Cuisinart Popcorn Maker

[countryguy]

Awhile ago there was a thread about his popcorn maker. It sounded interesting and since I had enough Air Mile reward points, I decided to purchase one. I got it about a month ago and have used it twice. Yesterday I had to send it back for repair/replacement as the heating/stirring part that sits on the base will no longer snap into place. It appears a plastic piece where the prongs connect has broken. Why that piece would be plastic when it is a part that would get a lot of use is beyond me. Having read the instruction manual, I knew how to put the pieces together carefully however my ex, after unloading the dishwasher, did not and I think he tried to force the 2 pieces together. Anyway, it cost me $27 to ship it back plus I had to enclose a cheque for $10 to cover return shipping. Why it cost me $27 and will only cost Cuisinart $10 to ship it back is another mystery.

Gary

 

[sudsmaster]

Operator error

My first one also broke at the clamps, as I detailed in the other thread. I returned it to the local Costco and got a replacement. The replacement has been fine. Turns out that I had been loading it in the dishwasher wrong - I had positioned it with the clamps sticking out to the sides, and one clamp was getting hit by the side of the dishwasher as the rack was pushed in. Since then I've been careful not to do that (I position it with the clamps up and down) and haven't had any problem.

 

[petek]

You shoulda gone to Walmart and bought the original WestBend Stir Crazy popcorn maker for about $39 Cdn of which the Cuisinart is a cheap imitation LOL

I hate to say it but Cuisinart appliances (now owned by ConAir) are for the most part the worst quality products being put out there.

 

[sudsmaster]

Um, I've seen the Stir Crazy and while it may be more robust than the Cuisinart, you can't just stick the hot plate into the dishwasher... or can you? You can with the Cuisinart...

Anyway, I'm thinking the hot plate to base clamp failure is due to improper dishwasher loading... if my experience is any guide, that is... Since then, no problems.

As for Cuisinart stuff being general trash... some of their stuff is lightweight, I agree. I wouldn't buy one of their blenders, for example. But they do make good coffee makers, esp the latest thermal grind and brew (but expensive: $240). And they more or less invented the home food processor.

 

[countryguy]

I also have a Cuisinart coffee maker, toaster oven, and food processor and like them all. My popcorn maker did not break where the clamps are - it broke where the prongs for the heating element are inserted into the base. The prongs push on a piece of plastic and it is that plastic that broke preventing the prongs to be fully inserted.

Gary

 

[sudsmaster]

Broken electric prongs...

Haven't seen that happen. I imagine it might happen if the heating plate unit was forced down on the base without being properly aligned first. Generally I gently "feel" for the prongs to be centered in back before pressing down. Since the alignment mark is in the back, I can see how misalignment can happen (and it's something I've seen on-line customer reviews of the unit complain about). I could see that if someone was impatient then too much stress might be place on the prongs. I hate it when that happens

There may also have been mfg changes to various models as they have gone on. Maybe the one I have has beefed up prongs. Not sure. They seem solid to me but I haven't stressed them to find out...

 

[countryguy]

Well it was the ex that tried to force the heating plate unit onto the base not knowing that there was a correct way for it to be done.

Gary

 

[sudsmaster]

It can be a bit tricky to align the prongs. I may eventually put a hash mark on the front of the popper hot plate and on the base to facilitate the process. Why Cuisinart decided to put the hash mark on the back is a mystery. The problem would be finding a way to mark the hot plate that won't wash off in the dishwasher.

 

[countryguy]

Yes a hash mark on the front would definitely help a lot. Maybe an engraving tool would do the job?

Gary

 

[sudsmaster]

An engraved line might be hard to see... what is really needed is a permanent light colored line. Something that probably would have to be melted into the plastic of the base and the hot plate assembly. And it would probably have to be something other than white, so that it could be distinguished from the existing rear hash marks.

 

[countryguy]

Based on the tracking number, Cuisinart received my popcorn maker last Tues. but so far haven't heard anything back from them.

Gary