Fellowes Powershred 99Ci 18-Sheet 100% Jam-Proof Heavy Duty Crosscut Paper Shredder Machine for Office and Home, Black/Gray 3229912

Let me start by saying that I was very reluctant to spend so much money on a shredder, despite the fact that I clearly needed a decent shredder and despite my bad experience with a cheap, low-end shredder. I kept going back and forth, thinking that if I somehow just got "caught up" on my shredding, that once that happened then I would be fine with an inexpensive model for my weekly shredding needs. So why spend so much money on a shredder? It's not like I'm a business! Why would I NEED such a professional level shredder? But then I'd remember how annoying, time consuming, loud, and slow it is dealing with sub-$50 shredders. And, really, it's a huge difference, especially in time. Having to open everything, and feed in only two or three sheets at once--that takes some time! So I had this shredder on my wish/shopping list for something like a year before I finally pulled the trigger on it. And let me tell you, I am so glad that I did! This thing is AWESOME! I shredded about TWO full lawn and leaf bags worth of material over the course of a few weeks--hours worth of shredding--and this thing handled it all with ease. (Although, I will say that if you shred non-stop for long enough that you will trip the high-temperature interlock on the unit, which will then need to cool down for 15 minutes before shredding can resume. This happened to me only once, and only at the beginning when I was just hitting it non-stop with material. After that, when I was spending just a bit of time deciding what should, and what should not be shredded, it never tripped off on over temperature again) As others have said, this shredder is quiet and powerful, and will handle most credit card offers whole and unopened. The jam-proof sense system works exceptionally well, as does the system that senses when your fingers are too near the opening. In all my shredding so far I have only had one false activation of the jam sensor, and I just pushed and held the forward feed button to force it to chew up the paper anyway. Everything works, and it works well. And quietly. Very nice. And I am now into that once-only-dreamed-of state of having NO backlog of materials to be shredded. (And God, doesn't it feel good! The 79Ci really will set you free! LOL!) But even so, I still very much appreciate the 79Ci. Even just as a once-a-week use shredder, it's advantages still shine through and make a difference. Very happy I went ahead and purchased this shredder! As for oiling, yes there are no instructions in the manual for how to do so. Here is what I do, FWIW: first I make sure there's at least a covering of shredded paper in the bottom of the bin (to absorb any oil that drips through). Then, I push and hold the reverse-feed button while applying a drop of oil every inch or two into the paper-feed slot. When I get to the end of the slot, I stop, and switch to pushing the forward-feed button for 5 or 10 more seconds. Easy, simple. And you really can't do it too often. Paper and paper dust is hell on shredder blades so do NOT forget to oil your shredder or you will seriously decrease its working life. As for bags, they are ridiculous and more trouble than they are worth in my experience. Just let the paper fall directly into the bin, and be sure to empty the bin BEFORE the full light turns on (you can see the paper level through the plastic window in the front of the bin). I would just pull the bin and dump the shreds directly into a lawn and leaf bag then push it back in and be off and running again. Yes, you might get a few stray shreds here and there, but there's no avoiding that, I don't think. Bags just make it worse. And create a possible issue for people who don't have single-stream recycling. Anyway, there it is. Just wanted to share my experience and encourage others to divest themselves of the dead weight of unwanted, but propriety paper materials!

I'm happy with the way it runs. It's a lot quieter than my old shredder. It shreds a lot more papers with ease than my old. My old said 12 papers, but never liked more than 4 papers at a time. This seems to deal with a lot of pages as promised. I had lights to tell you warn you if you are trying to put to many in it. My late husband left me 20 years and paperwork. I've been shredding little by little. I let it cool off so it doesn't overheat. My only complaint is I'm not a strong person. I had a terrible time putting the wheels in it. I asked my neighbor and even he had some trouble. They should make it a little easier. I mean really? Plus wow the motor. I love that instead of getting light confetti that can be hard to pick up. These shredding are course and you can pick them up. If they are on the floor it isn't a big deal. I really appreciate that. I also appreciate the fact it shuts off if you don't use it. You have to turn it back on if you don't use it after so much time. That's great for saving electric! On con I had was trying to put the wheels on the lifting the motor. But it's set up now. One thing I don't care for is the bin seems cheap. My old bin I felt I could take it to the trash and tap it while it's full. I'm a little leary to do this. It feels cheaply made. I just lift the shreddings out by hand to solve the problem. The light let's you know if it isn't in all the way. It also lets you know if it is full. I really appreciate my new shredder.

