Drop dead Emeril! We purchased the Emeril 10 in 1 French Door Airfryer at Sam’s Club on 11/11/23. The word Grill is on the box. A large billboard sign showed the Emeril Airfryer and a woman grilling two steaks. The top of the box shows two perfectly grilled steaks. The box states that it grills. The Sam’s Club web-site shows a large photo that states “500° Grilling & Searing.” Die cast grill plate locks in juices and outdoor barbecue flavor with char-grilled marks.” There is another photo of all of the accessories. It clearly shows the grill plate and the grill plate handle. The grill plate handle is needed to remove the Grill Plate and the Crisper Tray from the oven.
Along with the Emeril Airfryer we purchased some steaks, went home and were ready to grill them. We opened the box and the grill plate and the grill plate handle were missing. I pulled out the quick start guide, user manual and recipe book. On the back of the manual was the phone number for Empower brands. When I called them a nasty woman answered and let me know that the retail version of this product does not come with the Grill Plate or the Grill Plate handle. I told her the photos on the Sam’s Club and Amazon web-sites and their descriptions of the Emeril Airfryer showed that it did. I told her the box shows it too. She let me know that I would not know that the griddle did not come with the item unless I first purchased the Airfryer and then opened the box and turned to page #6 of the user manual that shows the griddle with an asterisk next to it. Page #6 did not have a description of what the asterisk was. Page #7 is titled “Parts & Accessories” and is numbered 1 through 14. Item # 14 is the description of the grill Plate Handle. It states, “Attach to the Crisper Tray or the Grill Plate to remove from the appliance.” Under that is the asterisk from the photo of the Grill Plate on previous page. It states’ “May be sold separately.” A large photo of the Grill Plate Handle is on the side of the box under “Additional; Accessories”
Empower Brands let me know they sell the Griddle for $25.99 and the Grill Plate Handle for$19.99 plus tax, shipping and possible extra credit card charges if you do not use a debit card to make the purchase. Empower brands posts the following legal disclaimer, “We charge a credit card processing fee for payments made using a credit card. The fee is not more than our cost of acceptance of the card.”
Empower Brands is obviously a “Bait & Switch” company. This Grill Plate is specific to model FAFO-001 only. This Grill Plate is not sold ANYWHERE other than directly from Empower Brands. This Grill Plate Handle is specific to model FAFO-001 only. This Grill Plate Handle is not sold ANYWHERE other than directly from Empower Brands.
For you to use this product as advertised, it will cost you an additional $45.98 plus an extra credit card processing fee, sales tax and shipping. This is really ridiculous!
Sam’s Club verified every point I made. They acted innocent but they were absolutely aware of this issue because many people have left complaints.
In summary, Empower Brands told me over and over again that to see what is actually inside the box I have to buy and open the box. Drop dead Emeril, you should be ashamed.