Still Running from The Pink (Mini Paper Shredder)

Member Name: aefra

Product:	Mini Paper Shredder
Date:	13/01/04 (1681 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy to use, Small enough for the desk, Inexpensive

Disadvantages: Only large enough for basic home use

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br>It was a while ago that I read warnings of credit card fraud assisted by the habit of householders dumping personal banking information in their refuse. It seems that not only the obviously well-heeled have the contents of their rubbish searched for bank account and credit card numbers. Even ordinary people like you or me have suffered robbery in this way simply because rogues have obtained secure information. I can't imagine someone scaling my garden fence to root through my wheelie bin, but have been taking precautions. Looking at the prices of office shredders I decided that from £30 to infinity was not worth the use I would have, so took tedious time tearing six-monthsworth at a time of bank and credit card statements with emphasis on the relevant numbers.

However, a week ago I popped into one of those marvelous small shops that sell absolutely everything. From cotton reels to pans, doormats to kitchen gadgets and tableware to small garden tools as well as making picture frames to order. Wanting to replace the rubber mat I use in my ceramic sink I squeezed between the narrow gangways (you couldn't call them aisles) and searched the loaded shelves. Finding what I wanted and turning slowly so that I didn't knock into anything my eyes spied a stack of small boxes which told me that each contained a desktop paper shredder. They couldn't be...could they? Paper shredders are bigger than this and have bins beneath them. More than this, the little yellow stick-on label said £4.99. The box I reached for showed a picture of a clear container with a blue lid, attached to which was a plastic handle. It told me that no batteries or power leads were required and I pounced on it gleefully. At this price I could risk it turning out to be a next-to-useless piece of plastic; but for all that didn't open it straight away when I returned home. I later had a pleasant surprise and am pleased with my purchase.

The Pierre
Farber (despite the French name they are based in Swinton) Desktop Paper Shredder is simplicity itself and sturdy. A clear plastic box measuring 26cm x 11cms x 11cms has an opaque lid through which I could see 2 parallel black rods with a row of circular guide wheels in pairs. As I lifted the reassuringly heavy lid I saw on the underside a long groove containing copper coloured "teeth" through which the paper would feed before falling in 3mm wide strips to the box below (I measured them). A plastic handle when removed from its separate bag would slot onto a cog at the side of the lid after the cap already in place was removed. So there it was; a neat box with a neat lid and a neat handle.

There are no instructions, but even a dimwit like myself could work this one out. Before starting I noted the small diagram warnings on the top. I could understand that paper clips and staples should be removed first and the outer had already informed me that the mini shredder was not built for cardboard. However I was a little bemused at the picture of a baby, a hand and a necktie all with warning stripes across them. I think Pierre Faber are suggesting that the device be kept away from children rather than the thought that they may be accidentally dropped through the slot in the top, which is too narrow for my fingers anyway. As for the tie; with a handle to be used this is not going to run away with the operator and pull them through into the works. Better safe than sorry though.

I took 30 old A4 bank statements (the largest size the shredder takes) and put them through one at a time. The bottom of the sheet needed to be steadied slightly because of the height of the paper, which was taken up immediately once I turned the handle. I found that I needed to place a hand lightly on the lid to hold the machine steady as there is a reasonable amount of torque. With a satisfying clicking noise from the works the sheets disappeared into
the box below, turning into thin strips as they did so. It took me just over 5 minutes to dispose of the statements including emptying the box 3 times. Here I should have prepared myself with a refuse sack close by. I know that an item should be the sum of its parts but not in this case. Quiet, discreet and well behaved sheets of paper multiply alarmingly when reduced to individual strips although I couldn't see anything untoward happening through the clear plastic. When the top was removed they sprung into manically joyful life as they leapt from their confines and I now know why office shredders have large bins beneath them. However, when doing my accounts after Christmas shopping, all those debit card till-receipts took no more than a few moments to shred and just covered the bottom of the chamber. I was so impressed that I raised my grading by a star.

Do I think that my £4.99 was well spent? Yes I do and will use this little gadget as it was intended. Personal paperwork will remain secure once it has been removed from its files for disposal and squashed up strips take less room for disposal than torn or crumpled up sheets. Anyway I love gadgets and it is fun. I wouldn't suggest that this is anywhere near large enough for other than the occasional and basic domestic home office use though, as anything of Enro proportions would have had the FBI knocking on the door far too soon.

What about the Pink in the title? I hate pink and am not a pink person. Yet The Pink seems to stalk me through life, from the red dye in my jeans which transfers to my undies in careless washer moments to the glass ornaments which friends buy me for Christmas. The sink mat came in bright pink only (for goodness sake!) and the Pierre Farber shredder has a selection of lid colours in pink, orange, blue or black. I didn't have a choice though and mine is pink. Yuk!


Note: This was placed under electronics and without the man
ufacturer's name by dooyoo, not me.

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