Defective product-expired warranty

[Roadrunner53]

I bought some cast iron pans that are non stick with a special coating on them thru QVC. They were demo'd by a 'famous' chef.

I have enjoyed them and cared well for them. They are supposed to take 500 degree heat in the oven and only use lower to medium heat on the stovetop. I have never even used them in the oven, only stovetop. It is only two adults using this cookware and both of us are diligent on the use and care. No metal tools only plastic or silicone.

The 12 inch skillet had started to form small bubbles on the bottom of the skillet. I have been concerned for a while but they had not erupted. Well, I washed the pan two nights ago and sure enough, some of the bubbles now have cracked open and now the special coating is starting to peel. I called QVC last night and they looked up the warranty and it was only one year. I have had them about 1 year, 7 months. Needless to say, I am pissed off. The customer service person gave me a $10 credit for when I buy something else. REALLY! This pan cost me $45. Plus, they are still selling them! I looked at reviews of the pan and there are tons of bad reviews with the exact problem I have. This is obviously a very defective product!

The pan is now around $49 on QVC. I feel that this pan is defective and I should be compensated with a new pan but I don't know how to proceed to fight this! A cast iron pan with a non stick coating should last more than 19 months!

Anyone have any ideas or suggestions how I might fight this?

[Metalcat]

Not really.
Add to the bad reviews online, write a letter to the company, and post on the social media accounts of this celebrity.

Shitty products that fall apart after minimal use exist. If they fall apart after warranty, they've technically done nothing wrong.

All you can do is warn others and be annoying enough to get them to give you some "omg shut the fuck up" money.

[GuitarStv]

I think you expectations were too high.  All non stick pans are disposable and will lose their coating (becoming much worse to use than standard stainless steel ones) given regular use.  What you're experiencing is normal.  If you want long term reliable pans, get stainless steel or real cast iron.  If you want non-stick then keep replacing them regularly.

[JLee]

If it's actual cast iron, can you strip off the coating and season it for use as a traditional cast iron pan? I know it defeats the purpose, but at least you'd still get a pan out of it

[lhamo]

Did you use a credit card to purchase it?  Check and see if it automatically increases the warranty period -- many cards will tack on an extra year or two of warranty coverage.

[Roadrunner53]

Did you use a credit card to purchase it?  Check and see if it automatically increases the warranty period -- many cards will tack on an extra year or two of warranty coverage.

Yes, I did buy with credit card. I will check that out.

I may write a letter to QVC corporate. What really irks me is that there are so many of the same complaints as mine. They should not still be selling these with their track record of becoming defective. It is a very heavy cast iron pan. I have some other sizes of this same pan and so far, none of the others are defective. 

[Metalcat]

Did you use a credit card to purchase it?  Check and see if it automatically increases the warranty period -- many cards will tack on an extra year or two of warranty coverage.

Yes, I did buy with credit card. I will check that out.

I may write a letter to QVC corporate. What really irks me is that there are so many of the same complaints as mine. They should not still be selling these with their track record of becoming defective. It is a very heavy cast iron pan. I have some other sizes of this same pan and so far, none of the others are defective.

Do you use the other ones as much?

Is this experience really that surprising to you?
Maybe it's just that I'm a female with a lifetime of buying clothes, shoes, hair tools, cosmetics, and accessories that fall apart with a single or half dozen uses. I guess I'm just not that shocked by companies selling completely faulty goods.

Not that it's okay, but I'm just used to it.

[Roadrunner53]

Malcat, I try to buy quality items when I buy anything. I have bought junk products in the past and you get what you pay for. We probably do use the 12 inch skilled a lot more, but you have to remember, we are just two adults using the skillet a few times a week. We are not a restaurant, we don't take them camping, we are not careless and do stupid things like taking a hot skillet and sticking it under ice cold water, we don't cut meat in the skillet, we use silicone spatulas. We have treated these skillets like babies because we are contentious and want them to last.

