Customer Ratings: 
List Price: $199.00
Sale Price: $169.99
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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I think the "simplehuman" brand hit it's stride with the fingerprint-proof finish. In that respect, this is a very sharp trash can. Nice brushed stainless finish, easy to keep clean, nice size.
And it's got some other perks (these guys ~really~ think about all these issues) in addition to the "artificial intelligence", it's got odor control, a place to keep surplus trash bags, won't scratch your floor, and several other features. I never knew a trash can could have so many features.
But I didn't find the auto-sensor to behave consistently, which I expect for this price.
I was hoping this would help keep my kitties out of the trash (they are twins and exact opposites one is happy-go-lucky, but the other is Einstein with OCD, and can break into anything). Sure enough, he got it open, and could also knock it over. That's when I learned that while it may be fingerprint-proof, it's not dent-proof.
I also must say I was slightly insulted that it didn't come with batteries -oran AC adapter. How much could it possibly add to the manufacturing cost to include an AC adapter? A couple dollars? Seems they should include things like this for their premium product line (here is the link for the correct AC Adapter for anyone interested: simplehuman Power Adapter).
One other note this can is designed to fit the Superhuman brand trash bags, but if you're not concerned about an exact fit, you can find some at the store that work ok.
So yeah, this is very cool and space-age. But I expect more consistent performance & an AC adapter for the price.
In terms of a cat-proof trash can someone please email me if these guys invent a retinal-scan activated trash can!
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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program Having once been a frequent Bed, Bath and Beyonder and having friends who owned their own simplehuman sensor-based trashcan, I knew (in general) what to expect. For the most part, I found simplehuman products to be well built but on the high side of expensive (much like Dyson). What really irked me about this trashcan right off the bat was that it did not include batteries. I received this product through the Amazon Vine program so I bypassed the two-hundred dollar MSRP attached to this item. Having spent high-dollar amounts on odd kitchen/house appliances before though, I can tell you that I'd be very... peeved... to find out that this particular item did not include batteries from the store. Not only that, but it requires 6-C batteries in a world that seems ruled by AA and AAA batteries, I'd guess that most households would probably have to make a trip out to the store to buy so many (ie: you don't really have these around the house). Oddly enough, I did but mostly because I never throw anything out. I found an unopened pack of 4 and used my C-cell adapters that came with my Sanyo Eneloop batteries.
For those who are curious, if you planned on purchasing the AC adapter for this trashcan instead of using batteries, the simplehuman branded one costs about $30 (or you could purchase a universal one from an electronics store for about $15). The best picture I could find of the simplehuman one is on Z-appos as far as I can make out, it's a +9V/3A adapter (the picture can't be zoomed in far though, so try at your own risk) [Note: This was confirmed by NeoEngineer and RG in the comments thanks guys!]. Unfortunately there is no voltage branding that I could find listed on the actual trashcan.
For the trash can itself, it worked fine and the activated carbon filter helped cut down on the "random garbage smell" that we all get from time to time. Like most carbon filters, these only last about a month or two before they require changing (an inexpensive solution for this: buy a giant sheet of carbon filter material from your local pet store and cut to size, store in an airtight container until you're ready to use). A common gripe with simplehuman trashcans not being "trashbag compatible" is still present with this model. If you're using a standard "kitchen size" garbage bag, it'll fit but there's a lot of pinching and wrapping needed to make sure the seam isn't sticking out of the nice, neat face of the can.
I did have a few issues though -
1 If the can cannot shut (or in other words, your garbage can is a bit overstuffed), it makes this awesome "clack clack clack" sound as the gear slips on and off the track. Unfortunately the can's sensor doesn't really seem to work at this point so you have to wait for the can to stop trying to close before you can attempt to remediate the situation. The obvious solution to this would be not to over stuff your trashcan, but also keep in mind that the closing action of the lid does not have any real "down force" so even if your trash is just piled high and just needs to be compacted a bit, the lid will clack.
2 Close quarters = random can opening. My trashcan is in a location that's about 4ft wide as you walk by the can your hand will probably pass over top of it. This is the type of motion that the sensor is designed to detect, so I've gotten used to the can opening whenever I walk by it. I can't really fault simplehuman for this, but it is something to keep in mind, especially when considering that it's about a foot deep.
3 Mine came with a dent. I thought that this was worth mentioning since a couple of other reviewers have already said the same thing. Perhaps when Amazon starts shipping this item it will be a "box-in-a-box" like Amazon frequently does, but right now the box that the trashcan ships in is the same box you'd buy off-the-shelf at a retail store. Unfortunately the only padding the can has are two Styrofoam placeholders at the top and the bottom of the can no protection in the middle (where my dent was located).
