I read a lot of recent reviews here before selecting this cooler. I was a little nervous because many people were describing various temperature problems. Then, when it arrived I learned what they were doing wrong. First and what should be obvious, this is not a typical refrigerator freezer. It doesn't work that way and wasn't designed to be that. Understanding this fact will make this product not only work for your needs but a real value. I learned that what most people do wrong is they plug it in and expect it to come down to temperature right away, empty, and in a few hours. It takes at least 24 to 36 hours for the temperatures inside to stabilize when you first plug it in. Then it mostly works like any other refrigerator freezer. The first thing you must realize is that like most refrigeration devices, it must stay upright. Often during shipping, these get turned upside down or on their side. When you get it, you need to let it stand upright, unplugged, for at least 24 hours. Then, you should load non-perishable things like water bottles into both sides, set it on Max, at the lowest temperature, and let it work. In about 8 hours at most, it comes to the temperature set and stays in the range of one to four degrees for the duration. Once the desired temp is reached, you can reset the temp higher and switch it to Eco mode. I'm using mine as a multipurpose device. I keep it plugged in inside my home, using it as an additional fridge/freezer, and when I need it for travel, I just put it in my SUV and plug it in. The construction is solid, with heavy-duty handles and wheels. The freezer side is larger than the fridge side, but both are really adequate. It has an interior light which makes it very convenient to see what's inside. It's a little on the heavy side but not a deal breaker at this price point. It's very quiet when running, but like most refrigeration devices, it puts off a little heat. One major improvement would be to reverse the operation design by putting the controls on the left side, and the "wheeling" handle on the side opposite the wheels and heavy compressor. Again, not a deal breaker. I really like the feature of the lid having a two-step tight seal. As far as temperature control is concerned, one buyer claimed he could never get the fridge to come down to safe storage temp but I think this was because he didn't give it enough time, tried to use it empty, and didn't let it set upright overnight in the beginning. Just remember, when it's delivered, let it stand for 24 hours, then plug it in, put a few non-perishable things like water and sodas on both sides, set your temp, and it will stabilize and stay there within hours. When I move mine to the SUV, it maintains the temp in a safe range so long as I don't leave it open, put hot things inside, or leave it off for too long. When you first put room-temperature things inside, it will take a few hours to bring them down to temp, so don't think it's not working. As far as cold foods go, frozen items do not defrost when first loaded, and if your food's cold to start, it stays at temp or gets colder depending on your settings. I'm very satisfied with mine. It's been operating nonstop for about six weeks now with no problems, so I recommend this item.