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We've had one of these for a few years and, in general, we like it. We only use it for our kitchen. At the beginning of 2008 the battery went bad and I contacted iRobot about it because the new ones are $70.00 and I felt it was too expensive considering the length of time we had the unit.
Well, the one they sent me (free except for me shipping the old one back - which I appreciated) just died. I called them again to see if they would give me a reduced price on a new one. Nope. Replace it since it only lasted two years? Nope.
Trash can! We will be cleaning our floor by hand from now on. $35.00 a year for maintenance is too high, especially when you consider the exorbitant cost of the cleaning fluid, and the initial cost of the robot. Over the long haul these are a ripoff.
I guess I've learned my lesson. Now I have to find someone that will buy all our cleaner...
I made the same mistake. I had a cordless drill that was more expensive to replace the battery than it was to replace the whole drill, so I tossed it. Then i discover a place that rebuilds batteries. Much better and much cheaper than new.
They specialize in cordless drill batteries, but they can do pretty much anything. They can rebuild batteries back to new, or they even have a super duper battery that is better than the factory battery, and lasts much longer..
For you people who use cordless power tools, this is the answer. I'm not associated with them, other than to be a very satisfied customer... Take a peek... voltmanbatteries Home Page
I sent an email to them ^, thanks. I'll report back if they work on the one I have.
And an update (It never hurts to pitch a B). iRobot sent me an email in response to my calls and I responded, letting them know I was tossing the Scooba because we felt it was too expensive to maintain at $70 every two years. They responded by offering us 10% off the new battery, three free bottles of cleaning solution and a software upgrade (which I've already installed).
Now I have to talk it over again with Mrs. Tek and see if we want to keep it or toss it - or send it to someone who shall remain nameless.
I have one and like so many battery operated devices they have maintencne to maintain on the MImh battery that determines the life sapn and of course the batteries have about a 1000 charge AVERAGE life if properly maintained.Don't maintain and the life drops.i always order mine form other unline dealers not the company.Mine I have had mne for years.One of the differences in MIHM batteries from NICD is that they should never be stored dead but then they don;t have the memory problemsof NICADs.
It's as much the fact that the batteries only last two years. That tells me they are shoddily made and I don't think I should have to pay for lousy workmanship.
Thanks for the info, texdav and Tek. I love my Roombas (one is too many and a dozen woudlnt be enough) and I like the Scoobas but agree about the batteries. I've bookmarked the amazon page.
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