My sister has had the roomba 761 for about 4 years now and been very pleased with it. She just had to replace the batteries for the first time this past summer and brushes. I am not sure if she has replaced the brushes before. Anyway I ordered the same robotic vacuum and it is due to be delivered today. I will let you know what I think after the weekend. We don't have any pets, just the general dirt and dust that 6 people create.

Thank you so much Kathy! With the sales it is a good time to try one out. Anxiously awaiting your experience :)

I too found my head spinning when I investigated robotic vacuums about five years ago. Often, the online reviews would read something along the lines of "I love my (insert brand here) I'm on my third one in 5 years!" Folks loved them but they didn't seem to have a long life. I eventually purchased a Neato from Costco and realized that I could have written the very reviews I had read. The batteries were what eventually failed, and at the time weren't replaceable. Incidentally, Neato's customer service also left something to be desired as well. Costco's awesome return policy to the rescue! I simply returned the vacuum and purchased another. The second one failed just short of a year. I returned the second one but gave up and returned to using a conventional vacuum. I've been considering trying again. I believe that in the last few years battery technology has improved and now replaceable batteries are the norm. My advice would be to make sure you understand the return policy from the retailer you purchase it from.

My husband wanted me to buy the current Roomba 805 from Costco but the reviews are horrible! One reviewer wants Costco to bring back the Neato; thankful to hear your experience. Neato currently has 3 differents kinds of batteries: lithium ion, nickel metal hydride, high capacity lithium ion. You tempt me to try the Costco Roomba due to return policy. I'm willing to spend more for something that works but hate to waste it on failing models.

We have had Roomba vacuums for about 5 years. My wife likes them for bedrooms and smaller spaces because they get under beds and anywhere they can stick their nose in. I had to replace the battery once and I found that I could get a better, longer lasting battery that fit. I don't recall where but I am sure I just googled Roomba batteries and the ads showed up. The main problem is the small capacity and the complicated cleaning process with special tools. I think they make a smooth surface cleaner that would be better for your floors. Someone else makes them too and you should look up review sites because I think one was rated better than the Roomba version.

Just an update this morning-charged the roomba 761 all night and started it this morning at about 7:15, and it is still cleaning. I like it,. I have drank coffee, watched the food network and facebooked so far this morning and it has pretty much finished the den, kitchen and dining room and hall to bedrooms. Doors to bedrooms are closed and I will lock it in there later to do those. I don't have a big house, 1900 sq ft but I can see that I will be scheduling it every day. No problems getting stuck around kitchen chairs at a pedestal table. It does move smaller lightweight objects and no problems getting on to, the kind of thick wool rugs, in kitchen and laundry room. It just started blinking "dock" , I have the base in my laundry room under a bench so I did have to lead it there because it is in an out of the way place. I am not sure that is where I will leave base but I do want it in an inconspicuous spot.

Wow, thank you Kathy! Now I face a conundrum. Do I buy the more expensive 761 from Kohls with your sister's positive experience and your test, or the less expensive 805 (860) from Costco so can return it? I've learned that higher model numbers do not necessarily mean better satisfaction.

I got lucky, I got this one from kohl's, it was the bundle pak with 3 virtual walls and with the sale, I ended up only paying $349 total and it was about a week ago and they were doing the $15 kohls cash so I got $90 in kohls cash. I couldn't pass it up. I ran it again this afternoon when I got back from errands and I thought I had clean floors but I was shocked with what it picked up. I have scheduled it to run everyday. This is what it picked up in the 2 runs today, yikes!!

I don't know which impresses me more, the fantastic sales you uncovered at Kohls or the dirt picked up! Would you mind asking your sister what kind of battery it required, where she purchased it and how much the battery and brushes cost? As long as you can "maintain" it, very worthwhile. The stories of "it broke and cannot be fixed" are the scariest.

I don't recognize the Roomba part in your picture. It it there or did you move the dirt? My old Roomba looks wider and we have to remove the brush to get at the dirt.

5birdy, she got them from amazon and she is pretty frugal and she didn't complain about the cost but I will ask her tomorrow at work. Nerdyshopper, that is what the roomba picked up, on top of a takeout container in my trash can. :)

We had a Roomba for a while (not sure which model, it was about 5 years ago) and I loved it in theory. It seemed like a fantastic idea for people who are quite clean. We have a dog and three young kids, along with a few wool rugs that shed a bit. I would love to vacuum every day but even with running the Roomba that often, it needed to be emptied too frequently. The dirt collection area is so tiny compared to a regular vacuum and it needs to be emptied too often for my taste. It's still less work than actually vacuuming but too annoying to be worth it. I might take a look at newer models to see if they have improved.

Ok my sister paid $23 and some odd cents for battery and $14 something for brush and extractor on bottom and $1.85 for 3 side brushes. This is the first time she replaced any parts or battery on it, so just under $40 for all and we figure this will be her 4th Christmas since she got it as a gift.

I went back and reread your original post and she has 4 birds in one room and she said she loves it for the bird room, closes it in there and lets it go :) I don't have any pets so can't testify to how it works with pet hair but we do have 3 girls in the house with lots of medium length and long hair. It is so easy to remove and dump dirt bin and I pop out the filters and tap them in trash can, no brushes to remove to get to bin.

The bottom pic shows the button, at the 5 oclock position, you push to pull bin out

Kathy, thank you and your sister so much for all your helpful info and photos! I am sold on this 761 model. The bin doesn't look too hard to clean and knowing it can handle hair is a huge relief. It is perfect for my main worries of dust, small debris and hair in daily maintenance. Found the replacement kit on Amazon and was able to read even more details about this model. I will keep my eyes on Kohls sales every day, although how you got that fantastic deal is incredible! (of course now I want to know details on your sisters' birds....:)

You're welcome and I have been looking off and on at the robotic vacuums and it was just my lucky day, I guess.

