Re: Do you like Roomba?

Bob Ward <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

>On Mon, 01 Dec 2003 21:07:22 -0500, Andrew White
><[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
>>Marcio Watanabe <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>>
>>>Andrew White <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>>>
>>>>[EMAIL PROTECTED] (DrPimpDaddi) wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>Don't have to pay $199..... go to hsn.com and enter code 711231 and pay only
>>>>>$150 with FREE shipping.
>>>>
>>>>I know you're trying to do someone a favor, but really can't imagine
>>>>any of the regulars in this group to waste money on this useless toy.
>>>
>>>Can I ask if you have bought and tried one?  I'm asking because Roomba
>>>is a very intriguing product.  Most people who say it's a useless toy
>>>have never bought or tried one.  Most people who bought it and gave it
>>>a fair try seem to have a very favorable opinion of the product.  In
>>>fact, the general feedback of Roomba users is so overwhelming in favor
>>>that I'm seriously thinking about buying one as I give a lot more
>>>value to the opinion of people who have used a given product. 
>>
>>No, I haven't tried it because I know enough about vacuums to
>>recognize junk, when I see it. There is NO WAY something this small
>>can have strong enough suction, have a powerful enough brush and have
>>any meaningful capacity. What's even more important, there is no way
>>this toy can last more than a year, when used for regular cleaning.
>>Regular size vacuums with no sophisticated computers and sensors
>>barely survive two-three years. Enough said...
>
>
>I guess I'd better throw out my 30 year-old Hoover, then.  Damn shame,
>too - it still thinks it's what's picking up all that dirt that gets
>tracked into the house.

They must've been making vacuums like they were making TVs in those
days: built to last for decades. I've gone through five or six
"department-store" vacuums in the last 10 years: couple Eurekas,
couple Hoovers (including the top-of-the-line self-propelled
Windtunnel), a Fantom and maybe a Kenmore. NONE of them lasted more
than three years, with a typically life being of one to two years. 

After having this last "high-end" Hoover for three years and having it
repaired twice, I finally gave up when it broke the third time and the
shop wanted $100 to fix it. This time I bought a truly higher-end
vacuum made in the USA by Riccar (www.riccar.com model 8955), although
it didn't cost much more than the Hoover crap: $340 including a $50
attachment kit and a dozen micro-filtration bags. The reason this one
is different is that it carries a FIVE YEAR parts and labor warranty
AND they service it annually for the first four year for free. The
service includes replacement of belts and HEPA filter. That HEPA
filter alone used to cost me $30 a year on Hoover.