iRobot Scooba experience

[Seraphim13]

Hmmmm it seems that gkrobot offer cheaper price for bulk purchase. If we have enough interest might be able to get a good price.

 

[ieast]

anyone using scooba? my flooring is laminate, can it clean laminate well?

 

[p3c_sgd]

I have a scooba...bought from courts. I paid $1200 3 months ago. Bought on impulse and ignorance. Blame myself not doing enough research. The scooba comes with 8oz clorox and I want to buy more clorox from local distributor, damn it..,they asked me to use vinegar!!!??? Since they don't sell clorox, why they sell scooba? The scooba is really good man, since then, I don't use mop any more. It is so nice. The downside is, my wife now have more time to nag at me...

I want to buy a roomba now. I don't want to go back to courts again. The local set is so expensive. Anybody buying from USA? Can I tag along?

Is gkrobots ok? Are they reliable? Their prices are almost half of what local distributor is selling. Any advice?

oh forgot to mention, i m using my scooba on laminated flooring...unbelieveable...it is damn good. But no clorox now

 

[Seraphim13]

p3c_sgd :
Interesting....didn't know that Courts is carrying scooba. Anyway the local distributor is over pricing the iRobot product, just go to iRobot website and check you will know. I did see some other forums that is discussing about the alternative cleaning solution for scooba.

One question, how big an area can the scooba 5800 (which I assume is the model you got) cover in one session? The newer model 350 and 380 are still quite pricey.

 

[braunbr7]

does buying scooba from the local supplier, provides you any warranty? if yes, how long?

 

[p3c_sgd]

p3c_sgd :
Interesting....didn't know that Courts is carrying scooba. Anyway the local distributor is over pricing the iRobot product, just go to iRobot website and check you will know. I did see some other forums that is discussing about the alternative cleaning solution for scooba.

One question, how big an area can the scooba 5800 (which I assume is the model you got) cover in one session? The newer model 350 and 380 are still quite pricey.

Ya..i bought it in courts@tampines. oh...my battery only last for 1hr. It is enough to clean my living room and 2 bedrooms. I am happy with it but just no clorox. I read the instructions, we are not suppose to use other solutions. It will jam the pump(?) and void the warranty. I don't want to risk it, it is $1200! I live with water for past 2 months...i really miss the aroma of clorox. Vinegar is definitely out for me...stink.

 

[p3c_sgd]

does buying scooba from the local supplier, provides you any warranty? if yes, how long?

ya...they give 12 months warranty...but so far touch wood...no problem.. Very easy to maintain.

I just went to gkrobots.com...they sell clorox but no stock...why this clorox so special???? Always clorox issues...sigh

 

[ronnie]

The Scooba 5900 can only be used with either the iRobot clorox solution or vinegar. The Scooba 5800, 350 and 380 can use water or your own solution besides the other 2 mentioned.

The 5900 and 350 will do 500 sq feet. The 5800 will do 250 sq feet and the 380 850 sq feet.

GKRobot is selling at quite a reasonable price for their sets, although getting it in yourself is still cheaper. However if you do that, you have to deal with DOA and you may have to sent the set back to the US for servicing/exchange and pay for postage both ways.

Do note that these machines and the Roomba will take close to an hour to do the cleaning and thus use electricity. How much I can't tell as yet cause I only have my Roomba for about 1 month. Maybe those with electrical background can chime in here.

 

[whypurplishblue]

I have a scooba...bought from courts. I paid $1200 3 months ago. Bought on impulse and ignorance. Blame myself not doing enough research. The scooba comes with 8oz clorox and I want to buy more clorox from local distributor, damn it..,they asked me to use vinegar!!!??? Since they don't sell clorox, why they sell scooba? The scooba is really good man, since then, I don't use mop any more. It is so nice. The downside is, my wife now have more time to nag at me...

I want to buy a roomba now. I don't want to go back to courts again. The local set is so expensive. Anybody buying from USA? Can I tag along?

Is gkrobots ok? Are they reliable? Their prices are almost half of what local distributor is selling. Any advice?

oh forgot to mention, i m using my scooba on laminated flooring...unbelieveable...it is damn good. But no clorox now

Hi I just bought a roomba discovery from gkrobots last night. They are very friendly and will explain everything to you and test your new roomba when you come and collect. They also modify the charger so that you can use it without a step-up transformer. Best of all you can book a roomba for a home trial. but for me I cant wait and made up my mind to buy it. So far I havent got to use the roomba cause they told me have to charge first time for 16hrs.. so have to be patient.

I guess the only downside is that, warranty is only for 14 days since they do purchase it from US. but if you purchase it from US yourself, you have to send it all the way back to US for the warranty.. I think that is more troublesome. I hope to be able to buy the scooba next time, and I would definately get it from them. You probably could ask them if they might be importing some clorox solution. Last night he told me its very expensive to import because one bottle is quite heavy.

 

[p3c_sgd]

The Scooba 5900 can only be used with either the iRobot clorox solution or vinegar. The Scooba 5800, 350 and 380 can use water or your own solution besides the other 2 mentioned.

The 5900 and 350 will do 500 sq feet. The 5800 will do 250 sq feet and the 380 850 sq feet.

GKRobot is selling at quite a reasonable price for their sets, although getting it in yourself is still cheaper. However if you do that, you have to deal with DOA and you may have to sent the set back to the US for servicing/exchange and pay for postage both ways.

