I have neck and shoulder pain year-round. Additionally, I occasionally get lower abdominal cramps when Aunt Flo visits. So, I got the Beurer heating pad. The name gives it away that it is made in Germany. It is a very good quality heating pad in that it has six heat settings, automatically turns off after two hours of use, designed not to overheat, is washable, and is uber soft and flexible. The fabric is made of microfiber and the heating wire weaved through the pad is thin and flexible so that the pad can conform to bending and wrapping. This is especially useful when I throw it over my shoulder or wrap it around my neck. The power cord plugs into the pad easily with a gentle push. Once the pad is turned on, it is a matter of a few minutes, and the pad warms up fast. The power cord which has the controller attached to it is about nine feet long. There a 6x6 inch label attached to the power cord with warnings. I found the size of the label ridiculously large dangling from the cord. Nonetheless, one of the best features is that the pad is completely washable and can be tumble dried on medium. These instructions are printed on the back of the pad for convenience. I have used it on my shoulder, and it has worked well. I have had other heating pads before, but it was not as soft as this pad. My old pad had a casing that pilled up and was quite rough.