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Amish "Roll and Glow" Heater Review
I love the USA. We don't
manufacture as many
products as we used to, but
we'll always be the masters
of the marketing universe.
No other country can take
something as mundane as a
1,500 watt space heater and
repackage it as the Second
Coming.
A perfect example of this
marketing magic is the Amish
Heat Surge Electric Fireplace.
manufacture as many
products as we used to, but
we'll always be the masters
of the marketing universe.
No other country can take
something as mundane as a
1,500 watt space heater and
repackage it as the Second
Coming.
A perfect example of this
marketing magic is the Amish
Heat Surge Electric Fireplace.
It Rolls! It Glows! The Heat Surge miracle heater is a work of genius from the China
coast! Real Amish Craftsmanship goes into each mantle! And, to quote the Heat
Surge website, "It's not just a fireplace; it's a fine piece of furniture." (Not a piece of
fine furniture).
But you have to ask yourself: Do I want to spend $587 for a mini electric fireplace
on wheels that produces no more heat than any other 1,500 watt space heater
costing $500 dollars less?
Just to be fair, this is a valid question for all electric fireplaces, not just the Heat
Surge. Believe it or not, you could easily spend more than $2,000 for a combination
electric fireplace/entertainment center heated with the same 1,500 watt unit.
No matter how much you pay for an electric fireplace, the cost for the electric
heating insert is about $250 (retail). So every dollar you spend over $250 is for the
mantel piece. In the case of the Amish Cherry Fireplace, $250 subtracted from the
$587 retail price leaves $337 for the cost of the mantel.
So why would anyone be willing to pay $337 for maybe $50 worth of "real wood?"
It's the magic of marketing Baby!
If you buy an Amish electric fireplace, it won't be for the boring 1,500 watts of heat
offered by every other space heater out there. What's going to get you excited
enough to whip out your credit card is an unexplainable attraction to the Amish, the
promise of superior Amish craftsmanship and pride of ownership.
I can't explain an unexplainable attraction, but I'll accept the claim of superior Amish
craftsmanship. However, "craftsmanship" comes at a price. Over a three year
period, the premium you pay for an Amish mantel piece will add an additional $9 a
month to your actual heating costs when compared to the price of the electric
heating insert alone.
This leads me to another problem I have with the marketing of this product.
If you go to the Heat Surge website you won't find one picture of the Amish
fireplace with the wheels attached. The reason for this, in my opinion, is the wheels
make it look "dinky" compared to the "substantial" look it has when pictured
without the wheels.
So how much pride can you take in a product the manufacturer is embarrassed to
show in its entirety?
This is a shame. The wheels are actually a selling point because they provide the
means for zone heating - simply wheel the fireplace from room to room as needed.
Zone heating, or heating only the room you occupy, allows you to dial back your
home's master thermostat for substantial fuel savings.
On the other hand, attempting to "zone heat" your home for multiple occupants
spread out in multiple rooms with just one Amish fireplace is impossible.
I have a few other issues with their marketing claims that I could delve into, such as
"It uses about as much energy to run as a coffee maker" (1,100 watts) and regional
energy costs, but they have little bearing on cost effectiveness when you pay $587
for 1,500 watts of heat.
coast! Real Amish Craftsmanship goes into each mantle! And, to quote the Heat
Surge website, "It's not just a fireplace; it's a fine piece of furniture." (Not a piece of
fine furniture).
But you have to ask yourself: Do I want to spend $587 for a mini electric fireplace
on wheels that produces no more heat than any other 1,500 watt space heater
costing $500 dollars less?
Just to be fair, this is a valid question for all electric fireplaces, not just the Heat
Surge. Believe it or not, you could easily spend more than $2,000 for a combination
electric fireplace/entertainment center heated with the same 1,500 watt unit.
No matter how much you pay for an electric fireplace, the cost for the electric
heating insert is about $250 (retail). So every dollar you spend over $250 is for the
mantel piece. In the case of the Amish Cherry Fireplace, $250 subtracted from the
$587 retail price leaves $337 for the cost of the mantel.
So why would anyone be willing to pay $337 for maybe $50 worth of "real wood?"
It's the magic of marketing Baby!
If you buy an Amish electric fireplace, it won't be for the boring 1,500 watts of heat
offered by every other space heater out there. What's going to get you excited
enough to whip out your credit card is an unexplainable attraction to the Amish, the
promise of superior Amish craftsmanship and pride of ownership.
I can't explain an unexplainable attraction, but I'll accept the claim of superior Amish
craftsmanship. However, "craftsmanship" comes at a price. Over a three year
period, the premium you pay for an Amish mantel piece will add an additional $9 a
month to your actual heating costs when compared to the price of the electric
heating insert alone.
This leads me to another problem I have with the marketing of this product.
If you go to the Heat Surge website you won't find one picture of the Amish
fireplace with the wheels attached. The reason for this, in my opinion, is the wheels
make it look "dinky" compared to the "substantial" look it has when pictured
without the wheels.
So how much pride can you take in a product the manufacturer is embarrassed to
show in its entirety?
This is a shame. The wheels are actually a selling point because they provide the
means for zone heating - simply wheel the fireplace from room to room as needed.
Zone heating, or heating only the room you occupy, allows you to dial back your
home's master thermostat for substantial fuel savings.
On the other hand, attempting to "zone heat" your home for multiple occupants
spread out in multiple rooms with just one Amish fireplace is impossible.
I have a few other issues with their marketing claims that I could delve into, such as
"It uses about as much energy to run as a coffee maker" (1,100 watts) and regional
energy costs, but they have little bearing on cost effectiveness when you pay $587
for 1,500 watts of heat.
If you're looking for a reasonably priced
"Amish" Style rolling fireplace take a look
at the new Roll-N- Heat premium electric
fireplace from Classic Flame.
Comes fully assembled ready to be
plugged in.
"Amish" Style rolling fireplace take a look
at the new Roll-N- Heat premium electric
fireplace from Classic Flame.
Comes fully assembled ready to be
plugged in.
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