Hi peeps, first world problem...and rant alert ?.

 

Because my $600 Nespresso machine has broken down at 18 months with VERY light use I'm contemplating a cheap n cheerful coffee pod machine (under $200) with economical pod prices.  Note: the Nespresso is under warranty but seems they do not trust any local service techs! and want me to find a box, pack it securely (to ensure they can't blame me for "damage in transit") and post (at their cost) over East with a turnaround time something like 6 weeks...or more...with two way woeful interstate postage times at present.  They won't even let me drop it off at the store i purchased from and let them handle the warranty turnaround.  That's absolute BS warranty "support" in my book. 

 

On the rare occasions i've had an issue with electronics (e.g. a Cambridge mini-system) i returned it to the store with purchase proof and THEY handled everything with no fuss at all via a local service tech.  Simple, efficient, and 100% i would buy from them in future.

 

Anyhoo...back on topic....we don't drink a lot of coffee at home but want something a step up from instant coffee for guests.   Personally not a fan of drip filter coffee, so just looking for owner/user feedback on pod machines please.  Aldi machine seems the obvious choice (need to check i can get locally) but any others you have experience with?  I think Hardly Normals had a machine at one stage?

 

Cheers

2B

Regardless of what Nespresso says, you may under Australian  consumer law, have a right to insist that the return for repair be handled as you propose.  Companies will often try to blatantly ignore their obligations in the context of warranty, support or repairs.  Even if it is out of warranty there are still laws that may apply. 

John

36 minutes ago, 2Brix said:

They won't even let me drop it off at the store i purchased from and let them handle the warranty turnaround. 

My understanding is that the warranty obligation is with the store you purchased from. I would be going back to them and insisting they honour that warranty (rather than Nespresso)

Thanks John

 

I also suggested an alternative to Nespresso, that i return the machine and they give me a store credit of 75% for me to put towards a new machine. (although i'm loathe to go out of pocket)

 

The kind of final straw to me was that they insisted on pick up and return to my residential address and would not accept return to my local PO which any other service has been perfectly fine with.

 

 

5 minutes ago, sir sanders zingmore said:

My understanding is that the warranty obligation is with the store you purchased from. I would be going back to them and insisting they honour that warranty (rather than Nespresso)

Yes i will try that too.  I tried to ring the local store and they only have the national "support" line number!  If i don't get a good response i guess i could make up some pamphlets and hand out as warning to prospective customers enter the store : O )

 

More fool me...I never suspected...and wouldn't have bought if i knew they didn't support their equipment locally.

 

Will report back when things pan out a bit.

 

 

Edited July 22, 20205 yr by 2Brix

 As far as I know all the pod machines (especially the cheaper ones) are all built down to a price and not up to a quality. The pods themselves are expensive and polluting and really don't contain or make good coffee.

 

It's been a while since I looked at prices but a low-end Lelit or Rancilio Silvia would do a much better job and cost way less for a cuppa. Used machines like this can be very reliable and go for a considerable number of years. Even a Saeco would be an upgrade (IMO). 

 

There are also straight manual espresso makers and stovetop moka-style pots that do a reasonable job.

 

DuckDuckGo is your friend.

 

 

The best pod coffee has only been an average coffee.

There are alternatives, and there are some very nice fair trade coffee blends about.

But then again, I like vinyl as well, so I could be a anachronism!

Stovetop.

 

No stupid machinery, no pollution, still real coffee.

Nespresso may be a dirty word to you OP but their new pod machines  are chalk and cheese compared to all other pod machines. It has to do with the centrifugal mechanism they are using.

 

 Nespresso Vertuo Plus Breville Pod Machine. The pods are more expensive than original pods but they are recyclable if you keep them and take a bag of them back to purchase store or drop off centres that Nespresso has. They come in different sizes for different cup to big mug sizes.

 

Nespresso also tried to tighten up their patent so that you can't use third party pods and they've succeeded somewhat but on eBay and Amazon there are refillable pods available already.

 

Anyone who says  these new pods and the way of the coffee's delivery is crap has not tried a cup because I did last week while researching a machine for my daughter. I've got a manual espresso  machine, Italian and it makes a wonderful coffee from fresh beans, the cup I had last week out of the new pods was very very good.

 

The simplicity of the setup wins many people over.

 

Might be worth your while to look into it.

45 minutes ago, Luc said:

Nespresso may be a dirty word to you OP but their new pod machines  are chalk and cheese compared to all other pod machines. It has to do with the centrifugal mechanism they are using.

 

 Nespresso Vertuo Plus Breville Pod Machine. The pods are more expensive than original pods but they are recyclable if you keep them and take a bag of them back to purchase store or drop off centres that Nespresso has. They come in different sizes for different cup to big mug sizes.

