George B.
I purchased my Yarbo about a year ago
I purchased my Yarbo about a year ago, at a point when my needs finally met my wants. And not to bury the lead: Yarbo is an expensive proposition. But after a year of ownership, I’ve come to look at it less as simply purchasing a robotic lawn mower or snowblower and more as an investment in something I can use throughout the year. When I purchased Yarbo, I needed both a new lawn mower and a snowblower. My John Deere riding mower had served me well for 25 years, and after COVID, I spent about five years using a lawn service. I had also been researching autonomous lawn mowers for at least two years when Yarbo came across my feed. After weighing the pros and cons of the different robotic mowers on the market, Yarbo presented what I felt was the best of both worlds: one autonomous platform capable of doing much more than simply mowing my lawn. Setup was relatively straightforward. There was some initial trial and error, particularly determining the optimal location for the Data Center, but overall my experience has been very positive. Where Yarbo really proved its value to me was during last winter’s snowstorms. Not having to go outside and shovel or wrestle with heavy snow was more than a convenience. My wife didn’t have to worry about me being outside overexerting myself in bitterly cold weather, and I could enjoy a cup of coffee in my pajamas while Yarbo went to work—although I would eventually venture outside to make sure it was actually doing what I expected it to do. That brings me to something anyone considering Yarbo should understand: Trust, but verify. This is still relatively new robotic technology. You should expect to spend some time learning the system, adjusting parameters, and refining your work areas and settings to get the best performance. Everything wasn't perfect out of the box, and I didn't expect it to be. Throughout the winter, spring, and summer, I continued fine-tuning my setup. With that experience—and Yarbo's continued software updates—the system has steadily improved. Today, it is performing the way I expected it to when I made the investment. The benefits have also become bigger than simply having a cool piece of technology. I don't have to mow the lawn during extreme summer heat. I don't have to shovel or operate a snowblower in bitter winter cold. That gives me time to focus on other things that are important in my life. Perhaps even more importantly, as I get older, I can see technology like Yarbo helping me remain in my home longer without having to worry as much about whether I'm physically able to keep up with the lawn, leaves, and snow. That wasn't necessarily the first reason I bought Yarbo, but after a year of ownership, it may ultimately become one of its greatest benefits. So, is Yarbo for everyone? Probably not. But if you have the need, appreciate being on the bleeding—or perhaps "cutting"—edge of technology, aren't afraid of a learning curve, and don't mind occasionally getting your hands dirty while dialing things in, I think Yarbo deserves serious consideration. Especially if you're already in the market for a new lawn mower, snowblower, and potentially a leaf blower, trimmer, and other outdoor equipment in the future. It's a significant investment. But after experiencing what Yarbo can do throughout all four seasons, I believe the better question isn't simply, "How much does it cost?" It's "How much are my time, convenience, and independence worth?" For me, after one year, Yarbo is increasingly answering that question.