Dimplex #ETD620W2 Electronic Line Voltage Thermostat Double Pole Review

Customer Ratings:

This is the second order for the same model thermostats. The first was correct and is working as expected. The second order though for the same model, had a lower model shipped. The outcome, my heat did not work for a couple of weeks while I wrestled with the manufacturer who is not customer oriented. I will reuse the ETD620W1 shipped in small rooms and try to get the correct ETD620W2 model shipped this time. This could have been a catastrophe.

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Buy Amico 5 Pcs 1.5A 250VAC/ 24VDC 70C NO Temperature Control Switch

Customer Ratings:

I installed these on an r/c car motor to make a high-temp alarm. It works perfectly. I've tested my system a few times and I'm happy with the product.

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Danby DWC172BL 1.8-Cu.Ft. 17-Bottle Counter-Top Wine Cooler, Black Reviews

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List Price: $169.99
Sale Price: $109.97
Today's Bonus: 35% Off

I did a bit of research before deciding to purchase the Danby. The price was right and reviews of other makes tended to say things like "stopped working after n months". Also, the thermoelectric technology on many of the other makes doesn't seem to be able to keep things cool if the temperature reaches above 85 or 90, which is quite easy to achieve in NY during the summer. The Danby has an old tech compressor which is time tested and should be reliable for years. The major problem is vibration. When it's running the thing vibrates the wine bottles excessively. This is bad for long term evolution of wine. But, if you have bottles for long term this thing is way too small to begin with. My long term stuff is in a wine storage facility. The other problem is the temperature control. Wine shoud be stored at 53-55deg. At the very, very lowest setting (knob turned to just above where it turns off) it varies between 49-53deg, as tested by a Taylor 1458 wireless temp/humidity gauge. A little too low but acceptable for short term, at least it's not too high which will ruin wine faster than anything. Humidity is also diffcult to maintain and is too low (30-40%) even with a bowl of water and wet paper towel. These faults make it useless for long term storage of wine (several years), but for short term (months) it should be fine.

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This isn't even worth it for a basic collector. There isn't a temperature display, but the large problem here is that the temperature control switch offers NO range at all. You could for example set it to highest or lowest settings and get no difference AT All in actual temperature. Not only that but the temperature is too cold for red wine to be properly stored. I hate to be a perfectionist here but hey, isn't that why we buy these things in the first place? I've spoken with other former owners of this hassle of a cooler and heard the same review. The best part was when I called to tell Danby of the problem customer service told me the problem was an isolated problem they've never had before and that the temperature should be able to be adjusted. SO I sent back and received another, then another. None of them ever got warmer (or colder) than 45 degrees and I have sent it back a final time. KEEP SHOPPING AROUND!

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This reasonably priced, sturdy refrigerator seems to be doing the job it advertised. A great value for this discounted price, it is also an attractive item for your kitchen, bar or pantry. I don't know if they had Houdini doing the counting, though...I cannot possibly imagine how one could configure it into holding SEVENTEEN (!) bottles of wine!

Honest reviews on Danby DWC172BL 1.8-Cu.Ft. 17-Bottle Counter-Top Wine Cooler, Black

Bought this unit From TheFactoryDepot via Amazon at the end of July 2010, and it worked until late April 2011 (warranty is good until April 2012). When it ceased working, I visited the Danby website to find a service depot. Located one nearby, dropped off the unit. After a week went by, I was told the compressor had failed, and was directed (by the depot) to contact the seller for return/replacement. Called TheFactoryDepot and was told I need to contact the manufacturer. Called Danby, and they are closed on a Friday in anticipation of a Canadaian holiday (Victoria Day) on Monday. At this point, I am not optimistic about the outcome. Will post an update when I reach the end of this quest.

UPDATE, June 7, 2011: Was finally able to contact Danby's customer service department after many attempts and busy signals. Provided the information about my unit, and was told they would contact the service depot for specifics on the failure. Several emails and phone calls later, I was finally told that Danby was going to give me a refund and send me a check for the amount of purchase. That was one week ago... no check yet. Will post again when (if) I receive the refund.