I don't even see that the bundle pak I got from kohl's is available anymore

I love my roomba it really picks stuff up. I have not had any issues with it. I do clean it out regularly. Mainly you need to control where it goes and understand the kind of things that it can get hung up on-like electric cords fringe on rugs or older kitchen cabinets or other furniture that is too low to the ground. I would check on the height of the roomba and then check around your house to see if everything is going to be above it. The only area that it really can't reach is directly into a corner so every once in a while you have to take a wet rag and go into the corners.

(Now as to robotic moppers those have been a disaster...)

Ok, after much coupon searching and feeling horrible that I missed both the Black Friday deal Kathy found and the recent 30% off Kohls coupon, I bit the bullet and ordered the iRobot Roomba 761 with 25% discount today ($50 more). With my luck a new coupon will come out in a few days, but I need help fast! I really appreciate everyone's input. Found this link with comparisons between the iRobots if anyone else is interested: Compare iRobot Roomba

i hope you are as satisfied as I am. I have run it every morning and first couple of days, I kept an eye on what and where it would get stuck but it can drive you crazy so after that just kind of ignore it. The amount of dirt and dust it is picking up has been drastically reduced.

You've piqued my interest. I have two long-haired Lassie dogs plus a shedding husband. I also have oriental carpets on hardwood and tiled floors. Last, it's an old house and there are a number of threshold transition strips throughout the house. How will it handle the rugs and the transition strips? Will it be stymied by them or will it pass over them? I don't have a problem with moving it from section to section. I just need to know it that will be part of the drill. Thoughts.

I haven't had any problems with it going from hardwood to carpet or tile or going over thresholds. I have 2 pretty thick black wool rugs in kitchen and laundry and it goes right up on them even though I did read reviews where people said the vacuums avoid black or black areas on rugs because of the cliff sensors. I have an area rug in dining and foyer on hardwood and no problem there, either.

Mine arrived yesterday (quick shipping!) and it said to charge it first. Being nonmechanical, I didn't know how to attach it so hit the "Dock" button. It went around and disappeared under the bed before finally lining up while hubby and I laughed feeling like it's an uncontrollable puppy. I must say the entertainment value is not to be underestimated! Reading manual now. Sale still on today for any interested....

All of you have inspired me. After reading the reviews at PC Magazine, Amazon and YouTube, I just purchased the Neato D80. It's charging right now. The YouTube comparison video made the decision. I'm excited. I'll let you know how it goes.

Let them charge overnight and you can just pick it up and put it on the contacts on dock 5birdy, it won't bite : )

This topic has inspired me to also get a robot, and I found a good offer on Neato botvac connected, so I got it. I'm so excited, can't wait for it to arrive!

Homechef59, how do you like your Neato?

The old saying is "don't buy your wife a vacuum for Christmas" but truly this is the most amazing gift. I have a LOT to learn to make it work well for our needs, but in just 2 days I am so excited to have this extra set of hands to free me up on other things, and save my back and knees. Can't thank Kathy and her sister enough for giving me the courage to try the 761. It seems to run about an hour and the bin is very easy to empty (unlike my canister vacuum- ugh yuk). Just need to fine tune the target areas so that it works more efficiently. The canister hurt my back and knees so much I'd just avoid vacuuming altogether and the horrific dust and debris buildup was really bothering my husband. A little vacuum every day is the new motto! We both thank the Houzz Appliance Forum!

I also have the Roomba 761. It stopped working after about 18 month and the Customer Service tech at Roomba mailed me a new battery, brushes and filter. It's worked as designed since then.

But it does have major flaws - as many pointed out it does have a tiny bin and it is tedious to clean.

It does a great job of getting underneath furniture and beds. I run it in a bedroom with the door shut and it gets most of the dust bunnies underneath the bed.

It does a decent job in a room with a bare floor or one completely carpeted. I have to remove my area rugs with fringe because it gets caught in the fringe.

My biggest complaint is the perimeter of dirt that it leaves around my area rugs. I have a few area rugs and runners in my kitchen. My Roomba has the little brush that rotates across the top of the floor to help loosen the dirt. When the Roomba is half on the area rug and the other half on the bare floor, the small brush pushes the dirt and dog hair onto the floor. But the suction on the Roomba isn't strong enough to suck up the dirt next to the rug and it leaves a 1 to 2" perimeter or dirt and hair around the rug. These rugs aren't unusually thick either.

The prices seem to have come down since DH bought mine.

maire_café, it looks like your 761 workd just like our 4 year old model. I think the only model that claims to clean the transition between carpets and bare floors is the top of the line 980. Don't think I would spend that kind of money just to find out if it really works. Right now Amazon prime has a special on the 860 for about $495 that I would choose if I didn't already have one.

5birdy, glad it is working out for you. No they are not perfect but it helps because you can keep on top of the vacuuming every day. I left her running Saturday and came back and she had died in the den but like I said my dock is in an out of the way area. I may change that after the Christmas trees are put away. Another day she decided that after 40 minutes she was done and headed to the dock, I let her dock and then pushed the clean button and she went on her way for almost another hour. I will be keeping her , she has made keeping ahead of the vacuuming nice.

We got a 805 from Costco; our first cleaning bot. It works great for the most part. My wife complains that it circles around her too much too often but I find it easy to maintain and good at its own duty.

That's what our Roomba does. I thought the 800 models had a once around feature. I guess I don't understand the feature list.

I'm going to start a new thread for tips once you have selected your robotic vacuums.