Aroma Housewares Single Burner Hot Plate

I purchased this burner 9 years ago and was on Amazon today to purchase a second one so I can have two pots going at once. The one I bought 9 years ago is still a work horse. Yes, it does have it's limitations but they are not deal breaker limitations for me. Perhaps since Covid everything is just not the quality it was years ago so I'm unclear if that might be the case with this unit as I read the bad reviews. IMHO people have too high expectations for such a lower end product. It's not the $2500 stove you just bought and will never cook like that. I have read negative reviews stating it turns on and off constantly. Well duh! That's the nature of this type of product. It has to turn on and off constantly to maintain the temperature you chose. Some state in their negative reviews that the outside gets too hot. Again, duh! It's an inexpensive small unit that used to be made in metal and I suppose it still is, so yes, the metal will get hot. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that will happen. When I'm finished cooking I unplug it. After I'm finished eating and am cleaning up if it's cooled off enough I put it on my shelf where it stays. I have many times used that priceless invention called a pot holder when I'm in a hurry. In case you have not heard of them they are used to pick up hot pans, or in this case an Aroma Single Burner Hot Plate.....that gets hot....what a concept! Again, with all the new lower quality items out there since Covid, cause everything is blamed on Covid of course, perhaps this unit is not as good as it used to be and perhaps some have stopped working after a year...or maybe two. However, when you spend around $20 or less for this item and it quits after a year or two.....trust me.....you definitely got your money's worth.