Need a new microwave

kimba88 on 23/08/2014 - 18:25

Hi guys,

I'm after a new microwave. My parents have just renovated the kitchen and I thought it would be a nice touch with a new microwave. Their current one is a couple of years old from aldi and the turning plate doesn't spin.

I'm not sure what good microwaves are out there or what price I should pay. I don't want to pay too much though. I did see a thread on here recommending to go for a Panasonic.

Any views on what type and any good bargains, would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance :-)

Home & Garden

Comments

Davo1111 on 23/08/2014 - 19:01

We bought a panasonic from appliances online. Does the job

The only downside is it has this stupid "cool down" mode after the countdown, you can't stop. So read the reviews and find one that doesn;t have that feature
- kimba88 on 25/08/2014 - 19:14
  
  Can you still take out your food while its cooling down or will it break the microwave?
  - kingsville on 25/08/2014 - 19:26
    
    +1
    
    Yes - you can open the door and take out the food. The microwave then continues to 'cool down' when you reshut the door.
    
    We have a Panasonic inverter model and it does this - annoying at first now less so.
    
    I highly recommend getting a model with an inverter - reheated chicken tastes significantly better!
    - Davo1111 on 25/08/2014 - 20:20
      
      +1
    - kimba88 on 25/08/2014 - 20:37
      
      I'll definitely keep that in mind! I reheat chicken a lot!
RockyRaccoon on 24/08/2014 - 15:37

Panatech sell refurbished Panasonic microwaves on ebay or at their Rydalmere centre (tuggerah also)

ph 9687 7771 (More details in this post - https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/80905

Have bought a number of different panasonic phones and 2 panasonic microwaves in the past from them and havent had any issues

They also have an ebay store

BTW you can download Panasonic manuals by google search, so you can see features clearly on each type of product.

The cool down function is important to clear out condensation prolonging the life of the unit. Its no so bad when you realise you can take things out before the "cool down" and the unit will continue after the item is removed. That is its not the item that is cooled down its the unit. Having had a microwave where the door rusted due to condensation I appreciate this "feature".

However as Davo said it can be annoying and my door rusted after 5 years of use.

The one I bought was $99 1000w inverter model.
Hipmumma on 24/08/2014 - 15:46

You could try the kogan convection/grill microwave, my mum bought one for $119 when they had free shipping and so far so good :)
kimba88 on 24/08/2014 - 21:47

Thanks for all your suggestions so far. I didn't even know a company like Panatech existed. Are these microwaves that people have used and had problems with and Panatech have then fixed them up to resell them? I would prefer a stainless steel look one though.

I'm not sure i like the Kogan one. Possible looking for something slightly bigger.
- RockyRaccoon on 25/08/2014 - 07:46
  
  From the two I bought over time, I found they work fine. So if they were faulty they were repaired.
  
  But most times these are buyer "remorse" (or Ozbargainers "better deal" returns)
  
  With many stores offering return if not satisfied - no questions asked, where do these returns go? They get repacked and sold as "refurbished". Not satisfied means you found the price cheaper elsewhere so you return and buy another one. Or when you got it home it didnt fit the bench etc.
  
  So refurbished can be a simple return or a faulty item returned. They are retested and then are resold through seconds stores like panatech. You get a warranty, sometimes 3 months other times 12 months.
  
  In some cases there is no box, or manual depending on how it was returned. But in those cases you may find the price is cheaper. For example panatech had some cheap portable phones shrink wrapped with no manual for as low as $5 each but these had no rechargeable batteries supplied so you would buy those elsewhere. The one I bought was $15 and had more features with answering machine and batteries.
  
  They also have a lot of cheap junk on sale which is ebay china stores compatible :) I'd skip that.
  
  If you want to save, units without manuals are cheaper, and you can download the manual in PDF format from panasonic sites (worldwide), just search the model number and add .pdf
  
  When I bought my last unit a few months ago they had stainless steel ones. They also have stainless fronted ones which were cheaper. I bought the plain white one which was cheaper still.
  - kimba88 on 25/08/2014 - 19:17
    
    Thanks for the info. They don't have too many on their ebay store at present, but i did call them today and they said they added another microwave today. It's "B grade". Should you view the product before risking to buy a B grade item? It's this one http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/PANASONIC-1100W-32L-STAINLESS-STE…
    Not sure if it's a great price or not.. considering the deal that was posted 2years ago for the 44L Inverter microwave.
    
    To be honest, i'm not set on just Panasonic.. but did read they were pretty reliable. Are there any other similar good factory 2nd stores that provide good microwaves at cheap prices?
seii on 29/08/2014 - 10:45

contemplating getting this… hoping for a major sale to come on so i can get a new toaster, kettle and microwave!! :o

http://www.appliancesonline.com.au/samsung-microwave-me1113t…
kimba88 on 07/09/2014 - 11:35

Ended up giving my dad a new microwave for fathers day! Got this one http://www.harveynorman.com.au/panasonic-nn-sd691s-32l-inver… from Panatech for $150. It was $169 - $179 originally, but as i went in and paid through them rather than ebay, she was happy to discount it more as she wasn't paying ebay seller fees. I did have to go back a couple of times though, as the first one she showed me had scratches on it. The second one she showed me had food in it. I ended up going with the third one and the book looked slightly damaged and the microwave may have been used a couple of times, if any at all. So i recommend for you to go there and check out stock if you are going to buy from there, as i didn't want anything with scratches on it, especially if i was paying for 'A grade' price.

Need a new microwave

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