UPDATE, July 9, 2011: The check from Danby arrived today. Case closed.

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Did a ton of research before purchasing a Danby wine cooler...it stopped working after owning it 15 months...just stopped for no reason at all. You are throwing your money away if you purchase this item.

4 in 1 1500W watt Quartz Infrared Heater Humidifier Reviews

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List Price: $500.00
Sale Price: $159.99
Today's Bonus: 68% Off

The product is not good as advertised. It is good only for smaller rooms definitely not good for 1000sqft etc.

Even we try to put it in smaller rooms which about 300 Sqft and does work as expected but it is good when the door is closed. We can not feel the heat more than 5feet on maximum heat.

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I really like this heater.

Purchased because this model has a humidifer chamber.

I am not sure if the electric bill will be less with using this versus my HVAC unit but will see soon.

I actually purchased 2 for the downstairs: master bedroom with open bath and one for the living room with open kitchen.

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I woudl give it 5 stars but the only thing that I don't like much is the size. It is a bit big to fit in the room i wanted. It does however state the dimensions so just make sure you are confortable with the size. It is not heavy but bulky for the application I wanted. It heats quickly and works great. No complaints on performance.

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This little heater does an absolutely amazing job. It not only keep my mobile home nice and cozy, it cleans my air AND puts humidity back into it. Really helps my sinus issues. LOVE THIS!!

Best Soleus Air HM1-10R-32 Ultra-Thin Micathermic Panel Heater Deals

Customer Ratings:

What a great heater. Totally silent, digital temp display on heater easy to see in the dark. Full featured remote control allows you to turn on and off, adjust temperature, switch between high, low and economy modes.

I have used it for four nights now to keep my bedroom from getting to cold without leaving on the noisy forced air system that cycles on and off and wakes you up. With the remote you can adjust the temp from the comfort of your bed instead of getting up. Don't delay buy it today!

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This product worked great at first, but over time, this particular product line of Soleus Air Micathermic heaters will lose their ability to heat over time. Advertised at 1000 Watts, now, after 1 year, is 478 Watts, and loses wattage each day it's used. This means it's outputting less and less heat.

I submitted a claim to Soleus Air and they have not resolved the problem they only gave some explanation thinking they were right, but I sent them more details of the problem and they have not responded for over 1 month. Looking up my case number on their site, they consider this case resolved. It is not.

This is product is faulty and you won't get any reimbursements, so be careful, and buy a different brand, or a different heating technology like ceramic.

I will not ever buy a Soleus Air product again I do not want to support their company in producing poor quality products with poor customer support.

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We purchased this exact same heater locally and we've been using it for about 45 days now. I was discouraged to see someone rated it so low because we are very happy with the heater we purchased. It has preformed beautifully in the time that we've had it.

I will say this though, this is the sixth portable electric heater we've purchased and only a couple of the models have lasted longer than a year. We had a Delong that simply stopped working and I haven't been able to figure out why.

If this one lasts the entire year, without trouble, I'll be happy. :)

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I bought 3 pieces from BJs. Returned two after they stopped working within first 10 days. Kept one that worked almost 2 months last winter. This winter even the 3rd one is not working. Very unhappy.

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This product worked great at first, but over time, this particular product line of Soleus Air Micathermic heaters will lose their ability to heat over time. Advertised at 1000 Watts, now, after 1 year, is 478 Watts, and loses wattage each day it's used. This means it's outputting less and less heat.

I submitted a claim to Soleus Air and they have not resolved the problem they only gave some explanation thinking they were right, but I sent them more details of the problem and they have not responded for over 1 month. Looking up my case number on their site, they consider this case resolved. It is not.

This is product is faulty and you won't get any reimbursements, so be careful, and buy a different brand, or a different heating technology like ceramic.

I will not ever buy a Soleus Air product again I do not want to support their company in producing poor quality products with poor customer support.

Buy Impress 1500-watt Space Heater with a Quiet Fan and Adjustable

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List Price: $49.99
Sale Price: $25.52
Today's Bonus: 49% Off

I was looking for a simple space heater to use in my office and I can not begin to say how great this one is working for me!

