BBB warns on cooler ripoff
Published on July 08, 2008 at 11:55AM
(SALT LAKE CITY) – The Utah Better Business Bureau is warning consumers to beware of a questionable advertising campaign on an air cooler. BBB President, Jane Driggs, says the ads are running in Utah newspapers claiming the eco-friendly home cooling breakthrough uses the same energy as a 60-watt bulb. She says the ads are misleading because the air cooler only drops the temperature ten degrees. Driggs said consumers are lured in by a free gas coupon and should realize that this is an air cooler, not an air conditioner. She noted the unit uses a fan to blow air over two ice packs and water, to produce cool air. Driggs said the Utah BBB has received over 200 complaints on the Ohio-based company, known as Universal TechTronics. She said that consumers complained of slow delivery, non-receipt of product, difficulty reaching customer service representatives and delays in obtaining refunds after returning merchandise.