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Comment by Shog9 | Hacker News Reader

Price is coming down, but still much higher than standard electric. Standard electric being somewhere between annoying (open coil) and infuriating (glass top) to cook on when compared to even very inexpensive gas ranges.

So most folks moving into a place with "contractor-grade" appliances already installed are going to experience a very functional gas range or a barely usable electric.

Most folks don't replace appliances just for the hell of it.

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If you spend over 100$ per hob for a basic induction stove you're being ripped off.

I'm writing from a US perspective; we generally don't buy ranges per-hob (or call them hobs). Stand-alone range + oven is the rule, and that combo runs from a few hundred (basic gas or electric) to a few thousand dollars. You can get a single counter-top "hot plate", but good luck finding a decent 1500W induction hot plate.

Just import IKEA countertop hobs: 1900W, just change the plug to a 15A 240V NEMA. Or mount some European-style outlets and leave the plugs. Parts of Germany are even on split-phase.

Induction (not electric coil) stoves are still somewhat rare and generally much more expensive than a gas range (2-4x) in the US.

The cost savings are taking time to percolate through the system, people are still anchored on the higher prices. It is electricity, it’s not like more expensive electricity is any better. Cheap appliances are getting really good. Once people find out they’re getting ripped off they should hopefully let go of their anchored price and look for bargains. It just takes time.

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