This is only my first day using it, but so far it is running well, and heating up my office perfectly! One of the many things I like about this heater is that it is quiet. My coworker has one that I can hear all the way across the office :(

It also stays equally as quiet when you turn the fan up on max.

I really great value! I am already thinking of getting another!

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I ordered this space heater for my home office, which just isn't as warm as the rest of my apartment. I have to say that it does the job to take the edge off the chill, as long as I put it right next to me. It's also very quiet. Just the normal whirring sound any fan makes. However, there's no way that this little heater is capable of heating a space, unless it's a closet. If you're looking for something to heat a whole room, go with something bigger. Also, there's no safety feature that turns off the unit if it tips over.

With all that being said, I feel like I got what I paid for.

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I bought this heater to warm up my bedroom (roughly 9' x 12') as it's getting cold out but my landlord refuses to turn on the heat. I'll try to give a descriptive review here.

The heater has three settings: fan, low, and high. The fan setting just provides circulation while the low and high settings provide heat. The heater also has a thermostat so you can set the amount of warmth you want to maintain the the room. The thermostat isn't *super* accurate, but you get the hang of it after a few uses. Nothing to complain about.

I usually keep the heater under my desk and turn it on on the low setting when I start doing homework in the evenings. This works out best for me because it delivers heat directly to my feet and legs (which feels amazing) while also warming up the room in general. On the low setting, it takes about 30-60 minutes to fully warm up the room and on the high setting it takes about half as long. This heater is not large enough or powerful enough to effectively heat up a larger space, like a living room or dining room. I think it is best suited for small to medium sized bedrooms and bathrooms.

The one downside is that it does not have an auto-off safety feature that turns the heater off when it is moved. So if you have small children or pets that might knock over a heater sitting on the ground, you might want to look into a different heater. However, if you're an adult and you're not stupid about how you operate electrical equipment, you'll be fine.

As far as noise level goes, I have no complaints. The fan does make some noise, but no more than expected/necessary. I would not describe it as "loud" and, once it's operating, you barely notice it.

All in all: if you want a personal heater that can heat up a small to medium sized room, buy this heater. It is well worth the under-20-dollar price tag. It's small, unobtrusive, and gets the job done.

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They say you get what you pay for. Owning better products means spending more money. I normally believe this as a general rule, but this Impress heater is an exception for sure. It costs less and works fantastic!

I bought it to replace a similar small heater, which had difficulty maintaining a stable and steady temperature in my carport area utility room. With my previous heater, I would turn up the thermostat if it got colder outside around 40 degrees. However, a couple of days later when we had warmer temps of around 65, I decided to check on that heater. I discovered the heater was STILL RUNNING as if it didn't know any better. The room temperature had reached 82 degrees!

With that problem noted, my point is ... this Impress heater works perfectly and maintains an even temperature AND actually adapts to changes in surrounding temperatures unlike the piece of crap it replaced. :)

So although skeptical at first, I would now recommend this heater to anyone. By the way, it's very quite too.

Happy Holidays,

Jeff

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does the job. strong little heater works for my medium sized bedroom. tempeture controls are rudimentary and not that helpful, but what a great value

Discount LUX ATX1500E PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT 5/1/1

Customer Ratings:

This unit was relatively easy to install, since all mounting holes matched perfectly the failed Honeywell it replaced. Wiring was straightforward and simple. Programming for me was a bit of a trick, but not impossible. Unit works well on cooling, but has not been tried on heating yet. Chicago in August is not known for furnace use. The features, battery display, humidity display and filter timer make this more useful than the Honeywell unit. My eyesight would like a larger temperature display. Looked for this thing locally online before purchase, but found Amazon had best price. Also unit was delivered several days before promised. INSTALLATION TIP: If you have big fingers and bad eyes, get that high school kid who stopped your VCR from flashing 12:00 to help.

