Thank you for relaying the message @pedant. When it happened to my Bonavita 2 years ago, I was lifting the kettle up and the handle just broke right off entirely...top and bottom parts were detached at the same time. The kettle fell from about 4ft onto the floor, the the lid that was properly and tightly placed on the opening of the kettle shot off like a projectile. I was
very, very lucky that the kettle was empty when it happened, because my young daughter was sitting next to my tea table. Had the kettle had any hot water in it, my daughter and I would have easily been splashed and scalded badly.
The key problem is not screws, but the plastic parts used to attach the handle to the kettle, top and bottom.
I posted this issue and the photos that @pedant shared (with my prior permission, thank you) on an FB tea-related forum, and here is the scary thing -- if it isn't scary enough already -- it happened to a few people in that forum,
and apparently it is a known issue to Bonavita kettle owners at large.
Someone who read my post re-posted it on Bonavita's Facebook page on my behalf, and I was contacted my the company's customer service rep. As @pedant had mentioned, I was given the option to either be issued a refund in the amount equal to the retail value + sales tax and shipping if I were to buy a new one
or to receive a new replacement kettle. I opted for the refund.
I hope this cautionary tale helps.
pedant wrote: ↑Thu Feb 08, 2018 4:33 pm
hopeofdawn wrote: ↑Thu Feb 08, 2018 3:26 pm
Slightly off-topic, but am hoping that other owners of these kettles might be able to help out--the handle on my Bonavita kettle (the gooseneck variable temp one) is coming loose on the bottom. So far it's still usable, if a bit wiggly, but there doesn't seem to be any attachment point that I can tighten. (The screw at the top is still tight.) Has this happened to anyone else? Any ideas on how to stick the handle back down?
be VERY careful. this happened to phyllsheng. it broke off completely and could have easily dumped boiling water and burned someone.
he has graciously shared images and advice. i'm posting for him since he's not at his computer right now:
this shows how the handle is attached and how it broke off.
don't risk using it more as-is, and i wouldn't bother fixing it either (but if you have no other choice, i can give suggestions if you want).
just contact bonavita and they'll send you a replacement or a refund.
in his case, they sent a check in the same amount to replace it including taxes and shipping.