 

Nespresso also tried to tighten up their patent so that you can't use third party pods and they've succeeded somewhat but on eBay and Amazon there are refillable pods available already.

 

Anyone who says  these new pods and the way of the coffee's delivery is crap has not tried a cup because I did last week while researching a machine for my daughter. I've got a manual espresso  machine, Italian and it makes a wonderful coffee from fresh beans, the cup I had last week out of the new pods was very very good.

 

The simplicity of the setup wins many people over.

 

Might be worth your while to look into it.

 

@Luc thanks for the extra info there. 

 

Sorry if it was interpreted that way...but Nespresso is not a dirty word to me...nor did i think their coffee is crap.  IMO it's significantly better than instant, but no-where close to a skillfully made, freshly ground and high-pressure extracted coffee.  But anyhoo, that is going OT.

 

Per the OP my beef is with warranty support directive i was given by their national support number...it did not sit well with me...and as @Assisi and @sir sanders zingmore suggested i believe fair trading laws will require the "store of purchase" to assist me.  Kids' and boss' plans permitting i will try to visit the store this weekend and discuss.  I'm hoping a reasonable solution can be reached in person without any fuss...and i will report back to this thread for anypeeps interested in the OP.

 

Edited July 22, 20205 yr by 2Brix

3 hours ago, eman said:

Stovetop.

 

No stupid machinery, no pollution, still real coffee.

+1

 

But I'm assuming that the pod thing has you in its grip.

LOL...hardly...but since Santa delivered it but 19 months ago i do want to get a little more use out of it (otherwise that would be wasteful). 

 

And if i elaborate on "we don't drink a lot of coffee at home" that literally equates to 4 cups by me over the weekend, my wife barely uses at all she makes beautiful broadleaf tea, and another few cups when coffee drinking friends drop by...so around 1 cup per day (7 cups per week).  Doubtless i'm hell-bound anyway but I'd think that amount of "pollution" would pale into insignificance to other luxuries in my (our) lives eh?  Let he/she/non-identifying without pollution cast the first stone.

Edited July 23, 20205 yr by 2Brix

Well for anypeeps even remotely interested ? i dropped into the store this morning and the manager was brilliant...calm, patient and professional.  We tested and confirmed the machine is malfunctioning on the coffee+milk sides and manager said she will handle the "send away and repair" logistics.  She commented that my machine looked brand new (which was nice to hear, i do take good care of descaling, cleaning etc).

 

Anyways by early in the week i should have feedback on the estimated turnaround time.  

45 minutes ago, 2Brix said:

Well for anypeeps even remotely interested ? i dropped into the store this morning and the manager was brilliant...calm, patient and professional.  We tested and confirmed the machine is malfunctioning on the coffee+milk sides and manager said she will handle the "send away and repair" logistics.  She commented that my machine looked brand new (which was nice to hear, i do take good care of descaling, cleaning etc).

 

Anyways by early in the week i should have feedback on the estimated turnaround time.  

sounds like a good result in the end 

On 22/07/2020 at 1:19 PM, 2Brix said:

Aldi machine seems the obvious choice (need to check i can get locally) but any others you have experience with?

 

The low-cost Aldi machine I have has been rock solid and never fails to produce a great cup of coffee.  Always good crema which is important.  Large range of coffee types available, and quite a few suit my tastes very well.    Not sure how the high prices of others is justified.

 

When I say the coffee is good, I am comparing it to previous manual espresso machines I have owned, and also many coffee shops I frequent.  There's no need to be make excuses for what the Aldi machine produces - it IS good.

 

 

For such light coffee use I'm surprised you'd bother with a machine.  I have used those pods in various office situations and whilst convenient, they don't match a real brew.

 

A coffee plunger is cheap and (this is the critical part) provided you dose the amount of coffee correctly it makes a great brew. Buy a bag of beans (much cheaper than pods and much better quality coffee) and a grinder and grind freshly for each use. Stove top ones are great too but arguably a little fiddlier.

 

Of course if you want to stick with the machine, your choice 

5 minutes ago, lemarquis said:

For such light coffee use I'm surprised you'd bother with a machine.  I have used those pods in various office situations and whilst convenient, they don't match a real brew.

 

A coffee plunger is cheap and (this is the critical part) provided you dose the amount of coffee correctly it makes a great brew.

 

Having tried a friend's Nespresso, I can sympathise with what you are saying, and if that's all that could be attained by pods, I would agree, but the Aldi one I have makes a brew that's exactly like, and as good as, a proper espresso.  Only the very best coffee shops with great barristas can do better IMHO.

