T-Fal Vitesses 1.7L (7-Cup) Electric Kettle
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List Price: Our Price: $32.00 You Save: $37.99 (54%) Availability: Usually ships in 2-3 business days Buy Used: from $27.00 (click here) Category: Kitchen See more product details |
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of T-Fal Vitesses 1.7L (7-Cup) Electric Kettle
Customer Review: Poor quality
Summary: 1 Stars
I purchased this kettle after using a previous version that was excellent! This however, is crap! It has a horrific smell and plastic taste that burns my tongue. I've tried for a couple months of heating water to make the smell and taste go away, but it has lingered. Then the kettle began making a horrible popping sound when I turned it on and then a smell like burnt wiring. The button to turn it on is not designed well either. If you hit it quickly, it will not turn on and often times you can hit the button several times and it still won't turn on! I tried to send it back, after barely two months. Amazon said I had to contact the manufacturer. T-fal said I would have to package it up, send it to a repair unit and have it repaired and sent back. First of all, it's junk, and second, I am not going to be out the cost of shipping it back after the price I paid for it, to have them look it over and try to fix it and still have the nasty taste and smell. I loved the old pot, but this did it for me! I will not buy from T-fal again. And I will never buy this type of product from Amazon. They should honor a return if a product is defective after such a short time! I'm out $[...], but I'll bet it doesn't happen again! I want a company that stands behind their product without a bunch of hassle!Customer Review: Well designed, quick to boil.
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this kettle to replace my old T-fal kettle of the same size which is now located at my office. This one seems a little quicker and has a few upgrades. The lid is now spring loaded for easier filling, the on/off switch has been redesigned to make it easier to determine the status, and they have also added a temperature dial. I personally find the temp dial superfluous and leave it set on max all the time.
I considered giving this item 4 stars because they moved the visual level indicators closer to the handle and made them narrower, I find the old, larger, centered indicator to be easier to read. That being said, faced between buying the old discontinued model and this new one, I would pick the new one for the better switch and spring loaded lid. It also seems a little faster to boil than the old one.
I also own a Braun kettle (just because the Braun came in stainless finish that matches in my kitchen.) I keep the T-fal down in my home office for making tea quickly with out having to march upstairs. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good electric kettle. My old kettle still functions like it's new.
Customer Review: Excellent, durable product
Summary: 4 Stars
As others have commented, this unit has many pro's:
--fast heating of water with concealed heating element (entire bottom of unit heats water, rather than just a submersed coil).
--heat control allows use of lower temps for tea or hot chocolate; saves energy and reduces heating times.
--round base design allows user to replace kettle at any angle relative to the base.
--durable: our unit at the office is over three years old and seems very sturdy in nearly daily use.
and only a few con's:
--a bit wobbly when placed on the base.
--not the most artistic design, looks like a fat white plastic teapot.
We've had Braun and Bodum units burn out and fail after a year or so of use. This Tefal seems like a keeper, one that will give years of service. One star deduction for wobbly fit when kettle is placed on the base, and for not being all that attractive. Also, check the measurements before you buy: this unit is fairly large and is larger in real life than it looks on the internet. This isn't really a con, but be sure you have space for it, it is a full size unit.
Customer Review: Very good.
Summary: 5 Stars
I got more than I expected. Which is good, because it seemed over priced when I bought it. But it was the only one I could find with a truly variable temp control. Now, I think the price was fair.
Pro's
- Variable temprature: This is why I picked this product. I wanted full control of the temp of the water.
- Filtered spout: I don't use it. Could be useful for keeping tea or any other particles in the pot while pouring.
- Dock station: The pot is easily removed from doc, so there is no cord in the way when pouring.
- Hidden Cord: Cord winds up inside the dock. Makes it easy to hide extra cord, if you have that luxury. See Cons :(.
- Insulated: Keeps water hot for a long time.
- Auto off: Turns of when it gets to temperature.
Cons
- 4ft cord: I could use 1 more foot :(.
Wish list:
- Stay On Option: Keeping water at temperature would be a nice option. Rather than letting it slowly cool down.
- Thermometer: Doesn't tell you the actual temperature of the water. Not even an estimate on the temperature knob.
Customer Review: Ultra so-so
Summary: 2 Stars
We keep buying these kettles for some reason - 3 US models so far - and they keep breaking down after 3 years or so. In every case, the electric connection to the base has deteriorated. You can fiddle with it with a pair of needlenose pliers and keep it limping along for a while, but only a while. Even with with the heavy but non-abusive daily use we subject them to, there's no reason these things shouldn't be able to last longer. The one we have now looks practically new except for that screwed up connection. It's just bad engineering.
Why have we continued to buy them? My wife has been using these exact kettles since her youth, although without the useless temp control and in a 220V version. Overall, we like their form and function better than other kettles. I suppose having to invest an average of $14 a year in an electric kettle (which functions in our household like the cast-iron cookstove once did in homes of yore) isn't the end of the world. But I am seriously thinking of forcing myself to habituate myself to something else just to punish this company for its lax quality.