Customer loses remote Dometic loses customer (Fantastic Fan)

Yes word of mouth goes a long way in this niche community, I wonder if they even realize what they're doing? they probably do and just do not care... I asked for any kind of discount on their ahem "upgrade kit" and nothing was offered. Believe it or not I didn't lose it in my email exchanges with the rep either. My unit is technically still under warranty but losing the remote doesn't fall under warranty claims I am sure, even though the rep tried to play that card.

I have a few options though since they don't want to stand by their product or acquired customers from the corporate poker game they've played.

1. I can figure this out myself how to remove all the old electronics and add a variable potentiometer with an on/off switch and still retain the low amp draw (unlike the 3 speed switch)

2. I can order a whole new unit and gut the electronics, rebox the item and ship it back to Amazon with my units electronics in their stead. Then I can purchase just what I need, a new remote. (two can play the butthead game)

3. Buy the Maxxair and never look back and steer clear of Dometic products.

we'll see...

I'm with you, Cosmic Artifact. Poor customer service is poor customer service, regardless of the reason. Companies are bought and sold daily and some recognise that fact, others don't and some don't give a rat's butt. With the problems Dometic has been having all across their product lines, I'd say they fall into the last two categories for sure. Run, don't walk, away.

D.E.Bishop wrote:
The switches and speed control for a Fantastic Vent can be purchased on line or from a good electronics supply store. I have two FVs in our Winnie and unlike the one in our Bounder, they have no fan reverse switch. If we were not contemplating sell our rig, I would just buy a DPDT (double pole - double throw) switch and install it without buying a factory switch from Dometic.

The fan I have is reversible with the switch installed, the problem I am facing is I can not turn the fan on let alone set any fan speed without the remote. It appears all that I can do is open and close the hood manually with the crank. If the fan never loses power then your last fan setting is automatic when one opens the lid. Unfortunately also the last setting on the fan was with the motor not on and just the vent lid open.

I don't need all the bells and whistles it has, I only bought the top model because of it's listed amp draw that's all that I was after. I am going to have to gut this unit and put a potentiometer and a master on/off switch in it somehow if I want to save it and myself installing another vent so soon... Hence I'm checking to see if anyone has done anything similar.

According to email exchanges this is my only option and that happens to be their supposed "upgrade" kit... it is a featureless panel which consolidates even more control of the unit to the remote. If their supposed upgrade kit had fan speed buttons or a fan speed knob on the faceplate then I would consider that in fact to be an upgrade and purchase the item, but that's not the case because owners/purchasers will be just as screwed as I am now without the remote control.

https://www.amazon.com/Fan-Tastic-Vent-807358-Upgrade-7350/dp/B00IKMBVDK

Below is the unit I already have, the top of the line model before Dometic took over. It has all the bells and whistles already so I would just be after this kits remote... and for $269 dollars that is actually I think $10 dollars more than I paid for the entire unit which is already installed and functioning fine otherwise... minus the remote.

https://www.jmsonline.net/fan-tastic-vent-6600-upgrade-kit-k-6600r-417wh-ftv-807359.htm

$269 dollars for a remote! more expensive than (I am finding out now because of my situation) a Maxxair Deluxe which is superior because of the integrated rain cover and manual control buttons on the faceplate. It is quite odd that Dometic would discontinue a remote for fans that were selling off the shelf not even two years ago at major outlets, even more sinister is that the new model remote is not backwards compatible so I could order just what I need to have my basically brand new fan operating again.

I think I'll install the Maxxair next week if I can't find a solution... Then I'll take the Fantastic Fan in effigy and burn it out in front of Dometic corporate headquarters just for the spite of it, that should make some kinda stir. Hell what better do we RVers have to do in our free time but find a new mission for future weekends :D

Bird Freak wrote:
I agree with Don. If you never buy anything else Dometic you are cutting your rv options way down.

I hear ya man... I think the product I have though was made by the original company before Dometic bought out fantastic vent sometime last year (well according to Dometic email exchanges anyway)

I have to have that freezer section though on the fridge or buy two units using one for freeze and the other for fridge. Like I said it really bites because that CFX has good reviews but dometic corporation themselves now that's another story. They own the name "Fantastic Vent" they need to stand behind the product, I am sure there are many of these units out there.

The switches and speed control for a Fantastic Vent can be purchased on line or from a good electronics supply store. I have two FVs in our Winnie and unlike the one in our Bounder, they have no fan reverse switch. If we were not contemplating sell our rig, I would just buy a DPDT (double pole - double throw) switch and install it without buying a factory switch from Dometic.

stickdog wrote:
I pulled into a site a few weeks ago and one of those fan remotes was sitting on the picnic table. Might have been yours but not having the need for a remote it may still be sitting on the picnic table.

lol yeah it wasn't mine... I did make a special trip back to the trail just to see if it was set aside somewhere but honestly I think it was thrown out somehow in a scurry to clean up and pack out.

Obsolete! Are you kidding... No need to insult people :) I bought the darn thing two years ago if even. As I see it the model dometic has replaced the unit with looks inferior with the pancake motor which is also louder.

I agree with Don. If you never buy anything else Dometic you are cutting your rv options way down.

I pulled into a site a few weeks ago and one of those fan remotes was sitting on the picnic table. Might have been yours but not having the need for a remote it may still be sitting on the picnic table.

Not uncommon when a product goes obsolete.
BTW, for half the price of that CFX you could buy my few year old CF50. Oh well.