OralB electric $25 at countdown

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#1808473 28-Jun-2017 19:49

mattwnz:

Also looks like Countrdown maybe selling a slightly different version from what other reatilers are selling, as Noel Lemmings version looks like it is a boxed version with a different code.

https://www.noelleeming.co.nz/shop/personal-care/electric-toothbrushes/electric-tooth-brushes-flossers/oral-b-pro500-pro-500-electric-toothbrush/prod143182.html#prodReviews

I'd be interested to know the differance as well.

alasta

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#1808476 28-Jun-2017 19:55

mattwnz:

alasta:

While on the subject of Oral B electric brushes - has anyone had any success with after-market heads for these?

Cheapest for the original seems to be around $11 for 2 (on special at the Warehouse), whereas of course sites like eBay have "genuine" heads way cheaper (with enough direct feedback to indicate they're knock-offs!).

$11 for 2 heads is a pretty good deal. Briscoes has them $20 for 2.

Recently I bought some in a 60% off Briscoes sale, then I saw them at Pak N Save where the standard price is cheaper than Briscoes' 60% discounted price!

I felt like a total idiot for getting sucked in by a Briscoes 'sale'.

Bung

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#1808489 28-Jun-2017 20:21

Rikkitic:
The NiCd are planned obsolescence. I have had to discard more than one when the battery stopped accepting a charge though there was nothing wrong with the electronics or mechanical bits.

The reason NiCds are going out of fashion may be more to do with cadmium being toxic than its performance. NiMh don't do as many charge/discharge cycles.

It is possible to replace batteries in Braun toothbrushes, bound to be instructions on line.

tdgeek

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#1808492 28-Jun-2017 20:29

mattwnz:

alasta:

While on the subject of Oral B electric brushes - has anyone had any success with after-market heads for these?

Cheapest for the original seems to be around $11 for 2 (on special at the Warehouse), whereas of course sites like eBay have "genuine" heads way cheaper (with enough direct feedback to indicate they're knock-offs!).

$11 for 2 heads is a pretty good deal. Briscoes has them $20 for 2.

You could wait for Briscoes once a year sale next week. And the week after.

Rikkitic

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#1808510 28-Jun-2017 21:10

Bung:
Rikkitic:

The NiCd are planned obsolescence. I have had to discard more than one when the battery stopped accepting a charge though there was nothing wrong with the electronics or mechanical bits.

The reason NiCds are going out of fashion may be more to do with cadmium being toxic than its performance. NiMh don't do as many charge/discharge cycles.

It is possible to replace batteries in Braun toothbrushes, bound to be instructions on line.

I tried but did not find that to be the case, at least not with the cheaper one. The device has to be cut open to remove the battery and I was unable to do that without destroying it. I tried twice. It would be very difficult to do.

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mattwnz

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#1808530 28-Jun-2017 22:23

Bung:
Rikkitic:

The NiCd are planned obsolescence. I have had to discard more than one when the battery stopped accepting a charge though there was nothing wrong with the electronics or mechanical bits.

The reason NiCds are going out of fashion may be more to do with cadmium being toxic than its performance. NiMh don't do as many charge/discharge cycles.

It is possible to replace batteries in Braun toothbrushes, bound to be instructions on line.

I have got a NiMH model that I got in 2000, and it is still going well, but is looking tatty and cracked, so the battery performance has been good to last that long. But what I do is only charge it when it has run down, rather than keeping it on the charger the whole time. I have heard that the NiCD ones can build up a memory effect, than can effect the life if you keep recharging them when they are not flat.

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#1808565 29-Jun-2017 06:27

Rikkitic:

I tried but did not find that to be the case, at least not with the cheaper one. The device has to be cut open to remove the battery and I was unable to do that without destroying it. I tried twice. It would be very difficult to do.

What model number needed to be cut open? The first one I had pressure on drive spindle pushed base of handle open and everything slid out. Later cheap ones twist apart at top of body.

Rikkitic

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#1808617 29-Jun-2017 08:31

Bung:

What model number needed to be cut open? The first one I had pressure on drive spindle pushed base of handle open and everything slid out. Later cheap ones twist apart at top of body.

Hasn't been my experience at all. Maybe later models have been changed. It was awhile ago. The ones I worked on were all Vitality, don't know specific model numbers. The units were sealed, no way to get them apart. I checked carefully, also after I cut the first one open because I felt there ought to be a way to do it, but there really wasn't.

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alasta

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#1808620 29-Jun-2017 08:36

mattwnz:

I have got a NiMH model that I got in 2000, and it is still going well, but is looking tatty and cracked, so the battery performance has been good to last that long. But what I do is only charge it when it has run down, rather than keeping it on the charger the whole time. I have heard that the NiCD ones can build up a memory effect, than can effect the life if you keep recharging them when they are not flat.