 

7 minutes ago, lemarquis said:

Buy a bag of beans (much cheaper than pods and much better quality coffee) and a grinder

Also the Aldi pods contain damn good coffee with great flavour.  Geez I sound like an ad for Aldi  sorry

9 minutes ago, aussievintage said:

 

Having tried a friend's Nespresso, I can sympathise with what you are saying, and if that's all that could be attained by pods, I would agree, but the Aldi one I have makes a brew that's exactly like, and as good as, a proper espresso.  Only the very best coffee shops with great barristas can do better IMHO.

 

Also the Aldi pods contain damn good coffee with great flavour.  Geez I sound like an ad for Aldi  sorry

Coincidentally, I bought my SS (that's stainless steel ) coffee plunger from Aldi!

Edited July 27, 20205 yr by lemarquis

54 minutes ago, aussievintage said:

Having tried a friend's Nespresso, I can sympathise with what you are saying, and if that's all that could be attained by pods, I would agree, but the Aldi one I have makes a brew that's exactly like, and as good as, a proper espresso.  Only the very best coffee shops with great barristas can do better IMHO.

With respect, you are mistaken. We've owned an Aldi machine at our office and it was no different than the Nespresso, just cheaper to buy and use. We now have a small nespresso that lives in our caravan. It keeps the wife happy but I still take a manual grinder and stove top espresso machine with me, as apposed to a moka pot.

 

No pod machine can come close to a decent extraction from a proper espresso machine. Perhaps you use so much milk that the difference is not readily noticeable. Try an espresso shot from each machine without milk and differences will become clear. Pods are convenient and have their place for those more interested in a coffee flavored beverage more so than a proper coffee. Ground coffee goes stale very quickly, even in those foil rapped pods. I used to buy whole beans from a local roaster who also had his beans ground into pods. His full beans ground by me and put through a decent espresso machine leave the pods for dead

Edited July 27, 20205 yr by blybo

People who compare pod machines to real  bean machines don’t have a clue as to who the market for pod machines is catering for. And that’s people that don’t care one iota as to how good you can get a proper machine to make coffee. It’s great you can make great coffee, here’s a medal for you, so leave the pod machine people alone to enjoy what they like. This argument is as mundane as a cable discussion. 
 

Im going to McDonald’s for dinner, sure I could go get a $60 steak, but hey, both have their place in this world. 

Edited July 27, 20205 yr by Sime

3 minutes ago, Sime said:

Don’t follow this advice, you will be wasting your time. The only way to get an Nespresso machine serviced under warranty is through Nespresso. It is what it is, no point complaining about it. 
I’ve been using Nespresso since 1999, and have have a few service situations, they do a good job, just go through the process. 

He's not wasting his time. That is the law. Nespresso has no binding contract with the end user... unless bought directly from them. As the OP has already stated, the store has done the right thing and are handling his claim for him, as consumer law dictates.

 

Nespresso may attempt to deal directly with the consumer for 2 reasons. 1; to lessen the obligations on behalf of the retailers... or 2; to get the consumers details and deal directly with them in future. It is not how the law operates but suits Nespresso's direct to the public business model.

 

 

@blybo, I edited my post, because I had then read his retailer is helping him, even though the retailer will be doing exactly what the customer would have done, dealing with Nespresso directly. 
 

My last post, I’m not getting into another drawn out discussion with you. Period. 
 

 

I really don't get the anti pod snobbery by those who demand manual everything when making coffee, but the real irony is that many of those people drink Lan Choo or Bushells tea and generic tea bags from  the supermarket.

 

My point? Everybody is guilty of snobbery about some things sometimes.

 

?

 

 

Edited July 27, 20205 yr by rantan

16 minutes ago, Sime said:

@blybo, I edited my post, because I had then read his retailer is helping him, even though the retailer will be doing exactly what the customer would have done, dealing with Nespresso directly. 
 

My last post, I’m not getting into another drawn out discussion with you. Period. 
 

 

I was not playing the man. Simply what you said was not legally correct. I supply goods as a retailer and as a wholesaler. I have to know consumer law as part of my job.

1 minute ago, rantan said:

I really don't get the anti pod snobbery by those who demand manual everything when making coffee, but the real irony is that many of those people drink Lan Choo or Bushells tea and generic tea bags from  the supermarket.

 

?

 

 

It's not snobbery to my mind. I drink straight espresso, and the facts are the facts. I'd rather have no coffee than an espresso from a pod machine. As I already said, if you dilute the extraction with enough milk, the taste differences are less pronounced and good enough for many people. It's a bit like snobbery towards Sonos or other portable speakers. Just because many are happy with them does not make them inferior to a decent hifi.