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Folks, please do your homework. Try and find contact information, warranty, etc. on the web sites of any company you are considering purchasing a copper sink from. Many hide their identity, do not show any warranty information and some only take checks. These issues should be red flags! Read the use and care statements (if they have any). I have taken the following text (word for word) from over a dozen copper sink web sites. I find the statements nothing short of astonishing! Don't believe us? Google the statements in magenta. See for yourself. Want to have some fun, try and find the warranty and use and care information on copper sink web sites. Some hide the information pretty well. Read on and you can see why!
Our use and care for copper sinks is two sentences long and we offer a lifetime warranty. Makes you wonder why most have a year warranty and paragraphs of do's and don'ts...
The magenta text is taken from other copper sink websites. The gray text is our comments.
To keep sinks in pristine condition, dry after use. Copper Sinks will
replace without charge, (excluding labor) any copper sink supplied by Copper
Sinks that is proven to be defective, with an equivalent replacement, within
the specified appropriate period from date of purchase, to the original
owner, provided it has been used solely in a residential application and
installed in accordance with the Copper Sinks installation instructions,
used and cleaned as recommended, and not damaged due to abuse, misuse, or
negligence.Did you read that? They recommend drying your sink after
every use. Then they state the warranty is only good if used and cleaned as
recommended. Did you also note there is no specific time for the warranty?
Copper is also malleable. Materials that are malleable can be hammered or
stretched or rolled into various shapes with relative ease, while still
maintaining their strength. Some metals, like copper, are also ductile,
which means they are flexible. Should your sink arrive with a bent edge, it
can be hammered back into position with little effort. Use a wooden or
rubber mallet to straighten any edges that may have been altered in
shipping. Annealed copper is very soft. You might want to buy a
mallet ahead of time. If shipping is going to cause the sink to deform, what
will the constant use of a disposer do? Folks, I am just copying word
for word. Makes you wonder...
Do not use abrasive materials or harsh chemicals on
any of our products – these can harm the surface.
Not a problem at all on our sinks. Harming a surface is not an issue with
our sinks. Whatever you do to the sink will not permanently harm our sinks.
The natural patina will indeed return in time and blend in with our original
patina.
Keep your basin and drain clean and dry by wiping it
down periodically with a soft cloth.
Keep your basin dry? Are we still talking about a sink here? There are at
least two companies who suggest wiping down the copper sink after each use.
Can you say "High Maintenance"?
For extra protection, a product such as “Renaissance
Wax” may be applied to the copper surface periodically.
Wax a sink? Using wax eliminates the antibacterial properties of the sink!
The competition clearly does not understand the natural properties of
copper. We have been manufacturing copper long before most of these
companies. There were only two of us online back in 1999. Now look at the
dozens of newcomers!
Due to the variation in dimensions of our handcrafted
basins (up to 1/2"), we do not supply templates. We recommend waiting to
receive your actual bowl before making any cuts in the counter top.
Should say… “Due to the poor workmanship”. These are not one of a kind
sinks. How is it possible that they can not make them all the same? Our
custom sinks have a 1/16” tolerance. When we make more than one identical
sink at a time, they are exactly alike. I have been in showrooms where their
copper apron front sinks are out of square by 3/16" - almost a half an inch.
What is seen is a huge gap on either side of the apron, between the sink and
the cabinet. There is no way to fix that problem, you just have to live with
the gap. Take at close look at the radius corners on most of the imported
sinks. If you think the 1/2" variation in size is a problem, what do you
tell the granite fabricator when the back corners of your sink have two
radically different radii? I see this all the time. It looks very
unprofessional in my opinion.
Do not use corrosives such as chlorine or concentrated
vinegar on the copper sinks and/or abrasive cleaners or harsh chemicals.
These may damage the finish of the copper sink.
Again, virtually nothing will harm the copper in our sink. The sink will
naturally return to a similar patina as what we ship. Imagine a kitchen
without vinegar. Come on folks, this is a "kitchen sink".
