We bought a new kettle
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341947)
Rockingham, Australia
February 8, 2023 9:54am CST
We went shopping today as we had a few things to get. One of them was the electric kettle you can see in the photo. We went for cheap as we only need it to boil water. We have seen ones that give you water the correct temperature for black tea, white tea, various types of coffee, etc but all we wanted was one that would give us hot water.
It cost us $A15 which seemed really cheap to us. The instructions are in clear English, not in some English which has been haphazardly translated from some other language. So we’re satisfied with our purchase but I have to wonder how they can make such an electrical appliance for such a small amount. Somewhere some people are being paid a pittance to make these things but there seems to be nothing you can do about it.
20 people like this
21 responses
@FourWalls (68970)
• United States
8 Feb 23
I appreciate the low-paid people making inexpensive products. What infuriates me is Nike having slave-wage laborers making shoes they sell for $200. 
4 people like this
@FourWalls (68970)
• United States
9 Feb 23
@moffittjc — precisely why I wouldn’t take anything that had Nike’s name on it.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121666)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Feb 23
They pay those slave-labor kids in the Nike factories one small bowl of rice per day.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
8 Feb 23
Electric kettles are not common here, I don't know anyone who has one. When I am in England I see them all the time but not in the US. That is inexpensive and yes some poor laborers are not making a living wage for sure.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
10 Feb 23
@JudyEv We drink coffee not tea and not usually instant so we don't need them.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50528)
• United States
8 Feb 23
My son has one, but you are right. I’ve never known anyone else that has one, but my family.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341947)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Feb 23
That's interesting that they aren't popular in the US. I'm trying to imagine why that might be. They are very common here. @Tampa_girl7 @BelleStarr
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (182108)
• United States
8 Feb 23
That is a nice looking kettle. Will you be taking it on your travels? I got my son one once.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (182108)
• United States
9 Feb 23
@JudyEv I never saw the advantage of an electrical kettle over a tea kettle, unless you are somewhere where you don't have a stove.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341947)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Feb 23
@snowy22315 Probably no advantage at all except that we've always had an electric kettle and rarely had an ordinary one. I don't if the gas would be cheaper than the electricity but our power is virtually free now because of the solar panels.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (90381)
• Arvada, Colorado
8 Feb 23
Many cheap items do the trick just fine Judy. Why spend more.
Your new kettle ..it is nice and hope it lasts well for you.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121666)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Feb 23
They're made in a factory in China using child labor, that's how they can make them so cheaply.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121666)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Feb 23
@JudyEv Don’t feel bad, neither does the United States.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341947)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Feb 23
@moffittjc To me, it's really stupid. If China decides to stop sending us stuff, the whole country would grind to a halt - well, it seems that way. 
1 person likes this
I see that you also get weird translations when you buy appliances. Sometimes it is impossible to understand what those translations mean. This look great and I agree that it's cheap.
@MarieCoyle (38638)
•
9 Feb 23
I had an electric kettle that my aunt gave me. She loved them, she drank a lot of hot tea and it made it handy for her. My son asked me if I still had it and I told him yes, and I never used it, so he took it home. He likes it for different easy things, or even instant coffee, even though he has a microwave. I'm just glad it's getting used, I was wondering why I even kept it. Now, I know!
Glad you got what you needed. Ours is very, very basic.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341947)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Feb 23
This is basic too which is fine. I guess it's just the convenience of it as much as anything.
@Beestring (14686)
• Hong Kong
9 Feb 23
You got a good deal. I bought a Philips electric kettle recently. It costs USD40.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (47657)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
8 Feb 23
Nice enough looking. I have a glass kettle. It cost a bit more than the cheapo plastic one but it's easier to pour and easier to tell if there is enough water in it.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (137669)
• India
9 Feb 23
Water for tea is boiled in a sauce pan as we call it We have no use for an electric kettle
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
8 Feb 23
We had a electric kettle for a while for K to make her tea. When it finally quit, instead of buying a new one, she just heated water in a pan or the microwave. Our not so new Keurig has a Hot Water setting on it that works both for her tea and those time I want to use my French Press for coffee.
The only way to change the wages of the workers who make our goods would be through unionizing and minimum wage legislation in the countries where they live and work - not a likely to happen in the dictatorships many of them live in like China and Vietnam.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (108037)
• Marion, Ohio
9 Feb 23
Hope it works very well for you. Some things are to fancy anymore
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181498)
• United States
8 Feb 23
We have what is called a Hot Shot. Can boil water up to about 1-1/2 cups at a time. I don't think they even make them anymore.
1 person likes this
