Riddex Digital Pest Repeller-Does it Work?

[godofpie]

https://www.riddexplus.tv/?cid=550399
I could not find existing thread on this topic. I remember buying one of these about 10 years ago. It did not work at all for me. An employee of mine just spent $90 on this crap and I told her she needed to get her money back immediately. Does anyone know if there is some actual science behind this concept? The website talks about microprocessors and electromagnetic technology but I can't find any supporting documentation on their site that confirms their laboratory testing.


"Thank you so much for Riddex Plus.

Since using Riddex our office has been free of mice and any sign of mouse droppings. What a relief! Exterminators can only do so much. But I think that Riddex is the non-toxic solution! Instead of attracting the mice with poison and traps, Riddex is keeping them away - for good! It’s a product that I have recommended in the past but have never had a need for it until now and it’s great.

Thanks again."

Victoria Fabry
New York, NY"
I thought this testimonial was funny. She has been recommending a product she has never used before?

[Pantaz]

Here are a few things to read...
http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=211826

http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/riddex-plus-c59829.html

FTC complaint on a previous Riddex product. (The device description sounds identical to me.)
http://www.ftc.gov/os/2003/07/globalcmp.pdf

[godofpie]

Thanks for those links. The physics forum was an interesting read but they really didn't discuss weather the science behind it was legitimate. There were two posters that just had one post each that both raved about how well it worked. That seems sort of suspicious to me. I skimmed over the FCC complaint. I wonder what the resolution was? One of the posters at the physics forum said this-


"The Federal Trade Commission has prohibited the sale of riddex units. They do not work. the company has been under investigation since 2003. Everyone should research products before you buy them, regardless of what the commercial or advertisement "claims"."


But he did not provide any links or sources for his accusations and this was his only post on this forum.

[Soapy Sam]

Anything that repels digital pests must be worth a try.

I find Linux helps.

[JWideman]

Well, it makes a pseudo-scientific claim about "pulsing" your house wiring's "energy field". Not that they've ever tested this claim or what affect it has on pests. What it does, and the only thing it CAN do, is drain a little electricity while rapidly turning on and off.

[Christian Klippel]

Anything that repels digital pests must be worth a try.

I find Linux helps.

How true. That surely gave me a giggle or two :D

But as for the OP, well, _what_ science is supposed behind that thing? To me, it smells badly like a scam. I find it fascinating that so much crap is produced that allegedly works and uses some kind of magnetism. In fact, regardless of what new toy comes out, as soon as i read something about magnetism being used in it for the effect it makes me highly skeptical.

Another red flag for me is that they say there is a patented technology used, but don tell which patent number. They claim that laboratory tests have been done, but don't tell which tests and which laboratory. The "digital pulse technology" in this context sounds more like esoteric mumbo-jumbo. Probably the only "pulse technology" is used in the step-down converter that drives the night-light, whereas the function of said night-light is actually the only thing tested in a laboratory. :p

My guess is that the only usable feature of this gadget really is the built-in night-light...

Greetings,

Chris

[Dr H]

Heh. Two years ago a friend of mine was living in a low-rent apartment complex that got infested with roaches. Figuring that a one-time investment in an alleged "ultrasonic roach repeller" was more cost-effective than buying a monthly case of RAID, he found one of these units for $50.

When I came over to visit I saw the unit plugged-in and operating, as roaches swarmed all over the counter-tops, and at least a dozen roaches appeared to be dancing a jig on top of the unit itself.

[Soapy Sam]

I've heard positive reports of ultrasonics deterring rodents, but not insects.