Oliso iron dead, what to do?
 

My beautiful yellow Oliso iron will not heat up at all. So I took it down to my repair man at the hardware store. He says it is the element and called the company to try to buy a new one. They were miffed that he had taken it apart. And they wanted to talk to me.

So I called and they said that for $69.00 (to be paid in advance) they would take a look at it and then fix it and then guarantee it for a year.

Has anyone else dealt with these folks? My gut says to just buy another iron. The problem stems from the fact that I am used to this pop up iron and leave it in the down position, as it separates itself from the ironing surface. Everything else on the iron works, just no heat.

I have two other irons that are not pop up and I am afraid that I will leave them down on the board and start a fire. I always used distilled water, but last week it began smelling hot and spitting.

Maybe I will win one on MSQC golden scratch off tickets!!!

Marcia

I have and with pretty much the same result. The dial that selected the heat was off. It wouldn't go all the way to high which made me wonder how much else could be off.

The customer rep was really insistent that I send it back. I sent it back once and got another iron with the same problem. Notified customer service, told to send it back again. Then it started to not always shut off after so many minutes. Said to heck with it, used it on a surge protector that had an on/off switch until I could find another iron. I bought a Reliable and gave the Oliso to a friend who always unplugs everything when she's through with it.

I've still got all the service "help" in a file.

Don't you just love engineered obsolescence? My refrigerator stopped cooling. We called a repairman. He said it would cost $700-$800 to fix it. At that price, I might as well go out and buy a new one!!

Your fear about leaving your non-Oliso irons down on the board is a valid one. I just posted on another thread about how I used an Oliso on a retreat for 4 days and when I got home, I found myself leaving my iron face down on the board.

Maybe you should just bite the bullet and buy a new Oliso. :(

Don't bite bullets. Bite the Oliso company. I had 6 which were replaced each time they malfunctioned. Keep badgering them until they make it good. We tend to just give up. Let us not give up until these irons are corrected. And don't pay to have them fixed. They should make good on their product.

I've had this one for 18 months which is over the one year mark. With the shoulder problems I have, I think I'll just have to buy another one. In the long run I will not be without and have the kind that I am used to.

The website says NOT to use distilled water unless you have very hard water over 12 whatever that means. (I emailed my water dept. and found mine is 5.) They tell you if you must use the distilled to do 1/2 and 1/2. It's worth a read.

go buy another one. it isn't worth the hassle.

I never got used to keeping the Oliso horizontal on the board. Always set it on end until I remembered.

This is why it shut that feature off didn't want to get too used to that feature and start fires

Or other brand of iron! With the lousy customer service that has been noted here, why buy another?

Unfortunately, nothing is built to last anymore.We live in a throw away society. I've heard enough stories about irons no longer working after relatively short lives to suggest you just buy a new one - sorry :-(

That's sadly true. I had Laura Star Steam Generator iron that worked for 10+ years without a problem. Once it died and I looked at the prices of new Laura Star's I bought an Oliso. I've had it a couple years now. I don't expect it to last that long.

I should add that I bought it from Bed Bath and Beyond. They let me use my 20% off coupon (free shipping) and I used some gift cards that I got from my credit card points so I only spent about $25 in cash on it.

Unfortunately many appliances don’t seem to last as long as they used to...I don’t think they make them to last.

I would hesitate to buy another iron if the first one only lasted 18 months, unless you believe that you are incapable of learning to put the iron in the upright position. There are plenty of good irons out there.

Watched a Missouri Star Video yesterday and noticed that Jenny Doan had a new iron...she no longer uses her yellow Oliso iron. Wonder what happened to hers?

You might consider the Euro that is sold at a discount at quilt shows. It sits flat like the Oliso but does not raise up. It comes with a silicone pad to rest it on, but the person who demonstrates it at the shows leaves it on her ironing-board surface all day without damage.

They say it will not damage any fabric. I've sewn filmsy silk scarves with no problem. When she ironed a balloon without popping it, I was sold. I wouldn't use anything else now.

https://www.eurosteam.com/product/eu...neration-iron/

If it was me I would replace it with a Panasonic cordless iron. I have had mine for about 4 years now and if it broke tomorrow I would replace it immediately with the same kind. The "ironing without a cord" experience is absolutely awesome!

We have a yellow one at my quilting class - donated by another classmate because she felt it didn't get hot enough. I have not bought one because of the many complaints I have heard and read. Seems like the company should look into their quality control and customer service - or perhaps they just don't care.

