I initially posted a version of this on the r/breville subreddit, then quickly realized it would be suitable here.
My old Breville Ikon Long Slot Toaster (BTA550) worked great for well over a decade and I knew how to cook a piece of toast to near perfection with it. It used to be my parents until a few years ago, but they wanted a "nicer looking toaster" and since I just moved out, they gave it to me.
Unfortunately, my let’s put it ‘challenged’ brother came over one night and managed to set it on fire. I don’t know if he killed it because of the fire or him throwing it out the window onto the stone pavers bellow (resulting in a bit a dent in the side). I didn’t see it happen, I came out to the strong brunt smell, thought he just burnt toast which he is semi-prone to doing in his easily distracted and absent minded state. I only learnt what happened the next morning when I noticed the toaster missing and finding it on the ground outside, so I had to call to find out what happened.
My parents quickly got me a Breville "Lift & Look™ Plus" Long Slot (BTA440BSS) as a replacement. I said I really liked my old one and it was seemingly the most similar thing currently available on the market.
Besides the dial being more difficult to see, less intuitive, and not showing how long left to cook like the old one, it cooks so poorly. It’s one of those long slot 4 slice toasters. The side of the toast closest to the center of the slot cooks faster, with the edges/crust often burning, while the other half is pale/almost uncooked. Even if stick the toast in the middle of the slot, it burns the top and bottom of the toast, also somewhat defeats the purpose of a 4 slot toaster. My old toaster for comparison could toast a long slice of bread or 4 slices pretty evenly.
I want to take it back, but my parents still have the receipt and when I asked for it, they said since it’s still working it doesn’t matter as it’s "just toast", as well as I’m being petty and ungrateful. For seemingly for no reason, they won’t say where they got it, and I’m not sure if that place would take it back because of poor performance. But from looking online it wasn’t exactly a cheap toaster and I would expect better for that price.
My parents said that since they have now given me two reasonable pricey toasters, I should consider myself lucky and if I’m not going to be more grateful they won’t give me anything anymore (frankly nowadays they don’t give me much besides excess vegetables from their garden). I’m trying to convey my gratefulness/thankfulness, but that for the price they likely spent I would want a decent toaster.
This has to be a bot. Why would we care about the brand or models of the toasters in question?
So people can look up what toasters they are in case someone knows it’s a known fault or something? Or the differences between the 2 models? Or even “Hey, I had one of those, we got one of these and it’s just as good”
Like, if someone goes “MY TV NO WORK” folk are gonna need more to go on than that. Are you gonna jump on someone going “My Samsung TV is broken” as well?
NTA
OK, as an Alton Brown fan, I pick my gear for very specific purposes. So while find your aversion to this new toaster odd, I mean, I get it.
Here’s the deal. Your brother fucked it up, he’s the asshole. Not everyone has a passion for toast and/or kitchen equipment.
I’m sorry it’s a crappy toaster. You got a free toaster and you still have a free toaster. It’s a bit of a waste of money for sure, but it’s your parents money, not yours.
Your brother actually owes you a new toaster. Don’t let him in until he comes bearing a gift that he bought of a list you made.
It sounds as if they were trying to replace that toaster by getting the same brand and as similar as possible. However, it sounds as if what you valued about the toaster was not necessarily the brand but the performance. If it is not working to your preference, it is not an appropriate replacement. I don’t know why they are being stubborn about allowing you to replace it. After all, it’s your loss that they are fixing, and they should be willing to fix it to your preference. NTA.
YTA for thinking appliances live forever, and for not just thanking your parents for a replacement. If you don’t like it, sell it and buy what you want.
Her brother tossing it out the window is not exactly the same as an appliance wearing out.
You’re…not -wrong-, but soft ESH.
You loved that old toaster. You knew how to use it. You’re rightfully upset it was destroyed. You’re rightfully upset that the new one doesn’t perform as well.
What’s the end game here? Are you planning to purchase and return toasters until you find one equal to your old one?
Your parents are clearly not the most reasonable people, Is this worth the amount of stress and effort you’re putting in? Is the value of the toaster worth the argument? Is the value of the perfect piece of toast worth your emotional wellbeing?
This is the real answer. Imagine how easy your life is the worst thing is not getting a perfect piece of toast.
NTA
It sounds like this toaster is awful. I understand you wanting to return it.
Your parents are wrong. You aren’t even asking them to buy you another toaster but just the receipt for the one they bought you as a replacement.
And they act like they bought you two new toasters. The first toaster was a hand me down they would have thrown out as they bought themselves a new one. The second was a replacements as your brother set the first one on fire.
And saying you’re ungrateful. Why should you be grateful for a toast that comes out partly burnt and partly uncooked?
You don’t have to keep this one. If you can’t return it just throw it out and buy yourself a new one. Your parents shouldn’t get mad you did this as you did tell them the current one makes bad toast and they wouldn’t give you the receipt.
NTA. Have you tried framing it to them that it’s defective?? Try and get an exact replacement and see if it’s better. It doesn’t sound like the toaster is working properly.
Also, as another commenter has said, your brother owes you. Just because your parents replaced it doesn’t mean anything. He ruined it and then didn’t even have the decency to tell you. I’d bar him from your home until he replaces it with something you want.
NTA. it’s amazing how you can be humming along perfectly content in life and then your family comes in and blows up your toaster, buys a replacement that you didn’t ask for, won’t let you have them return it so as not to waste their money and then calls you ungrateful LOL. I’m guessing your parents bought this toaster used on marketplace or stole it or are regifting it or something which is why they are dragging their feet but your brother is TA unless he’s legit living with them because he can’t live alone.
You sound both pampered and entitled.
If your parents’ gift is unsuitable in your eyes, go buy your own toaster and be done with it.
YTA.
NTA in the slightest. You want to return it and get something that actually works (and would probably be cheaper). However, those things come with a warranty card. Call them and have them send you a new one or ask if they do refurbishments/resales and see if you can swap it for one that is close to your old one.
Toasters now are cheap and don’t last long. I recently had to take mine apart and give it a proper cleaning to make sure it will last me another 11yrs.
NTA but looks like without severely hurting your relationship with your parents, you’re likely going to have to sell it separately online, take a bit of a loss and make up the remainder yourself which you’d have had to do if it was you who had used it for the last time when it caught fire.
Your brother is an AH for not owning up and telling you immediately rather than you having to find out by literally finding it outside. Your parents… I can see their point that they bought you a new one as close as they could to the old. It’s not their fault that it doesn’t work as well as the old one. Lording it over you is silly but it’s basically a double gift and they have a right to feeling like it seems you’re ungrateful.