I dont know if you’d call me a junkie, an addict or an expert when it comes to online shopping - but suffice it to say I buy a lot of products online. I even ordered my dishwasher online! This week I’m shopping for the iRobot Scooba, which is a pricey floor-cleaning robot that sweeps and mops for you.
The latest model - the Scuba 380 - runs $499, but you can get the 350 model for $399. Of the 3 models they offer on their website, those were the 2 I had my eye on. Of course, I logged into eBay first - to search for a deal on this handy dandy robotic floor-mopping thingamajig…
You may remember I ordered a similar gadget a couple of years ago - the Robomaid. I still love that thing! It basically dust mops for you using a hydrostatic pad, picking up dust and hair and such. (You can still get them on eBay for under $20.) The iRobot Scooba is a much more powerful version of the same thing - it sucks, sweeps, mops, scrubs and squeegees and even dries your hardwood or linoleum floors.
My entire house is hardwood and linoleum, which takes a lot of work to maintain, and the new home I am buying is the same - with even more floorspace. I usually pay a housekeeper $10 an hour to mop once a week ($200/month minimum), and then run my Robomaid almost daily.
Anyway, first I hit the main website (iRobot.com) to study the different models, the pricing and read the reviews (always read the reviews!). Next I did a search for iRobot on eBay to find a good deal on one.
Excuse me… but what happened to eBay?! 
The sellers for this particular product are all listing at about retail, and many with refurbished units! One seller has a “Buy It Now” price of $399.99 plus $27.99 shipping. You can get the same model on the manufacturer’s website for $399 + free shipping! Another seller has the 350 model listed for $449.99 plus $41.99 shipping - that’s almost a hundred bucks more than you can buy it straight from iRobot.com!
The refurbished units come with a 90-day warranty, while the new units come with a 1-year warranty. So the first tip is to know what you’re buying, and to shop comparatively.
If you dont find an awesome deal on eBay (and every now and then you will), your next step is to do a search on Google for a coupon code or promotional code. You probably notice that field on most websites when you are checking out - and you can find codes online that will give you great savings on your purchases.
That’s what I did - and a quick search for “iRobot promotional code” returned a coupon code for 20% off using the code “CES1708″ at iRobot.com. Using the code nixed the free shipping offer, but the grand total for an iRobot Scooba 350 came to $339.94 (shipping and all).
Always search for a coupon code 
Even when you are shopping offline, you could be saving a lot by searching online first. For example, I paid $35 for a Logitech Headset at my local Wal-Mart… only to find out later that I could have ordered it online through Amazon.com for around 20 bucks.
Before you make any big purchase get online to read the reviews, search for coupon codes, check for a deal on eBay, and see if the manufacturer’s website offers special online deals. You can save hundreds by spending 10 minutes doing this quick window-shopping online - and you can usually find a great deal, order what you want, and have it delivered right to your doorstep!
Best,
Tags: irobot, irobot scooba, ebay, online shopping, coupon codes, promotional codes
15 responses so far ↓
Katherine Reschke // Jan 28, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Another site to add to the mix is http://www.ebates.com - some stores offer as much as 10% back for shopping through ebates. http://www.stockback.com does something similar except it puts the money into a college account for your children.
Tell me how that scooba works out for you Lynn and I may have something new to save up for - especially with this snowy weather which means muddy footprints several times a day.
Lynn Terry // Jan 28, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Thank you Katherine & will do - I’ve seen some really good reviews on it, and I’m waiting to hear back from a friend of a friend that just got hers too. Looking forward to it!
Teli Adlam // Jan 28, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Another place that I’ve been turning to a bit to find rebate codes is Retail Me Not. I’ve used it a few times for small purchases from Amazon and FedEx Kinko’s with great success. It even allows you to report on whether or not a specific coupon code still works. Plus, it continues to grow and get better as consumers add more coupon codes to it.
~ Teli
Lynn Terry // Jan 28, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Great resource, Teli - thank you!
Alice Seba // Jan 28, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Back to the iRobot thing. My husband bought me a robotic vacuum a couple of years back and it just ran into walls and furniture. The only way to get it to work properly was to remove everything off the floor (including furniture), so it could make it’s way around the room. It was just easier to vacuum in that case.
How does the iRobot learn the room and not keep bumping into things to throw it off course?
Lynn Terry // Jan 28, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Obviously I havent used one myself yet (just ordered it this morning) but my Robomaid works flawlessly around the house and under furniture and in and around places. I watched the videos for the iRobot Scooba and it appears to use the same technology to cover all floor space and work around obstacles.
Do you happen to recall the name of the product you had that experience with?
Carrie // Jan 28, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Ooh I’m jealous… that is a great tip though. I always always print off coupons before I go shopping in the offline stores too.
It’s amazing how many coupon websites there are out there, and the manufacturer websites are also a good place to check.
Sandy Naidu // Jan 28, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Good purchase Lynn…I have one and I absolutely love it…When it bumps furniture for example…it makes a slight bump, realizes there is something and turns around…We have a lot of stairs in our house…Whenever it comes across one it can actually tell that its the stairs and so doesn’t move forward and turns backwards or sideways (Excellent sensors)…Here comes the best part…If your room and the charger is on the same level…then it finishes vacuuming and then goes back to its starting point so that it can start getting charged again…
Sandy
Maurice // Jan 28, 2008 at 4:49 pm
I always read the reviews because you get a much more honest feedback about a product and/or service. Another pretty good site is http://www.couponcabin.com
Peace,
Maurice
Chris Jacobson // Jan 28, 2008 at 5:28 pm
I saw that iRobot you’re looking for on woot.com a few weeks ago, as well as on several other occasions. I can’t recall the exact price, but it was an unbelievably amazing deal - not to mention the $5 shipping.
Best affiliate marketing program - makingyouricher // Jan 29, 2008 at 3:10 pm
The last paragraph that summarises your post was all I was looking for.
Hey, I was scammed for delving head long buying products without following those ideas you gave. Well after somtime I learnt my lesson.
Notwithstanding, your window shopping ‘research’ for buying hard goods comes handy for me.
Thanks.
Lynn Terry // Jan 29, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Cool Chris - if you find a link to that, let us know. There are several models and I wanted a specific one - but if its that one, I’d love to spread the word because they are way cool!
Dotrebates // Feb 3, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Check out http://www.Dotrebates.com to save on all of your online purchases. Hundreds of popular stores available to earn cash back with no registration ever required. Payments by PayPal or mail!
Jaime // Jul 21, 2008 at 3:21 pm
I got a Roomba right after Christmas and must say that I am proud of myself, as I did many of the things you suggested. ebay was a joke for me as well. I ended up finding a coupon that saved me 20% off at http://www.rather-be-shopping.com - With 4 kids in the house my roomba never stops working for me, I love it!
Lynn Terry // Jul 21, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Cool Jaime - glad you got a good deal on yours! I’m with you… totally in love with this product
. In fact, its on charge now - and will be busily cleaning the floors for me tonight while I put my feet up and watch a movie with the kids!
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