As much as I would love a jadeite colored toaster, I could never justify spending $300 on one. I prefer my toaster oven anyway, as it's far more useful and takes up only a little more space than a regular toaster.

WHOA-that's a lotta bread to spend on a toaster!

I think I'll struggle with the one I got from the grocery store.

My mixer and food processor expenditures are justifiable...not so much with a toaster.

I sort of agree w/verily (I too, love that color!) - however, my toaster oven rocks. Plus, that Dualit would have to scrub my floors and wash the dishes in order to justify its existence.

Get thee to a Williams Sonoma outlet store. I bought my Dualit (blue, two-slice) there a couple of years ago for $70. Still a pricey toaster, but not $300. It does have two very minor dings in the metal (you can see them only if the light hits a certain way). They had four-slice ones as well, probably slightly higher price. Call first to make sure they have them, since it's been a while since I bought mine.

Love my toaster, by the way! Low-tech (for example, the toast does not pop up by itself, you have to use the little lever), but terrific. I will say that it is NOT wide-slice friendly, so big bagels won't necessarily fit.

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I have a beautiful, shiny stainless steel 4-slice dualit toaster. I love it and use it every day. It's just one of those things that make me happy.

I love my Dualit, and make no apologies for it. I fully expect it to be the only toaster I will ever own. It also makes lovely crisp English-style toast. It is a very functional piece industrial art.

p.s. we don't have problems with toasting bagels in ours, but then we always get Montreal-style bagels, which are skinnier than New York-style ones.

I own a blue 4-slice Dualit. It works great and looks beautiful. No regrets!

Is it "worth it"? Of course not. It's a fun stylish option for ppl who like it for its looks, and if they have the urge to drop the coin then great for them. But in terms of "making toast", is it worth it? No. No no no, a thousand times no. It makes good toast, approximately as good as many units you might buy at the local megamart.

We use a good toaster / convection oven, Ours makes great toast. It also does a dozen other things from roasting vegetables (cauliflower, brussel sprouts, etc) to baking pizza when the main oven is in use or unnecessarily large. Even though we got a high end model toaster oven, it was still cheaper than the uni-tasking Dualit.

I've got a cream 2-slice, which is perfect for my little London flat. I've never had a problem with it; it's almost 3 years old now and works and cleans well. It was pricey (I think £55 or so), but definitely worth it!

Oh, but Susmita is right- this British toaster will not tolerate fat American bread products! If you toast a lot of NYC-style bagels, you might want to consider another brand. (I tend to favour the thinner Montreal-style ones, which I make myself, and they fit fine.)

I also got mine at a W-S outlet -- a chrome 2-slicer for $30! someday I fantasize about getting rid of all my extra appliances (I could make toast in the oven), but the chunky Dualit makes me too happy to consider losing her...

They're beautiful, but I love my toaster oven. I tried a slot toaster for a while and hated not having the versatility of a toaster oven for things like warming leftover pizza, preparing tuna melts, etc. And of course, the tray and top-brown for English muffins.

Is it "worth it?" YES! You may be able to find toaster that make decent at your local mega mart for cheaper, but they won't last.

I have a 2-slot Dualit (Chrome) toaster that is well over 10 years old and I've never had a problem with it. It makes great toast. It doesn't have all the unnecessary features that other toasters have, which means less to break.

I feel it is worth it to pay for a high quality appliance that is going to last a lifetime (and possible more) than to keep buying cheap plastic ones that only last a few years.

That sentence should read, "...that makes decent toast..."

I wish their was an edit feature!

Yes, they are absolutely worth it. You'll never have to buy another toaster again. My brother got one as a wedding present about 20 years ago and it's still going strong. Considering how quickly most toasters die, it's a good investment in the long run. And yes, you can get them cheaper at a Williams-Sonoma outlet.

Not at all! We bought one years ago and while it is fine, I wouldn't buy it again. Not for the price!

Yes! The only toaster I've ever loved. Totally worth the price.

I have a dualit I picked up at the thrift store for $10...new in the box! We love it and after 2 years I understand why they're so expensive. They work great, are bomb-proof and the one we have also is good on sandwiches, repairable & they really do keep your toast warm once the timer ends I would buy one if I was looking for a toaster but I think I'll have this one forever. I just picked up another one to sell that is in like new condition but is gently used. If someone is interested reply to me and I'll let it go for $99 here in Chicago. 4 slice, narrower slots, chrome & black...just to make myself clear...I love this stupid toaster.

these are neat. Love the look. If I found one on sale I would be down with it. Until then, toast under the broiler.

