Arctos Portable AC Reviews

Arctos Portable AC
( 38 reviews )

Arctos Portable AC Customer Reviews

  • Sort Reviews By:

***junk*** Stay Away From Arctos!
July 27, 2022

Ripoff! Stay away! Does not cool off room! They charge you twice on shipping if you return (I was a sucker for 4 units) you pay both shipping and return shipping. Thank god I used amex! Disputed charge the day they arrived! ***junk***

KrisBellmore August 02, 2022

i wish i would read reviews before i purchase items like this... thank you ... i bought 2 myself... and is total garbage

Scam!
July 18, 2022

I purchased this in April and started using them in June (when it was hot) 2 of these have broken. The filters on 1 snapped and their black plastic pieces have fallen off. Two of the devices have broken white plastic pieces on the front where you are supposed to move air. These are definitely cheaply made and also don’t cool at ALL.

I have another cooling device I used for an entire year that is a large standup unit from Amazon and I have had 0 issues with it and it actually cools. I thought these would be easier but they are definitely not and they don’t even work as advertised even when following the recommendations exactly.

SteveGarner July 27, 2022

Agree 100% Arctos=junk!

danacitrowski September 18, 2022

I'm so tired of trying to get the word out there about what a piece of cheap plastic garbage this product is! But I keep trying. I want to save at least 1 person from getting ripped-off like I did! Stay away from Arctos, Arctic Air, Ontel, etc.! This product is a SCAM!

Product does NOT work as advertised
July 16, 2022
Complete crap, don't waste your money. Please note, the glowing reviews are mostly on affiliate web sites, which are basically fronts for the product site, not unbiased review sites.

danacitrowski September 03, 2022

I 100% agree! They seem to be buying off every internet ad site on the web. Arctos is part of a company manufacturing the same product under different names, and all I know is this over-priced garbage costs 3 times as much as their other ones.

If I buy junk for $30, OK--bad choice. But when I pay $89.95 for the same trash made by the same company, I want this company reported and put out of business! BTY, would work OK in a cool room in the 70 degree range.

Don't expect your money back. They do lip-serve to all calls and ignore emails. I have one that leaks like a sieve since the day I bought it!

RayGarafano January 12, 2023

Get a 55 gallon barrel fill w ice, plumb it to a heater core from a truck or car with a small pump and have it recirculate.

fit it with a fan. u'll get much more cooling from that than this piece of crap from arctos. 35 degrees of water running thru a small radiator on a hot day will absorb a lot of heat. 100 lbs of ice will absorb 14,400 btu's. a friend of mine, Brad Reed did this w a small car radiator and with forced hot water system as well.

This Ac Is Very Loud And Noisy
July 12, 2022
This little plastic toy is advertised as QUIET AS A MOUSE and it is the exact opposite. It is VERY loud and I have to wear earplugs at night to sleep. The lighting is very annoying. I have tried to get a refund but ONTEL is not willing to admit that this is a defective unit. DON'T BUY IT.

Arctos air conditioner is a scam!
July 12, 2022

It's a complete scam. It absolutely does not refresh a room. ¨It just doesn't work, it's throwing more than $100 out of the window!

I'm so disappointed...

Do not buy. A good fan is a much better investment.
June 30, 2022
The unit does not cool a space at all. It functions as a fan, but no more. I couldn't find anything about return policies or instructions on their website. I emailed and called but couldn't get through to anyone. With such extravagantly false claims like, "refrigerate a room in five minutes," I expect this company to be sued out of existence soon. Perhaps that's why I couldn't get through to anyone.

SteveGarner July 27, 2022

Agree 100% Arctos = Junk!

danacitrowski September 03, 2022

100% trash can fodder! You can't even put it in the recycle bin because it's all cheap plastic.

Product does not work as advertised
June 26, 2022

Terrible product. The lights are too bright to use at night and no way to turn off. Have to sit in front of it to get any cooling. Certainly will not cool a room.

