Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Thermacell works well here in South Florida. The one star is for their marketing, not the product. I'm fed up with marketers using devious tricks to mislead consumers. 1. USE APPLES-TO-APPLES FOR COMPARISON. Their other products describe a 15' protection zone (note: that's 15' DIAMETER, not radius). This product, ironically (but not accidentally) called the "Radius," describes its protection zone in square feet, rather than either radius or diameter. That's because, for a $50 product, 110 square feet sounds more impressive than the truth, and many of us would be quite willing to spend more for a larger protection zone. But the truth is it's a SMALLER, not larger, area than their less-expensive products. 110 square feet is about 11.5' in diameter. Not spectacular, but still OK for a product that works well. Thermacell: Just tell us the TRUTH about your products to help us make our buying decisions. 2. USE HONEST GRAPHICS. Take a look at this picture from their website, specifically promoting THIS product. The tent is around 5' x 6'. The man is in the neighborhood of 6' tall. Does the diameter of that "dome of protection" look like any 11.5' you ever saw? I'd estimate it to be 18' to 20'. As to the product: 1. It works well, provided there's little or no wind. In a light breeze, position it "upstream" to the air movement. 2. "Prepare" the area by turning it on about ten minutes before you occupy the space. 3. It's only effective within a limited radius. If you move outside that area, no protection. 4. With 40-hour refills retailing at around $20, and factoring the cost of the unit itself over several years, count on an operational cost somewhere between fifty cents and a dollar per hour. For us, to enjoy relaxing on the deck or dinner in the garden, that's a good value. Marketing is my business... and yes, it's our job to put the best face on the products and services we promote. But when we do so deceptively, we undermine our clients' most valuable -- and, when consistently earned -- durable, commodity: credibility.