New survey results from Consumer NZ show owner satisfaction varies dramatically between brands for food processors, mixers, cooktops and rangehoods.
Consumer NZ’s 2026 Product Ownership Survey draws on the experiences of 8,933 survey respondents across 13 product categories. In each category, brands receive a satisfaction score based on owners’ overall satisfaction with the product and a reliability score based on faults experienced by owners.
The survey results show that the difference between the best- and worst-rated brands within the same category can be dramatic.
“It’s easy to assume one appliance brand is much like another,” says Joe Slater, head of product and strategy at Consumer NZ. “Our data shows that’s not the case. Within the same product category, some brands leave owners satisfied while others leave them wishing they’d chosen differently.”
The satisfaction gap was especially wide with kitchen appliances. Food processors showed the greatest variation, with 45 percentage points between the brands with the most and least satisfied owners. Food mixers, cooktops and rangehoods also showed sharp variation between brands.
Kmart’s Anko had the lowest score for food processors and mixers, with Beko and Midea the lowest for cooktops and Robinhood and Midea for Rangehoods.
Buyers shouldn’t avoid these brands altogether, though. In some cases, brands that scored low in one product category performed well in another.
Owner feedback crucial for spotting unreliable products
Reliability scores indicate how well products are likely to perform over the long term, not just when they’re brand new. Combined with Consumer’s rigorous lab test results, they help buyers avoid expensive mistakes.
“Consumers can easily compare features, design and price on the shop floor, but reliability only becomes clear over time,” Slater says.
“And it’s on the shop floor, and retailer websites, where many people turn for product advice. Meaning many shoppers are getting product information from the same businesses trying to sell them the product.”
Consumer says a bit of homework before you buy can save years of frustration.
“When the difference between brands is wide, choosing well really matters.”
Consumer NZ urges buyers to check its independent reviews before buying, especially for higher-cost, longer-lived appliances, where a poor choice can be expensive and frustrating.