I bought a Rowenta with a coupon a few years back. I started leaking within a week. Then the whole front part of the handle started coming apart. I, too, called Rowenta and was "blown off". I ordered a B&D older travel iron from Ebay. It has been a great iron. It's lightweight with a pointy nose and stainless steel plate that cleans up great. I rarely use steam, but if I do need it, I have a B&D steam iron that I use in the house. BUT, I recently decided that I needed a steam iron in the shed, so I bought another B&D......the steam didn't work well and the temperature didn't hold. It got so hot I burned a spot on my ironing board and scorched the fabric I was ironing. It also scorched the plate of the iron. I think it is probably a quality control problem in China, or wherever they are made!