Customer Reviews

Hunter 90021 12-Inch Oscillating Table Fan, Brushed Nickel

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

Pros:
Built like a tank

High quality switch on base, not fan.

Cons:
Fairly noisy on all but the lowest setting. Wind noise, not any kind of mechanical noise. Probably normal for a fan this size.

While the fan tilts, it only tilts upward. It doesn't tilt downward so if you want to put it on a high shelf the best angle you get is straight out.

Hunter's 90021 Century 12-Inch Fan sports great looks and retro styling, though at a high price. While the quality control on these models isn't perfect, if you have any problems you can return or exchange it. You also have a very nice 5 year limited warrantee that comes with it. Bottom line, put it through the paces when you buy it! There are alternatives though, depending on what you are looking for.

Yep, it's made in China. That doesn't bother me at all. If it bothers you, look elsewhere.

What bothers me is that the silver version was listed at $70 and the black version at $80. Either price is too high, but they both sell for $60 which is also too high as far as I'm concerned. Why list the different colors of the same item at different prices? These fans sell at other retailers for $50 to $60, so the list prices here are hard to accept.

It's just a fan. I realize that some people pay top dollar for top of the line. This is just "above average" though. You'll want to step up to a Vornado Silver Swan Fan or one of those highly hyped Allaire fans from Restoration Hardware if you have even more money to burn on a desk fan.

After researching a number of fans, I saw this one at my friend's house and thought it was a decent compromise. My friend's fan ran smoothly with a lot of power and minimal noise (from the fan head, not the motor). Of course, I did read about others getting clunkers. If yours is noisy, or doesn't oscillate all the way or just stops working, that's the time to use your warrantee coverage! Hunter at least does honor their warrantee, which other companies don't always seem to do.

The main negative for me, other than price, is that I don't like the power adjustment lever being on the base. I would prefer it on the motor housing. Still, that's a minor thing and you might have a different preference.

For alternatives with similar metal bodies, look at the:

Vornado FA1-0003-13 Silver Swan Fan - For about $100 to $130 you get a fan that is made with more weight and *hopefully* durability and quality control. Seems a bit much for a fan though.

Soleus Air FT1-30-44 12-Inch Metal Table Fan - very comparable for about $30 to $40, but just not as attractive. There are other ones out there too. Might be worth the savings if you can't get the Hunter on sale.


Pros
+ Attractive retro styling and sleek metal body in silver and black
+ 12 inch size is just right for most uses
+ 5-year limited warranty from a company that actually honors warrantees (at least based on past experience)
+ Easy set up and operation
+ Heavy and sturdy base makes fan very sturdy
+ Standard 3-speed controls for variable air flow
+ Pretty quiet motor and aerodynamic blade design for maximum air flow

Cons
- Still expensive for a desk fan
- Silver version is such a matte finish it almost looks plastic; After a return I prefer the black one slightly, but they are both still attractive
- May require oiling over time since it's all metal
- Not crazy about the adjustment slider being placed on the base
- Higher end versions are out there for those looking for the "very best" at any price

Conclusion

Review your options. If like me you just don't want to spend $130 on a fan, this might be the one for you. If you like Soleus, you might want to check out their cheaper more affordable fan. Get this on sale and you can come close in price with the Hunter. Just make sure to test it extensively and exchange it till you get a good one.

Enjoy!

I finally gave up after trying three of the Hunter fans and got my money back. Even on the lowest speed, this thing rattles, shakes, and groans. I own five Hunter ceiling fans, which are great. This fan doesn't deserve the Hunter nameplate!

The fan has eight black vinyl or rubber feet, and they have left black stains on an (expensive) varnished cherry wood furniture. Pretty much ruined the piece. It almost looks like a chemical reaction since the furniture surface is still good to the touch, but the marks are very visible. I think the plasticizer and carbon black in the vinyl feet has leached out. I contacted Hunter and they said the feet are designed to support the fan, and I should contact the furniture maker. Duh. Make sure you put a mat between the fan and good furniture.
The fan is too noisy at its lowest speed and it could use a lower setting.

