Here's the
Epinions piece I wrote but haven't yet submitted:
After reading several reviews of the E-Heat panels, I decided to order two. We live in an area of the country with exceptionally low electric power rates, largely due to hydro-power, and anything we could do to lower the monthly gas bill seemed worth a try.
The panels are rated at 425 watts. Two feet in width and length, they are wall-mounted between 6 and 18 inches high per the manufacturer's instructions. There is a narrow gap between wall and panel. The concept is: a convection current, or flow, will move hot air upward between the panel and the wall and into the room, no fan required.
Unfortunately, after one week with our newly-installed panel, we could only come to the conclusion that this is a largely useless appliance. Except for the heating benefit to be had by standing immediately next to the panel after a morning shower, the rest of the room remained cool, or at least at the mercy of the (natural gas) central heating system. Both the relatively low 425 Watt rating and the lack of a fan were probably to blame for the panel's poor performance, although the manufacturer touts these as energy saving features.
After regretfully taking the panel down and repackaging it for return to the company, we discovered that a much greater shortcoming to this company than its product quality is it's lack of customer service/support. After waiting patiently for a response, I sent an email reminder, and was given an "rma" number (returned-merchandise-authorization). I printed the rma# in the largest font available on my Windows-XP machine, taped it to the box, and sent it UPS. And waited.
After waiting three weeks, I emailed and was advised that it would normally take three weeks to receive a refund. After the fourth week, I called with an inquiry regarding the lack of a refund on my creditcard account, and was told: "I can't find your paperwork anywhere". I was asked for a UPS tracking number and provided it. I was told that I would be called "right back". No callback came. That was Friday afternoon.
The following Monday I called back, and was told "we will credit your account today". Daily account verification with my credit card company showed no recent account activity. On Friday, I called once again (my gawd, how much Josh Grobin hold-music must one endure), and was told,,,"we'll call you right back". I called back two hours later, was told 'we need your credit card info' (don't you already HAVE MY CREDIT CARD INFO by virtue of my having paid for your product with said card??). I was told, once again, "we will credit your account today". Once again, no refund appeared on my credit card account two business days later.
After another two days, finally, a credit showed up, for over thirty dollars less than the purchase price. Apparently they have "dinged" me with a re-stocking charge, despite my having returned the merchandise in new condition and in the original packaging. And paying a total of $72 shipping costs both ways.
While I believe that electric heating solutions will become increasingly cost-effective in an age of rising natural gas prices, there are better options available than the EHeat panels. Econo-Heat, regardless of one's judgement of their products, is a company in dire need of re-organization or dissolving. When a business occasionally slips with a product or service, that's understandable. But when an organization is unwilling or unable to provide even a relatively low standard of customer service, they have marked themselves as unworthy of consideration by potential buyers.