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Best Black & Decker 42-Inch Oscillating 3 Speed Mode 12 Hour Timer Black Deals

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List Price: $110.00
Sale Price: $71.46
Today's Bonus: 35% Off

I had a cheapo Lasko fan that died after 18 months and bought this thinking spending a few extra dollars for a name like Black and Decker might be worth it, and it is. I live in Yuma Arizona where it can get well up over 100 degrees from May through September, so this is getting a lot of use and after a month have had zero problems using it 24 hours a day. Even with A/C, a couple of fans can help with the energy bill and this one does not disappoint. It blows plenty of cool air around a fairly large space. It's easy to assemble, sturdy, oscillates over a large range quietly, and has a great digital display with the temperature and speed setting. The remote comes in handy on lazy days. It's a little loud at the highest setting but it's a fan so I wasn't expecting silence, but if you're within 8 feet of it you only have to have it on the medium speed to be comfortable. I live in an apartment so I didn't want to install a ceiling fan. This is a great alternative. I will be buying another one to move air around the entire apartment.

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I have owned several brands of oscillating fans, and this is one of the best. It puts out plenty of cool air, and we are able to keep our AC set warmer as a result. We have a large living area and it easily keeps us cool.

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This was an upgrade from a 5+ year old Black and Decker fan that I still own. I just saw this new model and wanted an upgrade.

I love the digital display and can say with certainty that it's 1-2-3 fan speed settings are stronger than my older fans 1-2-3 fan speed settings. It also seems to have a greater oscillating turn. This one seems to be about a full 90 degrees.

There isn't much to say besides the obivious. It's a great fan. Sleek looking. Won't call uncessary attention to itself in a room. Reletively quiet as fans go.

I know older tower fans seem to have an off center air flow. Meaning...even if you're looking directly at the fan, the air flow with be coming off to the side . I guess because of the disign and the way the blade spins. This fan however has a very nicely centered air flow.

My only complaint, though still extremely minor, is that the timer does not include a haf hour option. My old Black and Decker fan could go from a .5 hour timer to 7.5 hours, being able to do half hours as you wish. This new fan can go from 1 hour up to 12 hours, but all full hours, no half hours. Still, no regrets in buying this fan.

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looked at every fan on this site, ilove it !! great speeds cool great winds , oscillating feature with fan is amazing

i even put up a picture love it!

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the Black and Decker fan works fine, I like it's powerful turbine fans and it is low noise, but in the description of the item it says :this fan has a built in thermostat; among other features, and that to my understanding means that when the thermostat reaches a set temperature the fan will turn itself off and then on again; that is why I bought it. The Fan does not do that;come to find out. Please clarify that misprint to avoid misunderstandings. The thermostat is there only to check the actual ambient temperature not to control the room temperature, this way other customers won't make the same mistake. I will keep the fan purchased; otherwise it is working great.

Discount De'Longhi BAR32 Retro 15 BAR Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Maker

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $210.00
Sale Price: $99.95
Today's Bonus: 52% Off

Edit 2/24/2012: I wrote this review several years ago. The machine broke down after a year or so, and I put off replacing it. However, I've wanted to start making espresso again and so, remembering how much I liked this one, I picked up another one.

It's pretty much just how I remember it, and the instructions I wrote below still work. There are a couple of things I've noticed, though. First, the maker no longer comes with sample E.S.E pods. That was disappointing. Also, the bottom of the filter handle (where the coffee comes out of) is plastic if you use a hand-held tamper, make sure you don't press too hard and damage the pour spouts.

Also, I've moved from the Midwest to the East Coast, and it's still nice to have good espresso and capuccino in your own house.

Otherwise, it's still a sold four-star machine.

Original review:Despairing of ever finding decent espresso in the Midwest, I finally broke down and decided to get a home espresso machine. I had worked as a barrista, and had sipped espresso in Italy, so I had some idea of how it should taste.

Being relatively poor, I wanted a machine that would deliver a decent espresso, at a decent price. Though I was willing to consider a system with proprietary coffee pods (K-cups, Tassimo, etc), it would have to be cheap enough that I wouldn't mind shelling out the extra bucks for the coffee itself. And I also wanted to make sure that it was pump-driven, not steam-driven.