Conclusion -
If you're looking at a simplehuman sensor-based trashcan, you probably already know what you're in for and have committed yourself to paying their asking price so I won't really comment on bang-for-your-buck since it'd be sort of unrealistic to compare this to a $20 plastic Rubbermaid. For what it is (a sensor-based, no-touch trashcan) it works well. Again my only real problem with it is the lack of sensitivity control, proprietary bag/filters, and the lack of batteries or AC adapter in the box.
Best Deals for simplehuman Rectangular Sensor Trash Can, Fingerprint-Proof Brushed
This is without a doubt the most frustrating thing I have ever bought. I have had it for 8-9 months and it is going out with the trash the next time it is full. I would take it back, but it has a big dent in it from one of the times it gave me problems (I kicked it).
You know the "good". It is a nice-looking trash can, and when it works it is nice. Or as my wife said, "A nice surprise".
Because it only works maybe 2/3 of the time. The other third of the time you are standing there like an idiot waving your hand over the sensor, and the lid will just go up half an inch and fall back down. Or not move at all. Or it will start closing on you when you are scraping a plate off into the trash, even though you are desperately waving something over the sensor every 5 seconds to try to prevent what you know is going to happen. Just about the only time you can expect the lid to open is when you walk by with no intention on using the trash can.
The batteries are supposed to last a year or so and ours died in 7 months. I have a moral and practical objection to stationary devices (like computer mice) that use batteries anyway, so it is kind of insulting that the manufacturer didn't include an AC adapter with the trash can. It's $200! Jeez.
The biggest problem is the sporadically-working sensor of course, but this problem is made ten times worse by two other factors. First, the can really needs a button that opens the lid. That way when the sensor fails (which it does, often... did I mention that?) you have a backup option. Preferably the lid would stay open until you hit the button again, that way you could avoid the problem of the lid closing on you prematurely too. The second thing is that there is the only way to open the lid when the sensor fails is to get a butter knife or similar and pry it open half an inch. There is no handle, no lip you can grab, nothing. If the sensor worked or there was a button this probably wouldn't be necessary.
I will never buy anything from Simple Human again.
Honest reviews on simplehuman Rectangular Sensor Trash Can, Fingerprint-Proof Brushed
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program simplehuman makes sharp, well designed products and this trash can is no exception. Here's a kitchen trash can that doesn't need to be hidden under the sink!
It's stocky and solid, and the stainless steel really is fairly "fingerprint-proof" (not that it doesn't show any marks it does but it's better than any stainless steel kitchen appliance that I've seen). The sensor that triggers the opening of the lid is effective it's (usually) not triggered by your walking by but it can tell when your hands stay over the can for a longer trash making activity (such as peeling carrots). The simplehuman Custom Fit Trash Can Liner N, 45 Liters / 12 Gallons, 20-Count (Pack of 2) fit as you'd expect perfectly, and there's a hole in the back of the can that allows air to slip out from between the bag and the can so the bag doesn't have trapped air behind it to keep it from maximally filling the can (does that run-on sentence make sense? here's hoping...). And the simplehuman Odorsorb Filter Refills, 2-Pack seem to help keep stinkiness from lingering too long.
There are a few factors that keep this can from being a five-star item, however. First, the can ships in not-so-tough cardboard box. This container wasn't sufficient protection during shipping for us, and our can arrived with a large dent on the front right. We pushed this out from the inside, but we can't do so completely there's still a little crease that's evidence of the dent. Second, the automatic opening of the lid doesn't happen very quickly. It's not terribly slow, but it's not as quick as a step-on opener. Third, the six C batteries needed to power the automatic opener aren't included...and there's no way to open the can without them. Finally, stopping the lid or closing it before it automatically descends causes it to crash back into the closed position just seems a bit rough.
So...if you spare no expense and you're in the market for a classy trash can that doesn't require stepping on a bar to open the top, there's reason to believe that this is the can for you.
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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program UPDATE (dropping star rating from 4 down to 2, changing title): After having used this trash can for another week or so, I've decided I really don't like it at all. The lid has started doing this thing where it opens a little too wide and then slams closed. I've tried to adjust it, but to no avail. I've also decided that the brief second you have to wait for the lid to open together with the occasional having to wave the trash in front of the sensor in order for it trigger is much more annoying than any benefits you get from an automatic open. I'm planning on getting rid of this can (or maybe just the lid?). Maybe I'll get another butterfly step trash can... that's really a much more practical design. No complaints at all there.
