 - Robotic floorvac with dirt detection and convenient infra-red cliff sensors
- Auto adjusts to any floor surface; edge-cleaning sidebrush; 3 cleaning modes
- Self-charging home base; automatically docks and recharges in under 3 hours
- Extra-large debris bin; 2 virtual walls and remote control included
- Measures 16-3/4 by 21 by 5 inches; 1-year warranty
List Price: $249.99 
Product Description: Roomba Discovery SE is the top of the line Roomba with some very down to earth features. Like Roomba Discovery, the SE features Dirt Detect, the self-charging Home Base(TM), an extra-large debris bin, the Roomba Remote, three cleaning modes plus a Charging Wall Mount for convenient storage. And, of course, the SE comes with the Advanced Power System that gives all Roombas the energy to get the job done. SE does it all, and looks great doing it. Retail Selling price of the unit is $300 and is sold out at most retail stores. This unit is factory sealed, with all the accesories for a fraction of the price. Roomba Discovery SE comes with: Rechargeable APS battery 3 hour charger Charging Wall Mount 2 Virtual Walls Roomba Remote Home Base Filters Roomba Discovery SE is the top-of-the-line in Robotic FloorVacs. Automatically returns to the Self-Charging Home Base when its battery is low. APS Charging System provides up to 120 minutes of cleaning power and charges the battery in under 3 hours. Comes with a Fast Charging Wall Mount, Self-Charging Home Base, Active Dirt Response, Advance Power System, Max Cleaning Mode, Remote Control, and 2 Virtual Wall Units. Customer Reviews: Rating: 
Date: 2008-07-01
I love my ROOMBA 4220
I love this vacuum. It is wonderful works great and so easy to use. Push a button and forget about it. I bought one for my daughter and one for my sister. Its cousin the scuba is great also. It cleans great and easy to clean the filter too. I named mine DEXTER. Rating: 
Date: 2008-06-18
Customer Disservice
I purchased a Roomba 4220 (Discovery) from iRobot. The company I work for has manufactured components for iRobot's tactical product line, so I was aware of their commitment to quality, and assumed that it would be reflected in their consumer products as well.
The first one I had died 10 minutes into its first use. The brush drive motor self destructed, causing a great grinding noise to come from the machine. It ultimately took 3 weeks for a warranty exchange.
They (technical support) decided that the reason why the replacement robot didn't work - no sound, only travels in backward little jerky movements 90% of the time, won't dock, wont respond to the remote control, drives right down the steps without ever slowing down... is because the battery needs replaced.
The second agent I spoke with (when a new battery failed to resolve any of the issues) told me I needed to clean the sensors.
When that didn't fix it, the third agent told me that if the speaker isn't working, then it doesn't matter if the battery is good or bad, or if it is dirty or not... the entire robot needs replaced. According to the information he had in front of him, the only problem that I had reported was that it wasn't spending as much time cleaning as it used to. I pointed out that I had never claimed that as a problem, I had, in fact, explained exactly the same symptoms to every person I spoke with.
He sent me 2 emails that told me how to prepare it for shipping, but no RMA number. The first email told me to watch for a subsequent email that would have my RMA number. The subsequent email told me to watch for an email that would tell me how to prepare it for shipping.
After 4 days of waiting for the 'subsequent email with an RMA number', I finally called to request one from a real person. The agent I spoke with gave me a 12-digit RMA number. (For the record: 08-052-40-002-56)
I shipped it back with the RMA number clearly visible on the box, and on the shipping label, and emailed iRobot the tracking number (1Z71155F0395020217), RMA number, and expected delivery date.
They replied to *that very email* 2 hours later with "Here's your RMA number.' And this one was totally different. (The new number is: 99857047) Did you get that? They replied to an email I sent them that said "It's on the truck on its way to you" with a new RMA number!
I called and explained that I had been given 2 different RMA numbers.
I was told that I shipped it back with an invalid RMA number, and that was going to cause problems, but that it would be noted on my ticket.
Three days later, the unit was received by iRobot. I called when I received a delivery confirmation from them.
