 Poor Quality and Poor Customer Care |
| Review Date: September 3, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Ginger, |
| Bought one on sale at Tesco. Quit working after 6 months. Free replacement provided by Pulse Home Products Ltd.(designer and main distributer)which lasted 15 months. Declared irrepareable by Pulse and out of warranty so no replacement. After complaining about their response I was offered a new one for £50.00. I don't think so. Quality and customer care a real issue. |
Three years on...still going strong!
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| Review Date: August 13, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Crow Jane, Essex, England |
First of all, I'm not going to dispute the less favourable reviews left here by other customers (well...); that is their experience and it's right that potential buyers should be warned about what could go wrong with this product. However, my own personal experience of the Brita Aqua Fountain is far removed from all those reports of leaky seals, dodgy electrics and paralysing air locks which can be found elsewhere on this page...
I suppose I must have been cherry-picked the very finest example that Breville has ever made, because after three years of continuous use it's still working faultlessly. Yes, that's right -- faultlessly. I can't believe it either; I'm always the one who gets sold the dud and has to spend what seems like hours on the phone trying to sort out the manufacturer's mess. But thankfully, not this time. I have no major complaints about this particular kitchen appliance; just pure, clean-tasting, perfectly chilled water.
I'll admit that the vast number of poor reviews nearly put me off of buying it, but I thought that it was worth the gamble just to eliminate the chore of bulk-buying bottled mineral water (and not to mention free up some space in my fridge), and it's not a decision I have regretted. There are three of us living here, and even though you have to keep an eye on things and make sure the fountain is regularly topped up, not one of us has had a problem with the temperature of the water and how long it has taken to cool -- the only gripe comes from someone who says the water gets a little too cold for her particular liking (sensitive teeth), but that just goes to show how you can't please all the people all the time! As far as air locks go, there's been a few, but none as serious as some other customers have described; the water just runs a little slower for a short while, but if you just keep pushing the lever it soon clears and returns to running like normal. And as for the alleged issue of "noise" -- WHAT noise!? I'd call it a sound, not a noise. The people who have complained about the Aqua Fountain being noisy must have a very nervous disposition indeed. They're probably the kind of people who complain about birdsong or the tinkling of wind chimes in the far distance...
On the negative side? The Maxtra cartridges are a little pricey, but you can normally find a special offer on at one of the supermarkets -- or alternatively buy them here! Changing them isn't one of my favourite jobs either (filling up, flushing out etc.) but it's only once a month. Apart from that, I would sometimes prefer a faster pouring speed, but at other times I'm glad I haven't flooded the kitchen worktop when my mind has wandered off elsewhere.
These little niggles have cost the Brita Aqua Fountain one star, but it still deserves every one of the four I have awarded it. All in all, I believe this has been a worthy investment which has probably saved me money and given the local landfill a few more months' worth of use! |
Cheaper ways to filter water
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| Review Date: August 12, 2010 |
| Reviewer: KMJ, |
| I bought a Brita Aqua Fountain Water Filter Chiller in August 2007. From the beginning the water was far from chilled, the best part of it was the blue neon lights that lit up the utility room! After a few months the unit broke down completely. I contacted Amazon and they replaced it immediately. The second unit worked ok for about a year (although the water was still not cold and it the pourer was very slow) before breaking down. By this stage the guarantee had run out. I paid full price for the 'chiller', it was an expensive mistake, I now keep filtered water in the fridge - much cheaper and much more effective. |
Not a good buy - high breakdown rate!
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| Review Date: July 7, 2010 |
| Reviewer: J. Smith, UK |
Having used a Brita jug and being a fan of Brita products, I was really looking forward to a relaxing chilled drink without the constant jug-refilling. The Aqua Filter looks fantastic in the kitchen with its fancy blue light. Now, if you want something that looks pretty in the kitchen, buy this. But, if you want something that works, don't buy this product!
Mine was a Christmas gift last year. It worked adequately for about 3 months but didn't really chill the water hugely, it simply cooled it slightly. I also wondered about the possibility of a Legionnaires' disease risk as the plastic water housing was constantly very warm indeed, constantly warming the water up top. I tolerated the noise (like a motor-bike revving each time it was switched on) and I tolerated the cooler-light ceasing to operate. But finally, when the water stopped chilling I decided to contact Brita who were very helpful but advised me to contact Breville, the manufacturers. Breville complained to me about Brita forwarding my custom to them and refused to assist in repair/product replacement without a valid proof of purchase, despite the product still being within its 1 year warranty. After advising the product was a gift, I received nothing but rudeness and was basically told "tough". In short, disappointing product and disappointing company to deal with! I only hope Breville's poor customer service doesn't reflect badly on Brita who do treat their customers with respect.
I have researched these products, since today's fun and games with Breville and many people have experienced issues, so I am not alone! I would strongly recommend purchasing an alternative product from an alternative company with better customer service!
Brita only support the filtration on this item and have nothing to do with mechanical break-downs, so be warned! Breville have simply dual-branded the product as it uses Brita filters - don't be fooled by this!
To summarise, a poorly manufactured product, not fit for purpose which may only work 6 months if you're lucky. If you do decide to risk a purchase on this, because they do look pretty in your kitchen, hang onto your receipt or whoever gifts you one of these machines, get their proof of purchase, as you're going to need it later and be prepared for a battle with Breville!!! I am not one to give negative feedback on products, but this is well deserved. |
The filter is Brita's only contribution.
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| Review Date: July 4, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Bob, |
Although it is marketed as Brita it actually is manufactured by Breville. It is available in white which I prefer and is actually cheaper. The filter is excellent providing clean fresh tasting water, however I agree with the other reviewers over the quality of the dispenser. From day one it was quite noisy and prone to airlocks which meant that it either had to be shaken or pressed on one side to make it dispense water. I did check with a spirit level to ensure that an inclined worktop was not the problem. The cooling was not impressive and although I did not measure the temperature it was only slightly below the ambient temperature. Eventually after about 18 months it got very noisy, stopped cooling and I threw it away.
I have now purchased a Russell Hobs version which is very quiet and dispenses water rapidly and seems much cooler and is cheaper, However I am on the second one of these so reliability is also an issue with these.
It is a pity as I prefered the taste of the Brita filtered water. |
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