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Consumer Advice: Returning a Defective Kettle A reader recently wrote in asking what to do after purchasing an electric kettle that stopped heating water properly just two weeks after purchase. This is a fairly common situation, and consumers have several options depending on where and how the item was bought. Most retailers offer a standard return or exchange window, typically between 30 and 90 days, provided the customer has kept the original receipt or can locate the purchase in their account if bought online. Before heading to the store, it is worth checking whether the kettle came with a manufacturer's warranty card or included documentation, since many small appliances carry a one-year warranty covering manufacturing defects. In such cases, contacting the manufacturer directly may result in a free repair or replacement without needing to involve the original retailer at all. If the retailer's return window has already closed, consumers can still ask to speak with a manager, as many stores make exceptions for clearly defective products, especially when the fault appears shortly after purchase. Keeping the original packaging and any included cables or accessories can also make the return process smoother. Reviewers recommend testing new small appliances within the first few days of ownership specifically so that any defects are caught while return options are still fully checked.