Vastly improved without breaking the bank!
Last July I purchased the previous version of these scoops (amazon.com/dp/B091NKW39H) from the same seller. I had looked at all of the sets available at the time, determined I couldn’t afford a set to last for life as they were running around 40 bucks, and this set of three was less than the cost of just one good scoop that met all of the criteria on my wish list. I purchased the set expecting to have to replace them down the line when I could afford better and they started breaking. Not something I like to do or plan for. There were a few features that made me think they would (below), but I was still pleasantly surprised enough to give a 5-star review once I had them in hand. It WAS a 5-star deal for the budget-conscious.So here we are nearly a year later, and I’ve got a new and updated set of scoops from the same vendor! I didn’t say a word to them, but they addressed every concern I had! Where the stem meets the scoop is now a solid piece (less stress, less prone to breakage from force applied). The gear system (now a plate with holes lets the gear ride easier). The spring has been removed - thought this would be the first failure. And the amount of pressure you had to apply because of the design accommodating the spring which also angled the scooper slightly, worked against me a little, and giving the scoops a slightly higher profile. Even the quality of the stainless is a bit better.The bowls appear very slightly smaller than the last set (refer to pictures - the coin is a quarter, for reference). I’m also pleased they’ve reduced the overall size. It’s more comfortable in my small hand and they aren’t as much of a nuisance in the drawer. Even the scraper glides smoother. And since I have to hand wash everything, I’m grateful these are easier to clean!I am a senior but just learning to cook. These were my first scoops. But my new set WILL be my last! In the short time that I’ve had them, I’ve already used them more than the first set because my arthritis and connective tissue disorder worsened quicker than expected. I had to start using both hands to squeeze them, which wasn’t always convenient, often messy, and still inadequate with hard ice cream. I just stopped bothering, and was glad I hadn’t invested too much each time I saw them sitting idle in the drawer. But my new set does not! Check out the video of me showing the difference in effort required to squeeze! You can even hear me grunt a little on the original set! SO much easier.Yes, they cost a little more, but they are still a best value compared to most of the competition! I’ll admit I didn’t do as exhaustive a search this time around to definitively claim this, but enough of one. *IF* they skimped on something to keep the cost low (like maybe it’s not as thick, or as reinforced somewhere - I don’t have another brand to physically compare), it’s not where it’s going to matter, and that’s what matters to me. I still have to be budget-conscious. These were very well planned and executed improvements. Kudos to the engineering team for fixing it all in one shot! Well done!(Small scoop - ice cream balls for milkshake, medium scoop - or was it large? - for purple potatoes, large scoop was perfect for each section of Belgian waffle.)