After checking reviews and looking around, I finally settled on the DeLonghi BAR32. It's a pump-driven maker, not steam driven, so it's not scorching the grounds as it brews. And it comes with a single and a double espresso filter.

The DeLonghi uses either ground espresso, or E.S.E. espresso pods. The E.S.E. pods are not proprietary any company can make them. The DeLonghi comes with a package of 18 Illy pods (retail $12). The pods are convenient, but still expensive.

I've had the espresso maker for several days, and I'm happy with it so far. With the pods, it pulls a good single espresso with a satisfactory crema. Sugar floats on top of the crema for about 2-3 seconds, and it has a nice golden color. The espresso tastes very smooth.

Pulling a good single espresso, either with the pods or loose coffee, is pretty easy. Use the pods as a good judge of how tightly to pack the grounds in the filter. Use a level, loosely packed scoop of coffee for a single shot.

Pulling a good double, on the other hand, still eludes me. The best I've come up with is to use 2 scoops, 3/4 full and loosely packed, and pressed looser than for a single. Even then, it still dribbles out slowly, with a less-than-satisfactory (though present) crema.

The steam wand works very well. I've made several excellent cappuccinos and lattes with it. It's a little cramped to use, so I pull mine to the edge of the counter so that I can get a good mug under it. I steam straight into the mug of milk, and then add the espresso. Make sure to blow some steam through it to clear out condensation before putting it in your milk. Start with the steam wand nearly submerged in the milk, and then slowly pull it out (lower the mug) until you hear a gentle "sipping" sound. That means that it's frothing. If you see noticeable bubbles on top of the milk, that means you've pulled it out too far dip it back in slowly and you should be able to whip the bubbles into froth. Once the froth is just below the level you want it, submerge the wand back into the milk to finish heating it. Listen again once the milk starts to sound "hollow," it's nearly hot enough. Let it go for a few more seconds, then shut off the steam, and remove the mug. The wand will drip a bit, so put it over the drip tray or an empty mug.

Making espresso is fairly easy. Turn the machine to "Heat" to start heating the water and priming the pump. Make sure the filter holder is screwed into the machine. Once the "Hot" light comes on, run an espresso cycle without coffee into the cup you'll use pulling espresso into a cold cup will ruin the flavor. Fill the cup half-way with hot water, and turn the machine back to "Heat." Empty and quickly dry the espresso cup. Put the E.S.E. pod or ground espresso into the filter (tamp down the loose espresso) and twist it into the machine. Turn the machine on, and wait until you've got your cup of espresso. A single espresso should be 30-40ml, or 1-1.5oz. I used a measuring cup to see what that looked like in my demitasse cups.

Looking back over what I've written, I suppose I do make it look a little complicated. And it is a little bit more complicated that popping the K-cup into the machine, and hitting "Go." But it really is pretty easy, and less than 5 minutes pass between "You know, I could go for a cappuccino," and "Man, that's a tasty cappuccino."

Pros:

Inexpensive

Good pressure

Easy to make a good single shot of espresso

Uses pods or loose grounds

2 dials + 0 buttons = easy to use

Outstanding steam wand

32oz water reservoir lets you make 3 or 4 cappuccinos, or 6 to 8 espressos, without refilling

Built-in tamper means one less part to lose

Pre-heat cycle helps make good espresso

Cons:

Hard to make a good double espresso (might just be me)

Steam wand leaks slightly (usually at the start of a brewing cycle I just keep mine over the drip tray)

In the end, the machine makes a good espresso, especially for the price, but remember that you're not going to be running a coffee shop with it. I definitely recommend it for anybody who wants to make their own espresso, but wants to do it for under $200.

