Sharp R-305KS 1-Cubic-Foot 1100-Watt Microwave Oven, Stainless
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Sharp R-305KS 1-Cubic-Foot 1100-Watt Microwave Oven, Stainless
Customer Review: Bad product; bad service
Summary: 1 Stars
Had OK Sharp MWs for years, but this was a lemon. Burned popcorn. Got noisy, then failed after 6 months. Local "Factory" service (Eugene, OR) was a hole-in-the-wall, looked like a Droid repair shop out of Star Wars. Decades-old MWs and parts stacked up to the ceiling. I had to call daily for 3 weeks to get it back. Then used sparingly for a month ... got noisy and failed again.
Got an LG. We'll see. My experience with this Sharp product is consistent with recent experience a wide variety of consumer products made in China: even when I get a good product, if I buy the same product again, then it's different (e.g., garden nozzles, exercise shoes). So my guess is that there really aren't "Sharp" MWs, just a variety of look-alike MWs made in any number of Chinese sweat shops with a Sharp label. No way to tell if your product came from the right sweat shop on the right day.
If service matters to you, then I'd go to the Sharp site, ID your local "Factory" service provider, and check it out before you buy. BTW, disregard my Cincinnati address. I'm in Eugene, OR now. But couldn't change profile.
Customer Review: Caveat Emptor
Summary: 1 Stars
While I can't vouch for the microwave breaking down as other 1-star reviews report, I can confidently say this is perhaps the worst purchase I've ever made. Originally attracted to the Sharp R-305KS for it's "Best Reviewed" mid-sized microwave oven from a popular and objective online review service (no, not CR), I sadly ignored the growing number of 1-star ratings and bit the bullet.
What's the most important "feature" of a microwave oven? Well, now I know that it's "heating evenness," something I've always taken for granted with microwaves until owning the Sharp R-305KS. Nearly every time this microwave is used to reheat leftovers, my wife or I (or both) are faced with returning to the microwave to re-reheat our meal because of cold spots in the food. This was never a concern with our old 1000-watt microwave.
I could mention other cons (buttons wearing, popcorn setting burns popcorn, hard to keep clean), but not heating food evenly is enough to justify the 1-star rating. Perhaps I got a lemon? Maybe, but at this point 25% of reviewers have given it one star. Not good.
Customer Review: Quit after 14 months
Summary: 1 Stars
We liked this microwave just fine until last night. We purchased it March 2008 (Model R-420L/R425L, same features and looks just like the model shown here). My son was in the middle of heating up a frozen meal. He had just stirred and reset to heat an additional 2 minutes. When he pushed the start button, there was a sudden noise and the microwave just stopped. Nothing worked--it was completely dead. The microwave was hot to the touch and smelled like it was burning. It had tripped the circuit breaker but even after resetting the circuit and trying in another outlet, the microwave still does not work. The magnatron tube (which it sounds like this might be what blew) is under warranty for 5 years however that is only PARTS not labor or getting it to the service center. I can't believe an appliance like this would only work a little more than one year! My last microwave was a Panasonic I'd had for 20 years! In reading some of the current microwave reviews, I'm afraid that none of them are made to last these days. However I will not be buying another Sharp.Customer Review: It broke in a month
Summary: 1 Stars
Bought this a month ago, and in one month, it just broke with no clear reason. I tried to heat up some butter with the microwave. It started to run with unusually loud sound, but did not heat up at all. So the light was on, the turning plate was good, only that the sound was louder than it normally was, and it did not function as something that should produce heat. We did not move it, or touch anything. It just broke.
Returned it to Amazon.com, luckily it was still returnable, and got the refund soon after we sent it back. The warranty provided by Sharp only goes as far as free repair for one year (we had to either ship it or bring it in person to the nearest repairer, which is not the most convenient), and does not allow returning. So I am glad that it broke in time for returning to Amazon. Buying from Amazon is good. Given the mixed reviews here and my own experience, I think Sharp needs to work on their quality control. Also, the control panel is not the most intuitive for users.
Customer Review: Buyer Beware! Terrible quality, substandard parts.
Summary: 1 Stars
This microwave broke twice within 3 years, at which time I needed to replace it.
I purchased this microwave from Best Buy in June of 2006. In December of 2006, it stopped working. I brought it to a Sharp authorized repair shop, and they replaced the magnetron (which generates the microwaves) under warranty. (They provided great service). In May of 2009, the magnetron failed again! No longer under warranty, I did the research, and the part alone, direct from the distributor would be $92 plus shipping. I decided to just buy a new microwave. I bought a GE at Sam's Club, equivalent size, more features, more convenient to use, for only $64!
In addition to being poorly manufactured, The functionality of the controls on this microwave is terrible. Sharp has gone backwards with ease of use on this model.
It used to be that Sharp made the best microwaves. The two Sharps I had prior to this lasted 9 years each. Their quality has gone way downhill.