I’ve been really impressed with this Fellowes paper shredder. If you have a lot of paperwork to get through, this is definitely a step up from the smaller shredders that struggle after just a few sheets. It feels heavy-duty, well-made, and powerful enough to handle regular use without making shredding a frustrating chore. One of my favorite things about it is being able to shred multiple sheets at once. The 16-sheet capacity makes a huge difference when you have a stack of documents to get through because you’re not standing there feeding just a few pages at a time. It pulls the paper through smoothly and quickly, and I really appreciate the jam-proof feature. Paper jams were one of my biggest complaints with other shredders, so having one that can handle thicker stacks without constantly stopping is a huge plus. I also really like that it crosscuts the paper into much smaller pieces instead of just cutting it into long strips. I use a shredder primarily for documents that contain personal, confidential, or sensitive information, so that added level of security is important to me. The machine itself feels sturdy and substantial, and the bin holds a good amount before it needs to be emptied. I also appreciate that Fellowes included features designed with safety and everyday use in mind. It feels like a shredder that was actually made for people who use one regularly rather than something that can only handle occasional light shredding. I’m extremely happy with it. It’s powerful, efficient, and easy to use, and it saves me a lot of time when I have a pile of paperwork to destroy. If you shred documents frequently and are tired of machines that overheat, jam, or can only handle a few sheets at a time, this one is absolutely worth considering. I would definitely recommend it!

**UPDATE** I purchased this shredder originally on 9/6/12. Now, just over 10 years later, I can say this is the best purchase I have ever made of any piece of electronic equipment. For the amount of heavy shredding jobs I do, this has NEVER once stopped working or given me any problem. I have never had to oil it or anything. A relative was even able to get the wheels on eventually and so now, it CAN be wheeled whereas I was not able to do so originally. It is very rare that one purchases a piece of equipment that is this sturdy and reliable and so I am more than happy to sing the praises of this unit! I just got finished shredding more bags of papers and was wondering at how long I have had this and how it still works just as great as day 1. I decided to come on to Amazon to see just how long it has been since I purchased this and realize that it was almost 10 years ago to the day and am amazed. I decided to update my review to match all of the other stellar reviews. It's sad that the best purchase I have ever made is in the form of a shredder, but I will take victory where I find it. ******** I purposely waited a few months before reviewing because whenever I get a piece of electronic equipment, something always seems to go wrong. Something did go wrong upon receipt. The wheels do not go on (as others have stated). Which was not a huge deal for me because it sits in one area of my house. So while it would be convenient if ever I did need to wheel it somewhere, I could live with it. I was more concerned about its shredding power. I must say this is a great shredder! I had a lot (and I mean a lot) of old school work and financial documents to shred but did not want to spend hundreds of dollars on a heavy duty shredder. This shredder was a great find! It shreds well, turns off when your fingers are too close to the opening and has a very generous-sized bin. I have not had a jam yet. When the bin is full, it stops and the orange light comes on, but that's not a jam. I am not sure if other customers know the difference. Maybe they are right and got lemons, but mine has not jammed and I have shred bags upon bags of documents (a lot with staples) and I have not had a malfunction yet. So far, the "jam proof" seems to be right on the money. I am very happy with this purchase.

