No use talking to the president about buying from China, we have to buy their products because they 'own' us now. We have borrowed so much money from them that we will never be able to repay.
I also look for American made products, if everybody would do that- we could get and keep Americans working again.
As to the Rowenta Iron, I have owned one- loved it for the light weight, auto shut off was nice too. But way too overpriced, I will buy cheaper and spend my savings elsewhere.

Never had a leaky iron (touch wood). I've got Phillips and Tefal irons which work well and my friend swears by her Braun. So there you are - Dutch, French and German brands (probably all made in Taiwan if we look closely).

My last two Rowentas leaked. So I went and bought a "disposable" one from WM. I have had it almost 4 years with no problems. I am going to get a second one this weekend for an upcoming retreat. Penney's has a coupon for $15 off a $15 or more purchase, and I saw a Sunbeam in their flyer for $19. Hmmmm...an iron for $4?? I am so there!!!

Call Rowenta they made replace it or if you have receite bring it back to the store does your iron have a 5 year warranty? if so bring it back to the store. When I buy any thing over $50 I save receipts in a foldered for 5 years. I just bought something back to target got my money back I called the company about the item & they are sending me a new one..

I have been using my Rowenta for over a year and not have any problems. I even dropped it, well actually he dogs pulled it off the board. The only time it leaks water is when it is not heated up and I press the steam button. I use city tap water, that can make a difference.

You know, I have a Rowenta that I bought several years ago and one day it leaked all over everything. I was so upset! I emptied it, I heated it up, I cleaned the sole plate and the two of us started over. It has been working great since then. However, mine too will leak if I press the steam button after it has turned off (and I didn't notice it) or if I press the steam button before it is hot enough. I have to watch it closely when it turns off. I hope this is what is going on with yours. I swore I would not buy another Rowenta because of the price and my drippy problems. I recently bought a Singer and when reading the directions it said that if you press the "steam" button more than 3 times, it will drip. Ugh!!! Haven't used it long enough to give an educated opinion except that it has a cover over the fill hole. I need that because I sew in the attic and those darn Japanese beetles that look like lady bugs get in the attic and I found them in my iron. I had a heck of a time getting them out. Another Ugh!!! Good luck!

I think for the price of a Rowenta iron you should be able to use almost any kind of water without leaks.What's the point of buying something so tempermental? I hated mine and got nothing but grief from the manufacturer. I had a Sunbeam that was excellent but my husband bought me a Panasonic for Christmas and I had to make a choice. I should have kept the Sunbeam...but hubby beams everytime he sees me using the new one so it was worth a little less heat to please him. He also bought me an expensive Bosch a few years ago. It's a sweet iron and gets super hot. I use it only when I do a final press or when I press backings.

My Rowenta leaked whenever the mood struck it, and usually all over my fabric! I tossed it in the garbage and bought a Sunbeam for $15 (half price on clearance at JoAnn's---was $30!) and I will stick with Sunbeam! That is the brand I had three or four years ago before my alleged "upgrade" to Rowenta----well, fool me once, etc.

Sorry you've have such bad luck with your Rowenta. I've owned a Rowenta Precision for 7 yrs. and no problems. Sounds like the newer ones are cheaply made.

I have a Shark that I bought at Walmart about 2 years ago, nothing fancy only automatic shutoff. It is still working fine

Me too! I've posted on this board before about my own leaky Rowenta and back then there wasn't much of a response. So I bought another, this time it was on sale at Hancocks and I had a coupon, so I did get it much cheaper. That was last year and after 3 months or so....it leaks as well!

So no more Rowenta's!!! When this one dies, I'm buying a cheapie from WM!

I've had mine for about 5 years, love it, haven't had too many problems, leaks every once in a while, but not too often

I have a sunbeam..It has great steam and a large water tank...Also shuts off by itself...I've had it many years..I think I paid $39.00

I use an old antique iron I bought at an antique shop. Doesn't have steam but gets really really hot & you have to watch it. I had 2 or 3 Rowentas but will not buy another one. Got the idea of an antique iron from my best friend. She had her mother's iron (friend was 67 so you can imagine how old the iron was) & when my friend passed away, that's the first thing I did was went antiquing! My iron will cook an egg it gets so hot & I love it. Only takes a second to press fabric

I agree about the shutting off. I'ts a pain, put this week a left it on all night. Thank goodness for the automatic shut off. My Rowenta leaks, but I did drop it. When I replace it it won't be with a Rowenta. I'll probably do Black and Decker.

Been through 4 of them a different problem on each one. the last one just started leaking like that. fortunately you can take things back to Kolhs with ease, never lasted longer than a year or a year and a couple of months. last time got a B&D@ Kohls when I took it back been over a year and its great!

Use your Rowenta as a door stop and go get a different brand iron.

