Black & Decker D2030 Auto-Off Digital Advantage Iron
by Black & Decker
|
List Price: Our Price: $39.99 You Save: $25.00 (38%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $33.99 (click here) Category: Home See more product details |
|---|
Tools and Hardware Reviews of Black & Decker D2030 Auto-Off Digital Advantage Iron
Customer Review: Shame on You Black & Decker
Summary: 1 Stars
I purchased this iron in October of 2006 primarily because of the high ratings it received from other customers. I received the iron from Amazon and was initially very impressed with the iron and it's product features. However, every time I ironed, the soleplate would build up a dark brown scorched residue that immediately began staining my clothes. I followed the manufacturers instructions and wiped clean with a plain moist cloth, but the next time around...same problem.
I called Black & Deckers "Help" Line and was connected with a Representative who listened to the problem and presumed that my iron must be defective and would gladly exchange it for the exact same model. I followed her instructions including sending in a portion of the plug, a letter addressing the malfunction, and a check for $7.50 to cover S&H. By the way, I was very polite and understanding throughout, these things happen.
About 3 weeks later, I received a "new" iron on my doorstep. No outer packaging, just the iron with a shipping label affixed, in a crumpled box. Not my original iron,, by the way. Not only is it not the original iron, but this model has about half the satisfaction ratings the original model had. Many complaints of leaking. To make matters worse, it looks like it has either been used or reconditioned. There is a large chip in the side soleplate, and scuff marks all over the bottom. Naturally, I called B&D and was informed that they are allowed to "substitute" a model if the original one is not available. I quickly responded that this was never conveyed to me in our initial conversation (Honest!!). B&D proceeded to tell me that should I wish to return it again, both the return and re-shipment will be at my expense. What if I want to try it out, but then decide I don't like it? Well, then I'm totally out of luck. It must be returned in the original packaging and in the condition I originally received it, as bad as it is. Once it's used, I forfeit the whole deal.
A big company like Black & Decker should not be playing these kind of games. I purchased this iron in good faith, and I do believe there was a defect of some sort with my original iron, but don't tell me you're going to send the same one and then replace it with an inferior model. Oh, I plan to try to use the replacement, but if I'm disappointed, I'll go back to the Rowenta Models. Stick with what you know and trust. I thought that was what I was doing when I purchased this Black & Decker. Never again!!
Customer Review: We Have a Winner!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have had a high end Sears iron, a lesser B&D, a really cheap Sunbeam, one that was mid-priced and so bad I gave it away to a rummage sale in the original box a week later. I also tried out a Rowena for a couple of day's that belonged to family member. The Sears and the lesser B&D just stopped heating within a year.
The first iron I bought was the cheep sunbeam that had great steam and a metal sole plate with a non stick surface the worked good, the trouble was it shut off every 15 min. no matter what you did and if you weren't paying any attention it dumped water all over the garment, but I would tell myself "Hey for 14.95 not a bad iron."
The next was the Sears and it had too little steam and the sole plate was stainless steal that would muck up with, who knows what, and I was cleaning it every two weeks. I had to scratch the surface to get the crud off. It then stopped heating 3 months later. No receit...a loss.
The lesser B@D had great steam, but the same problem with the sole plate. I believe, either the grade of stainless steal. or the fact that both irons (Sears and the lesser B&D) had low points on the sole plate making a spot for the crud to stay in was the reason for this. At any rate it died 4 months later... Another loss.
The one I gave away had more problems than I can list, and I was not impressed with the Rowena let alone at the price.
So I did more research and found this B&D model D2320. It does everything great and I have no complaints. The steam is as good as I have seen on a hand held iron. The sole plate, after 2 months is as clean as when I bought it (I could shave in it if I shaved, :). It only tuns off when not moved and turns off quickly if left on it's sole. I like this arrangement. Cord is real long and it holds a lot of water. If it dies in the first year, as many irons do including Rowena's, according to my research. I have a plan this time. I have taken all information and put it in the original box with info on my registering the iron so I can send it back.
If it keeps working it is all the iron I want.
