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Thursday, January 23rd
Sharp Electronics Corporation operates in the U.S. and Latin America and is part of the global technology company Sharp Corporation. Sharp is a Japanese electronics company that was founded in Tokyo in 1912 and started out as a metal workshop. Over the years the company continued to innovate and adapt to new technologies, which has landed their brand a place in many households on products like televisions, mobile phones, air conditioners, microwave ovens, solar panels, printing devices, calculators, and so much more.
Impressive selection
Sharp actually has a decent selection of microwaves. Here you'll have the option of choosing between 43 countertop models, 8 drawer microwaves, 3 over-the-counter microwaves, and 8 over-the-range microwaves. That makes 62 in total which is quite a bit more than can be said for their competitors. There are no fanciful colors of microwaves here since that's not what most people go for, so you can choose between black, black stainless steel, stainless steel, and white. In addition, you could filter by wattage, price, and features.
Wide price range
The prices of microwave ovens from Sharp range from $84.99 (one of the cheapest we've found) for a very basic looking carousel countertop microwave in black to $2,199 for a 24 in. built-in smart convection microwave drawer oven. This shows us that there is a good range of products and features here to meet anyone's needs and budget. 22 of the microwaves from Sharp qualify for free shipping.
Helpful Q&A section
For any given microwave oven you're considering, Sharp will provide a series of photos from all angles. You'll also be able to read bullet points that highlight the main features of the microwave, view a comparison table that shows the differences between similar models, go through the detailed specs, and refer to the customer Q&A section for additional information. Others who have questions that weren't directly addressed on the website can leave questions and get answers either from Sharp or from others who have purchased the microwave. This is a great resource for additional details about the microwave that you may not have found answers to elsewhere.
Standard warranty and 30-day returns
The warranty on microwaves sold by Sharp is 1 year for parts and labor and 5 years for the magnetron tube. We've come to expect this exact warranty from most companies since many of them work through the same manufacturer. Return policies, on the other hand, vary quite a bit. At Sharp you can request a return authorization by email and qualify for a refund if your microwave oven was delivered within the last 30 days. If there was nothing wrong with your microwave, Sharp says they have the right to deduct a 15% restocking fee from your refund and whatever the cost of the shipping label was, so be prepared for that.
No specific customer reviews
Most of the microwave ovens sold through Sharp (and even those that they don't stock) have customer reviews that you can peruse. Some only have a few and others have nearly a hundred. What totally frustrated us is that although you can see overall ratings out of 5 stars and how many people left 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5-star ratings, you can't read any of them specifically. There are no customer comments, photos, or additional details. This is a drawback for us because the ratings leave us more confused, wondering why people gave the feedback they did. It's worth noting that Sharp has an "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau, but sometimes that doesn't carry as much weight for us as do customer reviews.
Average company
We were on a roller coaster when we shopped at Sharp. At first we were thrilled that they had such a good selection of microwave ovens, but they don't stock all of them so you'd have to buy them from a third-party retailer. You may have to pay restocking fees on your returns, so you're not really getting a risk-free shopping experience here. Most of all we are disappointed that you can't read the honest commentary from other customers and learn what they have to say about the different models of microwave ovens. Our mixed feelings over Sharp have landed them an average rating.
More than likely you moved into your home and a microwave oven was already there, ready for you to use at your convenience. We rarely think twice about these powerful little appliances that allow us to nuke a hot pocket, reheat last night's takeout, and quickly appease a child's demands for chicken nuggets. If yours suddenly breaks and you find yourself in the market for a replacement, you'll quickly realize just how much you depended on your microwave. Can you even live without one?
You may not have paid much attention to it before, but there are actually quite a few different designs for microwaves. Do you want stainless steel? Black? White? Red? Most people choose to match the color and design of their microwave to their oven and refrigerator, but you could always switch things up for a more modern style you like better.
Many homes have a place built into the wall specifically for a microwave so that they don't stand out or take up counter space like they used to. Still, microwaves differ a bit in which features they come with and their size. Most over-the-range ovens are around 30”, open from the side, and have basic heating functionality.
More advanced microwaves act more like an oven with pull-down doors and convection technology that allow you to make things like cookies or rolls within minutes. Some even let you air fry, allowing you to have lots of important cooking functions without needing multiple appliances to get the job done.
Most microwave oven brands all get their microwaves from the same manufacturer, so rather than focusing or worrying too much about which brand provides the best quality, you'll want to pay attention to the designs offered, selection, prices (and how often they run sales), warranty, policies, and feedback about customer service. More specifically, here are some things we recommend paying close attention to when you're browsing all the different companies you might choose to buy your microwave oven from:
The experts at Top Consumer Reviews have researched the most important things you'd need to know about choosing a microwave oven. We hope this helps you find a microwave that makes cooking food a breeze and lasts for years to come.
Select any 2 Microwave Ovens to compare them head to head