By Carey Rossi on November 15, 2010 in
Both Target and Meijer are offering super-cheap microwaves on Black Friday -- approximately $30 (less if you send in a rebate). We’ll leave the allure of rising before the sun to save around $22 up to your discretion. But, here’s what we can tell you about whether said microwaves are worth spending your hard-earned cash on.
How good can a $33 microwave oven be?
When the Black Friday circulars were leaked, this was the first thing the ConsumerSearch.com editors asked each other. Target will offer an Oster Microwave oven for $33 between the hours of 4 AM and 10 AM. That's markedly less than its regular price of $54.99. From what we can tell, this 0.7 cubic-foot, 700-watt microwave could be either Oster model number OGG3701 or OGYU701. Both have a one-touch cook setting, 10 adjustable power levels and express cooking and weight defrost. We found each these models offered for $54.99 to $89.24. Then things get a little lean—as in there isn’t much information out there about Oster microwaves, period. That includes user reviews, which basically say, “it’s cheap and it works.” Though it is worth noting that one Best Buy user needed to replace it after three months.
Meijer is also advertising a microwave in its leaked Black Friday circular. For $29.99 ($19.99 if you send in the manufacturer’s rebate) you can be the owner of a Magic Chef 0.7 cubic-foot, 700-watt digital microwave (Est* $59.99 regular price). Like the Oster models, it has 10 power levels, express cooking, and weight defrost. It carries a one-year warranty on parts and labor and an 8-year warranty on its magnetron. Again, user reviews are scarce. While most of the reviews on Buzzillions.com would recommend this microwave to a friend because of its small size and ability to work well — including in a lunchroom setting — one user describes erratic behavior, saying that on two occasions, he's come home to find it running on its own.
The bottom line: If you need a microwave, these models are cheap and, for many, they work. Whether they do likewise for you, however, could come down to luck.
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