My Inlaws have one and i really think its a waste. I have a $50 toaster oven and it works perfectly. The toaster they have 1-has to be preheated and 2- must be watched or WILL burn your toast. i really cant see myself ever spending that much on a toaster just for its design which apparently is not worth $300 and the bagels get stuck!

The Dualit I've had forever doesn't need to be preheated (and I toast bread from frozen) and won't burn the toast unless you set it to toast for too long (but then, any toaster will burn toast if you set it to toast for too long). It makes great toast - and great toasted bagels too. We must get skinner bagels than others, not had a problem with them getting stuck.

Agreed on the general fabulousness, but $300? Ouch, you're being ripped off, surely? They're a lot less than that here in the UK.

received mine a gift six years ago and i don't expect to replace it in my lifetime... and its simply some of the best toast ever.

We've had a two-slicer for about 10 years now and it has been great. No problems with it, but it's pretty manual, so I wouldn't expect many problems. All in all, we've enjoyed it.

I can weigh in on the lite vs. regular question. my parents have a regular in red (that my mom found at a tj maxx for $50--the crumb drawer had been jammed in at an awkward angle, but was easily fixed) and I have a lite.

both are better than any other toaster I've ever owned/used. the regular feels and looks more substantial as it is all metal, but it does take up a lot more room on the counter.

for me, one of the key points, huge price difference aside, was that the four slice lite version is really two long slots so that you can do 4 slices of regular bread or two slices of a longer bread. I LOVE to toast panettone during the holidays (I start eating it right after thanksgiving and keep going until I use up my stockpile, which will probably be early-feb.), so I wanted a longer slot for that.

the regular does toast slightly more evenly than the lite and has a nice feature where the toast doesn't pop out, so you can leave it in the toaster to stay warm if your tea hasn't finished steeping.

I have a cheapo toastmaster that I inherited from my sister when she got married. It's about 11 years old and it toasts bread well, quickly, from frozen, without burning. It can fit bagels inside of it, and is light enough to be moved into the cupboard during the times when I'm not using it. for extra crispy toast, I just stick the toast back in a second time and set it to "light". IT even has a specific setting for pop-tarts :)
no toaster will ever be worth $300 to me, even if it was the most beautiful toaster in the world and I had money to throw out the window. because it's just a freaking toaster.

Uh...what in the world are you doing to your generic toasters that are causing them to break?

We must have had our toaster for 15 years, and I am assured it is a no-name brand, probably made in China, and it has been great to my family for all this time.

I say you can't possibly justify the $300 with that line of reasoning. Nor have I met many people who have ever had to buy two toasters. (No, seriously, are you people toast-monster-outliers or something? :P) However, if you do like the style and look of a Dualit, and can part with your cash, go for it.

We've had a Dualit for a couple of years. My husband bought it on line. I hate it. It is difficult to use and has only 3 slots (who designs a toaster with 3 slots?) DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!

Yes totally worth it.

I own a three-slot Dualit (the third slot is for muffins, heaters on one side only). I'm reminded of my youthful days with MGs with electrics by Lucas, "the prince of darkness." It works and I've gotten used to its quirks, but I'm not sure I'd recommend it.

This looks tempting: http://www.fastcodesign.com/1670107/what-a-toaster-teaches-you-about-the-future-of-user-interfaces

DON'T BUY - RUBBISH
We have received 2 as gifts shortly after buying one ourselves - our purchase lasted 2 months. Whilst we were arguing with the shop about a replacement (really! its under guarantee folks) we used another - it lasted 4 weeks. We were still awaiting the first replacement toaster at this stage. So 2 toasters down and one to go - well it went after 4 months. We still had the new replacements - we tried to take the lot back and then issued proceedings to reject the lot and the shop refunded all of our 3 toasters. The shop admitted in Court that they were no longer stocking Dualit because of the number of returns - they told the judge that years ago Dualits lasted forever but in the last few years the quality has gone through the floor and told the judge that it wasn't their fault.

Do you still own your Dualit toaster? If so, is it for sale?

Hello, I just joined the site. I am looking to purchase a Dualit toaster. Please let me know if you still have an extra one or come across another one to sell. Thanks!

Hi there, I have a red 2 slice dualit toaster, gently used and in excellent condition. Are you still looking for one?