Oasis MIR301D-2 WHI Mirage Bottom Bottle Load Water Cooler with Option to Convert to Bottleless Cooler, White

Sept 30, 2013The product was functioning wonderfully for a month or so, then it abruptly died...DIED. No hot, no cold, no pump, no water, a couple of blinking flashes as a warning, and BOOM, I was left with a $350 night light. The blue light at the water spout was the only thing that remained functioning. Called manufacturer again, and currently I am getting the run around for refund (...nice lady on the phone though). It is NOT amazon's fault. The product is clearly problematic, and I am surprised they continue to sell it. As of now, Oasis still hasn't resolved issue, BUT AS FOR REVIEW OF PRODUCT, DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY OR TIME ON THIS ITEM.August 2013:I original bought in April 2013 through Amazon (free shipping). The company deemed my first water cooler defective once I finally reached someone by phone. I received my product replacement FINALLY from the manufacturer (not Amazon-my choice solely), although I believe waiting FOUR MONTHS is crazy! (not Amazon, the company Oasis)However, the replacement product is wonderful!I chose this water cooler for it's features (after much research of course). I am pleased that I patiently agreed to wait for the replacement. I love the simple things, like the blue light at the water spigot (acts as night light-perfect for my family). The hot water tank can be turned on/off ad lib, very nice for my evening tea. The flat top of the cooler is not to be overlooked. I leave my tea right on top of the water cooler in decorative container. This feature is perfect for integrating one's personal decor with flowers, mugs, etc. Of course the water dispenses quickly enough, and there is space for tall water bottles or pitchers. The water is refreshing from the cold dispenser, and is available room temp for cooking, etc. The door on my replacement opens/closes smoothly, and the telescoping water pump is quite clever. I am so happy now that I have my replacement, and hope that Oasis coolers are not known for manufacturing issues. This product is exactly as advertised from Oasis, and I highly recommend the functioning version!!!! Because I had such a horrible time with a defective product, I kept my initial review below.April 2013:If I wanted Wallyworld quality, I would've bought product there! The bottom door is cheap and flimsy. On my unit, this door is misaligned, so doesn't close without definitive manipulation. Although annoying, I would be willing to overlook this, since I expected to need the door only for bottle changes. However, the door open/close is a maneuver used to "reset" the "low water indicator".This leads into another problem. The low water indicator blinks often, and I haven't quite determined the reasons. It definitely turns on after 2 uses of the hot water. I try to reset it by opening/closing door. Sometimes it works, other times it does not correct it. Sure I can still depress cold/room temp water buttons, sure it dispenses water (because it is not empty!) but "low light indicator" continues to flash, and no more hot water. THE MANUAL DOES NOT ADDRESS THIS, and the company did not respond to my inquiry.A significant problem is the hot water dispensing. When I initially set up unit, the hot water dispenser was not dispensing water. After multiple attempts at troubleshooting, still no water. I even went through the "cleaning process" as per manual, a process recommended every 4 months. Still no water dispensing from hot dispense button. I dispensed water out of cold tap, and it was refreshing, cold, so the unit was "working" on some level. It also was coming out of the room temp button (eventually, that was a process as well). And after multiple pressing on hot tap, FINALLY it came out-but not hot. I assumed I missed something in the manual, even had another person trouble shoot with the manual, but the manual is completely inadequate. Stll no hot water.Meanwhile, note that customer service via phone was not available in 3 days. I never had opportunity to leave phone message, as voice mail always full. Finally customer service returned email and said "look on page 3". This was rude and useless, as all buttons on face of unit look exactly the same, but the one for heater DEPRESSES for on/off option. This feature is not obvious. NO WHERE IN MANUAL IS THIS MENTIONED! It was a self discovery on my part, after multiple failed condescending return emails from their company. Once heater is depressed, it takes at least 15 min to "turn on". (Just about the same time I boil my pot on stove). I can dispensed hot water good enough for tea (steaming, not boiling) but only 2 cups. Then the "low light indicator" starts blinking again. (See above) No, it hasn't reset. Even if I "turn off" heater, then reset it. Customer service did not make effort to even acknowledge my questions about this issue. Do not overlook the fact that now NO hot water is available again. And I can't get is to come on again. Some times the next day I can get it back (having to wait 15 min or so). In the meantime I'm back to damn teapot on stove.The "user manual" is a joke, and customer service from their company is not available by chat, or multiple phone calls, and their message lines being "too full". Email customer service responded, but very poorly. I truly wanted this product to work. I hope Mirage competitors read this, and use it to their advantage. Product concept is nice, but all hail the marketers, because they are just selling a dream. Product is junk and their human "customer service" is representative of the worse possible out there.