Before Emerson ever advised us to trust ourselves, he might first have suggested trusting a good shredder. Retirement has a curious way of changing one's perspective. My office has gone from industrial government equipment to a modest room in my home, and I wanted a shredder that would quietly perform its duty without becoming another project to manage. Feed it paper, let it reduce the evidence of yesterday's bureaucracy to confetti, and move on with life. There is no shortage of shredder reviews on the internet, and they resemble philosophy more than science—many opinions, little consensus. A handful of models consistently rose to the top, and although this Fellowes cost more than I wanted (or honestly needed), I finally decided to trust the collective wisdom. My first surprise was its weight. This is a substantial machine. Before buying, consider where it will live and whether you actually intend to move it. The assembly is minimal, but the caster wheels are a genuine disappointment. They don't positively lock into place, so if you ever lift the shredder, they'll simply fall out. It's an oddly careless bit of engineering on an otherwise serious machine. Frankly, it's almost easier to leave the wheels off altogether. It's the product's most irritating flaw and one that unnecessarily raises questions about the overall design. Fortunately, the important part—the shredding—has been uneventful, which is exactly what one hopes for. During my first month of moderate home-office use, it has shredded everything I've asked of it. I haven't been brave enough to test all 18 advertised sheets at once; I remain skeptical. But it chews through junk mail, old financial papers, and three or four sheets together without hesitation. It includes a couple of waste bags, and the instructions strongly encourage using only Fellowes replacement bags. Perhaps there is a legitimate engineering reason, but it also feels suspiciously like an invitation to purchase proprietary accessories. The bags themselves are simply clear plastic, and they don't even fit the bin especially neatly, so I'm not convinced there's anything particularly special about them. Do I miss the industrial shredder I had before retiring? Certainly. It would happily consume stacks of paper all day without complaint. But that machine also cost many times more than my retirement budget was willing to tolerate. In the end, this Fellowes seems much like many useful things in life: imperfect, occasionally irritating, yet fundamentally dependable. It shreds what I ask it to shred, asks little in return, and has earned a place in my home office. I just wish someone at Fellowes had spent another afternoon thinking about those wheels. Four stars.

I have had the work horse of a shredder for 4 years now and I have never had 1 single problem. I don't think they make it anymore. I paid $200 for it and it has been an amazing piece of equipment. I got so tired of the cheaper machines that jammed and were basically unusable if you wanted to put 5 sheets in at a time. Think this machine can handle 15 sheets at a time. Excellent, fast, easy to empty. I also ordered a bottle of shredder oil and followed directions once a month to make sure it was oiled properly. Seriously, this might be the last shredder I ever use. A friend's mother died and I told her to bring me the paperwork and I'd shred it for her. So easy and it's kind of fun to just get it done with NO PROBLEMS, no jamming. If it gets hot, it stops and cools off. Noise level is fine. I highly recommend this shredder or the latest version. I wish I had paid $200 10 years ago because I wasted so much money and this shredder it so worth the price.

I got this shredder on about July 9, 2025. Today is July 17, 2025. On about July 12, I estimate I shredded about 2,500 sheets of paper. Then today I just finished shredding about 4,500 sheets of paper. I calculate as follows: 1 ream (500 sheets) of 20-pound-weight standard 8.5 x 11-inch paper weighs 5 pounds (according to Google AI). One bin load of shredded paper weighs almost 5 pounds (about 4.8 pounds). By rounding up to 5 pounds, I figure one bin holds about 500 sheets of paper, in shredded form I spent about 5 hours today to shred 9 bins worth of paper. So, it took me about 5 hours to shred almost 4,500 sheets. Parenthetically, I believe a standard "Bankers Box" has capacity of 15 linear inches and is considered to hold, on average, about 3,000 sheets of paper. This shredder did not hiccough or balk a single time in my heavy use of it today.. And it did not overheat and have to cool down. The company says it can do 30 minutes of continuous shredding before the over-heating-and-required-cool-down period is triggered to occur. But it isn't really possible to make it run continuously for 30 minutes--you have to take time to tamp down the paper in the bin and then to empty the bin. And you have to pay a little attention to what you are shredding. And you have to chat with your cat occasionally. So, basically, the shredder gave me 5 hours of continuous service. The motor did get a little warm; definitely not hot. All of this is to say: I hesitated before shelling out almost $300, with tax. But it sure was a good decision. I've wasted money, sometimes, on some things. But getting this shredder was totally the best thing for me my needs. I am so happy with it. It is heavy (about 33 pounds, I think)--and I like that. I feel like it is real well-built and will go the distance. I can think of one suggestion for the company. Fellowes should sell compostable bin liner bags. I fill up a garbage bag with the shredded paper, in the bin, and then transfer the shredded paper from the garbage bag to a compostable bag. This works okay -- the bin holding 9 gallons and the compostable bag (the largest one I can find) holding 13 gallons. I would feel horrible if all this paper went to a landfill. So I'm taking pains to put the shredded paper with my paper recycling by transferring it from a garbage bag to a compostable bag. If Fellowes sold compostable bags, I would be instant customer for that.

