Aug 17, 2013 09:04 AM
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(Updated Aug 17, 2013 09:41 AM)
I had been in search for a kitchen chimney for quite some time for our second kitchen. This kitchen being integrated with the dining room would require proper ventilation to prevent the room from getting stuffy and smoky. My hunt for the varied brands began. A quick search over the internet and a small market survey yielded the results; I shortlisted the major brands – Faber, Kutchina and Glen.
Faber: Their website is beautifully furbished and so is their brick and wall showroom. I was contended. All the products under display were properly laid out and the sales person was ready to answer all of my queries. The sales persons were informative of all features and specifications of each and every product. The low end models lacked fit and finish while the high end models were glossy and stark. The salesperson was advising me to go for manual cleaning model against the auto clean one. Their excuse being that manual clean was more durable/easy to maintain in the long run. But manual clean can be tedious and can be a hassle – hence I decided to go for the auto-clean ones. Other than this the sales person was repeatably boasting of their brilliant after sales service which really struck a chord in me. I decided to verify their saying.
My purpose for rejection: I contacted a few close relatives of mine who were using Faber chimneys and to my utter shock they advised me against buying Faber chimneys. Reason being clear lack of after sales service, professionalism and loot/arson of money for parts - frequently. I was dumbfounded!
Kutchina: Frankly speaking, their website is not at all intuitive, lacked proper information and was immature – I was not moved. But every home I visit and every electronics shop I visit I tend to find Kutchina Chimneys being used/displayed/advertised. I was contended – visited the electronics store near my home immediately to check out their range of products. Checked the display and specifications of the Kutchina products under display. Sturdy models, interesting design, good ergonomics and basic features complimented my purpose and hence I decided to go for this brand. Shortlisted few models – Flora (13K) and Florentine (15K).
Glen: Most of the shops I visited kept models whose range started from 16K onwards. I did not want to spend a fortune on a kitchen chimney. In addition to this, I was not aware of Glen after sales in Kolkata hence was not much interested on the product in the first place.
About the Product
Deal: I called up and visited two or three reputed dealers. All of them were ready to offer discounts ranging from 500-1000 INR based on spot payment. I fixed up a deal with one renowned electronic Shoppe in Kolkata. The salesperson initially quoted me a price of 13K for the Flora model. I buckled up a friend of mine who was also interested to buy a kitchen chimney for their kitchen. After much negotiation, we settled in for a deal of 11,800 INR for the chimney. :)
Installation: Installation and setup was neat and clean. Their service professionals were knowledgeable and knew what they were doing. I was impressed by his work.
Product Performance: The chimney is well built and sleek in design. Fit and finish is top notch! It houses a twin suction chamber which has an 800m3/HR suction capacity. Good for a family of 3-4 members. Beyond that a 1000m3/HR is recommended. The chimney is embedded with a kitchen light which is really useful at all time of the day. Fan modes come in low, medium and high to suit all types of cooking. Till date the chimney has been very effective in circulating the exhaust air out of the kitchen/room. We are really satisfied with its pro performance.
Design: The Flora model comes in charcoal black color with few white plant vines which really adds to the contour. The entire setup looks appropriate with a white/grey background. Maintenance: The chimney is equipped with auto-clean technology. Hence the hassle of manual cleaning is not there. Every month auto cleaning is done by press of a single button – child’s play! The excess oil from the machine and motor gets collected in the fiber oil collectors provided with the machine. Other than this the company provides 3 free services in a year and the motor comes with a warranty of 10 years.
Goofs: If you are on the spree of purchasing a kitchen hob/chimney, try not to purchase it from the authorized dealers. They generally quote a much higher price and give discount only on the MRP. The same product would be available in most third party electronic stores at a much competitive and discounted price. I would definitely recommend this product to others.
Any questions/feedback is welcome. Thanks for reading.
~Somjeet~
