Maker of Thermomix being sued by ACCC

[imastawka]

The consumer watchdog is suing the maker of the high-tech Thermomix cooking appliance for allegedly failing to report a number of serious burns from its devices by the required deadline.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has launched Federal Court action against the company.

ACCC acting chairwoman Delia Rickard said it was also alleged that Thermomix misled customers about their consumer guarantee rights about the appliance.

The kitchen devices are marketed as high-end kitchen products at a cost of more than $2,000.

Ms Rickard said it was alleged the company engaged in misleading conduct regarding the safety of the TM31 model, and there was concern around "misleading statements about the nature of a recall on the model that really downplayed the seriousness of the incident".

TM31 owners should look for the green seal.

Ms Rickard said it was important for people who have the Thermomix model TM31 to make sure they have a "green seal" and follow proper safety instructions.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-16/thermomix-being-sued-by-accc-over-failure-to-report-burns/8625...

[this-one-time-at-bandcamp]

We have a similar story, about an Innuit who came into an inheritance, and immediately bought a spendy snowmobile.  He ran it for 12 hours straight, then noticed leakage at the gearbox.  He got it to the mechanic, and watched as he checked it out, while wiping the frost from his moustache.  "You blew a seal," the mechanic said, to which the Innuit replied, "No, it's just frost".

[springyzone]

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@tasfleur wrote:

I also like the ME cooker and will probably end up with that one to experiment with too.  I don't mind that it has a food processor on board because I already have one (processor) that is separate anyway, and that suits me better.  The cost of the ME cooker is over the top I suspect because of the processor.

The idea of on board scales I would find a problem and a nuisance, prefer them alongside.

---

I've thought that, too. The cost of the Cook expert has been pushed up because it incorporates the food processor and like you, I already have one & prefer it separate anyway.

As for scales, I think separate scales are currently the way to go. If they develop a problem, easy to replace or fix.

I have a friend with TM5, the scales went out & it had to be sent off for repair under warranty. As she tells it, the scales are very sensitive and the slightest crumb under the machine can upset it, or the cord leaning against anything.

My sister though, on the other hand, says the inbuilt scales are the thing she loves about her thermie.

I think as technology improves, they may find a way to build in more robust scales, maybe ones that can click out of the unit easily if they ever need repair or recalibrating, leaving the unit still functional.

[azureline**]

My thermomix had a birthday 2 months ago, still working perfectly, no burns, no burned food either!

I believe the new sales figures are around 400,000 now. We have 6 Thermomixes in the immediate family and they are all happy too, I think only one has had to have the scales recalibrated, dropped off at 9, picked up at 1. 

I have to say, I use mine from 1 to 4 times a day, cooking meals, jams, cakes, breads, soups etc but I do love the curries it makes. 

Best decision ever!

[tasfleur]

That's a really good thought Springy, the scales being attached, yet able to be clicked out when not in use, you never know, that just might happen.

It's excellent that the costs are going down with the competition (and great quality standards) that has emerged.

It's nice too that getting one doesn't mean having to drag along to a demonstration only purchase system, I really dislike that kind of 'party' pressure, though I can understand why some people might like it for the social aspect as well.  We went to one for the sake of friends who were going along also, but we had no intention of actually buying it and made that very clear .. far too expensive.

Ultimately, I think I just might invest in the one I am trying out now, it works beautifully, high standard, half the cost and nothing dangerous ...   ... and the manufacturer/company appears to stand by the product.

[springyzone]

As far as I know, the thermie can only be bought via home demo.

I have been to 2 demos this year although i made it clear I wasn't in a position to buy. What intrigued me is the demo method has changed and the demonstrator was adamant that only 2 people besides the hostess could attend.

To me, that is a bit too black & white. i realise they only want a small group so everyone can see & have a turn using the thing but there needs to be the flexibility to cater for 3-5 adults.

The current method seems to be to have one guest prepare an entire dish, then swap with the next person for the next dish. That is okay in theory but what i noticed is when i was preparing, the other 2 lost interest and had a chat, one wandered off to look at something else in the kitchen etc. I used to teach and I understand the concept of hands on experience but you would never get just one child to do everything for 10-15 minutes, the rest of the class would switch off & I think adults can too.

I have an electric pressure cooker and I have got a pretty good recipe for curry-adapted it from a slow cooker recipe. I found I had to tweak the timing so it is a bit longer than instructions suggested but I've got it down pat now.

At the moment though I am not in a position to buy one of the thermo cookers, more's the pity!! Maybe in a yyear or so if I save up!

[tasfleur]

Springy, in the demonstration I went to, there were 8 people and out of those, only one person said that she would buy one "maybe" when she went home and thought about it more.   Whether she bought it, I don't know because I went with three others and didn't know anyone else as it was way out of our area.

