in this case
- Andrew Fogel bought a Paris Rhône milk frother through Amazon and used it less than twenty-five times before it stopped turning on just over a year later, right after the warranty expired.
- He contacted the manufacturer and sent a video showing the problem. Paris Rhône admitted there was an internal defect but said the warranty had expired and offered only a 12 percent discount on a new frother.
- Fogel felt the offer wasn’t fair for a product that barely survived its first year with minimal use, arguing it smelled like planned obsolescence when a $30 appliance dies shortly after the warranty ends.
When Andrew Fogel’s milk frother sputters to a stop right after the warranty ends, he gets steamed. Fogel rarely used his Paris Rhône appliance before it died. And now the manufacturer wants to offer him only a discount towards a new machine. Can it do that?
Question
I bought a Paris Rhône milk frother through Amazon. I barely used the item — less than twenty-five times, maybe — and now it no longer turns on. I’ve had it for just over a year.
Frothers are fairly simple machines, so this one should have worked longer than a year. Mr. Fogel could have checked with his credit card for help. My American Express card doubles the manufacturer’s warranty. This helped me when a laptop component died after the warranty expired. Since I used my AmEx, I got the repair done and AmEx refunded the cost. Even though it was only $30, the item should still have worked long past the warranty, making this a worthy case.
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I contacted the manufacturer and even sent a video showing the problem. Paris Rhône admitted there was an internal defect but said the warranty had expired. It offered me a 12 percent discount on a new frother. I don’t think this is fair. Can you help me get a replacement? — Andrew Fogel, Wantagh, N.Y.
Answer
I don’t blame you for feeling steamed. I would, too. A product that dies just after the warranty expires smells a lot like planned obsolescence. Companies will point to the letter of the warranty — one year and you’re done — but that doesn’t end the conversation.
You do have legal protections beyond the manufacturer’s warranty. Under the Uniform Commercial Code, which governs most sales in the United States, every consumer product comes with what’s called an implied warranty of merchantability. That’s legalese for “this thing should work as intended for a reasonable amount of time.”
If a milk frother barely survives its first year, you could argue it’s not fit for its ordinary purpose. Some states enforce these implied warranties for up to four years, though you usually have to press the case in small claims court to get results.
That said, companies count on the fact that few consumers will take them to court over a $30 appliance. They know most people will sigh, toss the broken item in the trash, and click “Buy” again. It’s a frothy business model that guarantees them future customers.
I almost told you to check the reviews for your frother the next time, but when I looked up your Paris Rhône model, it came back with 4 ½ stars on Amazon, which is pretty decent. Sure, there are a few bad reviews on the product, but that’s pretty normal. You couldn’t have known this appliance would stop working after 13 months.
In reviewing your email correspondence, I noticed that you didn’t get Amazon involved in this problem. But you might have. After all, you purchased the frother on its platform, and Amazon has a reputation for standing behind its products, sometimes even after their warranties have expired.
Fortunately, when you asked my advocacy team for help, we were able to apply a little pressure to the manufacturer. We shared your correspondence and the video you took with Paris Rhône, and this time the company perked up. It agreed to send you a brand-new, upgraded frother at no cost, without even requiring you to return the broken one. That’s a much better response than a 12 percent coupon code.
The lesson? Don’t let a company whisk you away with a “sorry, out of warranty” line. Always document the problem, keep your receipts, and point out that consumer law expects a product to last a reasonable time — not just until shortly after the ink dries on the warranty card. If the company still won’t listen, you can escalate to executives, file a small claims action, or — like you did — ask a consumer advocate for help.
Your frothing failure wasn’t the end of the world, but it exposed how fragile these warranty promises can be. The company made things right when pressed, but you shouldn’t need an advocate to get a fair shot at preparing your morning latte.
Your voice matters
Andrew Fogel’s milk frother died just over a year after purchase with less than 25 uses. Paris Rhône admitted to an internal defect but offered only a 12% discount because the warranty expired, raising questions about planned obsolescence.
- Should manufacturers be legally required to honor implied warranties beyond the stated warranty period when products fail with minimal use?
- Should companies that admit to internal defects be prohibited from hiding behind expired warranties to deny replacements?
- Have you had a product fail shortly after the warranty expired, leaving you stuck with a discount code instead of a replacement?
What you’re saying
Readers called it planned obsolescence, suggested using credit card extended warranties, and debated whether implied warranties exist when manufacturers admit defects.
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Planned obsolescence cycle
737MAXPilot called it a profitable cycle of planned obsolescence, with companies counting on people throwing products away. M.C. Storm finds appliances only work as long as the warranty is valid. Blues Traveler said a frother dying after a few dozen uses is just landfill. Miles Will Save Us All noted Amazon has become a graveyard of disposable tech.
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Credit card extended warranties
Tim suggested checking credit cards for help, noting his American Express doubles manufacturer warranties and refunded his laptop repair. Dee Eagle reminded readers that some credit cards include longer warranties and will simply refund the purchase.
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The warranty debate
Pat argued there’s no implied warranty beyond what’s written, noting people often lie about usage. AJPeabody warned that forcing replacements for admitted defects would make companies never admit defects. George Schulman noted the UCC allows express warranties to modify implied warranties. Dangerous Ideas wondered if it was just a lemon, questioning longevity expectations for $30 electronics.
