EB to have a look at your responses.
Many thanks.

There must be something I'm doing right - but I can't think what! - as there have been no breakages at all with my EB (loads of pieces of all sorts), except one bowl; and I know I chipped that myself on the kitchen tap! I hand wash sometimes but it also all goes in the dishwasher as and when. It's just me and DH though so maybe that's part of it? We're both very careful and fastidious by nature.

@DeanElderberry I know what you mean. I'm happy with my collection, it was a fun little hobby for a few years, but I'd already started to feel as if I've gone as far as I want with it and this thread has confirmed it.

@AnotherHappyCamperim not sure it’s about doing anything right or wrong - which is the real worry! I had a handle on a cup of tea just randomly break off as I lifted it. Lucky I didn’t scald myself.

im with you though, that I was growing fed up of the prices. I started with a few bowls 25 or so years ago and everyone used to compliment me on them as nice pieces. EB has now become so ultra commercialised - bringing out a new design for every possible occasion, and it just feels overdone now. I won’t be buying again

Has it though? I work near to the factory and often pop in. It's lovely to see that its stayed in in its home city when so much manufacturing has moved abroad. Stoke has lost a lot of its industry over the years which has had a devastating effect on the city, you just have to look around the local area to see the impact its had. EB gives a lot of jobs to local people.

Yes I was being quite tongue in cheek with that as it obviously can't be anything I'm doing/not doing.

It's worrying to use mugs that so many people have found to be unreliable. Gives me an excuse to go shopping again, mind!

I thought this was just me. I have about 15 mugs and had 3 or 4 handles drop off. The newer ones also craze really quickly.
I've stopped buying them as they are shoddy and a ridiculous price. I've been replacing them with Whittard or Denby.

I’m glad I read this. I bought the Strong Women EB mug at christmas and the handle has already fallen off.
Now I know it’s a common issue I won’t be buying any more.
Never had this happen with any other mug, all of which are cheaper than bloody £25 each so EB quality control and manufacturing are clearly shit.
I have a Denby set which is over 30 years old and all are still perfect.
Emma Bridgewater take note - you can’t charge premium prices for substandard merchandise and expect to keep your customers coming back.

I agree with this - I have a few Brixton Pottery mugs which seem near indestructable and much better value. I was given some EB mugs and they were dreadful quality lasted no time at all. They seem to be the "all fur, no knickers" entrant to domestic china ranges.

Any response from EB @Ilovecleaning? Or have they ignored you like my scalded mum 😬

Many thanks for your response. I’m going to send the thread to Emma B tomorrow. I have over 150 replies for them
to read now.
sorry about your poor mum! X

Interesting, keep us all updated if you hear back

Undoubtedly a hard read for EB. I'm pretty sure Mumsnetters are core demographic.
I'll send photos of some of mine if more proof is required.

Update. Today I contacted Emma Bridgewater. I had to fill in a contact form and I wasn’t sure how to put the link in. However, I have asked them to Google “ Mumsnet Emma Bridgewater Mug Handles Keep Dropping Off”.
I shall post an update as soon as I hear anything other than an automated reply.
Thank you, everyone.

You have got be worried now. I given them to my parents every year. I have Spode mugs. Never had a problem.

I have owned four mugs over the past ten years, and two of the handles have fallen off, plus the glazing is all crazed in one other. I thought I’d been unlucky but this thread has convinced me never to buy another! Thinking of Cornishware for my next purchase.

I find the handles don't drop off the very small mugs as frequently as the large ones.

Update. Here’s a screenshot of the email from EB. It is exactly the same response I got earlier in the year when yet another of my handles dropped off. They have deflected attention from my mumsnet thread and focused on me personally. So many of you are right - customer service is poor.

The screenshot is under review. Don’t know why. Maybe it’s common practice. I’ve never uploaded a photo on to mumsnet. No personal info in it.

Standard answer from a company that knows its products are defective. They bat customers away so they'll just drop it as it's hassle.

I had almost the same response when I sent in my pics to EB! I've just bought some lovely mugs from Lucy's Farm to replace my EB mugs. Very excited - they'll be here soon.

I agree. Just what I thought.

Yes, I've had that problem. Have had about 15 mugs, lost the handles to about 5.

Yes I gave one to a good friend as a special gift and the handle fell off almost exactly on the anniversary of gifting it to her. Luckily her hot coffee went on the floor, not on her but she would have been badly burned as she likes super strong hot black coffee!

Interesting to see so many other posters with the same issue.

That blanket response from EB is pathetic.

I’m not on twitter but maybe someone could share this to Twitter, it seems to get companies to respond. Or Facebook. And at least it will spread the word to stop anyone else getting a bad burn from a spill.

It sounds like they do t even bother reading the emails!

Wrote a long post - lost it. But EB claim is odd. Their quality company (who seem great - links below) is looking at materials ie suitability of the clay etc, not of the production values (they do mentioned finished products briefly but have much more detail on eg sanitary wares or tiles). And no, handles falling off does not sometimes happen with earthenware or any other ceramic body. It will only happen if there is a consistent and recurring issue with production standards. Their reply was shocking and their faulty products are a health and safety issue.

https://www.lucideon.com/uk/testing-characterisation/ceramic-testing-analysis/advanced-ceramics-materials-characterisation

https://www.lucideon.com/uk/testing-characterisation/ceramic-testing-analysis/tableware-tiles-sanitaryware