Sears won't know jack about "their" cooktop. They are simple an appliance broker. They don't make anything - it's all made by other manufacturers. Their draw is that everyone knows who they are, the are in every city and hamlet in the USA, have a vast service network and broad selection. Their servicers are not very well trained, have too many products to keep up with and are over scheduled in my opinion.

Just curious why you mother went with induction at her age? Not a very good candidate for this technology in my opinion.

"Just curious why you mother went with induction at her age? Not a very good candidate for this technology in my opinion."

What an odd statement. Can you explain it? Induction requires no special knowledge or skills to use. I can't see how age factors into the equation at all, aside from the possible safety benefits induction offers (auto shut off in the case of boil over, etc) that might, in fact, be beneficial for seniors, or just those having a "senior moment."

I agree completely with the above poster. It seems to me that a burner that shuts itself off if there's nothing on it, shuts itself off in case of boilover, and has no open flame or surface that actually heats up is an ideal technology for a senior. Some of them even come with timers that automatically shut off after a specified time--even better.
That said, I'm sorry to say I can't offer any help with the OPs question.
Good luck to you.
Cj

How many (young or old, technically savvy or not) could fix their own malfunctioning induction ranges?

Thanks, for the responses. Antss, what in the heck does age
have to do with a cooktop that all you do is press a pad. She
went with the induction because it is very safe and heats up
quickly. What type of cooktop would you recommend?? Another
reason she got the induction is all the positive comments
on this forum about induction cooking. Thank you

A lot of people are adverse to trying new technology, even if it is simpler in some ways. I'm currently helping some middle-aged friends learn to use computers. They've never used computers at all in the past and although they're bright and capable they're often afraid to try things - so I can understand that some elderly people who have used gas or electric all their life might be reticent to try induction. Heck, I've used gas most of my life and I've been told I'm a very good cook and I'm sure if I were to try cooking on induction, I'd have something of a learning curve to feel comfortable cooking on it.

But the comment wasn't about seniors who might be reluctant to try new things - it was someone saying seniors weren't good candidates for using induction. That's just crazy.

And what does the ability to fix the appliance have to do with anything either? How many of us do that - young or old? I'm 40 and wouldn't have a clue how to fix an appliance - gas, electric or induction. Kudos to you if you can - I'd venture to say you're in the minority.

Good grief.

I've heard a lot of silly biases people have against induction but these two take the cake!

Kailleanm - Thanks for being so articulate. Basically that was what I was attempting to say.

Calm down guys, I'm not trying bash seniors. It's just my professional opinion that this is not a good choice for seniors.

Here's why:
most have smallish touchpad controls. Most seniors find it easier to use controls that are larger and have some tactile resoponse, this is more true as one's eyesite gets weaker.

The technology while not new, IS a new introduction to the USA. To my knowledge no one is manufacturing them domestically. In addition, being new and low volume means the kinks haven't been worked out by the manufacturers and the service networks are not up to speed on faults & repairs, and parts are not always readily available. CPC demonstrates another reason - UNPROVEN long term in this market. Who needs the hassel of this at 89? How many posts for help do you see for a GE electric top, or a Whirlpool 4 burner gas top???

As weismann points out there is a bit of a learning curve. It's not insurmountable but the settings are a bit broader.

There is also the pots and pan collection to consider. Can you be certain that after the years of collecting the perfect set , they will all work with the induction? What if a their favorite frypan is an aluminum Calphalon, their roasting pan is 40 year old Magnalite? Neither is gonna work on the induction top. Who gets to explain that it's never going to, work let alone why to 90 year old.

There is the expense too. These units are way more expensive than convential tops, so it's a tough value proposition for most seniors. For those that are well stocked in the $$$ department, they get what ever they want , call folks to have it fixed if it breaks, just get a new one if they don't like it one morning , and don't have to ask for advice from the cyber community on how to get things fixed.

Look - I think it's great that people become mmore willing to try and embrace new technology as they age. I was simply curious why CPC's mom chose induction ( still haven't got an answer). As a professional in the Kitchen/bath industry I simply wouldn't reccommend an induction top to someone that ag. If they want it and are happy that's super.

She chose induction for the same reasons everyone else does.
She is not blind. Fast heat up, easy cleanup, and safety.

