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Alpine & EcoQuest

We frequently hear from EcoQuest air purifier peddlers protesting that their company is in no way related to its predecessor, Alpine. In fact, EcoQuest is a direct spin-off of Alpine and is headed by a former Alpine executive.

The late Alpine Industries got itself in trouble with state and federal authorities over its health benefits claims and a little matter having to do with taxes. In 2000, Alpine's sales manager, Mike Jackson, bought the air purifier business from Alpine and set up a new company called EcoQuest.

EcoQuest, which espouses an evangelical Christian approach to business, has expanded into water filters, nutritional supplements and skin-care products, all sold through a network of about 150,000 commission-only distributors.

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Jackson has tried to distance EcoQuest from Alpine and has said that, as Alpine sales manager, he was not in charge of the company and wasn't involved in any of the actions that led a federal judge to say he would hold the company in contempt if it didn't stop making prohibited claims about its air purifiers.

In fact, both Alpine and EcoQuest were named in the Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Justice Department complaint in 2000. Earlier that year, a federal judge had ordered Alpine to stop claiming that its machines provide relief from any medical condition or that they effectively remove or reduce a wide variety of air pollutants from indoor environments.

Just like Alpine, EcoQuest is headquartered in Greeneville, Tenn. Alpine moved there in 1997 after the NBC News program "Dateline" aired a report that questioned the core technology of its air purifiers.

The NBC program noted that the Minnesota Supreme Court had ruled against the company a few years earlier in a case that charged Alpine with making false and misleading health claims for its products.

In an unusual twist, Alpine sued the Federal Trade Commission, claiming it was "harrassing" the company. The FTC, in turn, sued Alpine and the company was fined $1.49 million on the health claims charges. The proceedings also unearthed evidence that Alpine owed a significant amount of back taxes to Minnesota and Tennessee.

Besides claiming its new product line meets all the claims the company and its dealers make about it, EcoQuest insists it's not just about multilevel marketing scheme. It claims has an annual retention rate of 40 percent, supposedly far above average.

As is usually the case, the independent sales force includes some who vociferously defend the company, even to the point of defying a federal court order issued in 2000 that instructed Alpine to notify its independent dealers that they -- not just the company -- should stop making unsubstantiated claims.

Ralph Fourmont of Port Hadlock, WA, wasn't happy with that. On Nov. 18, 2000, he wrote:

My life has been changed by Alpine's fresh air machine. I no longer use inhalors (sic) or pharmaceuticals. I have started a business through Ecoquest that helps people just like me. Please stop this agency (ConsumerAffairs.com) from taking pay-offs from HEPA filter companies and Pharmaceutical companies and discrediting not only the parent companies of Ecoquest and Alpine, but my company as well.

You are hurting my business, as well as the potentially thousands of people who can be helped by Ecoquest products. I am physically unable to work in the workplace ... this business is my family's livelihood. This is emotionally wreaking havoc. Your agency is corrupt!

Lisa of Edmonton OTHER (07/26/08)
Purchased a Living Air Breeze Air Purifier in 2002 to keep clean air quality and smoke free living environment. Unit ran non stop 24/7 for five years - very satisfied with the product, needed no replacement parts, easy to clean and operate. Have been without unit for six months and noticeable difference. Relative also has a unit that has been operational for approximately eight years - no trouble, runs quietly, no parts wearing out. Highly recommend this product.

Unit was approximately 700.00 Canadian. Worth every penny and am replacing it with a new one. Have had exceptional service and support from Alpine Air Technologies in Michigan.

Mary of Boca Raton,, FL July 25, 2008

Mary of Boca Raton, FL (07/25/08)
I purchased an Alpine Flair air filter from a neighbor 4 years ago. I love this machne. I have not had any problems with it and I sleep much better at night..no more stuffy nose. I was searching the internet for a new one when I came across this site. The complaints are a surprise to me. I'm sorry so many have had a bad experience.

Lawanda of Fort Walton Beach, FL March 3, 2008

Lawanda of Fort Walton Beach FL (03/03/08)
I paid 499.00 for the eco box air purifier. First the plug went out, so they sent me a new one--except it's in 2 pieces, and they sent the wrong one. Then they told me to send it to them, and then they sent it back. It worked for one month; later the motor went out, so they told me to send it to them--which I did. It's been over a month now, and every time I call them they will tell you to state your name, and then the answering machine says they are unable to locate them. They said the product was guaranteed for 3 years. This hasn't been over 6 months. And it hasn't been working for about 2 of those months.

I still do not have an air purifier that I paid over 500 for, including costs of shipping it back to them.

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