i also thought they were a gimmick untill i tried a buddys, i am a believer and now own 2 of em, to test it, i was sitting a stand and getting eaten alive by skeeters i lit it and after a few minuites they were gone thinkin it was a fluke i shut it off for a while and they returned again eating me up ! lit it and they were gone !! on the refills, you can save alot of $$ by refilling em yourself. do a youtube search of thermocell refill works great and WAY cheaper than buying em..