Which? is a product-testing and campaigning charity with a magazine and website run by Which? Ltd. Which? kitchen appliances are rewarded with the Which? Award for domestic appliances, based upon honest reviews of the performance and quality of the product.
Which? is based in the United Kingdom and it engages in advocacy campaigns on a range of consumer protection issues and its mission statement is to promote informed consumer choice in the purchase of goods and services. Which? kitchen appliances are tested by Which? and any inferior products or services are highlighted in order to raise awareness of the rights of consumers.
Which? kitchen appliances can be trusted because the charity is independent. They do not accept advertising or freebies and they are funded entirely by subscribers, not shareholders so that it can remain impartial and not biased to contributing companies. Everything that Which? buy for testing is paid for at full price and it celebrated its 50th anniversary last year.
Which? does more than just test washing machines. They campaign to get a fairer deal for all consumers and publish expert, unbiased information to help you make the right choice, whatever you’re buying.
Which? Was originally known as Consumers' Association and that is still its official registered charity name. It was formed by Michael Young and others and when the first edition of Which? Magazine was published from a converted garage in Bethnal Green, ten thousand members enrolled within the first month.
The charity has been instrumental in quite a few changes in Britain over the years that have served to help and benefit our country’s consumers. In 1972, Britain appointed its first Minister for Consumer Affairs, Geoffrey Howe, after being pressured by Which? to do so. Geoffrey Howe is now the President of Which?. In the same year, the Office of Consumer Unions, now BEUC, was established. The BEUC lobbies the European Union on behalf of consumers. Which? played a big role in its establishment.
In 1978, Which?’s extensive campaigns led to The Consumer Safety Act to become law and the next year, even more campaigning led to the introduction of The Sale of Goods Act, showing that Which? have always had the consumer’s best interests at heart and instilling the trust in models chosen to be Which? kitchen appliances.
The winners of the Which? Awards 2008 have recently been announced. The Awards are now in their second year, and the awards celebrate the best companies and individuals that seek to serve the interests of consumers. The best domestic appliance brand was decided on 17th June this year and Which? kitchen appliance manufacturer this year was Miele, with the runners- up being Bosch and the Electrolux Group.
Which? is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and they have come a long way from their humble beginnings in 1957 in Bethnal Green. Today, they are the largest consumer body in the UK, and have over 650,000 members. Which? Kitchen appliance manufacturer of the year, Bosch, is part of the BSH Bosch and Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH, in which Bosch and Siemens each hold a 50% share. It is one of the world's top three companies in the household appliances industry and is the market leader in Germany and western Europe.
