Scored me a new roomba Discovery 4210!

[jlucci]

Well, it finally happened my frustration with perpetually vacuuming the floor won out over my tight finances. A couple days ago I received in the mail a Bed Bath and beyond 20% off coupon; however, the few times that I would visit my local store I could not identify which boxes contained the newest Discovery 4210s. Yesterday, it all finally came together as I figured out that the boxes that had barcodes in the lower right hand corner on the backside were the newest ones. Furthermore, I figured out how to read the production date in the serial number and found one with a 050919 "born on" date. Originally, as I stood there I thought to myself that I would purchase it just to see that I had been right in interpreting the serial number. Well, I picked one out and proceeded to check out. When I got there I spoke with the cashier and verified the return policy. I then proceeded to take it home. At first, I thought to myself, "well, I guess I'll open the box and take a closer look and determine whether or not it truly does have the 2.1 upgrades. However, as I sat there my willpower gave in and I thought to myself, "well okay, let's plug it in, charge it, and see what it does." I then proceeded to prepare my kitchen for vacuuming. I started off by a putting all my kitchen chairs in the next room, moving the cat bowls, and then doing a rather thorough sweeping as I had not swept, or vacuumed in nearly a month. (Can we say "dust jack rabbits" were multiplying on my floor.) I then turned the fully charged roomba loose on my floor. I started it somewhere around 9:45 p.m.(guesstimate) and it finished sometime around 11 p.m. I don't have words to say how exhilarated and jazzed I was with the end result. Normally, after I have swept and vacuumed the floor still tends to be a little gritty; however, not this time! Although it still needed a mopping the floor was very clean. I believe the roomba did a better job than my full power vacuum. Ordinarily, when my full power vacuum hits dust and grit invariably some get blown several yards behind the vacuum like pellets out of a shotgun. the airflow from the regular vacuum tends to be too strong over the tile without some sort of carpeting deadening and catching hold of the dirt. I believe the room but does not have that problem being that it is a lower powered device. I'm just blown away with how well the roomba worked!

[madrid]

Welcome aboard! You'll never want to go back to having to vacuum again! I'm glad you are saving your valuable time for more important things than vacuuming! That's what I love best about my Roomba, it gives me more time with my family. I can read books with the kids instead of them having memories of mom vacuuming. Works for me!

[gariadea]

CONGRATULATIONS J! You did Great!
Gariadea

[brendag4]

Well, it finally happened my frustration with perpetually vacuuming the floor won out over my tight finances.

I know how that is!

Yesterday, it all finally came together as I figured out that the boxes that had barcodes in the lower right hand corner on the backside were the newest ones.

How did you ever figure that out without being able to open a box?

I got mine on 12-5.

Furthermore, I figured out how to read the production date in the serial number and found one with a 050919 "born on" date.

Where is the serial #? I read on the forum that it is on the brush guard. At least that was what it seemed to mean. If so, mine is Jan 05. Then someone told me that it is inside the battery compartment. I haven't looked yet because I am not sure if that will make the Roomba forget where it is in the cleaning process because I would have to remove the battery. (It is only lasting 30 minutes on a charge. I read about how to do a reset by taking out the battery and pressing the power button for 10 sec but again... I am afraid it will start the whole process over. I have been trying to vacuum one room since yesterday.)

Originally, as I stood there I thought to myself that I would purchase it just to see that I had been right in interpreting the serial number.

Why weren't you just going to buy it anyway?

I thought to myself, "well, I guess I'll open the box and take a closer look and determine whether or not it truly does have the 2.1 upgrades.

If you get one with the barcode where you say, does this mean it will have both the 2.1 and the hardware upgrades?

I'm just blown away with how well the roomba worked!

It definitely looks like a vacuumed floor, even though it is not done. I have had to empty the dust bin many times. I did it in a storage room where it probably hadn't been vacuumed in years.

I have a stand with a saddle on it. There is a spot under there that is not very tall. I figured if the Roomba went under there it would not be able to figure out how to get out, since the opening is only as wide as a saddle, and the back end is against the wall. Well sometimes it goes under again because it hits a leg but it makes it back out the next time around.

If you are not sure whether or not you wanted a Roomba, you might want to check out the CleanMate post. The CleanMate is a lot cheaper than the Roomba. I mention that because of your tight finances. I might get one off of ebay and compare the 2.

Brenda

[jlucci]

[/quote]How did you ever figure that out without being able to open a box?

I've been reading on this forum and a number of threads discussed "born on" dates. The sticker that was on the backside looked awfully like a serial number. So I figured based on the various discussions that 050907 was the date of manufacture in YYMMDD format. And seeing that this is a post June 01, '05 date I knew that it had all the improvements.

I got mine on 12-5.

Quote:
Furthermore, I figured out how to read the production date in the serial number and found one with a 050907 "born on" date.

Where is the serial #? I read on the forum that it is on the brush guard. At least that was what it seemed to mean. If so, mine is Jan 05. Then someone told me that it is inside the battery compartment. I haven't looked yet because I am not sure if that will make the Roomba forget where it is in the cleaning process because I would have to remove the battery. (It is only lasting 30 minutes on a charge. I read about how to do a reset by taking out the battery and pressing the power button for 10 sec but again... I am afraid it will start the whole process over. I have been trying to vacuum one room since yesterday.)

The serial number is located on a barcode sticker on the backside of the box in the lower left-hand corner as well as on a similar sticker in the "battery bay."


Quote:
Originally, as I stood there I thought to myself that I would purchase it just to see that I had been right in interpreting the serial number.

[/quote]Why weren't you just going to buy it anyway?

Money


[/quote]If you get one with the barcode where you say, does this mean it will have both the 2.1 and the hardware upgrades?

Yes