We went to a local appliance store to look at induction cooktops, and were asked by a salesman, "Why would you want induction? Even the newer radiant cooktops will cook so much faster than your old coil one." We left and went elsewhere. Some of the 'professionals' haven't a clue!

I just don't get all these posts about induction having a learning curve. Took me about 5 minutes to figure it out.

I will conceed the touch pad point -- I know some people don't like them (even younger people).

But the controls are not hard to use. Instead of a dial with low, med, high and several notches between, you have a numbered 1-10 system. No biggie.

I think a senior (or anyone) interested enough in induction to consider buying it is also intelligent enough to understand why their old pots won't work.

Sheesh -- you don't have a very high opinion of seniors' intelligence do you Antss. If you're in the KB industry, it might behoove you to drop some of your stereotypical ideas.

Seniors don't all live in poverty and in many cases have much more spending power than younger people. Seems like your attitudes could turn away a lot of good customers.

I don't mean to sound **tchy. But your comments are really kind of appalling.

kailleanm - I had a learning curve when I went from my old gas range to my new pro-style gas range - I had to learn to keep the burners a lot lower so I didn't burn things - medium high on my old range translated to medium low on my new range. I'm sure with induction where you can't see a flame, I would have to learn what the correct settings were to cook properly - I'm not saying it's difficult, I'm just saying that there is a learning curve.

By the way, I take care of an elderly parent with dementia so I'm well aware of a lot of the stereotypical attitudes toward seniors and I found no offense in antss posts.

Cpccarolyn didn't mention 'dementia' in connection with her 83-year-old mom. My mom would certainly take umbrage at the comment made by Antss. She's 101, and she's not interested in induction because she doesn't cook--doesn't want to and doesn't have to. She does, however, choose to keep up on current events via the internet, because, as she puts it, "By the time it gets in the newspaper, it's old news!" She also corresponds via email.

No but cpccarolyn did mention that her mother was 83 - what was the point of that - it's completely irrelevant to the rest of the post.

CPCCarolyn - even though your mom's cooktop is no longer under warranty, did you try calling Kenmore? They might be able to recommend another repair company that is more savvy about the product, or offer some other helpful advice. Just a thought - maybe that's where you got the original contact.

I guess part of the reason I find the whole seniors angle of this discussion so funny is that it was my DH's 82 year old uncle who first got us on to the idea of induction. I'd never heard of it before. But he had installed one in his new house (which he designed and did a lot of DIY work on) and had nothing but good things to say about it.

He, in turn, had learned of them from a good friend of his who is in his early 70s.

:-)

I mentioned that my mom was 83 because there are certain types
of individuals who will try and take advantage of an older person. Weissman, that is why I mentioned my Mom's age since
the repairman had requested $200.00 in advance to purchase a
board for the cooktop. I don't ever recall having to pay in
advance for a part to repair an appliance. Thought maybe someone out their just might happen to know what code 36 meant
and could let me know if --yes-- it certainly could be a board. As it turns out, my Mom has her "induction" cooktop
working and is back to preparing her 3 meals a day for her
and my stepfather. Thanks all for the support.

Writing as a marginal senior, who probably could repair an induction cooktop's electronics given a 'scope and schematic if discrete parts were used instead of undocumented proprietary integrated circuits, I think antss has some valid points, even if not expressed with optimal diplomacy, and even if not especially OT. They are considerations that anyone choosing almost any technological item would want to consider no matter what his age. And I dare say that one who was recommending technology to anyone, and particularly to seniors, should be willing to ask himself whether any of these considerations apply.

antss point might be summed up with the question: How much more hassle at what added cost will I or the intended owner tolerate to own the more desirable x instead of y?

But, antss, I believe that at least Cooktek manufacture their induction cooktops domestically.

kas

CPC - payment in advance for appliance repair is now the norm in mjr. metro areas, especially when parts are to be ordered. Didn't used to be this way but, gas didn't used to be 3.50 a gallon either, ect.....So business got leaner and stratagies to manage cash flow emerged. - Payment in advance and 50-100 bucks just to come look and tell you what is wrong are the primary ones.

Kaseki - thanks for the non vested view of things. I was simply responding to the poster calling my values into ??? My clients value my candor and honesty, they know I'm not going to sugar coat the facts. Too many around here don't FULLY read the posts and presume too much. I simply said I don't think older seniors are good canidates for induction. I prefaced it as my opinion, and am certainly not as dense as the salesman that tell people they don't "want" something.