Australian Direct Fridges

Submitted: Sunday, Feb 13, 2011 at 21:24
ThreadID: 84335 Views:14476 Replies:3 FollowUps:14
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Hi All, has anyone bought a 12v fridge from Australian Direct? Thinking about purchasing one of their self branded 55L Models - guessing they are a Chinese import, but they do have a 2yr warranty backed by Evakool. At close to half the price of an Evakool or other brand name, very tempting. Has anyone had any experience and/or thoughts on this one? Cheers, Vin
Australian Direct 55L Fridge
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Reply By: Battery Value Pty Ltd - Monday, Feb 14, 2011 at 00:00

Monday, Feb 14, 2011 at 00:00
Hello Vin & Lisa,

it's not my business really, but please ring or email Evakool and ask about this guy's fridges.

Why should they back their competitor's product with a warranty???

BTW, Australian Direct doesn't exist as a company. Guess what that means in terms of warranty...
Check www.asic.gov.au

cheers, Peter

AnswerID: 445360

Follow Up By: rocco2010 - Monday, Feb 14, 2011 at 00:10

Monday, Feb 14, 2011 at 00:10
Gidday

Australian Direct is an ebay trader with 2600 odd sales and 100 per cent satisfactory feedback

No connection, just a satisfied customer

Cheers


Rocco

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Follow Up By: Member - Tony S (WA) - Monday, Feb 14, 2011 at 00:26

Monday, Feb 14, 2011 at 00:26
As Peter says, contact Evakool. Details on their web site.
www.evakool.com/
or
www.australiandirect.com.au/product.php/62/55-litre---australian-direct-fridge-freezer---free-delivery/e7039d986c3c02844a7290bb39967935

If you look at the Evakool web site you will see the 55ltr fridge as a "Fridge mate. My guess is that it is made in China for Evacool and Australia Direct could be their site for the Chinese products.

Tony
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Follow Up By: Member - DW Lennox Head(NSW) - Monday, Feb 14, 2011 at 05:50

Monday, Feb 14, 2011 at 05:50
I have an identical looking fridge that was called something like "Big Chilli". It has worked perfectly for the last 3 years.

I cost me only $500. I should have bought more of them.

DW
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Follow Up By: Member - Teege (NSW) - Monday, Feb 14, 2011 at 08:22

Monday, Feb 14, 2011 at 08:22
Peter
Surely you are not suggesting that trading as a company will give the consumer a better warranty claim than if they trade as a sole trader. Shonky companies going bust are much harder to pursue than sole traders. Or could it be that this guy is a competitor of yours and you have taken the opportunity to bad mouth him. If you read his website he seems very upfront, and as has been said, his e-bay rating is excellent. I have never dealt with him, but from his history I would have no qualms in doing so.
teege
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Follow Up By: Member - Vin & Lisa - Monday, Feb 14, 2011 at 11:30

Monday, Feb 14, 2011 at 11:30
Thanks all for your responses, will certainly contact Evakool first, but thinking I may be the guinea pig for these Fridges. Will let you all know how we go - if they're any good they're a bargain at $578 for a 55L Fridge.
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Follow Up By: DaveO*ST-R - Monday, Feb 14, 2011 at 17:12

Monday, Feb 14, 2011 at 17:12
Unless I am looking at this the wrong way, his company name is Australian Direct 4WD Outdoor. The registration number corresponds with his website.

http://www2.search.asic.gov.au/cgi-bin/gns030c?state_number=BN05108093&juris=5&hdtext=SA&srchsrc=1
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Follow Up By: P and JM - Monday, Feb 14, 2011 at 20:25

Monday, Feb 14, 2011 at 20:25
Just purchased an Evakool, was going to deal through Australia Direct (he's an Evakool agent) but got better deal with Evakool but got a cr...y product.

Cheers P&J
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Follow Up By: Member - Porl - Tuesday, Feb 15, 2011 at 07:46

Tuesday, Feb 15, 2011 at 07:46
I'd rather take a sole trader to court than a company.

Easier, cheaper, and faster, and more options. Sounds to me like he is an old fashioned genuine trader that shakes your hand and puts his assets and his bank account up as his warranty.
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Reply By: Member - Pedro the One (QLD) - Monday, Feb 14, 2011 at 23:59

Monday, Feb 14, 2011 at 23:59
"Has anyone had any experience and/or thoughts on this one? Cheers, Vin "

Hi Vin,
Yep ....... me have thoughts ...................!!

Was intrigued by a possible new player in the field : followed it up with a bit of investigation myself.

Checked out the EVAKOOL site, yep: all is OK there, nice and official!
I know Evakool as a top product, used to sell them in another life.

Checked out the Australian Direct site, all appears OK there.
Checked his "about us" tab - is impressive and sounds genuine to me,
trusting fellow that I am..........

I currently have an ENGELS 40litre and love it
AND a 120litre EvaKool ice-chest .... and love it, too!

AND have just placed an order direct on Australian Direct for an 80 litre unit !!!

Free delivery, 2 year warranty, fridge cover, wire basket, aluminium construction, 12/24 volt operation, 240 volt adapter included .........
ALL INCLUDED in the price ............. sounds to good to be true ???
AND : Cheaper direct than on eBay !!!

Them's my thoughts ...................
just need to find a decent 10 - 12 grammer in my next prospecting trip to recoup my outlay ........... when the rain stops and the rivers go down !!






