Reconditioned vs New
Here at Waterford Stanley we believe our cast iron range cookers are designed to last for many years, in fact decades. It is because of this longevity and the superior craftsmanship which goes in to creating each cast iron cooker that some people consider buying a used Stanley, AGA or Rayburn cooker instead of a new one.
A reconditioned, or refurbished Stanley, AGA or Rayburn cooker means the major strip down and rebuild of an appliance with has nothing to do with the brand themselves. A reconditioned cooker may already be over 30 years old and made up of parts from different cookers.
Just because reconditioned cookers have a Stanley, AGA or Rayburn badge, doesn’t mean the cooker is approved by us.
Buying a Used, Refurbished or Reconditioned Stanley, AGA or Rayburn is full of Pitfalls. See below for more information.
Pitfalls
Each cast iron cooker must be perfectly built and calibrated to work properly, and a poorly built cooker will not run efficiently or deliver the right level of cooking temperatures.
Each fuel requires significant variations in cast iron internal components as well as the burner area and controls. It is not possible therefore to merely exchange a burner type to use a different fuel. Can you be assured that a conversion is successful and safe?
Each new cooker is designed to achieve maximum performance from the fuel used and typically will operate more economically than a conversion.
Think of it a little like buying a 30-year-old diesel car that originally started life as a petrol model. The fuel source may have changed, but the car wasn't designed and engineered that way from the beginning.
What is included in the price?
When comparing prices, it is important to understand exactly what is included.
With a new AGA cooker, delivery and connection come as standard, along with a five-year parts and labour warranty.
When buying second-hand or reconditioned, there may be additional costs for delivery, installation and connection. It is also worth checking what warranty is provided, what it covers and how long it lasts.
There can be differences in installation requirements too. Today’s electric AGA cookers do not require an external flue or a concrete plinth.
What levels of control?
Will you get with a reconditioned cooker?
This will depend on the age of the original cooker and how it has subsequently been converted or reconditioned.
The AGA cooker of today has been designed around control from the outset. Depending on the cooker you choose, cast-iron ovens and hotplates can be independently controlled, allowing you to use the heat you need, when you need it.
Heat-on-demand hotplates can be switched on when required, while different oven settings make it easy to adapt your AGA to the way you cook, the seasons and the rhythm of your week. This greater control can also help you manage energy use and running costs.
Depending on the cooker you choose, the AGA cooker of today can also combine cast-iron cooking with induction and fan-oven options, giving you even more flexibility.
Safety
There are problems and risks associated with buying a converted appliance. It has been reported that converted AGA cooker owners were having a variety of problems, from ignition difficulties to dangerous ventilation systems. In some cases, a new range cooker could have been purchased for the same amount of money customers were forced to spend, in order to get the cheaper model modified and made safe.
You can’t always guarantee that genuine parts have been used as some parts are exclusive to Waterford Stanley brands.
More on AGA Range Cookers
For almost 100 years AGA cookers have been at the heart of many homes. AGA has a wealth of content available to their AGA Community
Advantages of Buying a new AGA
You get exactly the product you want, purpose built. Our current AGA cooker models are electric, and they offer:
- Additional controllability and flexibility – resulting in lower running costs.
- In-room venting which means that you do not need an external flue and can site anywhere in your kitchen.
- Induction hob options.
- Combination of cast-iron ovens and conventional fan oven (AGA Compact)
- No regular servicing required, saving money on ongoing running costs versus a reconditioned AGA.
- No concrete plinth required, saving money on pre-installation costs.
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