SAGA of the PLASTIMO STOVE
In April 2001, (Keep in mind, this is now October.) our old galley stove developed some serious rusted out leaks, and we were not able to repair or replace the defective parts. So from Palma on Mallorca, we ordered a new Plastimo Pacific 3000 cook stove with oven, to be delivered to us in Soller on the north coast of Mallorca. It was a couple of days late in arriving, but we installed it and threw out the worn out twenty-three year old Kenyon stove. Off we went, but in a few days realized that not only did the piezoelectric starter not work on any of the burners, but also the oven would not heat up to anything more than a warm temperature. We called the dealer in Palma, who thought it would be the thermostat, and he would get us a replacement. We rented a car from Pollensa and went to Palma to get it, only to be informed the company wanted the stove sent back for repair to Barcelona. It would be back in a week. Ha!  A week later we called Barcelona to be informed they had sent it to France and it would be three weeks! Meanwhile we were cooking on a single burner mounted on our Camping Gaz tank. We did not intend to wait around Mallorca for three weeks, and arranged for it to be delivered to Mahon on Menorca. It was not there when promised (in three weeks) but arrived only three days later. We were anxious to get going to Tunisia, and left the day after installing it. However, we noticed after a week or so that although the oven seemed to heat up OK, it would spontaneously shut off! We put up with this until we reached Malta in late June, and went through a cooperative chandlery, D'Agata Marine, who also handled Plastimo. They called the headquarters in France for us. We were ready to demand our money back (Pesatas from Spain delivered to us in Maltese lira, or refund on our Visa from the dealer in Palma 750 miles away? - A real can of worms!). France said they would replace the stove. Good, when? We naively hoped there would be one in stock in Malta some place that we could pick up or have delivered. No way! They were at the end of their run on manufacturing this stove and no more would be available until the third week of August. It was now the first week of July. OK, could they ship it to Greece, to Levkas where we should be by that time or the beginning of Sept.? Yes, they would and we would return their defective stove. OK, the beginning of Sept. Ha! At least we had a stove instead of an empty space with a gas bottle. However, one of the two main burners did not work, and so we cooked for three months on one main burner and the small back burner. We were later than planned, not getting into Levkas until the 26th of Sept. Surely it would be waiting for us! Ha! Not there! We called and were assured it was shipped on Sept 21, and should be there within a day or so. Ha! But, we had to hang around waiting for it and so cruised some of the Ionian Islands for two more weeks, until it finally arrived on Oct. 11th. We installed it and cooked a pizza the first night to ensure the oven worked properly. It did. The only defects this time are that the piezoelectric start does not ignite the back burner or the oven. However, we can light them with a match, and can live with these defects. It is good to have a more or less fully operational stove at last, after over six months of using one and a half burners.  There was no note of regret for our inconvenience, and no explanation of what the problem was. We ordered two extra thermocouples so we can repair any further problems ourselves. They of course charged us for the thermocouples. However, they absorbed the costs of shipping the defective stove back. I am not impressed with Plastimo! Back to the log