In the past we have worked regularly with an electric Verticutter of "Wolf" with grass-catcher, also occasionally with a "sharp" Handvertikutierer, also of Wolf, who has been training the arm muscles enormously :-)
The electric device of Wolf is already relatively advanced in years, but that time was quite expensive and always has very good services rendered. For once we had borrowed this year another brands Scarifier from the hardware store, paid for 2 hours using 25, including pick up and drop off. This device also worked great and was especially pretty quiet.
I mention this because we can thus make good comparisons to use, the result and also in the volume.
This is what we have found:
1) Reasonably priced, the processing is OK, the device should exceed three years persevere, we would have already saved the rental fee for our purposes ... but of course I expect a longer duration. Critical I see at least that the rear wheels are only simple bolted usual small cog, because you have certainly now and then tighten. Otherwise the plastic charm is also not to hide, but the device does not work really cheap. It has now its own device for a cheap price.
2) processing: is reasonably priced. One does not have the impression that the device is fragile and breaks apart. Since we usually do not even drives like a madman across the lawn, but the whole thing should take it easy and carefully, I do not trust the "Einhell GC-ES 1231" quite a few years to use. Of course you can already see differences in quality to more expensive devices, it shows z. B. also the (lighter) weight and conveniences.
3) Performance: the knives are not all the same, but nevertheless sufficient to again rid the lawn of much Moos & Co.. Iron fertilizer etc. you have to sprinkle anyway, you want to have a juicy green again. Also to the overseeding one comes with a scarifier as the "GC Einhell ES 1231" hardly around.
4) volume: on the packaging is not in vain displayed a head with ear protection: here you can already see the red pencil. I know that quieter, although it is not deaf, a gasoline unit powert louder, but more soundproofing would have been not bad.
5) Ease of use: The comfortable lifting and lowering the blades while driving, there is of course not levered. The respective scarifying is eintzstellen firmly on the wheel. If you want and need as we save space, the collapse of a scarifier is a must. Even the "Einhell GC-ES 1231" can be resolved and collapsed on the set screws again, so it's not as bulky and Garden Home & Co. are not cluttered. For some that is also just the one reason why we so far did not own scarifier.
But if one has only a device like the "Einhell GC-ES 1231", you can also, for. Example 2x scarify year (as is often suggested), instead of only once obligatory in spring.
Topic grass-catcher: a "real" person skilled in the horticultural market had us at the time advised not to do so, because, depending on the "Moos location" is such a bag anyway quickly full and must be emptied frequently. If we use two people to the whole, the other aufharken and then must be true (also) bending down, but it eliminates the annoying off and hooking of the container - is ultimately a matter of opinion.
Overall, a quite fair price - but a long-term test I can not yet give. Such a device should have but every garden owner who aspires regularly a nice and well-kept lawns, not only because the advertising demands that. It's better and more comfortable, and the width of a scarifier to be considered when purchasing. For smaller plots of "Einhell GC-ES 1231" but is suitable. If you want more, must pay more - I forgive a total of 4 points.
