How to : Not Get FOOLED Again (Amish heater scam)
Back in the 1960's an English rock group called The Who had a hit record titled: "Won't get fooled again." If the song came out today, they might be talking about the Amish Heater scam that seems to rise from the dead every Holiday season. Like fleas on a dog, they're everywhere and pages of complaints pop up just like last year. I have a box full of Forest Gump stickers to send out. Are you going to be on the list?
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Instructions
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Now that the newspaper and TV ads with all the hype have started, you need to put on your "thinking cap." The so-called Amish Heater or Heat-Surge Heater is not only overpriced but the ads say the heaters will generate enough heat to cover up to 1,000 SF of room space. Bull crap. Hell, my wife's $15 buck hair dryer she got at Wal-Mart when placed on high will do that.
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On top of that, the ad in my paper says it's an oak mantle. BS. It's not cherry or oak wood, it's poplar wood stained with oak or cherry stain. And you've got to love this hustle on the price. "If you want to save money on heating bills this winter, the 'oak' mantle heater is priced at $298, but if you call now (sounds like Vince and his chopping machine) you'll get the imported 'hi-tech' fire-less flame heat-surge miracle heater FREE...just pay shipping and handling costs.
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This $298 price is a teaser. Your real cost could range as high as $500 dollars or more. A friend of mine who got one of these a couple years ago estimated the actual cost to be around $40 bucks to make. And, it's not energy efficient, either. If you buy one and feel like you got screwed, the "money-back" guarantee offer could take months to get a refund. My suggestion is to visit one of the large outlet stores, spend $25 or $30 dollars, and get a space heater that will do the job a whole lot better.
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Tips & Warnings
I did find out that this scam is not perpetrated by the Amish Community or families. They don't pay for the ads, either. I tried to find out what percentage of a cut the Amish get for using the name, but couldn't. They must get something, though.