Customer Review: Don't bother to buy this iron- auto clean is frustrating beyond belief
Summary: 1 Stars
This iron drives me crazy. It will not get out wrinkles in khaki pants and it's auto-clean feature is poorly designed and does not work well. First of all, when the "clean" light comes on, you have to hold the dial all the way to the left with your thumb and middle finger, against the spring tension, while holding the handle in your hand and trying to rock it back and forth to release the steam- not a user friendly feature I assure you. There should be a position to which you move the dial and it stays in place- you shouldn't have to hold it against the spring tension- very poor design. The biggest problem comes in because the "clean" light comes on regularly, but won't shut off quickly. When I used it last week, I tried cleaning it for over 1/2 hour before giving up. That means reheating every few minutes to keep up the steam, refilling the tank once it falls below 1/4 cup and holding the dial to the left against the spring tension for over 1/2 hour and getting nowhere! The time-frame for the "clean" light to go out has increased every time I use it, but this is the first time it wouldn't go out at all. My expectation is that it should take no longer than 5 minutes to complete the clean cycle. I checked and I followed the operating instructions to the letter. Worst of all, I tried to contact the manufacturer for assistance. I was on hold for well over ten minutes (the message said that the hold time for help would be less than 10 minutes) but no one ever came on the line, so I sent an email to which I was promised 48 hour response time. It took 7 days for them to get back to me and they just repeated the same instructions I already had, which I told them in my original email I had followed. I just purchased a Rowenta DW9080 Steamium 1800-Watt Steam Iron with 400-Hole Platinum Soleplate from Amazon and I am waiting for it to ship- I hope I have better results. I refuse to iron until I get a new one. I have had quite enough poor performance from the Black and Decker D2030 Auto-Off Digital Advantage iron- it's going in the trash.Customer Review: Great While It Works
Summary: 3 Stars
I loved this iron while it worked. I am incredibly particular about irons. I had previously owned quite a few cheap irons but decided that it was time to get a more high-quality iron. After quite a bit of research (mostly using the Amazon reviews), I put this iron on my Christmas list a few years ago.
While it worked, this iron worked incredibly well. I found that the temperature settings were spot-on. I never once burned or accidentally melted a garment due to the iron being too hot. There was nothing this iron couldn't press, and press well. The reservoir never leaked. The innards never rusted. The steam and spray nozzle features always worked. My wife really liked the auto-off feature, as the few times she ever used it, she forgot to turn it off or unplug it. This iron really was a pleasure to use, and if you're particular about irons, then you wouldn't be disappointed.
I really only had two gripes about the functionality of the iron: 1.) When you're done ironing, tipping the iron over to drain any excess water out of the reservoir results in a drip-drip-dripping out, even if the reservoir is half full. This makes for an annoyingly excessive amount of time to drain the reservoir. 2.) I would've really liked a spindle built into the iron upon which to wrap the electrical chord.
Unfortunately, after only two years, the iron died. I'm guessing the electrical subsystem within the iron began shorting, as the iron would turn off and on while operating, the LCD readout would fade off then back on, jiggling the chord a certain way would bring it back to life, so on and so forth. While we live in world where everything is becoming cheaper and more disposable, I really wish this iron would have lasted longer. Knowing that the iron was only going to last as long as it did, I would not have originally asked for it. It seems silly to me to pay as much money as was paid for this iron for something that won't last at least 5 years or so.
Customer Review: Why, oh why, does that light stay on?
Summary: 4 Stars
I've only had this iron for a couple of days and I must say that looks wise this is a beautiful iron. It does a fine job of ironing with its good weight and steam. I do not even find the notorious fill cap as fragile as many have described. However, I find it a pain that the "power" light remains on even when you turn the iron off if it stays plugged in. Now, I understand the reasoning to unplug the iron every time, I get it, but I am not in the unplug every time camp. Sometimes I just turn off my iron then carry on. I do not want my iron even remotely looking like it still might be on with its big bright red light shining at me. At first, I thought it might have been a "iron still hot" warning light a la a smooth top oven. But when I came back to the room 30 minutes later and the light was still on I'm thinking, "What the heck? I know I turned the iron off and even if I didn't the auto-off should have worked. I was wrong, the light just stays on. This might be petty and like I said I fully understand the safety reasons behind unplugging the iron but I'm realistic and know that I will not always unplug my iron on those rushed "got to get to work" mornings. If the always on light is not a bother to you then I would give this iron 5 stars. However, I am very irritated by an always on iron light thus the 3 stars.
Edit - Now my brand new iron with all of 4 or 5 items ironed says it needs to be cleaned. So I clean it as per the instructions and the "clean" message is still on. It is like having a new car and the "check engine" light comes on at 200 miles driven.
Edit (4-22-09)- I have gotten used to the light constantly being on. The clean indicator comes on arbitrarily but if you know that your iron is clean it will go off after a couple of days. The more I have used this iron the more I like it. I am bumping my rating up to 4 stars(****).