Costco Members: Online-Only Savings: Massimo CX30 Portable E-Kooler Expired

Have had mine for a few years. NEVER had issues and it's a lifesaver for vacations

The fact that it works with the Alpicool app suggests they're made by the same manufacturer. If you search, you'll find a bunch of random-name coolers identical or nearly identical in appearance to the Alpicool. Meaning they're all made by the same Chinese manufacturer, and re-sold as different brands by importers like Alpicool. Another tip-off is that they all get terrible reviews for service - they literally don't know how to repair these things since they're just an importer.

Massimo appears to be the company Costco contracted with to make a custom cooler from this Chinese manufacturer. (Though I have to question putting the compressor on top. It blocks access to food stored below, and hot air rises so the compressor will be bathed in hotter air in enclosed places like the trunk of a car.) So practically any cooler in the price range you can find on Amazon is likely to be the same as the Massimo (made by the same nameless Chinese manufacturer), except you get Costco's return policy with the Massimo.

If you want a better refrigerator/cooler, you have to step up to the ones with a Danfoss/Secop compressor. Those are made in Germany, not China. They're used in high-end brands like Dometic and ARB. The cheapest brand which uses a Danfoss compressor is Iceco, and their 32 qt cooler will cost you $500.

Given that most people will only use this occasionally, it may be better to buy the cheaper Massimo brand, knowing that you can just return it to Costco for a refund/exchange if it breaks. Your only loss will be a bit of spoiled food and going hungry or having to eat more fast food for one trip. Paying $200+ extra for the higher quality unit will make more sense if you'll use this a lot and need it to be reliable (vanlife, or you're a passionate camper).

The fact that it works with the Alpicool app suggests they're made by the same manufacturer. If you search, you'll find a bunch of random-name coolers identical or nearly identical in appearance to the Alpicool. Meaning they're all made by the same Chinese manufacturer, and re-sold as different brands by importers like Alpicool. Another tip-off is that they all get terrible reviews for service - they literally don't know how to repair these things since they're just an importer.

Massimo appears to be the company Costco contracted with to make a custom cooler from this Chinese manufacturer. (Though I have to question putting the compressor on top. It blocks access to food stored below, and hot air rises so the compressor will be bathed in hotter air in enclosed places like the trunk of a car.) So practically any cooler in the price range you can find on Amazon is likely to be the same as the Massimo (made by the same nameless Chinese manufacturer), except you get Costco's return policy with the Massimo.

If you want a better refrigerator/cooler, you have to step up to the ones with a Danfoss/Secop compressor. Those are made in Germany, not China. They're used in high-end brands like Dometic and ARB. The cheapest brand which uses a Danfoss compressor is Iceco, and their 32 qt cooler will cost you $500.

Given that most people will only use this occasionally, it may be better to buy the cheaper Massimo brand, knowing that you can just return it to Costco for a refund/exchange if it breaks. Your only loss will be a bit of spoiled food and going hungry or having to eat more fast food for one trip. Paying $200+ extra for the higher quality unit will make more sense if you'll use this a lot and need it to be reliable (vanlife, or you're a passionate camper).

So is the recommendation to get the largest version that could fit in your car? I was leaning towards the CX30 so it's more portable and lighter, but hearing about the size of the compressor and its location makes me question if that's a smart choice...

The fact that it works with the Alpicool app suggests they're made by the same manufacturer. If you search, you'll find a bunch of random-name coolers identical or nearly identical in appearance to the Alpicool. Meaning they're all made by the same Chinese manufacturer, and re-sold as different brands by importers like Alpicool. Another tip-off is that they all get terrible reviews for service - they literally don't know how to repair these things since they're just an importer.

Massimo appears to be the company Costco contracted with to make a custom cooler from this Chinese manufacturer. (Though I have to question putting the compressor on top. It blocks access to food stored below, and hot air rises so the compressor will be bathed in hotter air in enclosed places like the trunk of a car.) So practically any cooler in the price range you can find on Amazon is likely to be the same as the Massimo (made by the same nameless Chinese manufacturer), except you get Costco's return policy with the Massimo.

If you want a better refrigerator/cooler, you have to step up to the ones with a Danfoss/Secop compressor. Those are made in Germany, not China. They're used in high-end brands like Dometic and ARB. The cheapest brand which uses a Danfoss compressor is Iceco, and their 32 qt cooler will cost you $500.

Given that most people will only use this occasionally, it may be better to buy the cheaper Massimo brand, knowing that you can just return it to Costco for a refund/exchange if it breaks. Your only loss will be a bit of spoiled food and going hungry or having to eat more fast food for one trip. Paying $200+ extra for the higher quality unit will make more sense if you'll use this a lot and need it to be reliable (vanlife, or you're a passionate camper).

I wouldn't worry about it. There is a great discussion [reddit.com] on reddit reviewing these coolers. Also, remember that the temperature gradient people are reporting is likely due to improper packing or usage, not the compressor. Coolers and refrigerators keep cool better when they are full (80% is ideal) as there is less space to cool.

Putting the compressor (and vents) at the top of the unit is smart because I usually cram this fridge along with other travel bags in the back of the vehicle and the fridge would not be able to vent if the vents were at the bottom. The travel bags surrounding the fridge keep it from moving around or tipping over. By the way, the guy in your Reddit link abused Costco's return policy…, his action was nothing less than buying a video camcorder (back in those days) for his vacation trip and returned it afterward. A total loser.

Mmmm... it literally says so on Costco website in product description. You don't need to guess Sherlock, just use Google next time.

" Massimo compressors are built in partnership with Alpicool, a strategic LG Partner. The Massimo E-Kooler CX-50 has an compressor built into each unit for optimum cooling performance. "

https://www.costco.com/massimo-cx...66509.html

Costco's revamped website embeds lots of elements from third party websites, which is a security no-no - the site you're visiting has no control over the content it's telling your browser to display. It's been exploited in the past by ad websites to insert malicious javascript into popular "safe" websites via the ads. I block such embeds in my regular browser as a safety measure.

I do not see the text you've quoted in the product's Costco page opened in my "safe" browser. When I open the page in a browser without these safeguards, I do see the info you quoted. So the info is from some external site, not the Costco site; it is just embedded in the Costco page.

And given the frequency with which I encounter numerous erroneous, sometimes even contradictory product descriptions in store and review websites, I don't trust what some marketer typed up for their website anymore. I only trust that that info is probably true if multiple sites report it. While implicit info such as can be gleaned from users reporting the Alpicool app works with the Massimo, is the most reliable.