That is pretty impressive. I had one that lasted only two years, but my theory was that the watertight gaskets failed due to rinsing it in hot water. With my current one I have been careful to always rinse it in cold water and it's lasted nearly five years, but I will probably replace it soon as the handgrip is falling to bits and I think five years is a pretty acceptable lifespan.

jonathan18

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#1808630 29-Jun-2017 09:01

alasta:

$11 for two of the genuine ones works out to be $22 a year. Is it really worth cutting costs on an important healthcare product just to save a few dollars a year?

That's the cost for you, ie one person. It's a bit different for families where there are more people to buy for (so for us, multiply that cost by four) and who generally don't have the same level of disposable income (it's not like our kids, at six and nine, are particularly good earners yet!). Then add on the issue of our kids who, despite many attempts to correct it, are rough with their brushes so they need replacing more regularly...

So, yeah, if there's a feasible way of cutting down on spending over $100 on toothbrush refills each year I will do it, provided they're close to the same quality as the original - that's why I asked the question in the first place!

SepticSceptic

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#1808637 29-Jun-2017 09:14

jonathan18:

SepticSceptic:

I've had a miss and a hit.

First batch of aftermarket heads from TM fell to bits after a couple of months - spring or similar failure. Head wouldnt rotate.

2nd batch from Aliexpress are going great. Wife and I are still on the first head (each) after at least 6 months. I am aware that they should be replaced more often, but hey, they are still in good shape.

20 heads for US$6.70

Far better value than the gouging prices here.

That's good to hear re the Ali Express ones - any chance you'd be able to post a link to the ones you purchased, as I'm sure there are a variety of options there as on TM and eBay. Also, are these ones relatively soft?

Yeah, electric toothbrushes seem to be the printers of the personal hygiene world - extortionate pricing at the consumables end of the product line.

The seller that I purchased from no longer has them, but this is the description from my order:

20pcs/set Oral Hygiene EB-18A Rotary B Electric Toothbrush Heads Replacement for Braun Oral Soft Bristles Tooth brush heads

I purchased mid Jan, so arrived mid-Feb, so probably didn't start using until end of Feb, and now they do look like they need replacing. So 4 months. Not the six months I originally thought.

Not too soft, about medium - they compared much the same as the originals.

Edit - removed hyperlink

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#1808654 29-Jun-2017 09:42

Rikkitic:
Bung:

What model number needed to be cut open? The first one I had pressure on drive spindle pushed base of handle open and everything slid out. Later cheap ones twist apart at top of body.

Hasn't been my experience at all. Maybe later models have been changed. It was awhile ago. The ones I worked on were all Vitality, don't know specific model numbers. The units were sealed, no way to get them apart. I checked carefully, also after I cut the first one open because I felt there ought to be a way to do it, but there really wasn't.

Have a look here. https://toothbrushbattery.com/guides/braun-oral-b-vitality-battery-replacement/

I must admit that I assumed that they'd be like my earlier one until it was obvious the base was one piece. The soft grip at the shoulder hides the join line.

Any money spent on electric tooth brushes was more than compensated for by the reduction in dental bills. My teeth may have reached the point where there's not much room for more fillings so it is the gums that count. I find TePe Easypick toothpicks much easier than flossing.

Rikkitic

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#1808685 29-Jun-2017 10:07

Bung:

Have a look here. https://toothbrushbattery.com/guides/braun-oral-b-vitality-battery-replacement/

Thanks for the link. I may give it a try the next time. I did think the base must come loose but I absolutely could not get it to budge regardless of what I tried, which was why I finally cut it open just to see how it went together. But this does look the same so maybe I just didn't try hard enough.

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elbrownos

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#1809047 29-Jun-2017 16:31

I have an Oral-B Pro 2500 which is much the same as the 500.

I replaced the battery in it last year, let me tell you it is not designed to have its battery replaced!

You have to desolder literally every component from the main board - the battery, the motor, the induction coil, the pressure sensor..

To open the toothbrush up, you put it on its charger and tilt it backwards. The base snaps open. You also have to pry the ring at the top off to allow the guts to slide out the bottom.

I put in a bigger capacity battery. You can trim some plastic fins inside the battery holder to allow the longer battery. Even with the bigger battery I'm not overly impressed with the battery life. But on the whole it was worth doing.

mattwnz

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#1809105 29-Jun-2017 18:35

elbrownos:

I have an Oral-B Pro 2500 which is much the same as the 500.

I replaced the battery in it last year, let me tell you it is not designed to have its battery replaced!

You have to desolder literally every component from the main board - the battery, the motor, the induction coil, the pressure sensor..

To open the toothbrush up, you put it on its charger and tilt it backwards. The base snaps open. You also have to pry the ring at the top off to allow the guts to slide out the bottom.

I put in a bigger capacity battery. You can trim some plastic fins inside the battery holder to allow the longer battery. Even with the bigger battery I'm not overly impressed with the battery life. But on the whole it was worth doing.

Probably less hassle just being this one for $50. (or $42) as you do get a brush head with it. The only problem with these new ones is you can't wall mount them, like my old one.

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