Karen Youso vs. the Space Heaters, Part 2

Karen Youso has done a follow-up column on the amazing heaters that will cut your bills in half. This time it's the EdenPure heater (not the "Amish" one I wrote about in an earlier column), and while this heater can't claim to be Amish, it has the advantage of having been "heard on Paul Harvey News."

Once again, Youso points out that the heater (which costs $400) is no better than ones priced at $60, and that the savings on natural gas bills would be more than offset by increased costs for electricity. She also debunks the belief that furnaces produce dust (they don't, and in fact if you have a decent filter, they'll actually decrease the dust in your house).

As the final coup de grace, she administers the Consumer Reports stiletto:

Last year, Consumer Reports magazine tested and rated space heaters. EdenPure was at the bottom of the 20 space heaters tested. The top performers, all of which were much cheaper than the EdenPure, include: Honeywell Electric heater HZ-519 or HX-515, for about $60; Holmes Quartz Tower, $60; DeLonghi SafeHeat Flat Panel, $80.

This column is such a reminder of the value of the general interest newspaper. I wasn't reading it because I was looking specifically for information on space heaters -- I have no interest in space heaters. But there it was, sprinkled in among the dance and theater reviews, just across from the Sudoku and crossword puzzles. So I saw it. I think that's called serendipity.

Anyone can use the many specialized product review sites that exist on the web (easily found through Google), but you have to go looking for those. The average person at whom these ads is targeted is not going to even think of looking it up online before buying one. But if it happens to be in the newspaper next to the crossword puzzle, it might be seen and read... and stop at least a few purchases that would have been made because of false advertising.