AnswerID: 445472

Follow Up By: Member - Vin & Lisa - Tuesday, Feb 15, 2011 at 00:10

Tuesday, Feb 15, 2011 at 00:10
Cheers Pedro - just ordered the 55L unit - let's see how they go! Mine will be getting a nice little punishment in a few weeks heading west from Gold Coast to Alice, trekking around a little then down Oodnadatta Track to Lake Eyre and up Birdsville track on the way home. Fingers crossed it's not too good to be true!
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Follow Up By: Member - Pedro the One (QLD) - Tuesday, Mar 08, 2011 at 01:29

Tuesday, Mar 08, 2011 at 01:29
Hi Vin & Lisa ..........
My Australian Direct 80 litre unit was delivered here last Friday - extremely prompt delivery, very well packed and protected ...............

My impressions - so far :
Unit is very robust looking, nicely finished with no 'daggy bits' and no immediately obvious problem areas.

The unit is strong and solid in appearance, relatively light at 26kg [?] and presents well with clean lines both internal and external.

Interior appears to be 'dimpled silver aluminium finish' and the insulated lined canvas cover is well-made and well designed to allow good access to the side-hinged lid.

Controls are a piece of urine to operate - an on/off switch and an up/down, arrowed, digital temperature control - so simple ..... even a bloke can do it !!

Flashed it up that day, ambient temp. at 33*, empty, took around 45 minutes to drop to -14 ....... quite acceptable.
Noise level is low enough for me - I often sleep in my Troopy, alongside my current 40 litre Engel unit And yes, mostly I turn it off at night, unless it is really hot ..... and will do so with this unit also.

Two minor negatives - like, very minor :
1 / The two lever-type lockdown catches sit too close to the body of the unit - you can 'do a nail' opening them !!
Easily remedied with a pair of multi-grips and a light 'graunch' upturn - problem solved.
2 / There was a lot of internal condensation evident - I assume this was because the unit was empty at the start. Have loaded it up today - as a test run before the 'full monty' in a month or so.Overall - I like it muchly.

Have also ordered a 1Kva iGenerator from the same supplier.
Had occassion to speak with the owner, simple problem and sympathetically and effectively resolved, dealt with courteously .

Will come back with an 'operational report' - after around a three-months trial !!

And yep - I'm very impressed - so far.....................

Vin and Lisa .......... what's yours like ??






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Follow Up By: Member - Vin & Lisa - Tuesday, Mar 08, 2011 at 19:50

Tuesday, Mar 08, 2011 at 19:50
Hi Pedro,

Yep received our 55L unit also, very happy with it so far, have tested extensively in the house as we ran out of space in the normal freezer last week! Haven't noticed the condensation issue, but agree about the lockdown catches, also noticed the zipper from the insulating cover can tend to get jammed under the lid very easily. Not a major worry but a little annoying.

All very easy to operate and works flawlessly so far. We are heading off on Friday for 2 and a half weeks away, it will certainly be put to the test so will let you know.

Cheers, Vin
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Follow Up By: Member - Pedro the One (QLD) - Thursday, Mar 10, 2011 at 00:11

Thursday, Mar 10, 2011 at 00:11
Further to my further !!!

Yep .... have the same problem with the jamming zipper -
perchance a little padding on the back corners will keep them clear ???
Foam rubber taped around the edge of the body ??

Found my internal condensation cause - the two lid latches were badly fastened (poor QC ?) and weren't fully clamping the lid tight enough.
Simple to re-fasten correctly, via the 'elongated slots' for each screw .

BUT ...... - still have a lot of external condensation evident - may just be our local very hot and humid conditions (Weipa FNQ !!) - tomorrow will set up the Engel alongside and do a comparison ............

Still very pleased with it - hope you have a great trip .

Regards Pedro


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Reply By: CruisinDub - Tuesday, Feb 15, 2011 at 00:15

Tuesday, Feb 15, 2011 at 00:15
Hi all,

Reading the website,kists features as below.

¦55 Litre - Multifunction design
¦NEW Design with 42L Fridge or Freezer with 13L Fridge/Dairy Option
¦Unique sliding vent to adjust the amount of cold air entering the fridge section
¦Unit operates as either a Fridge or a Freezer not both at the same time
¦Cools or Freezes as low as -19ºC

The fourth line is in red and underlined.ù

Is it not supposed to be a fridge/freezer combo.??? (ie twin compartment)

Cheers Paul
AnswerID: 445473

Follow Up By: Member - Vin & Lisa - Tuesday, Feb 15, 2011 at 00:21

Tuesday, Feb 15, 2011 at 00:21
Pretty sure it is a combo unit, although the "Fridge" compartment is only 13L... I'm thinking they added the bit about the "new design" but forgot to take down the part about operating only as one or the other. I did find an old model somewhere on-line that was single compartment only. Will let you know for sure in a few days when mine arrives. Not sure yet whether I will use as large freezer/small fridge or all fridge.
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FollowupID: 717748

Follow Up By: Evakool - Tuesday, Feb 15, 2011 at 19:30

Tuesday, Feb 15, 2011 at 19:30
Hi,

There are two different models and the interior is different between the two.

The larger AD80 is one large internal space, which is the main space and the space above the compressor with no divider between the two sections. This unit has a basket that sits at the top to give the option to have product in the basket away from other stock.
As this unit is one large internal area it is a single temperature unit.


The smaller AD55 has a similar internal design, but it has a divider between the main area and the area on top of the compressor, which means you can have a freezer and fridge section, or fridge and dairy section. The basket in the large area is a full size basket, it is the full width, height and depth of the larger section.


Image Could Not Be Found


Paul - I would suggest the 4th line is in relation to the AD80, whereas the other lines relate to the AD55.


Thanks.
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FollowupID: 717825

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