Breville Espresso Machine eBay deal

Lgreenie4242 on 06/12/2010 - 04:51

A couple of weeks ago I ordered a Breville Espresso Machine as per this deal:
http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/34819

however I have just received an email from the seller stating this:

Many thanks for your purchase of the Café Modena Espresso Machine RRP$189.95.
The response to this popular item has been overwhelming during the eBay Christmas Sale which commenced on November 24 2010.
We did not foresee the unprecedented popularity of this item, and as a result, we have unfortunately sold out.
As an alternative to the Breville Café Modena Espresso Machine, we would like to offer you a free upgrade to the New Breville Venezia Espresso Machine RRP$229.95.

Does anybody know if this is a legitimate better coffee machine, or if it's a bait-and-switch?

They've already charged my credit card, but have emailed me to tell me the product I supposedly purchased was already sold out, which I'm NOT happy about. I'm pretty sure it's a condition of every eBay sale that you must have the goods, you're not allowed to pre-sell anything. The shop do offer a full refund if I don't want the different product:

If you are unhappy with a free-of-charge upgrade to the Breville Venezia Espresso Machine, we will be happy to provide a full refund of your purchase.

At the end of the day I don't care if they've charged me already, if they changed the terms of the sale, if they provide me with a different machine etc, as long as I get a decent coffee machine. It's a gift for my brother so I don't want to give him something crap. Does anybody know anything about this Breville Venezia Espresso Machine? The part that concerns me is the 'New' - I purchased the Cafe Modena after great reviews from Choice magazine and other online review websites, but can't find much on the Venezia. If they're prepared to give me a machine that retails for $40 more for the same price, it's obviously not really worth $40 more. If it's a 'New' model they've probably worked out a way to manufacture it cheaper than before.

Regards,
Dave

General Discussion

Comments

  • rack on 06/12/2010 - 06:12

    New Breville Venezia Espresso Machine is sold on ebay for around the $178 mark. The RRP stuff is just shit. No one buys at RRP. But still you have paid $99 and you get something worth $178. As for quality how do u know the first one was good in the first place?

    • greenie4242 on 06/12/2010 - 10:24

      Agreed, RRP is just an imaginary figure, the real price is what it's actually selling for. But in terms of true value, I wonder what this new machine is like. They say the RRP is $229, the eBay cost is $178, but they're giving it away for $99, so the machine can't cost any more to manufacture than the original $99 machine.

      Four friends have purchased $800+ Breville coffee machines only to find out they are absolute rubbish needing constant repairs, but four friends who bought the cheapest Breville machines are still happy with them a few years later. Plus if a $99 machine breaks after 2 years, it's no great loss. But if an $800 machine breaks after two years, you'll be furious. Charging more for something doesn't automatically make it better, which is why I'm a bit dubious about being offered a 'better' machine. I'd really like to know if somebody on this forum owns a Venezia machine and can give a real-world opinion.

      • ESEMCE on 06/12/2010 - 11:44

        Probably better to ask on a coffee forum than here.

        coffeesnobs.com.au is Australian.

        • greenie4242 on 07/12/2010 - 15:34

          Thanks, I'll check it out.

  • ftw_bargain on 07/12/2010 - 10:33

    Don't know much about Breville's, but I do know someone who is an Australian Barista champ and who sells coffee beans out of Marickville Sydney to cafe's and she recommened me look at Rancilio's, nearly 2 years later I couldn't be happier - beware it costs 6-7 times more than what you paid for your machine and requires some love and attention to keep it sharp and producing great coffee

    • greenie4242 on 07/12/2010 - 15:41

      Thanks, but the Rancilio is a bit pricey for me at the moment. Cheapest I can find on eBay is about $749. I'm just looking for something reasonably budget as a housewarming/Christmas gift. I don't even know if he'll use it much, so if it lasts a year or two it should at least give him an idea of how much use it will get, so we can spend more next time. If it lasts longer than that, awesome. I'm EXPREMELY happy with my Saeco Royal Professional but it's a top-notch machine and cost more than my car, so unfortunately can't afford to get him one of those!

      Now I'm looking at the ALDI $79 Espresso Machine that's on sale Thursday. Hmm…

  • altomic on 19/12/2010 - 11:50

    harvey norman in rothwell have these for $78.

    I bought the most basic breville machine off ebay for $25 including postage and it is excellent. I've made 500+ cups of coffee in it (I have it at work) and I wouldnt' bother with any other machines now.

    At my old work they had a Saeco machine it was a fairly decent model from memory but I don't see any difference between my basic machine and the saeco. well mainly that the breville one will only do 2 cups at a time and it doesn't have a resevoir jug that you can refill at any time.

    its resevor is "in built" and under pressure once it heats up which means you can't open it to add water until it cools down and/or the pressure is relieved.

    but I've never had a problem with this as I just make 2 cups at a time and it more than sufficenet for this and frothing the milk.

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