Guide · Kitchen
How long should a toaster or sandwich press last in Australia?
A toaster or sandwich press bought for around $60 should last about 4 years or more.
Even a $50 toaster is covered. If it stops working well before it should, take it back to where you bought it.
That’s our guide, and plenty last longer. CHOICE’s lifespan research puts it at about 4 years.
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 toaster or sandwich press should last, by price:
| Price paid | Should last about |
|---|---|
| Up to $40 | 2 years |
| $40 to $100 | 4 years |
| $100 to $250 | 5 years |
| $250 to $500 | 7 years |
| Over $500 | 8 years |
For one bought around $60:
- Under 2 years: very likely covered.
- 2 years to 4 years: borderline, so worth asking.
- Over 4 years: harder, but it isn’t a cut-off.
If it failed before the typical lifespan CHOICE gives, say so when you ask.
These are guides, not law.
Signs it’s a fault
- It heats unevenly, burns everything or won’t stay down
- The lever, timer or control fails
- The plates lose their coating or a part comes loose
What usually isn’t covered
- Scratches from cleaning with metal tools
- Damage from being dropped
- 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 toaster or sandwich press 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 toaster or sandwich press
Unplug it and bring everything: the toaster, the cord and any tray. It’s easier to sort out when all the parts are there.
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 toaster or sandwich press last?
By our guide, a toaster or sandwich press bought for around $60 should last about 4 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 toaster or sandwich press 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 toaster or sandwich press 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.
Is it worth the bother if a toaster or sandwich press was cheap?
Yes. Cheap things are covered too, with no minimum price. A quick, polite ask at the service desk is usually the way to go. You’ll still need proof you bought it. A receipt, a bank or card statement or an order email will do.
More guides
- How long should a frypan or cookware set last?
- How long should a microwave last?
- How long should a coffee machine last?
- How long should a blender last?
- See all guides
Where this comes from
ACCC: consumer rights and guarantees · CHOICE: how long should your appliances last