Addendum: After serveral months of limited use the fan now creaks and squeaks while it is oscillating. It really is a poor quality, noisy fan.

The hunter fan looks great, it provides a good stream of air, and it seems to have a very solid built. Unfortunately, it is just looks. After 3 months of owning it, using it two or three times per week, for about 3-4hrs each time, the highest speed started making a significant vibration noise in oscillating mode. A couple of months later the vibration extended to static mode for highest speed and at this point - 8 months after starting using it, every mode except static lowest speed vibrates. Very disappointing considering the price.

This fan isn't completely silent, but it is an extremely quiet fan with only a small amount of "wind blade" sound, no motor or gear sounds. I bought a second one with the same WONDERFUL results. I think that these Hunter fans are the best made items I've purchased in a very long time.
BRAVO HUNTER.

This fan was great....until it stopped oscillating 2 months after I received it. Now, all it does is make an irritating knocking noise instead of oscillating, no matter how hard I try and push/pull the knob on the back of the fan. And of course, since it is now 30+ days since I received it, I can't get a refund or exchange from Amazon. So much for Hunter quality. Next time I'll buy a Vornado, and you should too.

I would not recommened this fan. Maybe because it's made of a metal it vibrates while oscillating. For the price, I would have expected a quieter fan.

If the people that are reading this are anything like me, they use Amazon as a place to do research before making purchases. So I did what I usually do, which is come here to read up on "user/consumer" reviews before making my purchase. In this case, I read some of the user reviews and noticed some glaring discrepancies in what they had to say about this Hunter fan. I read one review where the reviewer stated that this product was "made in Tennessee USA", stating that other products from China were "less than spectacular quality." Well people, this fan is made in China as well, as stated on the box and on the metal tab riveted onto the back of the fan itself. The instruction manual has what I'm assuming as Hunter's home office address as being from Tennessee, but right below that, the brochure is even printed in China. Also someone stated the fan as having an almost 180 degree oscillation. Um, no it's about 85 degree at most. So, to make my point, I place alot of emphasis on "consumer reviews" on Amazon, and I wish that people would make accurate statements when reviewing their products; because alot of people like me want the facts, not some imaginary interpretation. But as far as the fan goes, it's a decent take on an old classic. Yes, it's heavy, and made fairly decent, but to compare to the old 1/4 inch thick steel monsters of the past, they are just not in the same ballpark. As stated earlier, this is made in China, and the first one I received from Target had a bent spendal where the blade attached, making the blade wobble and make noise. I returned, and the second is alot better, but still makes a little squeaking noise from the motor area. It moves alot of air, and is pretty quite doing so. I purchased mine at a local Target for $49.99, and I would recommend this fan to a friend, but just don't think it's going to be your grandmother's 50lb. limb chopper you grew up with.

Update: I used to give this fan better marks, but now it is just a piece of junk! Motor started to "gum" up, and fan blade would struggle to start rotating when turned on. I was lucky enough to be able to return it.

Save yourself the hassle and go with a Vornado, you will thank me in the future!

Got this the week of Thanksgiving. It died today. Of course we had to endure months of noise coming off the fan and constantly adjusting it. I really am disgusted that a $60 fan won't even last ONE YEAR. Yes, it is attractive. Now it is a nice big retro paperweight.

I will be seeking a replacement from the manufacturer after googling online I see that this happens to well over 50% of these. If your is quiet it is only a matter of time... and NINE MONTHS is NOT acceptable.

****Hunter IMMEDIATELY sent out a replacement fan FREE of cost to me, which I received the week after Labor Day. It was the BEST customer service I have EVER had. HOWEVER, now it is December 18 and guess what?? The replacement fan is dying! Good God! Seriously! Ugh!