This is clearly a misleading statement. Copper will never age to the darkness of many of the sinks on the market. Nor will copper age in a uniform color as seen in some of the sinks on the market. This is why Rachiele only offers a natural weathered patina for the inside of our bowls which is varied in color and pattern. Rachiele can say, without hesitation, that the patina will return to our sink without looking like a blemish.
Using a wax or a protective sealant will reduce the maintenance necessary to maintain the finish and delay the natural patina process.
A protective sealant is good for the apron, but eliminates the antibacterial properties of copper inside the bowl. We apply a lacquer to all aprons to protect the finish of the apron.
We guarantee our products against defects in material or workmanship for 1 year.
Imagine a one year warranty on a $3000 copper sink! (After a year, the defects in workmanship are the customers problem.)
If you are not 100% satisfied with our sinks, we will reimburse your
purchase except for the shipping charges to and from our workshop. Shipping
charges will vary depending on the sink size and model. Please contact us
for more details.
Shipping can be several hundred dollars. So, if you are unhappy with
their sinks, you are only out a few hundred dollars. If you are unhappy with
the quality of a Rachiele sink, we refund your money, pay for all shipping
and send you a check for $100 in consideration of your inconvenience.
WE WARRANTY ALL PRODUCTS FOR A YEAR AGAINST
MANUFACTURING DEFECTS.
After on year, any manufacturing defect is your problem.
You'll need to print it out, sign it, and send it back
to us along with payment. At present we accept only payment by check.
Is the reason they don’t accept credit cards because they could be charged
back in the event of a customer dissatisfaction? Are people so trusting that
they would send a check across State lines with absolutely no recourse if
the product is not what is expected?
Yes the surface is protected. All of our copper sinks
are "patinated". This is a process applied under heat to the surface of the
copper sink that protects it from the elements.
I would imagine this protection eliminates the antibacterial action of
copper. You have to be in direct contact with the metal in order for the
copper to kill bacteria.
Additionally, we cannot control the damage that is
done to the patina through abuse.
Please define abuse! Sounds like a great way to dodge a warranty issue.
There is no way to damage our patina, even with intention! Our patina will
always return.
Maintenance-Wax your copper sink with a good quality
auto wax at least twice a year (Spring and Fall). Apply wax, allow to haze
and buff till removed. (* Our sink come prewaxed, so it is not necessary to
wax after installation). Please note that you can always apply additional
applications of wax, this provides an additional layer of protection.
Waxing a sink will eliminate all antibacterial properties of the copper -
per the EPA.
Copper is a soft metal...We recommend
not to drop sharp items in your kitchen sink. Copper is only soft if
it is annealed. We use a very hard cold rolled pure copper in the
manufacturing of Rachiele sinks.
Hard Water - If you have hard water in your area, keep
your copper sink and drain clean and dry by wiping it down with a soft cloth
after every use to avoid spotting. Hard water will affect copper as it
would any other type of metal, and it will be difficult to remove these
spots after they etch the finish. You can also help protect your sink from
hard water minerals by periodically applying “Renaissance Wax” to your sink
which will help maintain its luster and provide better water runoff.
Can you believe people actually purchase these sinks? This is a well known
copper sink manufacturer folks! No need to wipe down a Rachiele sink after each
use! No wonder some people give advice to friends like "Don't get a copper
sink, the maintenance is difficult". Folks, if you purchase the wrong sink,
the maintenance IS overwhelming. If you purchase a Rachiele sink, the
maintenance is less than any other type of sink - including stainless steel.
If you are not completely satisfied, the piece can be
returned for a full refund, except for any shipping costs to and from our
workshop within 30 days after you receive your product. For us to process
your refund the sink must be returned back to Mexico with insured shipping
via courier only.
I saved the best for last. Can you imagine the cost, let alone the hassle,
of shipping a sink back to Mexico? And did you read carefully, you have to
pay shipping both ways!. Our guarantee says "If you are not thrilled with
the quality, we buy it back, pay shipping both ways AND send you a check for
$100 in consideration of your inconvenience.
Lastly, my name, Rachiele, is on our copper sinks. If your name was on a
product, wouldn't you want it to be the best? We build the finest copper
sinks in the world and back that statement up with the most robust warranty
in the industry and a guarantee no one else can dare to match.