A low quality water cooler product every choice is a better choice customer support is terrible parts are extremely cheap and brittle

The water distribution is OK. the hot water feature is nice. The problem I have with the unit is, it makes so much noise when pumping up water the whole unit vibrate so loud. That would be the one disappointing thing for me.

I don't often buy items that have no reviews, but I took a chance on this unit. I've only had this unit for a day, but I'll give my initial impressions so you guys at least have something to read before you buy.Update September 18, 2019: This Maxine continues to run flawlessly. It’s no noisier than it was when it was brand new, and still works just as well and looks just as good.UPDATE AUGUST 17, 2015: Still running strong! Easy to maintain, easy to load new bottles since they just need to be slid along the floor, still a bit noisy while filling the reservoir, but over two years in, and I'd buy it again.UPDATE JANUARY 14, 2014: This unit is still running strong. I'd just note for you that it's a bit noisy. I don't know how it compares with other bottom-loading units, but it's definitely noisier than a top-loading unit, even the very old unit that this one replaced. That's because the bottom-loader uses a pump to fill the the reservoir, and you hear the pump running. I wouldn't subtract a star because of the noise, though. Most of the time, the cooler is silent -- it's only when the pump runs to fill the reservoir that you notice it at all.UPDATE JUNE 8, 2013: Just wanted to let you know that the cooler is still going strong, and my review stands. As an aside, I bought "Premium Non-spill Bottle Caps - Quantity of 25" from Amazon, and I refill five-gallon bottles with filtered water from my sink (Aqua-Pure #APDW80/90) so no more Poland Spring deliveries.UPDATE APRIL 26, 2013: After owning this unit for four months, we're still very happy with it.First, packaging was very good. Might even be considered overkill. The unit was packed much like a refrigerator or large appliance, on a pallet-like bottom made of cardboard and styrofoam with a cardboard sleeve over the top, secured by plastic strapping. This container was packed into another box, with a heavy foam pad on both top and bottom. This was then packed by Amazon into yet another box, so unpacking the unit was kind of like opening a set of nesting dolls. It may have been overkill, but the unit arrived in perfect condition.Second, the unit is pretty. With the bottle hidden in the bottom of the unit and the sloping front panel, it looks much cleaner than my old top-loading unit. The blue lights are pretty, too, although they're quite bright and it doesn't appear that they can be turned off. You might be able to open the back panel and disconnect them, but I don't see a switch or setting that turns them off. I like the lights, but my wife would like to be able to turn them off. Also, while it's not clear in the product photos, the top of the unit is flat from the back to where the sloping front panel begins. This is nice if you want to set something on top.UPDATE MARCH 7, 2013: My wife does not like the bright blue LED that illuminates the fill area. I have to agree. It's very bright -- lights up the kitchen at night. It's useful, but too bright for us, and it can't be turned off. I stuck a small square of self-adhesive Velcro fuzz over the LED which dimmed it nicely and turned it into a very pleasant night light in the kitchen.Third, the unit has some nice features. For one, the fill area is nice and big, so it can easily accommodate a pitcher or large sports bottle. For another, you can turn the hot water heater on and off, so you don't need to constantly heat water. The hot water temperature is factory set and cannot be changed, but we found the water to be quite hot enough to steep a cup of tea. My wife wasn't sure she'd like or use the hot water feature, but she was very happy to be able to toss a teabag in a cup, fill it with steaming hot water, and have an instant cup of tea without having to boil water on the stove. The hot water safety is easy to manipulate with one hand while holding your cup with the other. Cold water temperature can be adjusted to taste. I found the factory setting to be fine, but the water can be made colder, so it's nice to have that option.UPDATE APRIL 26, 2013: We're still very happy with the water temperatures. My wife turns the heater on when we walk in the door from work, and turns it off again at bedtime. She's able to