Summary: I bought this toaster for a second home where not much time is spent throughout the year. The toaster worked just fine the first several times it was used. However, after less than a year of extremely minimal use, this toaster developed a major malfunction....namely, it no longer popped the toast up automatically according to the darkness setting (any setting!!!). You had to watch as it toasted, and then manually raise the lever to stop it when the toast reached the \"color\" you wanted....otherwise, the toaster would continue to toast...and evenutally burn to a crisp anything in it!!!
I was stupid and did not save the warranty info or the sales receipt...my stupid fault...so could not return for repair, a replacement or refund. I don't think I would buy another Oster toaster again. Have also become leery of any toaster (or any appliance) that has too many \"features.\" I will focus on just the basic models with fewer \"electronics\" involved. One thing for sure, I will definitely save all the warranty info and the sales receipt on any future purchases.

Summary: If what you want is limp warmed bread this is the toaster for you. Bread that has been inserted into this machine falls short of the very definition of \"toast,\" when the finished product is ejected. I'm inclined to believe that the toasting process that chemically alters and sweetens the bread has only just begun when the toaster is done with it. I found this experience very distressing.

Summary: I knew that for $36, I wasn't going to get a toaster that lasted forever, but I gave the Oster a shot because it had such a long slot I could toast my favorite Portuguese bread without flipping it over. But when I first tried the toaster, the knob wouldn't even stay down. After a few tries I learned that basically manhandling the thing worked about 50% of the time. I let it burn clean a few times (you should always do this) before attempting real toast the next morning. When I did, though, I again had problems and the blue lights wouldn't even come on. I jiggled the chord and there was a loud snap and sparks flew from my GFI outlet, flipping the breaker in my circuit box. I reset the breaker, made a single piece of toast which was about twice as dark on one side as the other. It was fast though.

But life is too short to electrocute yourself over a piece of bread. This hunk of junk goes back to Target this afternoon, after less than 24 hours in house.