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I have purchased this machine from Amazon on June 2006, that's 16 months ago and I have been using this coffee maker every day, usually 2 to 3 times a day. A few words about me, I grew up in Italy, lived there for over 20 years and I still go visit my country for at least a month every year so I should know about coffee, right? DeLonghi is considered a good brand in Italy, I'm not sure about customer service in the U.S. since I never had to contact them; my aunt in Italy has an identical machine with no complaints. I'm not sure about the complaints I read here. Some people say it takes too long to heat up the water... I usually turn it on 15 minutes before making the espresso and the water gets really hot, if you think that's too long then you've never used an espresso machine before, it's very average as a matter of fact. Sorry, but that's not the machine's fault, it's the way it is with all machines. Coffee shops machines need one hour sometimes longer to heat up. Others have complained about the steamer leaking a bit... NO KIDDING! It's called vapor condensation, if you think that's a machine issue I recommend going back to school and taking Physics 101. Not usually a big deal for me, just keep the steamer over the tray and the problem is solved... it's only a drop or two anyway.

Some have written about the coffee not being very strong, true it could be stronger but if you make the right dose it's ok. I get my coffee in Italy and, you want to trust me on this, if you're not using good ground coffee to start with you're not going to get a good espresso. Forget that Starbucks junk, this machine makes a much better espresso if you use it right with the right coffee.

I'm not saying it's perfect, but for this price it gets really good, hard to find better. Forgive me for my somewhat sarcastic remarks, but I have the feeling that most of the people who complained about this machine have issues related to "Operator's Error" and not the machine itself.

One note though about the frother (I've seen better construction), remove the plastic part and it works much better.

I used both Illy pods and ground coffee and I like both. Illy is considered a high quality coffee.

For the past 16 months it has worked great for me and I'm sure it will again tomorrow morning. Remember not to let the water reservoir go dry or you will burn the pump, again "Operator's Error" not machine's.

To the guy who grinds his own beans not espresso fine... Operator's Error! Espresso machines need espresso ground coffee not larger grains. I still have to find a grinder in the US that can make fine espresso ground without costing an arm and a leg. One more thing: make sure you use bottled water (I use spring water) because tap water contains more limestone and can ruin the pump in the long run.

By the way, all the customers images are mine (as of today October 8th 2007), glad to see so many people enjoyed them.

Update: October 24th

Over 2 years, and still working great! :) I used it about twice a day.

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I've been a coffee snob for several years have several brewing machines scattered throughout my kitchen. Since I got this machine xmas morning, all the others brewing systems have become obsolete.

It produces plenty of steam in a jiff, and the removable water tank is very handy (especially for use with my water filter). While I scoffed at the thought of using the ESE pre-packed espresso pods, it came with a tin of them, so I tried them out since all local coffee houses were closed (and I had no beans!). The ESEs make a pass-able cup of espresso--not the darkest roast, but the convenience of a pod is handy. I have some Major Dikason's blend from Peets which I made regular espresso and Americanos out of. Delicious, thick, creamy.

This machine is a steal at this price. I've had to get the hang of packing my grounds in the handle, however. If I pack too tightly, the cream only comes out as a trickle. I suppose that's the case with most home machines, however. Also, it has a built in tamper on the frame of the machine, and I consider that to be a bit of a mess and kind of sketchy. Go buy a tamper sperately.

This is a great little machine. For any price under $200 it's a steal.

Honest reviews on De'Longhi BAR32 Retro 15 BAR Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Maker

Primary Complaint Classification: Service Issues

Secondary Complaint Classification: Product Quality

Complaint:

Received as gift from Amazon.com, 12/25/04. After 5 weeks of occasional use, the rubber gasket which holds the screen snugly inside the filter head began to split. Within 2 weeks the entire gasket had broken completely apart and rendered this $100 machine unuseable for want of this cheap, tiny part.

I went to DeLonghi's website to locate a replacement part, but the site has never been put fully online since it was first enabled in March of 2004, and the features I needed were unavailable.

I then called the phone number in the product documentation and received a DeLonghi automated menu. After I made my selection from the menu I was told "This number is no longer in service," and was disconnected. I tried every menu option and received the same message and disconnection every time.

Attempts to locate contact information for DeLonghi's corporate headquarters (through investment websites)also failed.

