I ordered the Demeyere Proline 7, 28 cm stainless steel frying pan on 26 July for a total of €239. It arrived on 31 July with quite a few issues. Order number 5300058.
1. The packaging was very poor, with the helper handle fully sticking out the side because the box was too small for the frying pan.
2. When I opened it, I immediately turned it over and put a straight edge ruler against the base. I was very surprised to find that the base was significantly warped. Given that this pan is marketed as ‘great for induction’, it is essential that the base is completely flat.
3. In addition to the warping, there were scratches all over the base of the frying pan, consistent with it being slid backwards and forwards on a gas burner. In other words, this pan, sold as brand new, had clearly already been used.
4. It also had a burn mark on the side of the rim, which is typically caused by exposure to extremely high temperatures – another indication of prior use.
5. On the inside of the pan, there were five weld marks, despite the pan being marketed as ‘rivet free’ and ‘smooth’.
I raised all of the issues on 1 August and immediately received an AI-generated response requesting photos. I took several photos and sent them back with detailed descriptions of the issues. Then the company went completely silent. I followed up repeatedly over the next two weeks, but never heard a thing. Finally, on 13 August, I felt I was out of options so I submitted a chargeback with my bank.
All of a sudden, they were very keen to talk to me. They contacted me and requested that I send them all of the photos again, which I did. Several days passed and I got a generic return email – no apology, no explanation of the issues, no choice of replacement – just a generic ‘print these labels’ email. The email said they couldn’t process a replacement, so if I wanted another, I could go to their site and order again.
I went to the website and the price was now €259. To be clear, I wanted a replacement, which I am entitled to under my consumer rights, but all they offered me was to go buy it again AT A HIGHER PRICE. I made several further attempts to contact them to get an explanation of the issues and try to get a replacement at the same price, but they are just back to ignoring me.
It is now 31 August and I STILL DO NOT HAVE MY REFUND, despite raising this issue on 1 August and sending the product back on 17 August. I would strongly suggest avoiding this company.