Is this ebay Scooba too good to be true for UK?

jgilder · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 4

Hi have been looking to buy a scooba for a while and as they seem to be delaying the launch here have decided to go for one from the states.

There is currently a "BRAND NEW iROBOT SCOOBA 340 FLOOR WASHING ROBOT VACUUM" on UK ebay which seems to be too good to be true at a price of £179 including postage and excepting any customs taxes.

Is this a good deal or am I missing something? All I need to get then is the power supply and some cleaning solution.

Thank you

roddenshaw · Joined: 30 Aug 2007 Posts: 166 Location: London, UK.

I would be surprised if this wasn't too good to be true. I imported a Scooba 335 and the cost of my friend buying the bot, shipping it and taxes ultimately added up to over £200.

debugger · Joined: 20 Jan 2007 Posts: 730 Location: UK - Glasgow

It's very difficult to tell - I would be suspicious myself.

I've been caught out before by a deal that seemed too good to be true and I ended up with a Re-Manufactured unit rather than a new one as advertised. This meant the difference between a really good price for a new unit and a poor price for a re-man unit - also I did want a re-man unit.

I had an awful lot of hassle getting my money back, even with PayPal Protection.

This is not the same seller.

jgilder · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 4

thank you - i will see what he says to question about it being a reconditioned unit.

drabux · Joined: 06 May 2008 Posts: 2

I bought one from this person and it arrived today (without customs charges!) and it looks brand new to me. It came in orginal packing etc. The only concerns are:
1. It is the older model which doesn't seem to have the updated bettery charging fix
2. I can't tell for certain because I can't find the serial number
3. The battery didn't start with the 16 hr charging run, just the normal one.

So far, very, very happy with it.
Alanb

bolero1000 · Joined: 15 Mar 2008 Posts: 79

Hi,
drabux wrote: 2. I can't tell for certain because I can't find the serial number

Is it not strange this ? Even on mine I just received I've some infos (quite confusing & I'm not sure which model do I've ... but I've some infos/SN ..)

Do you mean that there is no sticker near the battery (like in mine, no sticker), or do you mean do you don't have anything at all ?

On mine I've a model printed on the chassis (model 33501) & a serial number on the warranty/register card JEN335xxx .. you don't have anything at all ??

Are you sure it's a new one ?

Ciaoooooooooo,
Luciano

debugger · Joined: 20 Jan 2007 Posts: 730 Location: UK - Glasgow

drabux wrote:
3. The battery didn't start with the 16 hr charging run, just the normal one.

If you don't think it has the charging fix - never charge it for more than 3 hours and take the battery out of the Scooba after the 3 hour charge, only put it back in before you're going to run it.

Does the battery get very hot during charging? If so it probably does not have the fix in place.

If it doesn't have the fix then you need someone in the US to request it from iRobot - I bought mine from an iRobot dealer and they liaised with iRobot to get me the OSMO.

Quite often the "dodgy" sellers on e-bay remove the serial numbers to hide the fact that it's a reman unit - can you see an "R" branded into the bottom of the Scooba anywhere? If so, it's definitely a reman unit.

jgilder · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 4

I didn't get one of these in the end and am now looking at another one on ebay. when i asked the guy said these were all new and he was an irobot representative. didn't get round to buying one before he sold out though!

drabux · Joined: 06 May 2008 Posts: 2

There is no sticker where there should be one but there is no 'R' on the chassis anywhere either :? It looks absolutely brand new and came in original packing.

As for the battery charging, I've been very careful and have followed the advice given on these forums.

Oh, and if you do want a real bargain, go here: http://www.yonies.com/pidD.asp?chk=1&PID=2354&manf=iRobot&model=Scooba+340&prd=Vacuum+Cleaner&lv1=Appliances&lv2=Home+Appliances&lv3=Vacuum+Cleaners&rf=frguk

Alanb

bolero1000 · Joined: 15 Mar 2008 Posts: 79

Hi Alan,

Just curious at this point what was marked on the box ? 5800 ? 340 ? 350 ? or .. ??

No model printed on the chassis itself ?

drabux wrote:
Oh, and if you do want a real bargain, go here: http://www.yonies.com/pidD.asp?chk=1&PID=2354&manf=iRobot&model=Scooba+340&prd=Vacuum+Cleaner&lv1=Appliances&lv2=Home+Appliances&lv3=Vacuum+Cleaners&rf=frguk

Alanb

I bought & just received it just 2 days ago ... :D
BUT inside the box (marked 340) there was a 335....:shock:
I'm including a photo so you'll see also the zone where the model number is printed on mine & you could check on yours if you've something.
In my case I found the real serial number on the warranty/registration card (still in the photo)

Wrote to Yonies yesterday (& a reminder today ..) about the model difference, no reply yet... :?

When I wrote before to ask other things their replies were exceptionally fast (even a Sunday once ..), not now ... Well ..

So be aware that what you order to Yonies could not be what you get, or at least it was true in case.

Not that I'll cry if I end out with a 335 for 185$ (+105$ for shipping, but the cost was only 72$ ..), but if I ordered a 340 I'm expecting a 340 ..

Ciaoooooooo,
Luciano

debugger · Joined: 20 Jan 2007 Posts: 730 Location: UK - Glasgow

drabux wrote: As for the battery charging, I've been very careful and have followed the advice given on these forums.

Alan,

I was just concerned that you mentioned that you thought it was the old model, without the charging fix, and then mentioned something about the 16 hour charge. Maybe I read it wrong.

But I just wanted to make sure there was no confusion here - if it's a pre-OSMO Scooba then you should never, never, never give it a 16 hour charge regardless of what iRobot tells you!