I am so sorry that you have had these problems with your iron. I have had my Oliso for 10 years now, it's the original blue /teal one. My iron stopped heating up but I never thought of taking it to a repair person. I started using my cordless Panasonic then one day I had decided to get rid of the Oliso but something made me plug it in and to my delight it started working. I have not put water in it since it started working again and that's been well over a year. BTW I also had the same fear of leaving an iron down because of being accustomed to the iron popping up but that only happened once and fortunately I didn't burn anything but I use so many irons that it's just not a problem.

I don't believe we complain enough directly with the manufacturer about their expensive irons. Complain until they listen and report on sites where folks buy the product.

Part of the problem might be nearly everything is made overseas now. I doubt the quality control is anything near what it should be.

I took a look at that MSQC tute. That is a Panasonic cordless. I wrote to them and asked about the Oliso, haven't heard back.

Marcia

My Oliso died the same exact way. Too much money for an extremely short life. I'm currently using a Rowena, and this will be the last one I buy of this also. I quit for long hours at a time. If prolonged heating (even with auto off) kills these big shots, I'm off to buy cheaper brands

I did read in a previous and similar thread someone recommended a Shark Iron. I did invest in Shark as soon as my Rowenta bite the dust (after a short 18 mos., maybe 2 yrs.) and I have been very pleased with it. I do not fill with any type of water as I am not using the spray/steam features. i would recommend a Shark as a next purchase.
Hope everyone is having a wonderful Quilty week end!!

When my yellow Oliso died (feet won't retract so it can't be used) after about two years of light use, I got out my old Black and Decker which still works like a top. I was also afraid that I'd forget to upend it and it would burn the house down, so I bought a silicone iron-shaped pad to sit my iron on. A $6 solution--the frugal ironer's Oliso.

Mimi, what did you do with that broken yellow Oliso. I would think your heating element is still good. My feet still work.

Marcia

Most of the irons that are on the market these days automatically turn the heating element off when the iron is not moved for awhile. I suspect they have a motion sensor in them.

What I do is have my iron hooked up to a surge protector that has a light and the iron plugged into it. If the light is on, the iron is also on. That set up always reminds me to turn off the surge protector.

You should use filtered water, not bottled or distilled.. Use a brita filter pitcher and run your water through it before you put it in your iron.

My Oliso had problems after a year or so, when I called the company they immediately replaced it at no cost, I experienced great customer service. The replacement is doing well, after over a year (not sure of time, it get away from me).
It does have a switch so you can stand it on end if you don't want to rely on the pop up. Friends were sewing with me & kept forgetting not to stand it up, next time I'll use that switch.

I have had the Panasonic 360 cordless since Aug 2016 I love it. Not having to deal with the cord while pressing large pieces. I do have a few vintage corded irons if I need to do small pieces at another location but really prefer the Panasonic.

That's because she's there to sell products that offer MSQC the best deals.

i still have it. Yes, the heating elements still work. If you'd like it, it's yours for the price of postage. PM me for addresses.

I too think that we give up too soon on things that the manufacturer should make good on. I would let them know that you are a dissatisfied customer and will be posting on quilting boards to let other quilters know. This might stir them to make it right.

I'm so happy to read about these problems. I'm always drawn to these pretty yellow & pink
Oliso irons but won't ever buy one now. I hate dealing with companies that give a run around when their products fail. I'm not a cheap person but I came across a cheap iron a Black & Decker Travel iron at a thrift store for $5 & am still using it with no complaints. I have bought another one same price & never have a problem. If I ever do, I'll toss it without guilt then go look for another cheap one.
Thank you everybody for the Info.

My Oliso died early, overheated to the danger point, then never heated up again. So I use a cheapy Black n Decker that has lasted me 7 years so far.

I wanted one of those after watching Jenny Doan but the reviews were not good. I have a cheap Panasonic that's lasted for years.

I bought another one, a grey one. From Amazon. The yellow one I got at a LQS. I just got so used to the pop up feature and a fire is much more costly than the iron.

I'm so glad you posted this Battle Axe. I too have had issues with my yellow Oliso. I thought it was something I did or didn't do. When I first got it, it would heat just fine on the cotton setting, but no longer. I went back to the Black and Decker as I read about so many issues about the high end irons. It's ok but I wish I had one that was hotter.

I had questions about the Panosonic staying hot. I was at a workshop where there was one and it kept going to auto-off.

I have been happy with other Shark products, I may look into that brand.

I noticed in Jenny's latest video that she's back to using an Oliso. A pink one this time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeMzWOVY9zM&feature=youtu.be

I took your advice and wrote to Oliso.