Mira-Cool and Cool Surge: Too good to be true?

It seems that once a company (this one being Fridge Electric) gets a "Don't Buy!" rating from Consumer Reports (for their Cool Surge evaporative cooler) they just figure they have to wait a summer and release it under a new name: Mira-Cool. The Consumer Reports article on the air cooling unit opens with:

The Cool Surge might sound appealing when you consider the roughly 500 watts needed to run even a small air conditioner. Ohio-based Fridge Electric LLC, which markets the Cool Surge, has even offered a two-for-one deal in full-page ads in The New York Times and other newspapers. But our tests show that when it comes to cooling a room, the Cool Surge is likely to disappoint you at any price.

I first started researching the Mira-Cool product when I saw their full-page ad in USA Today. I guess they decided to change the name of the unit after Consumer Reports suggested that nobody buy it. From what I can tell, there is no difference between the Cool Surge and the Mira-Cool.

Their ad in USA Today starts off incredibly misleading with the title, "Public set to get free air cooling units" and goes on to say, "A new miracle air cooler is actually being given away free to the first 11,337 readers.." Well, after further reading I discovered that it was really a buy 1 (at $298) get 1 free, but you still had to pay for shipping on both units! But why who cares if you get both of them free if they don't work as advertised?

Any company that says this in their FAQ has to be joking:

Q: Can I leave it on when I'm not home?

A: It's recommended that you don't because when you get home, the MIRA-COOL can quickly blast out ice cooled air.

Unfortunately I don't think Mira-Cool and Fridge Electric is kidding even though their claims are a joke. Whenever you read something that seems too good to be true...it probably is. There are hundreds of companies out there trying to take advantage of the public's ignorance on energy issues. Keep reading Mapawatt Blog (and keep your eyes peeled for other energy scams) and don't get taken advantage of!

P.S. : If you want to see the Mira-Cool product for yourself (and at your own risk) go to www.mira-cool.com and enter claim code MC1008.

Tags:

air conditioner scam

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fridge electric

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Comments

Anonymous (not verified) Sat, 08/06/2011 - 03:12

When there is no reasonable defense, the personal attacks begin. Interesting, Nick, how you say you aren't associated with the company, but you are vicious in your hatred for someone who has a complaint about a product and a company you have no complaints with....And words won't take me down.... or shut me up.

Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 08/08/2011 - 23:05

Sebastian, thanks for the laugh. You may be right.

Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 08/08/2011 - 23:23

Reasonable defense? There is nothing about what you have said that is reasonable and therefore doesn't need to be defended reasonably or otherwise. You never had one, you never used one. I use mine everyday and the room it is in is dramtically cooler than the rest of the condo, one tank of tap water gives up to 12 hours of cooling, the regular fan without the cooler is one of the best you can buy as is the 1200w heater which can heat over 600 square feet of open space. The bottom line is whether it is the $6 I paid for it or full retail price it is a product of the highest quality that does everything it claims to do and more. The people bad mouthing it need to get a life because it is very sad that they come to sites like this to bash a product they have never used, never seen, and probably never even heard of to begin with. Nick

Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 02/17/2011 - 14:17

Bait and Switch SANTA ANA, Calif. - World Reserve Monetary Exchange, Universal Media Syndicate, and Arthur Middleton Capital Holdings "have already been shut down in several states" for bait-and-switch scams that offer "free" products, then charge hundreds of dollars in "fees," according to a federal class action.

Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 06/15/2011 - 03:24

Whoa, I ordered one Arctic-pro air conditioner weeks ago, My CC was charged $266.00 on or around June 10th 2011 and I just received it today, the unit been on all day long with no issues, like it cold I am cold and I hope that when we really need it this summer it works as it working now, Sorry I have no issues so far. BTW if you're all wondering I do not work nor have I know anyone that works, nor have I ever heard nor read anything about this company, If you don't believe me, that's your issue not mine. I felt I had to share this... Sorry to hear everyone's got scammed, but for me I wasn't scam as far as I can tell!

Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 07/19/2011 - 02:55

I agree, I have bought 2 of them and love them. No issues here either. I see Bonnie thinks anyone that likes these "work/own " the company. She wants proof that they work,yet sounds like she is giving bad reviews on something she dosent own,so can't know anything about ! I tend to think for myself. IF there are any problems, I have had none to date.I have run mine since June 3rd,every day. I loveum! Nice to see yours do too! Thanks.

Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 06/29/2011 - 22:35

You have to be kidding me TOM......

Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 07/12/2011 - 21:59

Ginny B sounds like she either works for or owns the company, these units are a joke!!!!!!!!

Anonymous (not verified) Sat, 07/09/2011 - 17:30

You are so confident...so make a believer out of me. How much ice are you using? How big of a space are you cooling? How long does it cool in that space? What is the temperature drop for the "entire" space, not just the air 1 inch from the vent? Where does the water go?

Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 03/10/2011 - 21:00

hi the company is not selling the mira cool yet, but there were sum ads about it on mistake, im a customer rep and i am gonna start selling the mira cool and the heat surges had great success and and i also sell for world reserve monitary exchange and the sales are amazing. i even wanna but sum products myself. but yes we will be selling the miracool soon.

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