Ionic Breeze Quadra Silent Air Purifier
69The Ionic Breeze Quadra Silent Air Purifier was introduced by Sharper Image in 2003 and quickly became the fastest selling product produced by Sharper Image. The Ionic Breeze Quadra Silent Air Purifier is Sharper Image’s attempt in the high end air purifier market. These types of air purifiers use electrostatic principles to trap air born particles like dust, dust mites, bacteria, pet dander, pollen and other allergens that create havoc for allergy and asthma sufferers.
The scientific theory behind the air purifier is that the product moves air through its body by electrostatically charging air particles on one side of the unit creating an imbalance that draws the air through the rear of the unit passing it across metal plates charged opposite the charge of the entering air molecules which then attracts those particulates to the plates and therefore cleaning the air as it goes through. A small byproduct of the process is the production of ozone.
Ozone is a naturally occurring substance in our atmosphere that is necessary to block UV rays from the sun. It has been shown in clinical studies that overexposure to ozone can cause serious health problems including aggravation of asthma symptoms and allergies. The amount of ozone produced by the Ionic Breeze Quadra Silent Air Purifier is of such low volume that unless you were in a hermetically sealed room less than twenty square feet in size you would not be affected.
Certain members of the scientific community and a paragon of consumer research, Consumer Reports, latched on to the expensive air purifiers and cleaners on the market and set out to destroy the credibility of the manufacturers. With an original retail price of nearly three hundred fifty dollars ($350) the Sharper Image Ionic Breeze Quadra Silent Air Purifier was at the top of the food chain for expensive air cleaners.
Consumer Reports reviewed several of the most expensive air cleaners on the market and came to the conclusion that none of them cleaned the air as well as their advertising suggested and as a result were much more expensive than they needed to be. They also included that ozone as a byproduct from many of the tested models exceeded the recommended levels of ozone and were thus deemed a health hazard.
Because Sharper Image’s product was the most expensive it was put on Consumer Reports “Don’t Buy” list. Sharper Image promptly sued Consumer’s Union (the parent of Consumer Reports) for libel and that the claims that the product’s lack of ability to reduce air born particles were false and intended to injure the company.
Sharper Image lost the lawsuit and had to pay over a half million dollars in legal fees to Consumers Union and the resulting fallout and bad publicity severely cut into sales for any of the ionic air purifiers. Two months after the lawsuit ended badly for Sharper Image Consumer Reports was at it again releasing an article stating that the Ionic Breeze Quadra Silent Air Purifier and four similar models failed to significantly clean the air and releases ozone that could potentially harm the health of the consumer.
Sales overall since then have been declining at double digit rates and in February of 2008 Sharper Image was forced to file for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection as a direct result of its liquidity problems stemming from the failed lawsuit against Consumer Reports and a resulting Class Action lawsuit from investors alleging fraud based on revenue projections on the continued sales of Ionic Breeze products.
With over two million units sold the Ionic Breeze Quadra Silent Air Purifier has had its detractors and supporters. There are models available online from Amazon.com, Overstock.com and USA Deals. Prices for new product range from $129.99 to $169.99; pretty pricey for an item dubbed by Consumer Reports as a “Don’t Buy” recommendation but still a far cry from the original $349 price.
Due to the claims by Consumer Reports that too much ozone is produced, Sharper Image made available an attachment that would reduce the ozone emissions and actually marketed a new model as a “Pro” version with the ozone reducing module attached. You can also find refurbished models with full warranties for as little as $79.95.
