Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

My wife got this press for Christmas. I watched her press a shirt with glitter vinyl, which is really thick, I saw that she was needing to press the vinyl two and three times, just like she did when she was using a standard iron. She would need to preheat the shirt, then press while putting all of her weight on the press. Then when the vinyl would not stick, she was pressing again and again. So I decided to check the temperature on the press. I used two different laser IR thermometers. Both had the same results within .02-.03 degrees. I put the press on 330 and waited until the press heated up until it beeped. I measured the middle of the press and it read 220. Toward the edges it read between 180-200 and even on one corner at 98 degrees. I knew that something was wrong. Right from he beginning I assumed the press was working as Cricut designed it. The press feels sturdy and well made so I didn't think it was some defect. I figured that the temps displayed were just not possible with this press. After exchanging emails with a foreign support person for better than three weeks, which included them requesting me to send my proof of purchase, and video of me reading the temps with the case number written on paper and visible in the video, they send me a new press. I got that press today and couldn't wait to test the new press. And not surprisingly this press behaved exactly as the first one. With the temp set at 330, the press got to 232-248. So next I set the press at 250. When measured the temp was actually between 184 and 195. With most HTV requiring between 305 and 350 to properly transfer the vinyl, this press is not even close to the required temp. FYI, I also tested the temp of a Hotronix press that I have access to and the temp is within 2 degrees of the displayed temperature at 315 degrees. Bottom line is the press does not get even close to the advertised temperature as verified on two different presses. I am going to test soome friends presses and see what measurements I get from them. I would bet big money the results would be the same.