Sunbeam Fresh Start 4 Slice Toaster TAM1003SS

It just isn't made to last. The first one broke in a few weeks, we had it replaced, it then broke again a few weeks later. We have had to constantly do minor repairs to keep it running. It finally broke beyond repair, we not interested in getting another replacement so have purchased another brand All 3 times it has broken, the lever has broken meaning you are unable to start the toasting mechanism. Show details

Broke after one use. Internal bar is bent and detached preventing the lever from going down. Love the visual design but unfortunately will be returning. Show details

Looks great, smooth modern lines and functionality. Internal mechanical design flawed and light weight materials used. Elevation bar only fixed at one end and is easily displaced when using with smaller slices ! Avoid as you will be sadly disappointed and looking for an alternative in the near future. Overall assessment: it’s rubbish! Show details

Very slow toaster – Lousy toaster from the beginning Doesn't toast evenly and is very slow. The hold down latch is fickle.Waste of money. Show details

Poor design, dangerous and dead after only one year – This review updated after 1 year. The problems with the 'hi rise' mentioned below a key issue. Every time I used the toaster, I burnt my fingers having to jostle the toast out. The lift caused the whole toaster to lift up making it unstable and even more difficult to retrieve the finished product. The lift lever is small and does not lift… Read more

high enough, even if the whole toaster was not lifting off the bench.

A week or so back, the lift lever separated and the hi rise no longer worked. The only way to get the toast out was to turn the unit off and hold upside down.

Then the next time I used it, I discovered the lift did not lock down and so you had to hold it down while your bread toasted.

The next time again, the lift lever came away and was not longer functional so the elements no longer came on. That is, the toaster now failed completely.

This after only 12 months. As per my comments below this type of technology, at this price should be expected to last for many, many years.

Whether or not, the manufacturer's warranty still applies or not, the unit does not meet the standards referred to under the Australian Consumer Law. It is clearly 'not fit for purpose' and has sustained a 'major failure'. So when I contact Sunbeam on Monday morning, I expect no argument with the unit being replaced...hopefully with one that is safer and not dangerous to use.

Oringal review as follows... Bought this four slice in a package with a Sunbeam kettle after several years of not having either due to disappointment with a run of very short-lived products.

Although a two slice guy, I found that most two slice machines too narrow for toasting wider breads like sourdough. So now I can toast two slices without half sticking up out of the unit, but do not expect the four slice toaster to allow you to do four wide slices. It won't.

I find the exterior of the toaster heats up to an uncomfortable level. This makes using the 'hi rise' to lift toast up out of the unit difficult as the extra lift is not sufficient to bring wider slices of toast up high enough out of the unit resulting in burnt fingers. Using the high lift also lifts the toaster up off the bench making retrieval of wider slices that much more difficult and painful.

Toasting preferred sourdough is variable. I use the 'defrost' button as mostly I toast frozen bread, however find that it toasts unevenly both side to side (this can vary according how many slices and their placement in the slots) as well as overdoing the crust edge. It does not make much difference if the bread is fresh or the defrost button is off when using frozen product. Still overall it is better than using the griller to toast.

The 'quick check' function allows you to lift the toast up to check on progress and resume if necessary. It is useful and helps to avoid burnt toast, however the restricted movement of the 'high lift' makes it difficult to easily remove finished items.

Whether an expensive or budget model, toasters are a basic technology and should be capable of a robust and long life. The price makes it a good value toaster (burnt fingers aside) provided it does actually have a long and useful life in my kitchen. Some attention to the design flaws mentioned would have earned a higher rating.

Flimsy lever keeps breaking – Great looking toaster and toasts quite evenly but our first one broke on the first or second use. I assumed it was just faulty and took it back for a replacement but now that has broken the same way after 10 months. It only gets used between 2-4 times a week and I’m not heavy handed but both times the metal bracket that the push-down lever… Read more

attaches to either snapped or disconnected so the toast doesn’t “click” down. After this experience, I won’t be replacing it with another Sunbeam.

Eating more toast than ever – I love the shape of the practical long slots. I really like the curved edges, the contrast of the metal against the mirror finish modern and visually delightful and I particularly like my environment reflected in the toaster (like the kettle) that reminds me of a cinematic vision. The instruction manual is easy to follow plus the labeled dials and settings. Show details

Function and style together! – I received the toaster as a gift from my friend along with the kettle. Both look great in my kitchen, such great duo. At first, I thought 6 was the medium cooking - burnt some bread but then realised that level was for frozen slices - which then I tried again and worked perfectly. For everyday use level 2 and 3 is great. Its fast and perfect level of crunchiness and softness. Show details

Looks good and cooks better – Never knew how much I needed a 4 slice toaster till I got one. So nice to be able to make two toasted sandwiches without having to wait for the other one. I got this with the kettle and they both look great, really happy with them Show details

Lovely toasting at a reasonable price – We've had three $100+ toasters die in the last 4 years so this time I decided to go for a toaster that was reasonably priced but can cook evenly and so far this toaster achieves that. It makes very nice toast with no burnt spots. The 4 slots are a bit small if you have a normal loaf of bread. I can't comment on the longevity yet but hopefully we get more than 2 years out of it... As the saying goes - they don't make things like they used to! Show details ·  1