easily make a hot drink anytime she likes without boiling water on the stove, and the temperature is plenty hot enough for tea or cocoa. I'm also still happy with the factory setting for cold.UPDATE MARCH 7, 2013: Consider the way the spout is designed. It's not like a spigot, where the fill nozzle is right out in the open. On this cooler, you must bend down and look to see the little nozzle. This isn't a problem if you're filling something like a glass or a wide-necked bottle, but if you're filling something with a smaller neck, say, a Sigg bottle, you'll have to bend down and look so that you can align the bottle with the nozzle. That said, I'm used to it now, so I know where to position and how to tilt these bottles without looking at the nozzle. I suspect you'll get used to it, too. The nice thing about the non-spigot style nozzle is that people can't take their water bottles and stick them up against this nozzle. At my office, for instance, guys will refill their water bottles by putting them up against the spigot. That's unsanitary. This cooler is better in that regard. Also, this cooler has very good water flow. Our office cooler has an annoying little trickle. If you've encountered one of those low-flow coolers, you know what I'm talking about, and you'll be happy to know that this cooler does not suffer from that problem.Finally, the bottle fill mechanism seems very good. I was looking at reviews of BPA-free bottles, and one person said these bottles wouldn't work in her bottom-loading unit because her unit pressurized the bottle, and couldn't form a seal with the top of the bottle. This unit doesn't do that, so I was able to perform the initial cleaning and testing with a bottle that I keep around for emergencies. The bottle is completely open at the top, and the unit had no problem pumping water out of it. And the pump nearly completely emptied the bottle, so that's good, too.Now for the small criticisms that I have. I already mentioned the bright blue LED, which you may or may not like. The "Mirage" label on the front of the unit was placed slightly crooked and appears to be just a sticker, so that offends my extremely picky sensibilities.Also, the product description says that the plastic drip tray is dishwasher safe. The manual with the unit says that it is not. Who to believe?The most significant criticism that I have is that the unit was noisy, but keep reading and I'll tell you why. When I first turned it on, the unit was fine: quiet and smooth. When running normally, it makes a low-pitched hum. After running for a few minutes, a very annoying buzz began, emanating from the top of the unit. It seemed the compressor was causing something to vibrate. My wife said, "call the company, let's send it back." I removed the back panel (just a couple of screws) and looked inside. There's a steel cover on top of the steel water reservoir that was vibrating when the compressor came on. I cut a large o-ring and slipped it between the two steel pieces, and that stopped the buzzing vibration. I also added a thin piece of foil insulation between the steel cover and the bottom of the unit top, folded to sit against the inside of the back panel for a little extra sound insulation. No more buzzing, and quite quiet.UPDATE MARCH 7, 2013: The unit is still quiet most of the time, but you can definitely hear the pump running to fill the reservoir. Otherwise, I can't really hear the unit cycling on and off to cool or heat. The sound of the pump doesn't bother my wife at all.UPDATE MARCH 16, 2013: Actually, I do hear the unit humming when cycling on and off, whether to heat or cool, I haven't investigated. It doesn't really bother me, but it isn't silent, either.UPDATE APRIL 26, 2013: Noise is still something you probably should consider as a factor in purchasing. I removed the rear panel again (four screws - very easy) and added some non-fiberglass insulation around the reservoir tank and pump to quiet the cooler down. It helps. Also, remember that, while a top-mounted bottle cooler uses gravity to keep the reservoir filled, this unit must pump water to the reservoir, and that means it's inherently noisier. Also, I've noticed that the unit is generally quieter the fuller the bottle is. A full water bottle seems to stablilize what is otherwise quite a lightweight cooler, and it seems that this results in quieter operation.Those are my initial impressions of a very nice unit. I'll update after it's been running for a few months and let you know if we still like it.