Husband called, woman said she would set up a refund minus original ship charges- and just keep the product. He called back over. 10 days ago, guy claimed he could see refund was in process and should clear in a few days. Still nothing. Suspect we will get nothing back.

SteveGarner July 27, 2022

Agree Arctos=junk! Glad I used AMEX so I can dispute their fraudulent scam! Good luck with your refund.

Scam
June 25, 2022
Slightly better than nothing. What outrageous claims were made about its efficiency. It is basically just a fan and a rather noisy one.

danacitrowski September 07, 2022

If it actually blew any cool air, I wouldn't care if it was noisy! For the money I spent on this useless garbage, I could have bought a "real" portable swamp cooler that actually works. A squirt bottle and a $15 fan seriously works 100% better than these cheap plastic computer fans. Stay away and report to Better Business Bureau. Better yet, infiltrate all of their fake review sites with REAL reviews and complaints.

Great advertising for a very poor product!
June 22, 2022
This unit will not cool a room regardless of how you use it per instructions. Tried to return but can only return if unused. Just how can keep it unused without trying it. They offered a $45 refund if you ask. I have accepted the refund offer but never received the refund. Follow ups are not answered

SteveGarner July 27, 2022

Scam! Same Here. I Used Amex So I Am Disputing This Fraud By Arctos!

KrisBellmore August 02, 2022

you are right... the advertisement was amazing... i just didnt know i would receive a toy with a computer fan in it... so garbage

Glorified swamp cooler
June 17, 2022

Garbage. DO NOT BUY!

SteveGarner July 27, 2022

Arctos=fraud

danacitrowski September 07, 2022

It's not even "glorified." It's blatant consumer fraud!

Unhappy customer
June 14, 2022
I returned a unit due to not ordering it. The unit was received back the first week of June and I still have not received a refund. Nobody answers emails or phone calls. Usually after being on hold for 30 minutes I hang up.

SteveGarner July 27, 2022

Agree arctos is a fraud. I used amex so disputing charges. Good luck!

Don't be misled: Arctos doesn't cool you. It fools you
June 5, 2022

I was full of hopes when I ordered 3 Arctos personal cooler!! I should have investigate and be less impulsive but it was hot in my apartment and they looked so cute. I should have questioned the fact it appeared in my fb page... the only place where the adblocker doesn't work.

It was meant to be near my desk or near my favourite reading chair.

First the delivery took forever but I was able to track it after I complained to the Omtel help desk. I was exited to try the device.

Big disappointment. The thing looks nice indeed, but has to be plugged in the wall with a wire... a bit primitive.

Then the instructions are weird : plunge the filters in water, preferably cold, or better a few minutes in the freezer: it will work better! ( it is written in the leaflet)...

And be careful about mould if you font use it in continuity... ( written in the instructions too)... So is it a health hazard? Obviously yes...

Then you have to add water but the level is not indicated clearly. Is that a humidifier? ... Obviously not, because its too small...

Then finally, press the button, get a display of nice colors, 3 intensities that

are very similar, no cold air st all, barely a little fan...

Very very disappointed! I feel really abused...

Will try to send it back ( its written on the package NOT to send it back but call the helpline instead... I will keep you posted...

And I will try to see ehat I can do with Paypal since I paid with Paypal

Air "Cooler"
May 28, 2022

I received my Arctos air cooler 2 days ago, followed instructions; running water over the "filter" which is basically a plastic square with smaller squares in it. I froze it.

I plugged the machine in and 1. is not quieter than an AC, keeps the room "cooler" until mid-afternoon when temps outside reach the upper 90s, then it feels like room temp air blowing.

I had enough of this nonsense, unplugged it and plugged in my air conditioner. That is $100+ (including s&h) wasted. I probably will toss it in the trash.

I recall reading an ad saying it turns your room into a refrigerator....when my fridge ever gets that bad, it's time to replace it....

KrisBellmore August 02, 2022

why 2 stars? there should be an option for 0 stars because this product is garbage

danacitrowski September 07, 2022

Agree, I had to pick 1 star or I would have picked Minus Zero! This thing would not cool you refrigerator!

