The Kambrook 2 Slice Wide Slot Toaster ($28 from Domayne) is the Kia Picanto GT-Line Manual ($17,290 drive-away from Magic Kia, Melville) of toasters while the Smeg Dolce & Gabbana 2 Slice Toaster — Sicily is my Love ($799 toast-away from Domayne) is the Mercedes S560 Cabriolet ($338,900 from Mercedes, Gold Coast).
Now here's the thing. Both the toasters and the cars are covered by Australian Consumer Law, which says if the product is faulty you can take it back for a full refund. While Domayne will happily refund you if your toaster is faulty, only Holden, Toyota and VW have a 60-day refund policy.
As consumer advocacy group Choice, which is campaigning for car companies to abide by the law, says: "A new car is one of the biggest purchases you'll make in your lifetime. But if you get stuck with a lemon, you'll spend more time in the repair shop than you will on the road."
Let me just make that point again. Choice is campaigning for car companies to simply abide by the law. This is not a socialist plot to take over the world. This is simply asking the auto industry to give car buyers the same rights as toaster buyers.
The only way you can win against a car company is to start with a lot of money. Remember Sally Morphy, who bought a new Range Rover in 2016. The Victorian Civil Affairs Tribunal (VCAT) ordered JLRA to refund the purchase price ($235,074 together with consequential losses) and pay costs.