<p>I had a refurbished roomba years ago. It was awful. The battery wouldn’t hold a charge, sent it back, but the new one was the same. Gave up - shoved it in a closet. </p>
<p>However…a friend told me recently she has two and loves them. The reviews seem good. Thinking about getting one for my Mom & MIL for Christmas gifts. Kohls had the 400 model for around $100 this weekend. Anyone think I can find one for close to that anywhere between now and Christmas?</p>
<p>There was a discussion back in April about Roombas. It looks like mixed reviews.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/905094-anybody-have-roomba.html?highlight=roombas[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/905094-anybody-have-roomba.html?highlight=roombas</a></p>
<p>They work best on hard floors and they require a certain amount of management—can’t be stuff in their way, etc. If all of that is not a problem, go for it.</p>
<p>Costco has one for $249 (in HI–may be cheaper in other locations). We love it–S has it programmed to clean all our bedrooms M-F at 10am. It helps wake him, if he’s so inclined. He liked Roombas so much, he’s bought his own from Frye’s, where it was the cheapest we had seen.</p>
<p>I love Costco, especially with their no questions asked return policy. The Roomba we loaned mom is having a tough time holding its charge–not sure what’s wrong. We just bought a battery in July, so it shouldn’t be that. 
Will have to figure out if it can be repaired or we have to get her a new one from Costco for the holidays.</p>
<p>The best thing about Roombas is that it doesn’t throw dust up into the air the way traditional vacuums do, which is important for those of us with dust allergies. I have had them for years & LOVE them.</p>
<p>Thanks! We have a Fry’s, so I will go and check.</p>
<p>I loved my Roomba, but it stopped working and I can’t be bothered to get it repaired. Also, it was a pain to clean. Everyone in the family has long hair and it was always getting jammed up.</p>