Join ConsumerLoginDonate
  • Consumer NZ
  • About us
  • Consumer rights and advice
  • Subscribe to our newsletters
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Community guidelines
  • Contact us
  • Membership
  • Join
  • Membership support
  • Consumer magazine
  • Consumer Advice Line
  • Top tests and reviews
  • Other sites
  • Campaigns
  • Stop misleading supermarket pricing
  • Fix the broken electricity market
  • Flight rights
  • Stamp out scams
  • Right to repair
  • End greenwashing now
  • Fair repayment for retirement village residents

Follow us

© Copyright Consumer NZ. All rights reserved.
<Everyday shopping
  1. Home/
  2. Shopping/
  3. Everyday shopping/
  4. 8 of the worst products we've tested

8 of the worst products we've tested

22 May 2026
Kate

By Kate Harvey

Content Manager | Pou Whakahaere Ihirangi

If you see any of these 8 products on sale, we think you’re better off avoiding them.

Our test team have given them some of the lowest scores on our website. If you're a Consumer NZ member, you can use our test results to find much better products.

Website home page

Get 50% off your first month

Use promo code TRUTH-50 on a monthly online or online + mag Consumer subscription. Terms and conditions apply.

Claim offer

1. Arlec Smart Convection Panel Heater PEH224HA

2. Toshiba RAS-07B2KVG-A / RAS-07B2AVG-A

3. Sunbeam Café Barista EM5000 ($301)

4. Baccarat ID3 hard anodised saucepan with lid,  20cm/3.7L ($190) 

5. Bosch WQG24200AU ($1,734)

6. Haier HRF454TW3 top-mount fridge ($1,367)

7. Living & Co Multi-Cyclonic bagless, corded vacuum  ($99) 

8. Amazon Echo Pop ($87) and Echo Dot (5th gen) ($108)

Their low price might tempt you when you’re walking around the tech stores. But step away from these speakers. You can definitely do much better than these little Amazon ones. Out of the 68 Bluetooth speakers we’ve tested, they share the worst score. You’ll find some much better and cheaper ones in our Bluetooth speakers test.


Image of kitchen products

10 products we love from the thousands we’ve tested

We test thousands of products every year and sometimes find ones that stand out way above the rest.

Read more


Read more:ShoppingTop tests and reviewsEveryday shopping

Comments

Get access to comment
Join Consumer
Log in
Loading comments...

Was this page helpful?

Related articles

Image of a running tap

How to save water using your appliances

24 January 2025
Website promo image 1290 x 860  14  width

Don’t bother with TV Shop

17 January 2024
Image of clothes in a laundry basket

Are you making any of these 10 laundry mistakes?

19 January 2024

11 ways to save money on your mortgage

17 November 2025