Having only two people plus the hostess surprises me because the possibility of a sale would be low unless the guests had made overtures to buy beforehand?

On that day, our demonstrator did all the cooking and serving while we sat and watched and then went up to the table to get a closer look.

I must say I was most impressed with the chocolate custard, but at the same time, I could make that in my blender in three minutes flat, so I waited for her to make something more substantial, which she did and it was nice.

I have an electric pressure cooker also and can do an awful lot in it like you can yours. 

This TCC thermie I'm experimenting with now is proving to be fabulous and I think this is the way for us to go after two years (or more) of experimentation and research while waiting for the prices to drop and sales to start ... 

You might decide to end up with one, by then, they'll be much cheaper again and the selection will be bigger.

[azureline**]

---

@springyzone wrote:

As far as I know, the thermie can only be bought via home demo.

I have been to 2 demos this year although i made it clear I wasn't in a position to buy. What intrigued me is the demo method has changed and the demonstrator was adamant that only 2 people besides the hostess could attend.

To me, that is a bit too black & white. i realise they only want a small group so everyone can see & have a turn using the thing but there needs to be the flexibility to cater for 3-5 adults.

The current method seems to be to have one guest prepare an entire dish, then swap with the next person for the next dish. That is okay in theory but what i noticed is when i was preparing, the other 2 lost interest and had a chat, one wandered off to look at something else in the kitchen etc. I used to teach and I understand the concept of hands on experience but you would never get just one child to do everything for 10-15 minutes, the rest of the class would switch off & I think adults can too.

I have an electric pressure cooker and I have got a pretty good recipe for curry-adapted it from a slow cooker recipe. I found I had to tweak the timing so it is a bit longer than instructions suggested but I've got it down pat now.

At the moment though I am not in a position to buy one of the thermo cookers, more's the pity!! Maybe in a yyear or so if I save up!

---

I attended a demo without any pressure to buy, at all. There were 5 guests plus the hostess and the consultant.

The day after, 3 guests ordered one, I waited 2 weeks and had a demo with 8 guests, out of those, there were 5 purchases. A month later, 2 more ordered.

At no time was anyone asked to buy, we were asked if we wanted any more info or another personal demo.

My consultant lives nearby and is always available if need be but does keep us supplied with new recipes and ideas, special dietary requirements are her area of expertise, vegan, vegetarian, coeliac etc are so much easier.

My youngest daughter purchased hers without having a demo, is also now a consultant and in 6 months has sold about 20 machines. Her demos vary, from one person through to 8 at times.

It's not for everybody of course as we all have different ideas but for me, it was well worth the $

[springyzone]

The demos I attended, I have to say I was not put under pressure to buy, but I did think it was counter productive for the demonstrator to stipulate only 2 guests. I can understand they may not want a big group because everyone needs to see how the machine works, but a small group shouldn't hurt.

My sister & a friend have both bought and are fans too.

Me, I wouldn't mind a thermocooker but it won't be this year unfortunately & I am still mulling over some of the other brands such as cookexpert.

But maybe next year.........

[tasfleur]

The demos I attended, I have to say I was not put under pressure to buy, but I did think it was counter productive for the demonstrator to stipulate only 2 guests. I can understand they may not want a big group because everyone needs to see how the machine works, but a small group shouldn't hurt.

Springy, we weren't pressured to buy either (not that I would ever buckle under any kind of purchasing pressure anyway), but the pressure I was referring to was that of having to be at that kind of 'party' plan, it's something I really don't like doing.

Nice if the product can be bought outside of that over and above what the company would prefer, that's the way I would go if I wanted to buy such a thing.

The cookexpert will be the next one I will be experimenting with, but at this stage, I'm thinking I'll go with the one I have here, it's become a part of the kitchen well and truly now and I love working with it.

The cookexpert is great too, very high standard and an equal to the one I have now.

I'd be interested to know what you eventually choose in the future.

[tasfleur]

Getting back on the topic of Thermomix being sued by the ACCC and those who have been seriously injured, it's disappointing what the company did to try to discredit and make those injured seem somehow to blame for what went wrong.

Hopefully, the new model will prove over time to be safe and the company turn itself around in terms of vastly improved customer relations/behaviour.

Sales figures mean nothing other than money if at the end of the day, there is no responsibility, so one can only hope that huge lessons have been learned about business acumen, customer support and appropriate spontaneous solutions by such companies who must be seen to uphold safety concerns as top priority, as well as to the law.

It's not what goes wrong ultimately, it how it's dealt with.   Respect, compassion, morality, ethics and working quickly to solve the problem of the product and the customers goes a long way towards putting everything right from the very beginning.