I’ve noticed that you can find a lot of refurbished Roomba 530s and 560s around, but I haven’t come across any 570s. Is that just a coincidence or does that mean that the 570s are more durable/reliable than the other models? My understanding is that the that main components of the 530, 560 and 570 are the same, with the main differences being the scheduler and/or the lighthouse support (depending which model you compare it to). If that’s the case, then it would seem that either iRobot isn’t refurbishing 570s, or that there are simply less 570s around to supply the refurbished market. Can anyone comment on this?
I’m not sure I would make use of the scheduler or lighthouse features of the 570, but if it’s more reliable than the 530, then I’d consider it. I’d rather spend an extra $100 now if it means not having to buy a whole new unit in a few years. The RobotShop’s ‘lifetime’ warranty is a nice bit of insurance, but I’d also like to avoid the hassles and costs of shipping the unit for repair if it starts having regular problems.
I’ve owned a roomba discovery SE (4220), and two roomba reds. I don’t remember how long they lasted in the beginning (maybe a couple months), but since then, they won’t run more than maybe 5-10 times without needing to be taken apart and repaired. I’ve mastered repairing the following:
The amputee in a wheelchair: It just keeps spinning in circles and can’t seem to make its way around the room The husband: It runs out of juice in less than 5 minutes and just doesn’t get the job done The wife: It makes some really nasty noises and just doesn’t get the job done The teenager: It wanders all over the house bouncing off the walls but doesn’t clean up a damn thing The virgin: It keeps trying and trying, but can’t seem to get himself mounted on the dock before he runs out of juice
I was just about to buy a 530 on craigslist that was used 4 TO 5 TIMES and it already doesn’t work (see “amputee” above). I reminded the lady that it’s still under warranty. I will never buy another iRobot product unless it’s under $20. …I did just buy a Mint for my brother though…we’ll see how that holds up
From our experience, yes you are correct that the Roomba models all have the same main components. The motors are basically the same, and the way they pick up dirt is the same (though with the use of virtual walls and lighthouses, the pattern and coverage will change).
Now perhaps you could propose that a robot that has scheduling will be used more regularly and therefore will see more hours of use since you do not have to set it yourself; when scheduled, it will start automatically whether you remember to run it or not. However this is difficult to quantify since not everyone uses their robot for the same things and the same amount of time each week.
Per this, and your observations, we would say that the 570 is certainly more capable than other models, but not more reliable. Please note that maintenance on the robots goes a long way to keeping the robot running. Cleaning the brushes, wheels, and dustbin/filter regularly will keep all the motors in good working order and you’ll get more out of the robot that way. This doesn’t just go for the Roomba, but pretty much for all domestic robots.
For a second opinion, RobotShop forum members are certainly welcome to weigh in on this question. Does anyone have multiple Roombas of different model and found that one lasted longer than other (of course, provided nothing drastic happened to it, like getting water spilled on it etc)?
We’re sorry you’ve had a bad experience with your Roombas in the past. As mentioned, they certainly do need to be taken care of for them to work properly. A lot of the problems you mention we do see with our customers from time to time. Sometimes the problem is something just needs to be cleaned, and sometimes it is a part that has gone defective. We’d certainly love to hear what were the causes of the problems you outlined in your post. Perhaps we can give you some suggestions on how to prevent them in the future.
That’s also part of the reason why we started the 5-year warranty; to give people some peace of mind if ever any problems like this came up. RobotShop customers have access to repairs for their Roombas that are out of warranty. Also you have the option of always sending us a quick email through the support center if you’re ever having problems or have any questions.
And lastly, if you prefer not to have the Roomba, we do carry other lines of robotic vacuums, some of which have tested out nicely and look very promising, like the Neato and the Mint (which you already mentioned).