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ANOTHER UPDATE (bringing star rating up from 2 to 3, changing title again)
I let the lid open all the way and then turned the unit off so I wouldn't have to deal with it. My 5 year old saw the lid open and decided to be helpful and force it shut. I turned the unit back on so that I could open the lid again (there really is no way to easily open it manually) and lo and behold it started working correctly again. Sweet! It's amazing how many things can be fixed by rebooting. Anyway, it's working correctly now and has been for over a month, but I still prefer the butterfly trash can because there is almost no wait when I want to throw things away and because it doesn't open every time I walk past it.
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Ever since I bought a simplehuman Butterfly Step Trash Can, Fingerprint-Proof Brushed Stainless Steel, 38 Liters /10 Gallons trash can and a simplehuman Wall Mount Paper Towel Holder, Stainless Steel paper towel holder, I've been in love with SimpleHuman and how well designed their products were. I thought I'd give this trash can a whirl since my wife has mentioned that she wished our kitchen trash can was a little bigger and had a lid. The auto-open/close feature had a nice wow-factor to it, so that made it all the more appealing. Now that I've been using it for a little while, I'm starting to think it isn't right for my particular application. Don't get me wrong, it is a well-designed product, but it's not what I need.
Here's what's wrong:
1) the only place to put a trash can in my kitchen is in an already-slightly-narrow-hallway-like walk way. Because of this, you have to walk right next to it any time you go through the kitchen. Since the top of the trash can is just barely below where my arm naturally swings, I find it opens and closes most of the time I walk past it. I think they did a good job with the sensitivity level--I wouldn't want it any less sensitive, but it's just unfortunate that to walk naturally through the kitchen requires my hand to pass right in front of the sensor. I tried turning the trash can around backwards, but then the sensor got confused because it was right in front of the counter and so it thought I wanted it to stay open. That's ok--it would have been a little awkward from that angle, anyway, I think. No stars off for this, it's just not right for my application is all.
2) Given the height and width of the trash can, when the lid is open, it is taller than my counter. Since my counter top overhangs a little bit, this means the trashcan has to be pulled away from the cupboard wall just a little bit. Note from #1 that it is already in a somewhat narrow area. Once again, this isn't a design flaw, just not right for my application, so no stars off for this, either.
3) There are no handles on this so if I ever want to move it around, it is actually fairly difficult--being straight and smooth with no lip means there's nothing to hold on to. 1/4 star off for this.
4) After 3 seconds of continued activity, the lid goes into a stay-open mode for 30 seconds. My experience is that after 30 seconds the lid closes--even if you are still using it. I don't know--maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I foresee this making some tasks a bit more tricky (although it hasn't been an actual problem yet). I would like to see a button that you press to lock open until the button is pressed again. 1 star off for this. **UPDATE** If you cover up the sensor, it will stay open indefinitely. If you don't excite the sensor enough, however, yes, it will close on you. **END UPDATE**
5) It takes 6 size C batteries. Size C. Why C? C is one of those uncommon sizes and I don't know why anyone uses them anymore. No stars off, just a little bit of a pet-peeve.
What's right:
1) The sensitivity of the sensor is, as I mentioned before, just about perfect
2) There are vent holes near the bottom of the buckets so when it is time to remove the bag, you don't have a vacuum between the bucket and the bag. Very nice!
3) Instead of having to lift the whole bucket out to get a good hold of the bag and remove it, you can pull it out just a tiny bit and then "park" it on the built in foot. Can then remove the bag and put a new one in. Not a huge deal, but another one of those nice touches that SimpleHuman does.
4) There is a carbon air freshener built into the lid to reduce smells. The can comes with 2 pads (one as a replacement)
5) You have the option to buy a power adapter to plug the trash can in instead of using batteries. I don't know that I'll ever do this, but I appreciate the choice.
Bottom line: A good product but I think I'll probably put the butterfly trash can I got a couple years ago here and use this automatic one where the butterfly one currently is. I'm not really an automatic kind of guy--I like full control. I drive a stick shift car, I prefer manual brightness adjustments on my computer and I don't trust automatic bank payments. It's fitting that in many ways, I prefer the manual butterfly trash can--not because automatic is bad, but I like to be in control of what is going on (although the fact that the lid goes from closed to open in under a second vs. a full second or two... or 3 if the sensor didn't see you at first... doesn't hurt the manual lid model in any way). If you are an "automatic" sort of person, I think this is a well designed product. As long as you have enough space to walk past it without your hand brushing right over the sensor (and if you don't mind holding your trash item over the sensor for a second or 2), I think you will like it.