I Got Scammed
May 26, 2022

Arctos Scammed me. I bought 4 coolers with filters and life warranty for $429.35. They said they shipped it to me with a tracking number. They charged me $659.84 and the tracking said it was delivered in Rancho Dominguez not to me.... I want a refund but they are ignoring me.

Jean-francoisTapp June 13, 2022

Still got scammed and didnt received it yet!!

danacitrowski September 07, 2022

Almost same story with me. This company is a high-priced con job.

Limited Cooling Effect
May 21, 2022

The Arctos cooling unit is functional, but very limited in its cooling ability. If the room to be cooled is 12'x15' or smaller, then the unit can make a noticeable difference at the cost of raising the humidity level. If you are in a particularly dry environment, this is a bonus.

Do not purchase this evaporative cooling unit if you are in an already-humid environment as it will raise the relative humidity several percentage points. On low and medium the fan is not objectionably loud, but on high the sound is quite noticeable.

The illumination function works as advertised and is not obnoxiously bright. It generates enough lumens to serve as a night light and you can leave it off while running the fan, if you wish.

Is the Arctos a complete waste of your money? No, but don't expect such small unit to make a noticeable difference in a room larger than 180 or so square feet.

Jean-francoisTapp May 26, 2022

Why did my 4 Arctos for $261 go up to $659.84 when they charged me?

Jean-francoisTapp May 26, 2022

Oh yeah and I never received them. Instead of shipping them to me, they shipped it to rancho dominguez....

KrisBellmore August 02, 2022

why are you people giving them 2 stars? i am upset that i have to give them 1 star because the is no option for 0 stars. arctos is such garbage

danacitrowski September 07, 2022

Seriously, anyone who gives them 2 stars lives in temps below 75 degrees! Night light? You can change the colors but you can't turn off the light if the fan is running! And come on! 180 square feet!? Arctos cooler wouldn't cool 6 square feet unless the room was already air-conditioned!

Shipping Canceled
May 17, 2022

I placed an order and it was finalized and ready to ship. Then found out shipment was canceled. Why? I don't know. UPS said supplier canceled and supplier said UPS canceled. Blame game? After finally finding this site with reviews I am glad I was refunded and do not plan to reorder.

Jean-francoisTapp May 26, 2022

How do you get refunded, because I want one too.

KrisBellmore August 02, 2022

you are lucky

danacitrowski September 07, 2022

Thank your lucky stars!

Avoid
May 16, 2022
Avoid. This is simply evaporative cooling in a plastic box. There's nothing special about it. Barely cools the air in a very small room. I understand this unit is portable and that's its appeal, but you may as well just point a fan at a dish full of ice and save yourself this outrageous price. Exact same results except the ice & fan would actually produce cooler air.

danacitrowski September 07, 2022

Ditto!

Do not buy this...You are warned!
May 10, 2022

I would give ZERO STARS if I could..I purchased this pathetic thing because of the promises the company makes. This machine is crap, do not buy this it is a waste of money. I've tried everything, (cold water, ice cubes, etc) this things is just a lie and a piece of crap.

I warn you NOT to buy this there is no "freezing" air. This thing doesn't cool anything down.

It couldn't cool down a 3x3 foot square space, but it will raise your electric bill. Everyone who bought this was lied to and everyone who left a good review works for the company.

I offer you this, if this thing works like the company says it does then I will ship you mine, free of charge because this thing is crap. The company lied to all of us and someone who has a lot more smarts than me should file a class action law suit.

KrisBellmore August 02, 2022

yeah im pissed that i had to give them 1 star. such a garbage product

danacitrowski September 07, 2022

They are spending 100's of 1,000's of dollars buying off web sites and giving false claims to a cheap, junk product. Result, they are making millions, or even billions by selling junk and getting away with it. Con artist's that no one seems to be able to stop. I guess too much kick-back $ is involved for anyone to stop their false claims.