Is a premium brand like Smeg / Bosch worth it.

To whom it may concern.

My grip today is the after sales server and costs of repairs on premium appliances.

We have had a SMEG retro toaster for about 3 years . ( stop being cheap and buy a good brand as there are just 2 of us) It did what it was supposed to do for a while which was toast bread. (although if you used light toaster bread it shot it out the kitchen window) .

It firstly started to toast lighter on the inside element. ( which having spoken to people appears to be a common problem) . A few weeks ago it stared tripping the earth leakage when you push the lever down. We contacted SMEG and sent the toaster in to be assessed. We were told that that the toaster is non repairable as the element has gone. And that they would replace it for R1500.

That is half the cost of a R3000 toaster. The SMEG did nothing special other than look good and have the magic 4 letters on it. (And some excersise going outside to fetch the toaster bread) We pulled out the 10 year old 4 slice Russel Hobbs family toaster popped it in and away it went . Both sides pop up within seconds of each other toasted on both sides. We had a similar issue with a Bosch Fride. ( Freezer defrosting ) I was told that the compressor was damaged (Bosch guy put his ear to fridge) and that it would cost about R8000 to get a new compressor from the EU and replace. I got a local company (Non Bosch) to look at it they replaced the drier and re gassed and serviced for R2800 . That was 4 years ago and fridge still fine.

I am not looking for a freebee I just find the disposable thing a bit alarming. I now nicely ask the SMEG dish washer, kettle and gas hob not to follow in their cousins footsteps, ( Also that that they will land up on the junk heap if they misbehave) I shudder to think what the replacement / repair costs would be. If its disposable it should not be bandied as a premium brand.

Thank you.