Wakes you up, but not in the way you'd like. (Avon Sunrise Alarm)

Member Name: koppaberg

Product:	Avon Sunrise Alarm
Date:	06/06/09 (103 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The price

Disadvantages: Fine as an alarm clock, but not a sunrise one!

I was rather excited when I saw this lamp. I hoped it might be the answer for myself and my partner, two comfirmed slug a beds. Alas, 'twas not to be. The sunrise alarm clock has been returned; quite frankly the best thing about it was the Avon no-quibbles returns policy.

My first impression was that it looked far better in the photo. In the glossy photo it looks... well, not classy exactly, but alright. In the flesh, it's so ugly you wouldn't want it in your bedroom. The display is large and easy to read, but obviously cheap and low quality. Combined with the silver-effect plastic finish, it looks like something you'd pick up in the pound shop. The word 'nasty' springs to mind.

But I am perfectly aware that a successful product can overcome it's unfortunate appearance, so we tried it for a week. The first problem was setting it up. I know, I know, how difficult could it be? Well, harder than you'd imagine, thanks to tiny screws that need one of those miniature screwdrivers you get in a Christmas cracker to open. Once the batteries were in, it took a good few minutes to locate the English instructions and decipher the miniscule print.

But these are minor niggles. The main problem with the unit was that it didn't really work. The other half slept straight through the light sequence but jumped clean out of bed once the terrible buzzer back-up alarm sounded. I, on the other hand, jumped as soon as the light came on. You imagine you'll emerge gradually from your slumbers as the light slowly brightens, simulating a natural sunrise. But no, this light flicks from off to on, simulating the natural switching on of a light switch. In short, we didn't get anything from this that you couldn't get from a normal alarm clock.

Maybe I shouldn't be so hard on it - the price is only £8 - £15 depending on which brochure you order it from, so it's much cheaper than most of the other light-alarms out there. But to me, if it doesn't do what it's supposed to do, it's still a waste of money.

Summary: Even at the bargain price it's not worth the money.