Amazon.com indicated that they would not replace the product as it was beyond their 30-day returns window, and that I would have to take it up with DeLonghi directly. Obviously, I had already attempted this and it had proved impossible. After browsing Amazon.com reviews by buyers of other DeLonghi products, it appears I am not alone in my complaints of poor product quality and non-existent customer service from DeLonghi. Caveat emptor.

Now I have a $100, fancy Italian-designed paperweight taking up counter space and what I need is a cup of coffee. My hope is that you have some means of contacting DeLonghi and finding out why they refuse to stand behind their products. I understand that I may have to accept the $100 loss incurred by my purchase of their terrible product, but I think other consumers should be made aware of the risks they make in buying from DeLonghi America Inc. before they make the same expensive mistake I did.

Desired Settlement: Refund

Desired Settlement Explanation :

Although the part needed is small (and undoubtedly cheap), I'm reluctant to have any further dealings with DeLonghi America Inc. or their products. I would like a full refund so that I may purchase an espresso maker that works, from a company that will make good on the buyer-seller contract.

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Like many of you, I pored over the Amazon customer reviews of many espresso makers before making my purchase. I was replacing a cheap Mr. Coffee device that was a lemon. I have been making espresso and cappuccino for many years using the department store-grade articles that come with a four (espresso)-cup carafe and controls consisting of an on-off switch and a steam valve and I was very satisfied with the flavor of the product. However, I was never able to reproduce the lovely crema of the espresso I enjoyed in Italy or of our better baristas in the U.S. but that was just an aesthetic compromise. Other customers' comments encouraged me to consider a pump-driven espresso maker, so I took a chance with this one: it seemed to be in the middle of the price range and most customers were pleased with the results they got, although some unhappy folks obviously bought defective devices and were dissatisfied with DeLonghi's customer service. For me, so far, so good and I am delighted with the results. Although making espresso with the DeLonghi requires a bit more attention than the less expensive basic models I'd grown used to, it is a minor compromise. This machine makes superb and beautiful espresso. Because the water is drawn from a 35-oz. reservoir, you cannot just wait until all the water you've poured into the machine runs through (like you can with the machines that hold only a cup of water in their reservoir) but you have to stand by to shut off the water flowing through the grounds when you've made enough. Therefore, you can make your espresso as strong or as weak (that defies logic!) as you prefer. Don't worry; your "wait" will amount to less than a minute.

The controls are simple, yet efficient. The silver knob on the front has four positions, left to right: preheating water for steam off preheating water for coffee water flowing through the coffee. A red light indicates that the heating element is energized. A green light indicates that the water has reached its desired temperature for steaming or coffee, depending on the mode you've selected. The valve/knob on the top of the machine regulates the flow of steam through the nozzle to froth your milk.

The milk frothing nozzle is superior to any I have ever used. The frothing starts almost immediately and is a very efficient process. When the milk is frothed, click the control knob over two positions and you will probably find that the water temperature is ready to make coffee immediately. Less than a minute later, you're done.

The DeLonghi does not come with a milk frothing pitcher. It does have an attached grounds-tamper which is a convenient perk. My only complaint is that when making espresso, a few drops of water tend to drip out of the milk frothing nozzle, as if there is minor leak-by the valve. Also, before frothing milk, I drain the steam line into a separate cup to purge a teaspoon to a tablespoon of water from the line before the steam is expressed.

I am delighted with this DeLonghi Espresso Maker and recommend it highly.

Addendum

I've had the DeLonghi BAR 32 for 14 months now. It gets used at least three times a day up to ten and I still love it! I have not any problems with it. I plan to buy more as gifts!

Best Hydrofarm CK64050 Germination Station with Heat Mat Deals

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List Price: $34.99
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Today's Bonus: 10% Off

I used two of these this last spring, and I was extremely happy. My previous year, I used another system for heat, and I had problems with overheating and heat retention.

For those who reported problems with seedlings growing too fast or falling over and dying, I would like to know the larger picture--did you address the potential problem of damping off? And did you provide a grow light at the appropriate height?

