50 replies to this topic

[ditchcrawler]

Then technical details are at the best misleading and at the worst lies - as are the comparisons. Bit like comparing chalk and cheese. Only an idiot or in an emergency situation would one try to charge batteries from a Honda generator's DC output because it is acknowledged as only being unregulated low power.

As long as the buyer understands what they are getting and does not believe their claim re time to recharge (although their units are incorrect) then it is an interesting and probably useful device.

However I have made a formal complaint to the advertising standards people about the add on the grounds it is untrue and confusing. I doubt they will do anything about it because my experience with a complaint against a GI advert which they admitted was untrue was not upheld because "it was unlikely to mislead". So you can tell lies and confuse in adds as long as some bod in advertising standards is persuaded by some means the add will not mislead the customer.

If anyone else feels qualified to pass judgement and feels the add is as I describe it perhaps they too should lodge a complaint. Its simple and can be dome on-line.

Agree 100% Tony, it's just what I thought when I red the adds.

[tubby]

[quote name='Tony Brooks' timestamp='1336149595' post='867070']
Just noticed the emboldend text in a quote well below this quote.

No one has suggested that it does not charge as well as a vehicle or boat alternator and in view of the higher charging volatge may well do slightly better. That is not the problem. The problem is the claims an comparisons made in the advert.

Honda are open about the limitations of their unregulated 12V output for battery charging so anyone with a modicum of sense would use the Honda to drive a mains battery charger which will probably do better than a simple volatge regulated charging source.

The problem is the advert is misleading and nonsense re the units. They can not substantiate the claims made and I very much doubt that you can otherwise you would have provide the proof.

If you want an independent means of charging a battery then (ignoring the petrol thing) it is a cost effective way forward and far cheaper than a Honda plus charger and it will do as good a job at charging your batteries as any other 50 amp alternator. I think we all agree on that, but that is not what the advert claims



[/Take your point, obviously I am not as qualified as it would seem others are, I purchased my unit on the simple logic of its construction...its size and weight, it seemed to be a great idea, Any comparisons they make did not interest me, as I have said, I have a Honda genny and solar panels never did seem the answer and whilst I could have purchased a decent battery charger to run off the genny this supercharger was recommended to me by a mate... He was the one who drew my attention to this forum so I thought I would put in my penny worth...reading some of the cynics comments I wish I hadn,t, bothered !As a satisfied customer All I can say is I like it !!! and my mate likes his !!! Now I will go and get a life!!!

Edited by tubby, 04 May 2012 - 07:01 PM.

[Tony Brooks]

An update on this.

The advertisers seem to have escaped any sanction by agreeing to withdraw the advert.

The ASA both phoned and emailed me to try to sideline my complaint to a single comparison that I assume they felt they could rule as allowable and seemed to be incapable of taking independent technical advice re my main complaint about the "maths" and units in the advert. They seemed to need a very strongly worded email to get them to act.

The ASA seem to have got the add withdrawn but little else to protect the public from misleading claims.

Thanks to those who also complained to the ASA - they seemed a bit miffed when I was able to tell them to check for other complaints.

[Timleech]

An update on this.

The advertisers seem to have escaped any sanction by agreeing to withdraw the advert.

The ASA both phoned and emailed me to try to sideline my complaint to a single comparison that I assume they felt they could rule as allowable and seemed to be incapable of taking independent technical advice re my main complaint about the "maths" and units in the advert. They seemed to need a very strongly worded email to get them to act.

The ASA seem to have got the add withdrawn but little else to protect the public from misleading claims.

Thanks to those who also complained to the ASA - they seemed a bit miffed when I was able to tell them to check for other complaints.

ebay item 190708275406 seems to still make pretty much the same claims.

Tim

[Tony Brooks]

ebay item 190708275406 seems to still make pretty much the same claims.

Tim

Thanks Tim,

I have submitted a new complaint but doubt it will get anywhere. The ASA seems to have no teeth and no interest in protecting the consumer.

[Tony Brooks]

ebay item 190708275406 seems to still make pretty much the same claims.

Tim

Would any Ebay members on here care to tell Ebay that their seller has agreed to withdraw the claims in printed adds with the ASA but are still making the same claims on Ebay.

I can not because Ebay are determined to exclude non-members for communication with them.

[Phil Ambrose]

Aw come on Tubby, over the years we have all seen countless adverts for all manner of snake oil. This advert would have us believe that it is the Holy Grail giving max power for min input, so please excise us for being cynical.

Phil

[Julynian]

Would any Ebay members on here care to tell Ebay that their seller has agreed to withdraw the claims in printed adds with the ASA but are still making the same claims on Ebay.

I can not because Ebay are determined to exclude non-members for communication with them.

Become a member

Buy one

Then leave appropriate feedback

[Tony Brooks]

Become a member

Buy one

Then leave appropriate feedback

Past experience of the crooks suggests that is a far from sensible suggestion but I know others have had no such problems and use Ebay.

How can you trust a company that has set its payment system up to deliberately avoid using a credit card gives consumers? How can you trust an outfit that refuses to allow consumers to inform them of potential illegal activities on their site without giving them personal information? (don't answer - rhetorical question).

[Tony Brooks]

BUMP - sorry but just some feedback

Today I received the final letter from the ASA re this product.

It seems CamperCare Products t/a The Supercharger.co.uk failed to supply any documentation substantiating their claims and the ASA expert in the main agreed with the points I made in my formal complaint.

The adjudication resulted in the advertisers being told the adverts "must not appear in their currant form" and the advertisers were told to "ensure they held supporting documentation for their claims and to ensure their claims were accurate".

The ASA appeared to ignore the fact that the claims appeared to be continuing on EBay after they were withdrawn from the press adverts and the ASA procedures were started. (I did make a second formal complaint about the Ebay adds but the ASA seemed to consider both as 1 complaint.

So there we have it. Now we know why heater vendors feel free to advertise heat outputs that exceed the calorific value of the claimed fuel consumption, why apparent PWM solar controllers can be sold as MPPT, and why fuel filters with plastic drain plugs (solid plastic - not with metal inserts) can be sold as for marine use. It seems that neither the UK authorities nor the EU have sufficient powers to do any more than slap the con-merchants over the hand with a wet lettuce leaf.
Consumer Protection in the UK is nothing but a joke.

[Grace & Favour]

BUMP - sorry but just some feedback

Today I received the final letter from the ASA re this product.

It seems CamperCare Products t/a The Supercharger.co.uk failed to supply any documentation substantiating their claims and the ASA expert in the main agreed with the points I made in my formal complaint.

The adjudication resulted in the advertisers being told the adverts "must not appear in their currant form" and the advertisers were told to "ensure they held supporting documentation for their claims and to ensure their claims were accurate".

The ASA appeared to ignore the fact that the claims appeared to be continuing on EBay after they were withdrawn from the press adverts and the ASA procedures were started. (I did make a second formal complaint about the Ebay adds but the ASA seemed to consider both as 1 complaint.

So there we have it. Now we know why heater vendors feel free to advertise heat outputs that exceed the calorific value of the claimed fuel consumption, why apparent PWM solar controllers can be sold as MPPT, and why fuel filters with plastic drain plugs (solid plastic - not with metal inserts) can be sold as for marine use. It seems that neither the UK authorities nor the EU have sufficient powers to do any more than slap the con-merchants over the hand with a wet lettuce leaf.
Consumer Protection in the UK is nothing but a joke.

Well done Tony!

Although I share your frustration with the sop of a reprimand meted out by the ASA........