Oh gosh golly, it gets worse!
Earlier this evening I stumbled across the “Wovel” on Home Depot’s website, while looking for a particular light bulb to replace the 34 watt florescent tube that died in my bathroom. No, it wasn’t in that section of the site – I saw a little promo picture and blurb on the side bar and some sick part of my psyche forced my index finger to depress the mouse button to see what the heck that thing was.
I guess the absurdity of this device has been gnawing at me since I made that post. I just had the urge to Google ‘wovel’ and found not much of interest. So I added a word – ‘stupid’. The first link from ‘wovel stupid‘ got me a blog site of some sort. It’s the comment section that really tickled me.
Embedded in the user comments is two direct postings from the promoters of the Wovel, under the name of Dennis Lee. Posted a few weeks apart, making it seem like ‘he’ had ordered it and received it, the review is nothing more than regurgitated text from their website. Much like the supposed comments on their own website that are failing at appearing genuine – it reads like an industrial product promotion with a few ‘personal’ lines added here and there.
Not only did these people invent what is quite possibly the stupidest device ever, they stoop to posting misinformation on a blog in the face of obvious user apathy to their attempts. On December 25th no less. If I needed any more reason to dislike this device, I need look no further.
However, they do delve further into the realm of marketing to the stupid! (Or is that marketing of the stupid?) Images on their site of the product in use are bad digital edits. The product reviews reek of the same bogus documentation as the rest, and the TIME Magazine supposed endorsement is merely a listing of the product (amongst others) with an invitation to vote.
Quite frankly, I can’t fathom what would keep this device from falling over and hurting you worse than a standard ergonomic shovel in the first place, nor who would want to be caught ‘wovelling’ their driveway in suburbia.
Regardless of any merits this product has (I am skeptical that it actually does have any) it’s buried under such a huge pile of crap and blatant misinformation there is no credibility left. If I hadn’t found this product advertised on Home Depot’s site, I would have assumed it was a hoax.
I love these guys who do “in depth” reviews having clearly never used the product. I have owned a wovel for two years and as a woman can tell you a wheel and leverage (like a see saw for those of you like this reviewer who dont get it)..just a simple tool to solve an annoying problem..unfortunately cant get rid of annoying know it alls..
I am a know-it-all when it comes to Wovel. I was provided a review model because I was hired by the company to do contract work (to write training and marketing copy among other things). I became an expert on how the thing was supposed to work. Truth is it was incredibly awkward and worked only with light snow drifts. Forget wet snow more than a few inches in depth. The short story: The owner is every bit the shyster described by Mr. Cantin. Many of the customer “reviews” are personal friends of the owner/CEO or were fabricated by him. He will say and do anything to make a buck. He made his start-up money on Wallstreet as an investment broker (need I say more?). As you may be able to tell, I have an axe to grind with Wovel. In over 20 years, he is the most dishonest business person I have dealt with in my professional career.
I know the owner Mark and he’s a real piece of work. He’s screwed a bunch of people out of money and rubs it in their face. I would NEVER buy anything from this guy. The wovel or snowovel is crap.
Hello
i don’t know who mark is, or give a blank
bought one about 5 weeks ago
am 60 plus years old,
there has been lots of snow here in detroit
it works well at moving lots of snow
without breaking your back
it is not perfect
in tight places
it is next to useless
takes a bit of time to learn how to handle
if mine were stolen tommrow
i would go out and buy another
be sure to get the wear strip
and yes for what they charge
they should include the wear strip
yours truly mac
The wovel is one of the best purchases I ever made. I simply love this thing.
seems like the dude above just has an axe to grind..and what are the odds that two such people write an entry on one site..and BOTH within SAME 24 hours?…. sounds orchestrated. hmm gee sounds familar..I guess “they” didnt have to search far to come up with the idea of trumped up “reviews”… I searched the web for reviews and there are hundreds, most really positive – 40+ on Amazon alone, with real names vs anonymous rantings (with no specifics about the product). I used one now for two seasons and havent hurt my back yet and cant say enough good things either…
My point was and still is more geared around the messed up marketing tactics. If it worked for a couple of people… Well, who is to know. I live in a place with a lot of snow, and this thing is available for sale – but not for demonstration. I’ve yet to see one, so I still think this thing is silly. Nobody else is clamoring for one around here either.
assuming the idea works (the wovel is simply a fulcrum and lever to make snow easier.) how do you use it? throw snow with it.
guess what throws snow farther? a used snowblower from a garage sale. can even cost much less than a wovel.
$30 for two belts for my free blower, and it’ll be up and running.
I have degenerative lung disease so a snow blower is not an option. I don’t know the owner, but I do know that the wovel is extremely effective with snow falls of less than eight inches. It isn’t great on packed snow, but if you can get out before pedestrians it is a great tool that completely relieves stress on the back. Used it for three years now. The product works. If you don’t like the owner, write him a letter.