Russell Hobbs TR9150BKR Retro Style 2-Slice Toaster, Black

Works great. Has great features. temp slider control, Bagel setting, Toasting rack.

During my extensive research to find the perfect toaster, I noticed that most have comparable features and, regardless of price, comparable complaints. Although this toaster is more expensive than I would like, it is just so darn cool looking I had to have it. It actually toasts, too.My favorite feature is the cage that grips and centers the item to be toasted in the slot. This cage also prevents smaller items from being ‘caught’ against the side of the slot, and the ‘extra lift’ helps to get them out. I like the Lift & Look feature, too – it makes it easier to get the exact amount of doneness I want without resetting the browning lever and starting over.Unless you like to watch laundry swirl around in the washing machine or the sport of golf, I’m not sure the Toasting Timer adds to the toasting experience, but can be a focal point, if an inaccurate one, while sipping your morning coffee and planning your day.I haven’t used the Warming Rack yet, but I will. It is easy to set aside when toasting and adds a coolness complexity to the toaster’s appearance. I usually warm bread and buns in the microwave where they get soft and limp, so the Warming Rack will be a nice alternative.My toaster was sold by Amazon and arrived in its original box with the mailing label slapped on the outside. I consider the original box part of the product and not to be intentionally defaced but to be protected from dings, dents, scuffs, and the indifference of the mail carrier by sending it in a shipping box. If you don’t want your neighbors to see what is delivered to your door, or you want a nice clean product box to give as a gift, choose another seller.The price of this toaster is all over the place, sometimes changing daily. I checked the listing the day it was delivered to me and the price was over 30% more than I paid for it (and even more elsewhere). Despite the price, I’m glad I purchased it. It is the star of my kitchen and makes me smile when I look at it. And it actually toasts, too.

It feels funny to say this, but I am genuinely excited about this toaster.This toaster fires (and fires me up) on all cylinders.It literally puts a smile of my face.And no… I’m not being paid to say this. I'm just an average Joe (literally -- my name is Joe) who wants to share my excitement.Not only does this toaster look pretty (the red really pops in our kitchen), it actually has a bagel feature that WORKS. This should go without saying, but in my experience, that’s not a given. Our last two toasters had a bagel button that my son called the “placebo button”. This toaster’s bagel button works as advertised — crunchy on one side, soft on the other side. There’s also the added feature of a red light that comes on when you push the button. No placebo this time.The timer and warming rack are also nice to have. I’ve never had either of these features on another toaster, and I wasn’t sure if they’d be things I’d use very much. It turns out I do use both of them… a lot.And last (but not least)… bread is toasted smoothly and consistently on all sides (i.e., all 4 sides of two pieces of bread). Again, this should go without saying… but I’m saying it anyway.Oh… and there’s also the satisfying tactile experience of the numeric settings clicking into place when you change them. Nice touch. A little thing, but…It’s the little things that matter, isn’t it? I mean, if you get a bunch of little things right, that leads to overall quality and performance.

It's a miracle! It toasts! That's the best thing you can say about a toaster, and believe me, not all toasters do the job. I've only had this toaster a day, but I've tried different types and sizes of bread. All came out evenly toasted on BOTH sides. This toaster has other noteworthy features, too. I like that I can pop the toast up to take a quick peek and resume toasting without restarting the toasting cycle. I like the warming rack. Have not used it yet, but I can see opportunities in the future. The timer is a cute, novel touch, albeit not really necessary. I splurged on the red color and I'm not sorry. It's beautiful. I realize that fact won't excite everybody since a toaster's function is so mundane, but when the aesthetics are combined with functionality, you have a winner. So,why not 5 stars? Well, it needs the test of time before it can earn that. By all standards, this is a pricey toaster. It's surprisingly lightweight, and I'm not sure the flimsy browning level lever will hold up.It comes with a two-year warranty, though,and I intend to hold on to all my paperwork.