Beware Of Newspaper Ads Promising Huge Savings Heating With Infrared Heaters
the larger, more expensive IH1500 heater
Besides the word “free,” the phrase “up to” is one of the most dangerous for consumers.
The latest pitch came in The Courant – and I am sure in many other Connecticut newspapers this week – breathlessly pushing the IH 1000 Infrared Heaters.
The half page ad – pushing Sunday sales in Hartford, Shelton, Waterbury and Norwich hotels – promises to “Slash Heating Bills” and here it comes “UP TO 50%”
Folks – saving one penny constitutes saving UP To 50 percent. It is a meaningless promise. That would be like your boss promising up to a 50 percent raise. If the raise is only one percent, were you lied to?
Next comes “Heat” UP TO “1000 sq. ft. for about $1 per day.”
What might be realistically expected is heat up to 100 square feet for an hour for $1 a day.
Can you imagine if this ad were real? All furnace manufacturers would be out of business.
Then there is the Now Only $279 price with a slash through the Regular $499 price. Guess what? $279 is the advertised price throughout the Internet (shipping included) on this product.
Two places to check for reviews: Amazon, which only has two reviews of the more expensive 1500 model and both are glowing, just like the handful the company has on its site.
Then go to ConsumerReports.com has to say about these types of promises:
“If you’re in the market for a new space heater, be dubious about any heater whose manufacturer claims the appliance will slash your heating bills. Here’s why:
“For every degree that you lower your home thermostat in the winter, you’ll save about 3 percent on heating costs. So the only way to really save with a space heater would be to use the unit in the room you’re in and turn down the thermostat elsewhere in the house so that your main heating system would not operate. To save 50 percent on your heating bill, you’d have to lower the home thermostat about 17°F. “
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4 Responses for “Beware Of Newspaper Ads Promising Huge Savings Heating With Infrared Heaters”
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Another comment: The mere paradox in “AMISH”… “ELECTRIC”… heaters should be enough to raise flags. These may be fine heaters, but it’s a blatant marketing thing.
For what it’s worth, space heaters like this CAN save money, and in the exact way quoted in the above article (heating one area). They are perfect for fall and spring… the “transition” time when the house is uncomfortably chilly in the evening when you are sitting in the living room, but you don’t want to fire up the main boiler (especially when you live in a drafty, inefficient old Victorian, like I do.) I don’t pretend it will carry me through a New England winter. It serves its purpose to make me more comfortable in my home without turning on (or up) the gas-eating boiler, and, although it may be a tad chilly walking out to the kitchen, it does save me some money.
That being said, I’m not saying this particular heater is the most cost-effective. One needs to do their homework before buying.
Gas and Electric industries use to reimburse retailers who advertised
the use of energy. Wonder if they got around to do it again.
Another clue that this “deal” is not as attractive as they’re suggesting: They’re renting space in hotels to sell it. That should put up red flags immediately.