I chalk it up to a junk product and it is really wrong with all the bad reviews that they are still selling a defective product.

No, I am not shocked and I too have bought things for a lifetime with some bad outcomes. That is why I try to only buy good stuff! I bought a Black and Decker crockpot at the beginning of this year and used it a few times and it was not heating correctly. High temp was low. I did get my money back on that because it was still under warranty.

I don't think we should feel it is okay to buy something and have it self destruct in a short time of use. We shouldn't just shrug our shoulders and say 'oh well'. If we consumers don't fight for better quality of products all we will get is junk.

[Metalcat]

I'm not saying it's okay. I specifically said that in my post.

I was sharing my experience of this happening constantly with women's products, and not cheap garbage, I had a thousand dollar pair of shoes break after 3 uses.

I'm not okay with it, I'm just used to it.

[Roadrunner53]

I am not okay with it and I will never get used to it. I know things only last so long but like your high heels, they should last more than 3 uses. 

[rantk81]

I've been screwed over countless times by companies.  (We probably all have...) In the grand scheme of things, $45 isn't that much.  Yes it sucks, but IMO, definitely not worth letting it raise your blood pressure and getting angry about.

One of the nice "perks" of having FU/FI money is, things like this, while definitely suck, aren't going to ruin your budget.

Just add all companies involved (QVC, that "chef", the manufacturer, etc) to your "never do business with again" list. I keep a list of such companies that are "dead to me permanently."

[GuitarStv]

Dear antimustachian wall of shame . . .

I had a thousand dollar pair of shoes

:P

[Metalcat]

Dear antimustachian wall of shame . . .

I had a thousand dollar pair of shoes

:P

Barf, yeah, that was in a past life.
But I can say from experience that a lot of very expensive designer stuff is flimsy garbage.

[jinga nation]

Dear antimustachian wall of shame . . .

I had a thousand dollar pair of shoes

:P

Barf, yeah, that was in a past life.
But I can say from experience that a lot of very expensive designer stuff is flimsy garbage.

I went once with my wife to a store that sells secondhand (sorry, lightly used) designer, "high-end" clothing. My wife spent 10 minutes in there and asked why is the stuff either too flimsy, or too much shiny shit, or too whack. She asked if they had anything normal, like stitched well. The staff took her to one side and nicely said we're in the wrong store with "this place is for people with more money than brains who want to look cool with last season's NY fashion". Nice staff, wish I was a flea on the wall there.

[Roadrunner53]

I've been screwed over countless times by companies.  (We probably all have...) In the grand scheme of things, $45 isn't that much.  Yes it sucks, but IMO, definitely not worth letting it raise your blood pressure and getting angry about.

One of the nice "perks" of having FU/FI money is, things like this, while definitely suck, aren't going to ruin your budget.

Just add all companies involved (QVC, that "chef", the manufacturer, etc) to your "never do business with again" list. I keep a list of such companies that are "dead to me permanently."

rantk81, yes this famous chef is on my never buy again list and is dead to me!

I am already shopping for a new preseasoned, Lodge brand 12" skillet. Home Depot has one for under $20 and has rave reviews. We shall see!

[ericrugiero]

I've been screwed over countless times by companies.  (We probably all have...) In the grand scheme of things, $45 isn't that much.  Yes it sucks, but IMO, definitely not worth letting it raise your blood pressure and getting angry about.

One of the nice "perks" of having FU/FI money is, things like this, while definitely suck, aren't going to ruin your budget.

Just add all companies involved (QVC, that "chef", the manufacturer, etc) to your "never do business with again" list. I keep a list of such companies that are "dead to me permanently."

rantk81, yes this famous chef is on my never buy again list and is dead to me!

I am already shopping for a new preseasoned, Lodge brand 12" skillet. Home Depot has one for under $20 and has rave reviews. We shall see!

These are more work to clean and maintain but should last you the rest of your life if cared for properly.