I researched several options to address damping off, since that was a huge problem for me last year. I microwaved all of my moistened starting mix, roughly 10 minutes per 2 quarts of moistened soil. If you bake this in an oven, I recommend 30 minutes at roughly 350 degrees. I also bleached and washed any pots that had been previously used. After the seedlings emerged, I sprinkled cinnamon on the surface, and I had no problems with damping off. I was particularly concerned about damping off since there was quite a bit of condensation inside the domes. However, I cleared the condensation at least twice daily, and I did not lose any seedlings out of roughly 150 starts. This was on top of 100% germination, so I gave away lots of starts this year!

I used these for squash, peppers, tomatoes, herbs, eggplants, some flowers, soybeans, shiso, chard, and cucumbers. After transplanting starts into larger pots, I continued to use the heating pad and base for the larger pots. I also had simple fluorescent grow lights that I maintained at proper heights for the plants. You should keep the lights within 2" of the plants, or the plants will be reaching too far for light and will become spindly--a particular problem for tomatoes. For these units, you really need a 4-bulb grow light or the starts on the edges will not receive sufficient light. I had to search around but found a 4-bulb, 4' shop light for a grow light, and I was thrilled with the coverage over these units. No need to buy "grow lights", just alternate cool and warm wavelength fluorescent bulbs.

Because of an unusually cold spring and early summer, I kept my peppers and eggplants inside until mid-June, and a few of them were already blooming and looking extremely healthy. The tallest were roughly 8" tall. The heating pads were wonderful for the peppers and eggplants in particular, but I know the squash also germinated much better because of the heat.

I strongly recommend not using the seed starting mix that is designed for peat pots, unless you use the peat pots in your units. If you use the peat pot starting mix, it will fall all over the place and away from the roots when you pull out your seedlings to transplant them.

Sure, you can make something similar to this with off-the-shelving parts, but I am not commenting on alternatives, just commenting on performance of this system. I highly recommend it but only if you provide appropriate grow lights and address potential damping off.

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Although it may seem a little over priced, it is the convenience that you pay for. The product is exactly what it shows, a plastic tub with a plastic top, plastic dirt moldings, and a heating pad. If you think about the price of the heating pad that fits perfectly with the container, it is well worth the while.

In addition, I have had success with this product. I grow indoor coffee, and I have received a much quicker germination rate; as well as being healthier. Furthermore, it gives you great control of not only temperature, but humidity. In my opinion, that is a major plus.

Best Deals on Hydrofarm CK64050 Germination Station with Heat Mat

First, when the package says it comes with an insert, that means the 72-cell tray you put potting mix in, not the potting mix itself.

Second, you're supposed to take the clear plastic lid off once your plants germinate. That's why there's no room for the seedlings to grow under it. (Though the packaging does feature a tray full of robust seedlings under the lid, which may confuse people who can't be troubled to read the instructions.)

With that out of the way, this product does exactly what it promises. The heat mat warms the tray a bit, but not too much. The tray's cells are the right size for tiny seedlings, the kind that need a heat pad, and soft enough that you can pop the seedlings out without much effort.

The whole contraption fits perfectly under the Hydrofarm JSV2 2-Foot Jump Start T5 Grow Light System. If you buy a Hydrofarm TM01715D 7-Day Digital Program Timer, you can plug both the light and the heat mat into it to have the 14-hour light-warm/dark-cool cycle most seedlings enjoy. These three products together make a great indoor seed starting set-up.

For a backyard farmer or gardener who needs to start a bunch of seeds at once, this will do the job.

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This item is essentially a plastic base and clear top (very flimsy) with a heating pad that the base sits on. It's adequate for starting plants from seed, but my main complaint is that for what you get, it's way too expensive. I believe a fair price for this item would be around $20, NOT $40. If you do decide to purchase a germination station like this one, buy the one with the taller top it doesn't take long before the new plants start running into the 2" tall lid.

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I bought this kit because of the price was about $40 and there was no shipping charge. Now I am just using the heat mat and tray to coax fig cuttings to root. Late winter I will reinsert the planting cell tray and the clear lid to germinate other small cuttings and garden vegetables. The station and mat are standard size and weight. The mat provides good even heat and seems tough enough to last a long time.