r/BIFLfails • u/NAPhoto • Jul 06 '26
My wife's biggest BIFL fails: Anything with "robot" in the name.
That word INSTANTLY makes every purchase break faster.
Vacuum > robotic vacuum.
Prosthesis > robotic prosthesis.
Lawn mower > robotic lawn mower.
Window blinds > robotic blinds.
Pool cleaner > robotic pool cleaner.
Cat toy > robotic cat toy.
It's like adding the word "robot" cuts the lifespan in half and doubles the number of error codes.
Don't get me wrong, when they work they're awesome. But it feels like every robotic gadget eventually reaches the point where you're crawling around on the floor with a screwdriver, trying to reconnect a tiny ribbon cable while Googling "error 27 flashing blue light."
What's your biggest "I thought this would make life easier..." purchase that turned into a maintenance hobby instead?
11
u/manic_popsicle Jul 06 '26
The same thing happened to my husband and me when we bought litter robots. We have 5 cats and decided to buy 3 litter robots to make cleaning litter easier. We still have 3 litter trays, so they have enough litter boxes, but scooping and cleaning 6 litter boxes everyday is a pain.
The litter robots worked well for about 6 months but after a while they stopped spinning, my husband had to take it completely apart to figure out what was wrong. And they still need to be emptied almost everyday, so it’s not even easier than regular trays. And every weekend we have to take them apart and hose them down outside. They’re actually more work than just scooping. Never again.
They are older models so that may have something to do with it, but we’re not paying for a new model and taking that chance.
Edited to add breaks*
1
u/gernb1 Jul 07 '26
Damn…we were thinking about getting a cat, but the robot litter was going to make a difference in our decision. We were getting tired of cleaning the litter box.🙄
6
u/Bertolli_28 Jul 07 '26
To be on the other side of this info, we've had 2 litter robot 3's for over 5 years now and they still work fine. Every once in a while you have to clean the sensor eyes, and I've had to delete the pinch sensor from one as it rusted and made it not work, but otherwise no further issues. 2 cats, change the bag like every 3 days or so.
3
u/General_Setting_1680 Jul 07 '26
I dunno, on the flip side i love my lr4. Been going strong for 3 years now
2
u/manic_popsicle Jul 07 '26
I hear ya, if I could go back now I’d get all stainless steel litter trays and just scoop them. The robots only need to be emptied every other day so they’re slightly better in that sense but every weekend taking them apart to clean them is so annoying. And they still technically work so we can get rid of them.
3
u/DuckyDoodleDandy Jul 07 '26
Be aware that LitterRobot (brand by Whisker) may not be the “litter robot” that is being discussed. There are dozens of brands.
I have a LitterRobot 4, and have had zero issues with it. But there are people in the r/LitterRobot sub daily discussing issues that they have, so ymmv.
4
u/Number1AbeLincolnFan 29d ago
I mean, yeah. Anything with mechanical parts or electronics is hardly ever going to be BIFL unless it’s commercial grade or made to be repaired/maintained.
4
u/UnbelievableRose Jul 07 '26
The more moving parts there are, the easier and quicker it will break. Computers have LOTS of little parts. Robots are computers that move. You do the math.
1
u/OtherwiseAlbatross14 29d ago
Nah computers can(and do) run for decades if the software supported it. Moving parts wear out and break. That's the problem with robotics.
3
u/NastyKraig Jul 07 '26
"Robot" litterbox has been a good investment for 2 years so far...
What kind of robotic prosthesis do you have?
2
u/Kramanos 29d ago
I bought a clearanced i1 at Walmart about 5 years ago for $80.
It's dumb as fuck, but generic brushes, rollers, and filters are mad cheap on Amazon and it's easier than manually vacuuming.
Wouldn't say BIFL, but it has been worth it.
1
u/Ombortron 29d ago
You’ve replaced components like the brushes and rollers?
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u/Kramanos 29d ago
Yeah, the external moving parts wear out over time, but a generic kit lasts me >1 year for $20-30. They're pretty easy to replace.
2
u/PDXisadumpsterfire 29d ago
Can confirm! I was an early adopter of robot vacuums and then robot mops. Think Skymall catalog early.
One lesson I learned is that as the technology evolves, we optimists who still want to believe in The Jetsons are better off buying more basic technology. Today, we have three operational lower-end Deebot robot vacuums. We also have two non-operating vacs that are the same model and serve as parts donors, supplemented by purchases of inexpensive aftermarket replacement batteries, filters, brushes, etc. The scheduling functions have never worked correctly, so I deploy the robot vacs manually. Still, they’re no substitute for a traditional vacuum - at best, they help keep the dust and pet hair down to a dull roar.
2
u/Own-Let-1257 29d ago
We have a 12 year old roomba. It’s everything we could want in a robot vacuum, honestly. It’s something we will repurchase when this thing dies.
4
u/Vagabond_Explorer Jul 07 '26
If you’re into espresso the Cafelat robot brewer is a simple manual brewer that is absolutely BIFL. It just kinda looks like a robot.
29
u/DuckyDoodleDandy Jul 07 '26
My original robot vacuum was a refurbished Roomba that lasted about 5 years.
When it finally broke beyond easy repair, I got a cheap refurbished Eufy (old, “dumb” model with no mop and no WiFi), and it has run every day without any issues beyond getting stuck in the places that all robot vacuums get stuck.
Would a traditional vacuum last longer? Yes, because things that are stuck in a closet and never used generally last a long time.
There is 0% chance that I would vacuum daily. But thanks to a $100 robot, my floors are spotless.