Do note that these machines and the Roomba will take close to an hour to do the cleaning and thus use electricity. How much I can't tell as yet cause I only have my Roomba for about 1 month. Maybe those with electrical background can chime in here.

bro, how is the roomba? Is it effective? I am happy with scooba...not sure about roomba. Is your place really clean after the roomba does his job? Do you see alot of dirt in your roomba bin? I want to make sure that it is good before i buy....thanks.

 

[ronnie]

So far, I am happy with the Roomba. The cleaning power is akin to you using a vacuum. However, you still have to mop the floor after vacuuming it. That's why I intend to get the Scooba as well.

In fact, the Scooba is on it's way over. Now still with VPost in the US. Probably will receive it next week?

 

[mosmos]

So far, I am happy with the Roomba. The cleaning power is akin to you using a vacuum. However, you still have to mop the floor after vacuuming it. That's why I intend to get the Scooba as well.

In fact, the Scooba is on it's way over. Now still with VPost in the US. Probably will receive it next week?

how much vpost charges for scooba delivery?

the scooba specs seems to be heavy.

 

[ronnie]

Mine is $110. Depending on the packing, some people only paid $60.

Even with the transformer, I will be paying around $400 for it.

 

[mosmos]

Mine is $110. Depending on the packing, some people only paid $60.

Even with the transformer, I will be paying around $400 for it.

Btw I am trying to order scooba from their website.

However the billing address only allow US/Canada.

Do I fill in the vpost address and vpost name?

will the credit credit verification reject vpost name and address?

TIA.

 

[p3c_sgd]

Mine is $110. Depending on the packing, some people only paid $60.

Even with the transformer, I will be paying around $400 for it.

Wow...you mean $400 sing for a scooba??!! that is real cheap. I went to irobot website...they are selling at USD299 for scooba 5800...if convert to sing...(1.58 exchange rate)..it will be $472 sing...plus the shipping you mentioned...it easily go up to $600. bro, how you managed to get it for S$400? That is real cheap man.

I went to irobot help, they mentioned that we should not use transformer as it will screw up the roomba and battery after awhile. Can anyone verify that? My scooba is local set, and the charger is 230V. I don't have issue now. But if I buy a roomba from USA, it means I have to buy a transformer? Any other way? I don't want to screw up the roomba...can help?

 

[ronnie]

I got mine from Ebay. Price was US$180 (US$180 * 1.48 = S$267) including shipping to VPost. Plus VPost shipping of 110 then total cost is S$377. Factor in the transformer which cost S$21 then the cost is around S$400.

For those intending to get off Ebay, beware that some are selling remanufactured sets. Not that remanufactured are no good, but these sets may come with comestic defects.

Anyway, there are quite a number of Singaporeans getting from the US and using transformer with no issues at all. Please refer to this thread for more info. If still interested, try search SPUG forums for more info about the Roomba and Scooba.

http://www.spug.sg/forums/showthread.php?t=62517

You can also refer to this thread on the transformer issue.

http://www.roombareview.com/chat/viewtopic.php?t=2151

 

[ronnie]

Btw I am trying to order scooba from their website.

However the billing address only allow US/Canada.

Do I fill in the vpost address and vpost name?

will the credit credit verification reject vpost name and address?

TIA.

Nowadays, because of fraud, most companies will only send to the billing address ie the address your credit card is registered. So unless you have friends living in the States, it is difficult to buy from IRobot directly,

Refer to the thread from SPUG above, some of the people got theirs from Amazon. GKRobots is another alternative you can explore.

For those interested in getting, do note that these are rather complicated machines and you may face problems with them. Go to this website and you will see what mean. http://www.roombareview.com/chat/viewforum.php?f=1

On the other hand, there are people who are still using the original 1st generation roomba they got in 2002. So weigh your pros and cons before deciding. For a lazy bum like me, the answer is clear.

 

[p3c_sgd]

I got mine from Ebay. Price was US$180 (US$180 * 1.48 = S$267) including shipping to VPost. Plus VPost shipping of 110 then total cost is S$377. Factor in the transformer which cost S$21 then the cost is around S$400.

For those intending to get off Ebay, beware that some are selling remanufactured sets. Not that remanufactured are no good, but these sets may come with comestic defects.

Anyway, there are quite a number of Singaporeans getting from the US and using transformer with no issues at all. Please refer to this thread for more info. If still interested, try search SPUG forums for more info about the Roomba and Scooba.

http://www.spug.sg/forums/showthread.php?t=62517

You can also refer to this thread on the transformer issue.

http://www.roombareview.com/chat/viewtopic.php?t=2151

Bro, how can the exchange rate is 1.48??? Which mode are you paying? Credit card will charge at 1.57-1.59...so I take avg..it is 1.58. 1.48 is damn good...which mode huh? How come scooba is selling at USD180???

 

[ronnie]

I paid through PayPal and bought PayPal dollars from the Buy and Sell forum here. The seller wanted to sell off US$240 as a lump sum and we agree on S$355 as payment.

For a USS180 Scooba new, you must be patient and bid accordingly. Here's the link for the item I bid for.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...MEWN:IT&viewitem=&item=140125565218&rd=1&rd=1

 

[p3c_sgd]

One more question. If i buy from ebay or from usa, if the unit arrives here and it is dead, do we have to send it back to USA for repair? Can we send to local irobot for repair? I check singpost, ship a roomba back to USA will cost me S$200+. Damn....will the irobot absorb the shipping charges?