Recently active topics in Black & Decker

The last week of April 2009, my roommate and I bought a Black & Decker coffeemaker; the first week of May, I wrote the following letter to Black & Decker, via the website contact form provided in the product literature:

============== Original Message to Black & Decker ==============

[Nota bene: We have already registered the B&D 8-cup Thermal Coffeemaker (DE790B) we purchased April 2009 at Target.]

To Whom It May Concern:

Although we are mostly pleased with the product's features and operation, the "thermal" carafe -- the principal reason we purchased the coffeemaker -- is extremely disappointing.

We bought your coffeemaker to replace our old Keurig: it had a simple glass carafe and, after making coffee, we had to transfer the coffee to a thermal carafe to keep it hot without diminishing its quality. When making our final product selection, we wanted to be able to eliminate this "brew-&-transfer" step by purchasing a coffeemaker that brewed directly into a thermal serving carafe.

Your "thermal" carafe's ability to keep coffee hot is an abysmal disappointment; it is "thermal" in name only. If we brew a 6-cup pot of coffee directly into your carafe, an hour later, the coffee has cooled appreciably and distastefully. However, if we brew a 6-cup pot of coffee directly into your carafe, then transfer the coffee into our old standby serving carafe (a Starbucks carafe, by the way), the coffee is still hot and tasty TWO hours later.

This is our second dismaying purchase of a product from your company: it is doubtful we will ever purchase or recommend a Black & Decker household appliance again. (We also own a B&D Dustbuster; a mere six months after its purchase, and despite scrupulous care and maintenance on our part, it barely operates for longer than five minutes, even with a full day's charge. As for the vacuum's suction ability, a child with a straw has greater suction power.)

We hope you will take our comments under the most serious consideration. Even at a sale price of thirty-five dollars, we regret the money spent for the 8-cup Thermal Coffeemaker. As "java-nistas" who brew 4-5 pots of coffee a day and who look forward to a superior cup of coffee, it is irritating that the money we spend on buying excellent coffee beans to brew are wasted by the poor "thermal" qualities of your carafe.

============== Black & Decker's Response ==============

Thank you for contacting Consumer Services. We value you as a customer and appreciate your patronage.

Our products are built to high industry standards and function as designed. However, we are constantly striving for better quality and ways to improve our products. In this endeavor, our Engineering and Quality Control team are regularly informed of consumer feedback regarding any difficulty encountered during the use of our products.

We have forwarded your comments and suggestion to our Engineering and Quality Control team.

In regards to your inquiry about the Dust Buster unit we ask that you please contact our Powertools Department at (800) 544-6986 for further assistance.

If we can be of any further assistance, we ask that you please contact our Consumer Service Department at 1-800-231-9786. Our hours of operation are Monday thru Friday from 8:30am ET to 8:00pm ET. You can also elect to e-mail us at applicaconsumeraffairs@fox-internatio..., or you can go to http://www.prodprotect.com and fill out a contact form. A representative will be happy to assist you.

Applica Consumer Service

applicaconsumeraffairs@fox-internatio...

N.B. - After Black & Decker's rote, lackluster response, we returned the coffeemaker to Target. Thanks to a special offer Gevalia made us for ordering by phone, we purchased their 8-Cup Thermal Coffeemaker for a few dollars more than the Black & Decker, and along with it, received two boxes of their coffee. We have no complaints whatsoever about the Gevalia or its truly thermal carafe.

As for the eight-month-old Dust Buster, we sold it at a garage sale last week for $2.00 (down from our original asking price of $5), but we still had the better end of the bargain. With part of the proceeds from our garage sale, we bought an Electrolux Pronto 2-for1 (an upright carpet and floor sweeper with detachable hand vacuum). Perhaps it is glorified by comparison with the B & D, but it has surprised us with its charge capacity, vacuum strength, and versatility.

Also: we used the Consumer Guide for cursory research on household appliances (find it here:http://products.howstuffworks.com/). Although it is extremely useful for side-by-side comparisons of similar products and raised our awareness of product features and/or functions we didn't know about, their test results didn't always match our experience. They highly praise the exact B & D Dust Buster we owned and were lukewarm in their opinion of the Electrolux.

Ultimately, then, this post should have been labeled as "Give Praise". Because Black & Decker failed to step up to the plate, we were obligated to find products that performed as promised, made by responsive manufacturers. Thank you, Black & Decker.

I puchased a kettle for my 86 yr old father and the switch broke . Tried to take it back to canadian tire in wasaga beach ontario where it was bought and they refused to take it back and give me a new one. Now I would like to no what to do about it.I would like you to email me with an answer. gigigrech@sympatico.ca Thank You

I have an old black and decker hand mixer (kitchen appliance). The motor has burned out and I want to replace it. I can't get any contact information for Black and Decker. Help!

This is the second B&D Start-It 300 I have purchased than won't initially charge! When the wall unit is plugged into an outlet and into the charging port on the 300, ALL THREE LIGHTS (two red ones and the green one that is supposed to come on only when the unit is fully charged) COME ON IMMEDIATELY AND STAY ON.

According to the manual, the left light is supposed to come on red and then turn green once the first amount of charge has been accomplished. Then, the second red light should come on until it, too, turns green with a 50% charge. Only then should the right-hand green light come on, to indicate the battery is fully charged.

The manual contains no troubleshooting suggestion for this three-light occurrence.

What is your suggestion???

HELP!!!!!

I bought a Black and Decker toaster in which the inside heating elements were so weak that toast was golden brown on the one side and just warm and still soft on the other. Complained to Black and Decker and they sent me a new toaster. However it was the same model and I just did not get around to complaining and telling them it is the same problem all over.

I purchased a black and decker chopper. The plastic part that holds the blade broke while chopping. It spun and was hitting the lid. I called Black and Decker an they refused to help me stating if the metal prongs on my cord did not have a number then thy cannot do anything for me. Next to the metal prongs there is a number and I made it very clear to her on the phone. I then asked to speak to her supervisor who in turn put me on hold for 20 mins. My dime of course. I am furious at the lack of service. They are just lucky and so am I that the pressure did not allow the blade to push openthe lid and cut someone. Or Black and Decker could have been sued.Anyone have similar experiences with Black and Decker?

This just in: About 70,000 Black & Decker® brand InfrawaveTM Toasters have been recalled because an electrical component in the toaster can overheat and ignite the circuit board, posing a fire hazard. The product is distributed by Applica Consumer Products Inc., of Miramar, Fla., and is manufactured in China.

So far, Applica has received two reports of the toasters igniting, including one report of fire that damaged a kitchen countertop and cabinets. There have been no reported injuries.

The recalled two-slice toaster is black with stainless steel trim and has a digital display below the toaster lever. The Black & Decker® brand name is on the top of the toaster. Model number ST2000 is printed on the rating plate on the bottom of the toaster.

Black & Decker® brand InfrawaveTM Toasters are sold in home improvement and discount department retailers nationwide from March 2007 through November 2007 for about $50.

If you are affected: consumers should stop using the recalled toaster, unplug it immediately, and contact Applica to receive a refund.

For additional information, contact Applica at (800) 556-9439 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or log on to the firm's Web site at http://www.acprecall.com