Admittedly, at $4.95, I wasn't out a fortune, but I did expect the pump to last longer than two months. With normal use, the top cracked, and soap started to leak down the sides of the dispenser. I went to the site to leave a review and found that I wasn't the only person to have this problem. Knowing it would be more trouble than it was worth to return the pump, I simply tossed it and ordered something different.
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| The offending bottle...No bargain at $4.95 |
My order arrived from Wayfair a couple of days ago, and I am thrilled with my new Umbra Penguin soap pump. First of all, I think this pump bottle is even more aesthetically pleasing than the one from CB2. More importantly, though, the product seems designed to last. The entire black sleeve screws off to reveal a tall, clear container that holds a whopping 15 ounces of liquid, and a narrow window in the sleeve shows how much is left in the bottle. Also, it has the same matte "soft touch" finish as the one from CB2. It was three times the price, but I expect it to be worth every penny.
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| Umbra Penguin soap dispenser |
In case black isn't your color, the Penguin also comes in white, red, avocado and nickel. (And, no, I haven't embarked on a career as a product reviewer. I've just found some things the past couple of days that I thought you'd love. We will now return to our regularly scheduled program.)
I saw the Umbra when I was looking for dispensers. They're very cool. Hope it lasts longer than that dodgy one. xx
ReplyDeleteMe too...two months of use is probably the shortest service record of anything I've ever bought. The Umbra seems very sturdy, so I'm expecting it to be around for a while.
DeleteOooh that's so nice Dana (and it looks exactly like a little penguin!) I'll have to keep it in mind when our bathroom's finished.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it a cute shape? And it's so much larger than most soap pumps, so you don't have to fill it every time you turn around.
DeleteI like when people review products off their own bat. I enjoy seeing things people use around the home. I hope your latest dispenser lasts. It's always disappointing when products are obviously not made with longevity in mind. Seems to be the thing now.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous!
I normally read reviews before I buy a product, so I try to return the favor and review products I buy too. I don't know if the CB2 dispenser was too new to have any reviews when I bought it or if I was so into my buying frenzy for my new apartment that I didn't bother to look, but maybe my review will keep someone else from throwing away $5.
DeleteI think one of the reasons we all like vintage items so much, aside from their looks, is that real effort went into making a good product that would last, and that has been rewarded by decades of use. You're right that most products today are specifically designed to be disposable and to make us constant consumers.
I actually also enjoy product reviews from my favorite bloggers. They provide good tips and ideas. Speaking of planned obsolescence -- when we remodeled our kitchen the first time, we bought all new appliances. The dishwasher, refrigerator and washer/dryer all broke nearly at the same time in the 10th year. Seriously?
ReplyDeleteI've got a big "Seriously?" of my own. My a/c unit just went out. I know it's under warranty, and it will be fixed soon, but that doesn't make it any cooler in here right now. :(
DeleteHope your a/c is repaired soon Dana. What shame the original bottle didn't last.
ReplyDeleteThe new one looks good though.
I bought a watch two weeks ago and it's already stopped keeping time.
Grant you - it was cheap and cheerful, but I can't believe it only lasted two weeks!!
Turned out the a/c was overcharged with freon, so it was an easy fix. Luckily, we got rain last night, so the weather turned cool.
DeleteI think your watch story trumps my bottle story! Two weeks? That's incredible.