I had a B&D for over 30 years. It worked and I thought it was great. Then I took my first quilting class and the LQS had several Rowenta ProMasters. I was hooked! I absolutely love it and wouldn't trade for anything BUT it's only 6 mos old so my fingers are crossed! I clean it every two weeks and part of the cleaning process involves letting it leak so that it cleans out those little white particles... but I've had no trouble and so much steam!! It does say "made in Germany" on the side.

My Rowenta says "Made in Germany." It is two years old and I haven't had a minute's trouble with it. But I still have my Black and Decker to take to workshops because I'm afraid someone will drop my Rowenta. froggyintexas

I have two Rowentas; bought in thrift store and one was barely used. Both work great but they were still made in Germany and are older models.

I also have an old Rowenta about the same age & wouldn't trade it for the world. I've never had a problem with leakage. My DH is on his 2nd iron in 10 years. (He irons all our clothing, I just iron fabric. It works for me :D )

I use the same GE that I got as an engagement gift in 1972. Still works like a charm and steams up a storm.

"nuf said about the quality of the past.

I'm with you. I'll never buy another one. I've had 3 and they all leaked.

I'm with you Mary O. I think they are overrated also. Are you holding a hummingbird in your avetar?

Keeps Them In Stitches

I live in a manufactured home, so I unplug mine (Walmart cheapie) each and every time I walk away. Having to wait for it to reheat is much better than the alternative. When these homes catch fire, POOF!

my iron came from walmart, cost $15....no problems, no leaking, very light......and when it dies, i will just go back and pay another $15 for another one.....$15 for 2 years worth of ironing quilt stuff is reasonable i think......gina

I have a Rowenta, the made in Germany one, and it has become picky about shutting itself off. Something about the feature that shuts it off if it's down flat for a certain amount of time--the red light comes on in the middle of ironing, and it just shuts off. The only fix is to unplug it, but that gets old, every ten minutes. DH is planning to get me another one at Costco. So thanks. I'll tell him not to. He got me a wonderful little German travel iron for Christmas which is just the right size for small squares.

i owned one for about a week and took it back it leaked all the time ! i went to walmart and bought a iron for less than 10.00 and love it , no leaks and no problems have had it for a little over 2 years

We own 3 Rowentas - two large and one small one. Ours have never leaked (unless we hit the steam button before its fully hot); they produce plenty of steam and get really hot. I realize others have had problems, but we like ours just fine.

the best thing i ever heard said about steam irons was from Ricky Tims, he never uses an iron with steam because he has never met one that wasn't incontinent!

Reliable makes an iron that is GUARANTEED not to leak or spit.

http://www.reliablecorporation.com/

The water is preheated before it its the sole plate which, on regular machines, the water goes to the sole plate directly and that is what make the machine leak and spit.

They have two models which sell for $99.00 and $139.00 respectively, each which fantastic control settings one of which is you can over-ride the auto-shut-off function so your iron stays hot.

I'm seriously going to purchase one, likely the $139.00 model in the next week or so.

I'll donate my leakers and spitters (I have two) to Goodwill or Sal.Army and they can sell put on their big buck pricing (see previous posts on Thrift Shop Prices).

I agree, my Rowenta leaked also. I have a Black and Decker I am using right now and it is great. Also a cheap Proctor Silex, very lighweight, that does a very good job. No more expensive irons for me. I keep a spray bottle with water close and use it.

I have had two expensive Rowenta models and they both leaked. I will not buy another one :thumbdown:

I also have an older Rowenta (got it half-price years ago) and it still works just great. From what I read in this post, guess I will have to try the Black and Decker if the Rowenta goes on the blink. No water leakage for me as yet.

My Rowenta shut off while I was ironing--from day one. After six months, I called R. They said send it to Goodmans in Miami. I did Dec. 3, 2010. They didn't log it in until Dec. 21 although I have the receipt showing it was signed for Dec. 4. Called G. several times got a different answer every time. One they early Feb. they called me it is on the bench, you'll have it next week. Finally last week I asked if they could find it. They authorized an immediate replacement last Thursday. Still no iron. Meantime I'm using a borrowed B&D my son bought at a thrift store. It works fine and weighs lots less.

I recieved Rowenta as an xmas gift... it leaks like mad! exchanged it 2x would never buy or recommend. My friend has on that's over 10yrs old - best iron I ever used... guess something happened to the quality of their product over the years???

I too am not satisfied with my rowenta. It is super heavy and it split apart where you pour in the water. I'm planning to go back to black and decker. My Black & Decker was really good.

I agree...bought one, took it back because it leaked...they gave me another one and it did the same thing...so if you want to dry iron with an expensive iron then get this one otherwise by cheap!!!

Mine doesnt' get hot enough and does not even provide adequate steam!! JUNK!!!!

I bought my Rowenta - Professional Press - sixteen years ago. It is still giving me very good service. The first one which I purchased had a teflon sole. It was not worth what I paid for it. Rowenta replaced it, at my request, with an iron which has a stainless sole. I have used it very heavily as I press a lot of fabrics used in my quilting projects. Possibly being that old, it was manufactured in Germany.