Black & Decker FC150B InfraWave Speed Cooking Countertop Oven, Black
by Black & Decker
(Click here)
Product Summary
Manufacturer: Black & DeckerBrand: Black & Decker
Model: FC150B
Product features:
- 1500-watt InfraWave oven offers instant heat with faster results and no preheating
- Control panel with LCD screen; 52 pre-settings; intelligent profiling system
- Pizza, quick foods, cookies, toast, reheat, bake/roast, and broil functions
- Includes broil rack, bake pan, removable crumb tray, and instructions
- Measures approximately 13-3/4 by 14 by 10 inches; 1-year limited warranty
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Black & Decker FC150B InfraWave Speed Cooking Countertop Oven, Black
Customer Review: Loved it until it died...
Summary: 2 Stars
Well, like other reviewers here, I must say that I really loved the fast heating, fast broiling InfraWave product. It looked sharp in our kitchen, and it delivered. After about 15 months, the bottom elements decided to stop working. I thought it wasn't a big deal; just bring it to the local repairman, get the 2 heating elements changed, probably 30$ total in repair (like any other toaster oven). Well, not with Black & Decker! Not anymore!
Black & Decker (B&D) for small appliances is actually a consortium (Applica Consumer Affairs) who just bought out the "B&D" name and logo, and put out low quality products, a lot of them. So much so that they have inundated the market with all sorts of small appliances. You can't go to any store without seeing a B&D product. So, obviously, customers think "It must be good". Well, those products might be good, but if you hit the 1 in 3 that is defective (according to the stats), and fall out of the warranty period (12 months), then you are out of luck. You can't get it repaired. Applica doesn't keep a warehouse full of parts. Made in China. So they will send you this email:
"The warranty period is considered the most critical, and our warranty is predicated upon that experience, and is intended to adequately handle any problem arising during that period. Depending on age and original cost, there are times when it is not economical to repair a product."
I would prefer a toaster oven, where an element is pretty much certain on burning out at one point, where I can pay the 30$ to repair it.
It's like an inkjet printer company saying "Sorry, the printer is out of ink, and ink is not a consumer-replaceable part; so just throw the printer away and buy a new one"
If you do get a fault within the warranty time, they will replace the product. Actually, just throw it away, and send them the power cord. They don't recycle their broken ovens, either. Ship it all the way back to China? Way too expensive.
We are being asked by governments to reduce our carbon footprint; to recycle papers, plastic, metals; to use less energy (electricity at home, fuel in cars); to be an eco-minded citizen. Yet, big companies like Applica/Black&Decker sell us "throw-away" products. Big products. Most people will not bother to find a place to recycle the thing, they'll just throw it in the dump. What a waste!
This company policy is unacceptable, and I hope that I was able to educate some of you out there to just ask questions before buying a product; ask if you can get parts to repair the item. There are many brands out there who do care about the environment, and allow their products to be repaired. Just ask your local small appliance repair shop which companies he recommends. You'll have taken 2 minutes out of your schedule to avoid making a costly mistake.
It's worth it.
Description of Black & Decker FC150B InfraWave Speed Cooking Countertop Oven, Black
The Black & Decker InfraWave Speed Oven delivers microwave oven like cooking speeds with traditional oven-like performance. Harnessing the same infrared technology used by many of the world?s finest steakhouses, the InfraWave Oven lets you prepare meals in half the normal time while providing delicious results. Pre-programmed with settings for over 50 foods, cooking with the InfraWave Speed Oven is easy too. For example, select Pizza or Quick Foods, and the digital display lets you scroll through 13 choices alone. One of the best features is the Convert Menu - - just enter the temperature and time for your favorite recipe, and InfraWave automatically converts it to ?InfraWave time.? The InfraWave Speed Oven even does a great job making toast ? in around 2-minutes! Compare that to your toaster oven, or even your toaster!Kitchen and Housewares