My goal is a life of minimalism, but on occasion, when vital appliances are in disrepair, we are forced to replace them. Shopping is one of my least favorite activities. But when it has to be done, so be it!

This month my reliable toaster-oven of many years gave its last gasp and died. That model had a 30 inch cord. In my small kitchen with limited counter-space, the cord length was just right to reach the wall outlet.

So, when the same-model appliance that I had ordered from the manufacturer arrived at my doorstep, I was disappointed to see that the cord on this new one measured a mere 24 inches. A little research revealed that manufacturers of the lower-priced models have decided to economize by supplying a shorter cord. What a nuisance! 

I had to re-package the item into the shipping carton, stuff back the despicable and non-environmentally friendly styrofoam, drive to a shipping company, wait in line, and obtain a receipt.

Back to the drawing board. Given the constraint of the location of my kitchen outlet, I had no choice but to buy a model with a longer cord, since use of an extension cord is a hazard.

Lo and behold! It turns out there is a toaster-oven endowed with a longer cable, but it’s double the price. This time, I ordered from a local store, not from the manufacturer.

The new, expensive toaster-oven appeared at my doorstep a couple of days later. Optimistically, I opened that box, and was relieved indeed that the cord was the desired length.

I sat down to educate myself on the intricacies of this new gadget. Unlike the cheaper model, this one came with a manual. It was printed in tiny letters (made in China, of course) and had to be read with a magnifying glass. 


Once I was satisfied that I understood all the ins and outs of this machine, I started to assemble the components. There was a removable crumb tray designed to slide-in at the bottom of the toaster-oven, allowing the door to open at a 90-degree angle.

However, much to my annoyance, the crumb-tray refused to be fully inserted, as designed. This prevented the door from opening, so that the whole appliance was rendered useless! By this time, I was ready to smash the metallic box against the wall!

But since I wanted a refund, I patiently re-packaged all the components neatly into the box, using the ubiquitous styrofoam as “book-ends” to protect the appliance from further harm. 

Then I placed it in the car and drove to the store’s returns location. This time there was no line at all, and the transaction proceeded smoothly. In total, I had spent a good chunk of the afternoon trying to make sense of the technology. 

Now it’s back to Square One: Order the same model online, and pray that this time, I may be fortunate enough to get a toaster-oven that assembles properly and functions!

Who says that time is a harbinger of progress? Where, oh where, are the good ole days of quality control?

By Ruth R. © 2024