Guide · Kitchen
How long should a frypan or cookware set last in Australia?
A frypan or cookware set bought for around $150 should last about 2 years or more.
A non-stick pan whose coating peels in the first year or two, or a handle that comes loose, is usually a fault, not wear and tear.
That’s our guide, and plenty last longer.
The law doesn’t set a fixed number. Goods have to last as long as a reasonable person would expect, given what they are and what you paid. If it fails sooner through no fault of yours, the shop that sold it has to put it right, even when the maker’s warranty has run out.
Takes a minute. It works out where you stand and what to say.
Is mine still covered?
Our guide to how long a frypan or cookware set should last, by price:
| Price paid | Should last about |
|---|---|
| Up to $100 | 12 months |
| $100 to $500 | 2 years |
| Over $500 | 4 years |
For one bought around $150:
- Under 14 months: very likely covered.
- 14 months to 2 years: borderline, so worth asking.
- Over 2 years: harder, but it isn’t a cut-off.
These are guides, not law.
Signs it’s a fault
- The non-stick coating peels or flakes in the first year or two
- The handle comes loose or the rivets fail
- The base warps so it won’t sit flat
What usually isn’t covered
- Scratches from metal utensils
- Overheating an empty pan
- A change of mind, misuse, or a fault you knew about when you bought it.
What to do
- Find your proof of purchase. The receipt is best. A bank or card statement, an order email or a warranty registration also works.
- Go back to the shop you bought it from. Not the maker. The shop is responsible, and it can’t send you to the manufacturer instead.
- Say what’s wrong and what you want. For a minor problem, the shop can choose to repair it first. For a major one (it’s unsafe, or you wouldn’t have bought it if you’d known), you choose a refund or a replacement.
- If they say no, go up a step. Ask again politely, in writing if you can, and keep copies. Then contact your state or territory consumer protection agency. If you need to, your state tribunal is the next step.
What to say at the counter
“I bought a frypan or cookware set here on [date]. [What’s wrong.] It hasn’t lasted as long as I’d reasonably expect for what I paid, so it isn’t of acceptable quality under the Australian Consumer Law. I’d like it repaired, replaced or refunded.”
A tip for a frypan or cookware set
Cookware is often bought as a set, so keep the set receipt. One failed pan is still a claim on that purchase.
Check yours
It's Stuffed works out where you stand, helps you find your proof of purchase and writes what to say. It also keeps your receipts and warranties in one place, so you’re not hunting for them next time.
Common questions
How long should a frypan or cookware set last?
By our guide, a frypan or cookware set bought for around $150 should last about 2 years or more, and plenty last longer. The law doesn’t set a fixed number. Goods have to last as long as a reasonable person would expect, given what they are and what you paid.
Does the consumer guarantee still apply to a frypan or cookware set after the warranty ends?
Yes. They’re separate from the maker’s warranty and from any extended warranty, and they don’t have an end date. What matters is whether it lasted as long as a reasonable person would expect for what it was and what it cost.
Who do I go to if a frypan or cookware set fails, the shop or the maker?
The shop that sold it. The shop is responsible for putting it right under the consumer guarantees, and it can’t send you to the manufacturer instead.
Do I need the receipt to take a frypan or cookware set back?
You need proof of purchase, but not the original receipt. A bank or card statement, an order email or a warranty registration can do the job.
More guides
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- How long should a coffee machine last?
- How long should a blender last?
- How long should a slow cooker or rice cooker last?
- See all guides