They told me that a robot was not received on that RMA number and that I would not receive my 'warranty exchange unit' (code for 'another refurb to replace the new one that didnt work') until they had received my defective one on the RMA number I had been given.
I tried to explain that I already did that... even have a confirmation that 'Murray' signed for it... But that didn't matter to them, because the RMA number in their system does not show a returned unit, and that I would not receive my warranty exchange unit until they receive my defective one on the RMA number I had been given.
I started demanding to speak with someone who could find answers for me.
They then began providing lip service for me:
I was told that it had already shipped, but that they don't have a tracking number because 'it doesn't work that way' (whatever THAT means.)
Several days later I received an email that said it would be released for shipment in 2-3 business days.
4 business days later, I called and was told it was on the dock and would ship out that day.
Several days later, I was told that it had shipped the day before.
The next day I received an email saying it would ship in 2-3 business days.
I called and demanded an honest and true indication as to the status of my robot. I was told that they couldn't help me because they couldn't 'work with' the RMA number I had been given, and that I would have to take it up with the sales department.
The sales department couldn't find any record of the RMA number at all, and told me that I needed to take it up with technical support.
The supervisor told me that I needed to take it back to the store where I bought it in the first place (He told me this after I told him I had returned the unit to iRobot, gave him the shipping information, the delivery receipt date and recipient, and all of the RMA numbers and ticket numbers...)
My frustration level at this point was higher than it has been with any company or product in memory.
That's when I just gave up and decided it was wasting more of my time than the thing was even worth in the first place.
So now they have my robot, they have my money, and they have no desire or ability to return either one to me.
So I took the components that I did NOT return to them (the charger, the battery, the dirt bin, the virtual walls, and the remote) and I threw them in the dumpster.
iRobot wins.
I give up.
They have defeated me.
Their technical support agents contradict each other, they give out conflicting instructions and information, they give out wildly varying diagnoses to exactly the same symptoms, and they ignore such facts as 'delivery confirmation receipts'.
They pass customers off to other agents or departments who are even less helpful or competent than the previous one, and they are unable to offer any explanation as to why this sort of behaviour is acceptable from their staff.
I am tired of playing with them, the cost of the robot, plus the cost of sending 2 defective units back to them, is a pricey way to get their point across to me, but I feel that they will get my money's worth. I will take the education I received from them, and use it to in turn educate as many people as I can... They have a nice concept, but their product quality is inferior. I base that statement on the fact that 100% of their products that I have used have quit working within 10 minutes of their first use.
I faxed the company and instructed them to keep the robot; I am tired of dealing with them after 9 months. I have filed a report with the BBB in their area, and I am seeking reimbursement of the $10.85 it cost me to send the second one back to them.
Their customer service department is unable to diagnose a problem consistently from one person to the next. They give out conflicting information, but are unable to acknowledge that they made a mistake. They do anything in their power to alienate their customers and make the process so cumbersome that it is easier to just give up and walk away than it is to find even one employee who is willing to look at a situation and make a decision to satisfy the customer rather than perpetuate the nightmare, pushing customers to the point of anger before telling them to go to a different person or department.
They are the stereotypical American company that sells a shoddy product, refuses to stand behind it, takes the customer's money, and slams the door in their face.
I will do everything I am able to make sure that anyone I can reach will know what a horrible company iRobot is. Rating:
Date: 2008-06-09
4220 discovery floor vac
I found the iRobot Discovery 4220 purchased via Amazon,remanufactured to be a great little tool that runs on my carpeted floor then hardwood borders without effort.Great automated vac to keep dust from building up in a room used primarily as a home-office.Frederick Jamnetski SINY Rating:
Date: 2008-06-06
LOVE IT!
I don't know if this model is being discontinued, but not only did I get it for a great price, but it works wonderfully! I can finally keep my carpets clean, and that's not always easy! Rating:
Date: 2008-06-04
Rooma Vac
Cute little thing that works surprisingly very well, I can now vacuum daily and I don'thave to do the work |
