I just dropped my steam station - and i need help buying a new one

[Bathsheba]

I know what you mean Yael... I agree, don't pay for a name. Wouldn't it be good to have a go first? it is hard... sometimes you get what you pay for some times you don't. With electrical items it seems to me that you don't always benefit by paying more. One example from my experience is that I won't necessarily trust the Miele brand... learnt the hard way (paid nearly $3000 for a Miele dishwasher that wasn't as good as our current $500 Dishlex!).

I really hope you are able to get a few endorsements or otherwise regarding the LS station. I'm curious as well!!!

One day we hope to upgrade to a Maytag washing machine... and this also is going to seem like a huge upgrade "jump". But having used a Maytag at my old workplace (for over 2 years) I feel confident that it's what i want.

Maybe Google for some reviews? (For Laura Star). it would be interesting to find out what people are saying. Does any other brand make a comparable product?

[Yael]

I know, my friend has a Miele and thinks it's pretty ordinary. I think 10+ years ago, the products were a lot better, and now everyone thinks that Miele products are still the same. We contemplated with both our dishwashers (x2) and washing machines to go Miele or Maytag, but i couldn't justify for over 1000k each per item that i was really getting that much more for the price. The features were pretty similar.

Most of the reviews i've read just gush about how great they are because the are a steam station, not because of their product features. I want a comparision between a $400 model and a $1000 model, and then to justify was the extra features/ease of use/quality of the product worth the extra $600. For some things you are better off getting the cheaper model that still has 90% of the features and might last 10 years instead of 15, but then in 10 years time pay the money you saved to get a new model then with more features.

That being said, if i ran an ironing business etc and it would get tremendous amounts of use and the extra features/ease of use would make a difference every single time i used it, i would happily pay the extra.

It's all about adding up the extra price and objectiviely valuating if you are prepared to pay and extra $xx for xxx. A lot of time i have had the money, so it wasn't a scrimping thing, and refused to pay it just on principle because i could not see how that item was worth that amount of money (and ipod for example, when i'm paying just for the apple name).

[nic]

Yael, Have you seen this on the laura star website?

Laurastar DIRECT ONLY: Trade in offer -NOW ON-Trade in your old iron and receive a minimum $100 off the RRP of any NEW Laurastar iron. Promotion details- $100 for any common iron, $200 for any steam station and $300* for any Laurastar steam system. (one trade in per new iron, not to be used in conjunction with any other offer, ends March 28, 2009)

They have a list of their stockists and direct factory outlets in melbourne and sydney. Maybe going in to one of their stores,, they can show you the different features between the models.

Nic