Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

05-Sept-2015 Update: -------------------- Had unique opportunity to run this side-by-side with a much larger unit Royal RL170MX 17-page shredder, shredding 8-banker boxes of receipts over 6 hours. This small Amazon unit still runs like a champ. It overheated 2 times, whereas the Royal overheated 6 times. Paper was fed in at the same rate on each machine, maybe 5 pages at a time max. The Amazon shred size is slightly bigger, and the motor slightly louder, but I still hold to the fact that this is the best shredder I've ever purchased/used for the price. Very happy with this purchase. Thanks Amazon! 16-Apr-2015 Update: ------------------ This thing is a tank. Still consistently running strong with no problems! I'm happy every time I use it because I feel like I got a good deal for the $$$. 01-Jun-2013 Update: ------------------- Over a year later, and this thing is still kicking butt. It hasn't overheated once! Still super-satisfied with this purchase. 14-Oct-2012 Update: ------------------- Shredder still going strong! I just shredded a few months backlog of stuff all in one sitting with the motor just about running constant for maybe 20 min straight. I only had to unload the hopper 2x- it is deceivingly large in capacity. I was just waiting for the motor to kick out due to overheating, since I've been conditioned for so many years by my former shredder, but it just didn't happen. On the old shredder, this volume would have taken 1 hr to shred due to motor overheating and auto shutdown. Still happy as a clam with this purchase! 17-April-2012 Original Review: -------------------------------- Wow! After reading tons of reviews on Amazon, I was either going to go with a Fellows or this AmazonBasics. I decided to try this one because: 1. The competitive price for a mid-class 12-sheet vs. 11 sheet shredder. I figured more sheets=more powerful motor. 2. The highest rated Fellows in this mid-class category was rated so-so for CD's, vs. this one which reviewers rated well in this area. 3. I figured since this one had Amazon's name on it, I'd have a better chance of getting a higher-class machine than another brand selling on Amazon for a similar price. All 3 points above amount to one thing: Hardcore motor for hardcore shredding. I was tired of fooling around with small shredders where I'd wait for motor cooling longer than shredding (not to mention multiple, messy basket emptying-s). When I received the package today, I was initially disappointed wrt the size of the box. I expected it to be larger like the mid-class ones i've seen at the store. Boy was I was wrong! Clever packaging by Amazon revealed a very solid motor head securely packed within a nice sized basket (Nice work Amazon Packaging Engineers!). I took it out, set it up, and plugged it in within 20 seconds. I was immediately very pleased with the obvious child/pet safety features. I then proceeded to shred a bunch of stuff (with the help of my 4-year old daughter) without any problems. The CD went through like butter, as did the paper. 12-sheets was slower as other reviewers indicated, but no strain on the motor... and relatively quiet too! I am a very picky consumer (& professional software tester by trade), and I do not hesitate to return products that do not meet my expectations for design and durability. I would definitely buy this one again, and I will definitely recommend this one to my friends. WOW! This shredder's a major league butt-kicker!