When the remote controller for our Daikin air-conditioner stopped working I was a bit shocked to find that an official replacement remote would cost $100. A bit of searching on the internet brought a much better solution straight to our door for the grand price of $6.38.
I'm continually amazed by the selection of products and low prices at Deal Extreme. They offered the Chunghop K-1028E universal air-conditioner remote with glowing customer reviews and at a price lower than I would have thought possible. A few weeks after ordering it arrived, and I'm happy to report that it's even better than expected.
For a start, the design and feel of the remote is much nicer than the plasticy Daikin one. Although it is still plastic, it has a smoother, more pleasant feel, and the whole control is more solid and better built. The LCD display is a similar size and shows the same information. A few buttons are not available on the Chunghop, but the only one I might miss is the night fan setting. The buttons it lacks are Econo, Silent, Mold Proof, and Sensor.
I was a bit concerned that the no-brand nature would lead to a poor quality "Chinglish" manual, but I'm happy to report that the provided instructions were complete, well-presented, and in perfect English.
To finish, I must reiterate the most amazing feature is the price. In Australia a Big Mac costs about $5. For only a dollar more I got an excellent remote control with LCD display, and with postage from Hong Kong to Australia included. I can't imagine that anyone makes much money from this. Thank you, globalisation and the internet!