How long would you expect a toaster to last?

[hippospot]

Specifically an expensive one (Dualit)?

Daily use.

I have a dualit which was given to me 20 years ago. It holds 4 slices and is still going strong although as from a couple of weeks ago one of the side plastic bits fell off so can no longer use 2 of the toast holes. I think though it was used in a cafe for years before it came to me.

It's pretty much bomb proof and has been used every day pretty much

10-20 years. Ours was still going strong at 20 but we upgraded to a four slice.

We've had ours 20 years.

Years and years. Ours is at least 15 years old

Our dualit 4 slice was given as a wedding present so it’s nearly 13 years old now. The plastic bits aren’t in the best condition (the surface layer seems to have come off in some way) but you can only tell if you look closely and functionally it works perfectly.

I have a DeLonghi which is about 11 years old and used every day

Mine is Breville. 21 years going strong.

We have a Dualit one we bought in 2005. So 16 years old and used daily. Still works perfectly. But I think the newer ones are less sturdy.

Dualit - 10+ years before a repair. 20+ years with some parts replaced.

I had a bog standard one from Argos, lasted me ten years, would have kept going but moved in with DH and got things we both really wanted.

My dualit didn't even last 5 years.

I was told they fix them for free and I sent off the toaster and it cost £17. I missed in the small print on their website they didn't fix my model (lite). So I was without a toaster and minus £17

Our matching dualit kettle we also suspect has a leak now. Again about 5 years old!

I'd say at least 10 years as an absolute minimum.

A Dualit lite, I'd expect to start cracking within two years and to die within 6 years.
A Dualit vario will last 20 years plus with just a couple of spare parts needed.
Not sure about the new gen ones.

I gave the old one to DD when I was gifted a new one. Wrong thing to do.

Ours was here when we moved in... 18 years ago. No idea how long the previous owners had it for!

OP here. Thanks for your replies.

The thing that has gone wrong is that the toast doesn't stay down or toast bread when you push it down on two of the four slots.

Well ours has only lasted 3.5 years! I contacted Dualit and they offer a 30% discount on the purchase price of a new one if I buy it directly from them. I'm frankly not inclined to!

No repairs are possible, supposedly.

Frankly I'm pretty disgusted. Nearly £120 that cost us. I'm in favour of buying quality long-lasting products as much for environmental as economical reasons which is why I spent this much in the first place.

That's shit.

I think my toaster is on the way out. It has been here longer than me and was second hand then.

(at least 20 years old) I have seen it around since 2004...ex got it second hand from a mate

We had a smeg one that looked beautiful but only lasted 3 years. When it went to toaster heaven I just got a cheaper lookalike one. DH wanted same again but just felt like throwing good money after bad.

We have a Dualit which is 20 years old. One of the bread slots only toasts properly on one side so I’m thinking if packing it back to the factory where they will apparently repair them.

Had you asked about kettles we used to go through one nearly annually - elements always going - about to replace with a boiling tap.

We have a Dualit which is 20 years old. One of the bread slots only toasts properly on one side so I’m thinking if packing it back to the factory where they will apparently repair them.

You can order a new element from their website and replace it yourself. It's easy.

A proper clockwork dualit should last forever and you can replace the parts yourself. We've had ours 17 years.

The electronic ones aren't as bombproof, though.

My Dualit is from 1997 and is a bit Trigger's Broom insofar as I've replaced several elements in that time. It's still going strong though!

I have heard that the newer ones aren't as robust though.

We have had our second hand dualit about 10 years. Had to replace heating elements but this is easy to do yourself just buy parts online. If yours is a pop up it may not be the repairable kind

@hippospot

OP here. Thanks for your replies.

The thing that has gone wrong is that the toast doesn't stay down or toast bread when you push it down on two of the four slots.

Well ours has only lasted 3.5 years! I contacted Dualit and they offer a 30% discount on the purchase price of a new one if I buy it directly from them. I'm frankly not inclined to!

No repairs are possible, supposedly.

Frankly I'm pretty disgusted. Nearly £120 that cost us. I'm in favour of buying quality long-lasting products as much for environmental as economical reasons which is why I spent this much in the first place.

Is yours the lite? Ours pops up with a lever.