Vornado Product Reviews - Now Showing at Vornado.com

It is with great excitement that I announce the debut of Product Reviews functionality at the Vornado website. Here are just a few of the product reviews phenomena that get my marketing mojo moving:

1.) But Don't Take My Word For It: Those famous "Reading Rainbow" lines are indelibly etched into my memory. Bypass the slick advertising copy and read what real people are saying about the product. Their input is more likely to match your experience.

2.) You Have A Voice (And we're listening): We're increasingly empowered to have a say in... well... nearly anything. Why should having a means to voice your product opinions be any different. While the product teams at Vornado have always monitored reviews (via Amazon, Epinions, etc.) we think it's important for our customers to know their voice is being heard - at the source. We're not just monitoring - we're truly listening. The input influences every product we make.

3.) I Want That One: Product reviews typically include all manner of insights onto how the product is used, how effective it is, as well as high and low points of the form and function. On Vornado.com, we've asked reviewers to give individual ratings to a product's Performance, Value, Appearance, Quality, and Sound output (Quiet operation). If one area is of more importance to you, this is an excellent way to narrow down your selections.

If you own a Vornado product - consider this your invitation to speak your mind by writing a product review. It only takes about a minute - and your feedback will help us build better products, and help others make better buying decisions.

What Makes A Vornado Better? Different?

Common Questions Part 2: If A Vornado Is So Different, Why Do The Competitors Look So Similar?

At first glance, one might expect the two products above are related fairly closely... perhaps even from the same manufacturer, just different models. After all, look at the design cues and colors. Even the grill is the same. What could POSSIBLY make these two fans different, aside from the fact that the Vornado costs more? For the other guys, that beauty truly is only skin deep. While they imitate the look, and even the words Vornado has used on its packaging for years, they neglect what actually makes the product work. Vornado Fans are uniquely engineered to generate the performance our consumers enjoy. Here's what we mean...



What about the spiral grill - don't they both have that? Actually - each "vein" of a Vornado grill is angled to maximize its ability to shape the airflow. Think of it like an airplane wing. A little angle is the difference between function and fashion.

I'll hand it to them...the "other" low cost fan companies have done a wonderful, if not unabashed job of imitating the design cues of a Vornado. Our recommendation... try to make the products perform like a Vornado. Imitate the longevity and power of a Vornado motor, and the more durable plastics that go into its construction. Try to imitate the engineering too. You'll discover that every model features uniquely sized components - because even the slightest change in size or application requires comprehensive re-engineering in order to retain its powerful yet quiet operation. It's a challenge we're happy to make, because once a competitor would try to imitate the factors that transcend the visuals, they can blow a goodbye kiss to their "low price" position. The problem is, they won't be able to blow it very far.

Funniest Product Review You'll Read In The Next 5 Minutes

Ok, so we here at Vornado try to keep up with what customers are saying about our products. The TVH500 got lots of good reviews- but this review from Amazon.com quite possibly takes home the gold. I must say, it is in honor of Jasmine that I have changed the background image on our Twitter page. Amanda931, if you're out there, please send us a pic of Jasmine. Maybe we can get you a new space heater for your efforts.

Read on...

Jasmine the kitten makes this worthless to me,

January 31, 2008

By: Amanda Peck "amanda931" (Waynesboro) - See all my reviews

I like Vornado heaters a lot. They give out moderately cool air, so you sit around and think "it's not working, it's not working" until you suddenly realize the room is warm. And unlike the imitations, the heat is not as stratified--particularly if you have it set so the fan is always on.

I thought this one might be sturdier than the smaller ones (it might well be) and that the remote would be wonderful.

But...

The top is a perfect place for a kitten to rest, especially when it's heating. And if she wriggles a bit, she presses buttons, any buttons--but particularly mode and temperature. So the remote becomes useless. If I don't know what mode it was in, I can't change it to high heat with the remote (and I certainly haven't gotten used to which way is "up" temperature on the remote).

While I've been writing this she's managed to turn it off completely once, and another time beep the thermostat down below what the fan thinks is the room air temperature (it's at least 3 degrees too high in my space).

I could take it down to a small work-room in the barn, but there's a problem there, too. One that I suspect that Vornado did deliberately, so this would be perfect for supplementary heating in a coolish room. The lowest setting on the thermostat is 65. Way too high to use as an anti-freeze setting when the room is unoccupied.

Jasmine is a really cute and sweet kitten.