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As I write this review (and when I made this purchase via Amazon) the title for this product reads: "Nostalgia Electrics BPC700RETRORED Retro Series 70-Can Party Cooler Fridge." Then, in the bullet point product description, this contradictory phrase appears: "Holds 60 12-Ounce cans."
Figuring it had to be at least 60, I placed an order for this product to replace my much-used, much-loved and, sadly, no longer available Sam's Club "Electric Portable Party Fridge," which held at least 72 cans. More, if you put an extra row across the top lying on their sides. Sadly, that Sam's model gave up the ghost recently after more than a decade of use, and we were left searching for a replacement.
We first tried the Vinotemp Party Cooler which was a non-working, poorly-designed hunk of junk. 'Nuff said. (Though I did write a full review, if anyone's interested in going there to read it.)
So, on to the Nostaligia with that troubling size discrepancy. Well, it went one further once it arrived, with the manual stating it held "up to" 50 cans. And, of course, that lowest number was the most accurate. In practice, I found it held only 48, and that was with VERY careful stacking of standard soda cans in tight concentric circles directly in the unit. If you use the included stacking baskets, it's going to hold even a few less. So that makes it roughly 65% of the current listed capacity and, therefore, highly disappointing in that respect.
But the good news is that, unlike the Vinotemp, this does work. (Yay, rah!) Chilling down those 48 cans in, roughly, three hours time. Also on the win side ...
-The digital temperature display is easy to read, and fairly accurate, and even easier to set.
-The casters make it easy to move around.
-It runs fairly quietly. Not silent, but no louder than a standard fridge. (Unlike the screaming-mimi Vinotemp.)
So, those are the pros: actually chills, easy to use/set display and maneuverability.
The cons, beyond the capacity snafu ...
-No handle. Sure, it rolls easily, but getting it from place to place, without a handle (most units like this have a large round rod handle all around the top) is cumbersome. The only way to really do it, is to take the lid off and grip the inside ... Thus letting all the cold air escape. Not cool. (Bad pun only sort of intended.)
-And speaking of handles ... Or more accurately the lack of. The lid, for some bizarre reason, only has one. That means that to lift it and access one side or the other--and as the lid splits that's the idea--you have to spin the lid first in order to have something to grip to open.
-While we're talking about the lid ... It came wrapped in a styrofoam and mesh tape to protect it, but the mesh tape left waffle sticky marks all over the glass, plastic and rubber. Even after spending 30 minutes using Goo Be Gone on this thing, it still has waffle sticky marks all over it. Frustrating!
-It's small. Yeah, that's capacity, but now I'm not quibbling about stated size, but the ACTUAL size and wondering why the usable interior is so tiny. The cavity in this sucker only goes down a bit more than half of the total unit height. Not something I was expecting at all--every other one I've seen goes to within at least 4-6" of the bottom--and very limiting.
Still, having said all that, to date, I haven't found a better option. The Summit PCC50 might be superior, but it's also twice the price (at least as I write this) and looks an AWFUL like the dreaded Vinotemp; as in the promo pictures are identical, down to the food items on display, in all but color and logo. So, right now, it's not a splurge I'm willing to make, and I'll be sticking with the Nostalgia unless further glaring issues appear.
I was set on replacing my Sam's barrel cooler, because I used it all the time, but after these two experiences--though this one does work, it's still hard to say it's a good value given its limitations--I'm wondering if I wouldn't have just been better off sticking to good, old-fashioned ice in a standard cooler for a fraction of the cost. It's kind of a bummer, really.
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