Thread: 'Hi-tech' shower

LOL - I saw the same product on Ebay on the weekend and I was almost going to do a similiar post here to yours. Except the item on the weekend sold for $450.

I just can't see how for $1500 they could put such a shower together. I would like to see a unit in the flesh before deciding anything.

I know in brisbane in a new development, a new prefab 2 pak kitchen with sink, cooktop, stove is being supplied for $2000.

A few things have happened lately that leave me open to the idea that the current retail networks in most Western societies have been marking up the cost of household appliance consumer products by 900%.

I met an electrical engineer who designs stoves and cooktops - there are only 3 major factories in the world making stove / cooktop components. The brand name companies buy their stoves.cooktops in KITS which they then assemble in their own factories in various countries.

Doogie, I suggest you have a chat to your Electrical Engineering mate when he's had a few less ales. It's true some components (mainly burners for gas cooktops and the like) are used by a majority of manufacturers and they also buy in a considerable number of other components,like any modern manufacturing business (Holdens for instance). But to suggest there are only three manufacturers in the world is laughable. There are eight major appliance [B]component[B] manufacturers in the US alone. Some items, like the glass tops for electric cooktops are only made buy a few makers.

As for 900% markups! Most retailers of kitchen appliances are getting close to working on rebates, as their margins are cut to the bone.Trust me on this, I sell appliances as well as other building products and appliances are definitely the lowest margin items.

Concerning these shower/spa/sauna units. We used to sell high quality Italian and Spanish units. They were well made and performed as expected, but cost around $8-10,000! Needless to say we sold very few. The Chinese made units are direct copies and I also can't believe how they can do it for the price, despite having seen how crudely they are constructed. I wouldn't personally take the risk with these. You are connecting obviously budget made hosing to a permanently open connection (the hose from the male outlet to the mixer). Apart from not being watermarked (registered) or complying with WELS (which will mean if anything screws up and floods your house you are going to have a hard time convincing your insurance to pay out) I think, going on the performance of most of the budget Chinese stuff (There is some very good product also coming from there) do you really want to go through the hassle of fitting something like this to see it screw up in 13 months time?

That's not to say ignore all Chinese products, we are now selling vanity units at half the price we could sell the Australian made products and they are reasonably well constructed using HMR MDF. I just wouldn't touch any of the budget tapware etc.

Cheers,

Mark

I don't klnow anything about the units you're talking about, but I do have a dodgy chinese mixer tap.

My recommendation is - don't do it. My tap soulds like there's a cat stuck in the pipes. Every time you turn it on, the noise is unbearable - easliy heard at the other end of the house.

In my opinion, it just isn't worth the small savings to use poor quality tapwear. Same rule applies for the shower you're looking at.

Just my 5c worth.

Trav

Originally Posted by Trav

I don't klnow anything about the units you're talking about, but I do have a dodgy chinese mixer tap.

My recommendation is - don't do it. My tap soulds like there's a cat stuck in the pipes. Every time you turn it on, the noise is unbearable - easliy heard at the other end of the house.

In my opinion, it just isn't worth the small savings to use poor quality tapwear. Same rule applies for the shower you're looking at.

Just my 5c worth.

Trav

Not a water hammer problem, definitely the tap?

Nope, not hammering. Just a dodgy tap. Its a consistent sound

i think i know the shower units you are talking about. they had a couple of new ones at a local demolitionist a while ago. Quality didn't blow me away. they were very thin fiberglass shells with really cruddy chromed plastic fittings. The sort you could imagine having the chrome rubbed off in no time. I know they would be better secured than they appeared on the showroom floor but i don;t think they are worth the future time and effort.