SINGER | Magic ESP-2 Electronic Steam Portable with A Large Pressing Surface & Auto Shut-Off with Audible Alarm

JULY 2012 update.So Amazon very nicely sent me a replacement steam press, because thank God I was within the return period!!! This second machine they've sent me, I use about once a week for 1-2 hours at a time just doing a whole load of pressing, the way I used the first machine which had the steam function conk out.So far, this second one has worked fine. Ironing is *not* fun, but this does a good job at making it quite a bit faster, and the steam function is working on this unit unlike my last unit. I was really a little stumped with my first unit. You certainly wouldn't think Singer makes bad stuff, given their hundreds-year old reputation. And I know there've been comments here that this is "cheap stuff" that's "made in China". But you know, quite honestly China makes some of the most forward and state-of-the art tech stuff out there. Every single Apple product is made in China, I mean. You can't get more cutting edge than Apple right?!Anyway this replacement machine is working fine. Whatever was wrong with the first, is not wrong with the second. And as I mentioned even for the first machine, the build quality is very good. So, pretty happy with this if you can be happy with an iron! I've noticed some of the other steam presses with Italian names, are really this unit re-branded. Don't know if there's any particular advantage to buying those vs this one, they are the same. But I went with Sears to go American, even though it's made in China haha.... Oh well.Works fine! Good buy. ;-)-------------MARCH 2012... original purchase date...I *hate* ironing, but when i bought this steam press i *loved* this machine!Really, the first time I used it I was there for like 2 hours happily pressing away and all my clothes and stuff looked like they just got back from the cleaners. I did a lot of shirts, and I did some bedsheets too because I had some guests coming. Otherwise I don't iron bedsheets! But boy wow, did that make the sheets (which were expensive anyway!) feel ultra luxurious and brand new.So.. I decided to only do ironing once a week. And to do it in a big batch. (With the TV on in the background in case I do get bored haha...).Second week I used this, still all fine and good. Used it for about a 2 hour stretch.This past week, which would only the the third time I used it... the STEAM FUNCTION conked out. There's a button on the handle to press for steam. Usually the machine makes this type of odd honking noise, which is the steam part / motor activating. But it does sound like an odd honk of sorts! Well after only about 45 minutes -- water tank still quite full -- no honking noise. And no steam. I wonder what the heck. I unplug it, figure ok maybe it needs to reset or something I dunno. It's like when something's wrong with the computer you just restart it right?!Well still. No honking noise / no steam. Now *I'm* the one getting steamed.I continued to do my ironing, but with no steam. Which is certainly one way to iron, but if I just paid $200 for this then the steam should work. Especially since this is called a "steam press"!Before I bought this machine, I *did* see several reviews where people said the steam function conked out or just never worked from the start. Of course when I bought it I thought, "Well that won't happen to me. I think. I hope. I pray...."But it did! I called Singer. I swear I think they have one person answering the line (1-800-4SINGER). After being told "you're the 15th caller..." and it goes down one by one bye one, about 25 minutes later I'm talking to a lady and she says only certain Singer repair facilities can do the steam machine repair. Luckily, there is one in the area -- about 30 miles away from me. If that's "in the area". I could certainly drive it one day when I have nothing better to do right?...So I call the service center, I ask them how long it'll take to possibly repair and he says, "As soon as they send me a new one. It's usually not worth it to repair the steamer part. It breaks because they use cheap electronics." This is literally what the authorized Singer repair guy is telling me! Singer, btw, told me I would *not* be reimbursed for any postage if I sent it in directly to Singer for repair. But that they would "ship it back to me for free". What -- are they supposed to charge me when they ship it back?!!!Given the Singer brand and it's place in American history, I was REALLY a bit disappointed. I specifically bought this storied American brand because who doesn't know Singer and sewing machines?! There's A LOT of steam presses here on Amazon. I decided I was not going to buy some fancy Japanese or Italian one, because what would happen if I ever needed parts?! I figured I'm gonna buy the good old American one. Good... it was not!When I found out the repair store was only going to ship it back to Singer, who would then send them a new or refurbished machine which I would then have to drive 30 miles back to the repair center to pick up, I checked here on Amazon to see what the exchange policy was. LUCKILY... I have 30 days and today is day 29! So I hit that "exchange / return" button and a new machine is now on the way from Amazon, and I have to ship the defective one back to them for a swap.I *LOVE* that Amazon has this pretty easy defective product / exchange policy. Thank God I got it before my 30 days was up too! Gave me quite a bit more faith in Amazon. Definitely a little disappointed in Singer though. The build on the machine is quite good. I would never think it would break. But whatever's under the shell obviously needs some fine tuning.I think my new machine is supposed to arrive by the end of the week. Just in time for my weekend ironing haha. I'll keep you posted on how well that one stands up. I certainly hope it's better than the first one.

Well there are few game changers in the world of household appliances, but this is ONE BIG GAME CHANGER. Just finished doing the first three items on this new steam presser and THERE IS NO LEARNING CURVE. Silk, cotton and linen all came out just like it comes from the cleaners. Maybe better since it does not have an institutional smell (I like GAIN smell). I am going to learn how to starch the shirts next since now I am convinced this thing will be fine to use on shirts. Took me about 1 minute to press a silk tank...and unlike with a conventional iron, there are no creases since you are not moving the fabric around with the surface of the iron...it also ensures that garments stay in shape as you are not stretching them with an iron. I think this will work well on crinkly fabric...need to test it. I selected this model because they made a few modifications to make it better (changed the off/on switch to the top of the presser, added an easier to click fabric setting panel). I also liked it because it said _ Made in Vietnam rather than China....just a personal thing because I think Vietnam can use the help economically.One tip, when you get the presser and turn it on, remember that it has a shutoff if the "iron" is on while the presser is closed, so open it before you turn it on....that one took me a few minutes to figure out...otherwise, such a simple and straightforward design and so intuitive to use. It works so very fast....you don't need more than a couple of seconds to press each part of the item...and if you press steam, just do it for a sec....it covers a lot of the surface so it quickly moistens the item to make for easier pressing. I've always wanted one...next to the ROOMBA Pet I just got, this is going to save a lot of time so it is my second favorite household (not including kitchen stuff) time saving appliance. By the way, in a couple of reviews it said that when the hinge opens it does so too quickly and can throw the machine backward...maybe they fixed this too, on this model as it does not do that. I am going to get the stand to hold it now that I have tried it.....but on the counter top works fine too. Someone also complained that they kept bumping their hand on the heated surface....I did it once but the learning curve is short and the edges smart but don't burn. This press opens plenty wide to position clothing and items easily. Hope this helps someone who is considering this press...