Rowenta Steam Generator $200 iron
Pros:
The steam generator is great for bulk ironing.
Cons:
Rowenta's disinterest in repair quality and service from their authorized repair centers are deal breakers.
The Bottom Line:
An investment in an iron that is this high should have quality service centers and customer support from the company (Rowenta). Service is a major deal breaker.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
I purchased a Rowenta steam generator iron about four years ago for $200. It is the one with the container for 1/2 gal of water. I do a lot of ironing at one time, though not very often. The iron is used about once a month.
I love the iron. I can iron several hours at a time without refilling the water for the steam. Because the water is held in a container that stays on the floor, it is the lightest iron I have ever encountered. Because the steam is on demand, the iron can be set at a lower temperature for maximum pressing. A pants crease comes out as crisp as the military would ever want!
The iron fell off the ironing board on to a thickly carpeted floor and started leaking. I have had less expensive irons fall more severely and have no damage. There were no marks or cracks in the iron and everything else was in good order. I hand carried it to Authorized Service Center in Downers Grove, Il. I also marked all the parts with my last initial as recommended by a comment on a web site. The person received an iron back with used covers in disrepair that were not her own from another Rowenta service center.
My repair bill and shipping was $127.
I received my iron back by UPS and it was packed well. However, the casing of the generator was severely cracked (it was the one I sent in with my initial). The cracked case poses a safety issue. This was not how they received it. I called the repair center and was told that this was how it came in, though the said that if it had been brought in that way, it would have been noted on the receipt. It was not on the receipt, though other small scratches were noted. Then, I was told in a very nasty way that I could send it back and for a service fee of an additional $60 plus parts they would fix it. With shipping, this repair would have cost an additional $167.
The customer service dept at Rowenta suggested that I call the owner of Authorized Appliance and speak with him. He never returned my calls. I called Rowenta again and they said that they could give me a $25 certificate toward a new model of the steam generator. So, it would only be $175 for a replacement unit. It would have been better to spend my $127 toward a new iron.
I love the iron and highly recommend the unit. However, when a $200 investment is made in an appliance like an iron, I expect better durability and better service. I cannot in full conscious, recommend a product this costly because the company's service suppliers and the company's after sale support are so poor.
