14-Sheet Cross-Cut Heavy Duty Paper Shredder

Really? I'm pausing my shredding to go to my computer to write a review? Well, this unit is impressing me that much. I've replaced a Fellowes DS-3 shredder, which is a similar size. The DS-3 broke when one of the plastic gears in the drive train shed a gear -- a tiny piece of plastic snaps and the whole thing goes in the trash. I hate that. But seizing an opportunity to get a better shredder, I researched quite a bit and selected this Bonsaii. The features I liked in the listing were its 14 sheet capacity (the DS-3 claimed 10 sheets, but no way) and its quieter operation. My wife really hated the sound of the DS-3, so that appealed. It arrived fast, I plugged it in. Bright red LED, I'm going to have that on all the time? May have to put some electrical tape over it. I put my first sheet in to test it. It's indeed quieter than the DS-3. But...slower. Hmm. Maybe only two thirds as fast pulling the paper through the drivetrain. Perhaps my throughput will be the same because I can put more sheets at a time through it? I was skeptical. Well today I gave it its first big run. This little guy seems unstoppable. Yes, it feeds in a slow and stately manner, but it doesn't slow down when you feed it more than a few sheets (the Fellowes was always straining), it just maintains its constant speed. I shoved 15 sheets into it, and it took it like a champ, without breaking much of a sweat. 15 sheets is a good handful of paper. So I've been feeding it gobs of paper, not even counting, probably over the 14 page limit from time to time, and it just nonchalantly plows through it all, no worries at all. With the Fellowes, it was always suspenseful -- it's choking, will it make it through? Will I have to pull the paper back out? Did I jam it again? Whew... Repeat. Little drama queen, that Fellowes. Anyway, when the bin on the Bonsaii filled up I slid out the drawer (mashed the shreds down a bit, and got a bunch more papers through before I HAD to dump it) and took it out to the bin without leaving a mess of paper leavings on the office floor. With the Fellowes I had to pick up the entire top part, invariably leaving paper dangling, and set it on the floor, paper dust going everywhere, to dump the bucket. So this new design will work much better for me, though I can imagine difficulties if I overfill it with shreds, since pulling out a tray when the paper shreds are stacked higher than the top of the door will probably scrape a pile of paper shreds into the inside of the machine. Will have to see. But all in all, I'm very pleased with this purchase. Strong, steady, not jamming (yet), I haven't tried abusing it (shoving in ten sheets cockeyed so they buckle and bend) but I'm sure that'll happen. If anything untoward happens, I'll update this review. But very pleased so far. ========================================================== UPDATED 9/2018 Just ran through a heavy load of shredding and the unit ran like a champ (no issue with overheating, and I put quite a lot through it.) I did have a problem, though -- perhaps due to shreds piling up inside the unit and getting caught back in the teeth. Specifically, the grinding teeth are all metal but there is a plastic part underneath which helps clear the teeth which failed. It still shredded but didn't sound good, and I thought AUGH!, crippled after just nine months. BUT -- and I am BLOWN AWAY by this -- I contacted customer support via the link on their website, and SOMEONE GOT BACK TO ME WITHIN HOURS ON THE SUNDAY OF LABOR DAY WEEKEND. They stood behind their product and I'm up and running again. I have never had customer service like that. I was floored, and of course very pleased. I'll be very mindful of emptying the bin more frequently if that was a contributing factor, but as I've said it's a really solid performer that can handle thick bundles of paper (send them through straight so they don't fold) and when it starts to heat up a little fan comes on to help cool it down. I've had almost no jams in all this time, and it seems very clear that if you treat it with respect (don't shove a phone book in there) and empty the bin, it should do well by you. And the customer support was AMAZING.