Like several have written, this shredder is doing the job it is intended to do. I've had this for about a month and I have had zero issues. I have shredded five bags of stuff. The "stress" light has only made it to 3 out of 5 lights mainly for me shredding thick junk mail too tough to rip in half. There are a few pet peeves I can live with such as: 1. The chute opening where the paper or products go in to be shredded in a bit tight for landscape feed side of the 11 inch paper. All I do is feed one corner in and I am not worried that the paper gets all crunched up just before a shredding. 2. The slide out tray where the shredding goes in to has a bit of a flimsy feel to it. I think the design could be better in making it all solid plastic. I understand the company logic - Its a pound of paper in the recepticle, not much more than that. If you TLC that pull out tray it should last a long time. 3. Even though I bought this since it is big and should be able to do the job, I am finding it difficult to find a good place in the house right now. I don't use it alot as I type, but I do have several projects coming up where all non essential papers will be shredded. It is about the size of a medium to large check on baggage, so I need a place to put it where it doesn't compete with the desk chairs and foot traffic. So in other words, try to plan where you want to place this. 4. I read one or two reviews saying something about the wheels having issues. I have decided to not put the wheels on right now. With that being said, if I am sitting down in a chair and I try to pull the shredder towards me, it takes a bit to find a good place to get a hold on this shredder as it is sleek . No worries, I just get up and move it as needed. Bottom line is, it is not that light, and if you do not add the wheels, it may take a bit to get a good grip on the shredder and move it where you wish. I typically work in a secure environment and shredders are part of my daily life. This home shredder may not shred the articles to dust, but it does a fantastic job. Right now I simply reuse the bags they gave me. I dump the small bag into a larger bag and mix the shredding up to ensure the recompilation procedure would drive even the most sane person bonkers. The noise level is quite acceptible, more of a medium level hum. The auto shut off feature is terrific. I am glad I upgraded to this shredder, it is making life better without potential shred material piling up. I typically feed the shredder abou 3-5 pieces at once. I am not one to be in an extreme hurry to shove it all down the hatch to see if it can handle it. So far so good.

Fácil de manejar y muy segura

This is a big improvement on all the shredders we have had before. Just wish to bin was slightly bigger to hold more waste.

Den Aktenvernichter haben wir jetzt seit mehreren Jahren im Einsatz und er ist wirklich unverwüstlich. Wir werden wieder von dieser Marke kaufen!

Sturdy, quiet and well built.

This really has to be a top-of-the-line shredder for home or small business office, and I wish I'd purchased it sooner. I had a midget "5-page" shredder before (which could only really handle a couple of sheets at a time, and even then jammed more than Smuckers), and I recently had ENOUGH. This model tells you if you've over-stuffed it. Better yet, it tells you if you've UNDER-stuffed it: an indicator light meter reveals how many pages it could handle compared to how many you put in. If the light meter only goes up a couple of bars, that means it's hungry and you need to give it more on your next go-around. This thing even detects if there's any skin touching its gaping maw, in which case it won't operate until safe to do so. Best of all, there's a "do not put a baby in here" interdiction labelled on the side of the aperture. If you think you can get away with something smaller and cheaper, you might be right...but why would you want to be?