San Marino Lisa woes

System

Hi.
This is my first post here. I have been using a Faema family domestic machine for the past 19 years, so I decided it was time for an upgrade so looked at semi-commercial machines.
I was keen on either the Wega Mini Nova or the San Marino CKX as they are basically the same machine. However, my wife did not like the styling of them.

So I showed her a picture of the San Marino Lisa Junior and she loved it. I told her it might be a little large, but she thought that it would make a nice addition to our kitchen.  So I bought it, got it home and she freaked out due to the size of it ! When I mentioned it also needed to be plumbed in, she said it has to go. So here I am with a great machine and cannot keep it.  
So I am looking for advice as what to do with it. The place I bought it from considers it a used machine and therefore offered me $500 less than what I paid. I guess technically it is a used machine, but I've only had it a week.
Does anyone know of anyone that might want to swap it for a smaller semi-commerical machine ? Perhaps they can sell it as a demo machine. I am now looking at either an ECM Giotto or Isomac Mondiale.

To say I am frustrated is an understatement.

Thanks.
98%caffeine.

FreshCoffee2

That sounds a bit tough....to offer you 500 less than what you paid....in this circumstance. If it were me I would have simply done you a swap with money adjustment on any other machine I carry....which in this case would mean I would have to give you some money back because you wish to go to a less costly machine. But the less costly machine also costs the trader less, so in the end he may well make a similar amount of profit for less turnover, so why not do it & keep the client happy at the same time?????????? Going only on the information you have supplied, it seems like you've the misfortune of dealing with a short sighted trader with no bedside manner

nunu

Sizewise, the Lisa Junior is only slightly larger than the CKX, and it's mainly trim.  Looking at the dimensions before buying will give you an idea on where it will fit into your kitchen, if possible. We have a CKX at home, and it sits on one side of our sink.  I have it on 'stilts' of jar lids to keep the feet from getting wet, as well as levelling the machine.  There's about 30cm of workspace (mainly for frothing, and a filter jug), then we have our Mazzer Mini.  Directly adjacent to that is the tamping centre (towel, tamper, brushes, etc.).  Next to that is the microwave and toaster.  We have a free-wheeling dishwasher, which doubles as a mobile workspace.  Half of the kitchen benchspace is taken up by coffee equipment.  That's something we expected when we made our purchases.  Hastiness might have gotten the better of you, and now you're paying the price. I don't think taking a loss on the machine is really worth it.  Since the size is an issue, the best thing may be to make it the 'centrepiece' of the kitchen.  If it's impossible to work around the issue, then it will be a hard loss to take indeed.  Exhaust every avenue of recourse, before ultimately ditching it.  It's a fine piece of equipment, no need to just get rid of it because it's a bit too big.

Unknown

Thanks for the replies. FC, I don't see why whoever buys can't get the balance of the warranty. Since the warranty is supplied by Saeco it would just be a matter of sending the warranty card in. I may give you a call later. Thanks, 98%caffeine.

Unknown

Just to update ... this thread has a happy ending. I was able to get the Lisa swapped for an ECM Giotto. I only got the Giotto Monday, but so far my impressions are excellent. Pulls a great shot although I do notice that any variation in amount of coffee in the pf and/or tamp will alter the time taken to draw the shot significantly. I guess a more consistent show will come over time with more practice. Also my milk frothing needs practice. It seems to heat the milk in no time at all not allowing for much time to 'play' with the milk. Putting the jug in the freezer doesn't make any difference. My other observations are : - the group gets EXTREMELY hot and stays hot for a long time after the machine is turned off ; - the cup warmer tray doesn't do a great job of heating cups. I read somewhere (CoffeeGeeks Probably) that someone had remidied this by draping a teatowel over the top of the cups to trap in the heat. Pity some of the heat coming off the group cannot be harnessed to warm the cups. Otherwise, the Giotto is a great, beautifully crafted bit of kit. Cheers, 98%Caffeine.

Remus

Just to update ... this thread has a happy ending. I was able to get the Lisa swapped for an ECM Giotto. I only got the Giotto Monday, but so far my impressions are excellent. Pulls a great shot although I do notice that any variation in amount of coffee in the pf and/or tamp will alter the time taken to draw the shot significantly. I guess a more consistent show will come over time with more practice. Also my milk frothing needs practice. It seems to heat the milk in no time at all not allowing for much time to 'play' with the milk. Putting the jug in the freezer doesn't make any difference. My other observations are : - the group gets EXTREMELY hot and stays hot for a long time after the machine is turned off ; - the cup warmer tray doesn't do a great job of heating cups. I read somewhere (CoffeeGeeks Probably) that someone had remidied this by draping a teatowel over the top of the cups to trap in the heat. Pity some of the heat coming off the group cannot be harnessed to warm the cups. Otherwise, the Giotto is a great, beautifully crafted bit of kit. Cheers, 98%Caffeine.

lol the group head being that hot is funny as hell. the amount of times i burnt the crap out of myself when i first got my giotto is not funny !! as for the cup warmer. i haven;t really had an issue with it but then again, i rarely turn my machine off and my cups are always stacked on top of it. always pretty warm.