My old one did not have the automatic off option and I was very careful about turning it off. When the temp selector fell off (cheap China crap) DH super-glued it back together. It worked but it got REALLY hot. At first I would turn it down, but then I heard that on/off click when it was turned off. So Pat checked it and told me the thermostat was gone. He also lost a shirt to the Ueberheat.