I didn't find the switch too stiff. You do have to put an effort into keeping it down, but that is a safety feature - if you slip, or your hand slips, you won't end up with 'shubbered' fingers. If it is too stiff when you get it, just open up the button and either shorten or compress the spring, but don't tape it down!

For two blissful nights I went out and cut down spent poppies, delphiniums and penstemon(with big tough stems), it cut like a hot knife through butter, to the extent that even my sister (who doesn't venture into the garden normally), wanted a go. The battery lasted considerably longer than half an hour.

Unfortunately, my puppy ate the recharger (the puppy is fine, he discovered the delicacy on the floor where I'd dropped it on the way to the tool cupboard)...I am trying to get a replacement but the customer service at Black and Decker is leaving a bit to be desired (the online parts ordering decided my credit card does not exist and keeps asking me to re enter it), so that's where it loses a star!

Good for the Size (Rating: 4.00)
Review : After having used my parents' 2 foot shrubber, and not knowing much about shrubbers, I purchased this one thinking a rechargeable one would beat their plug-in variety. While the cordlessness is a great feature and the thing has an impressive life, I was surprised by the size of this thing. I guess I should've paid more attention to the 6-inch blade description rather than the rechargeable feature. It works great for small shrubs here and there, but for a 7 foot tall bush in the back yard, it is simply adequate. So just be sure you buy the right sized blade. Otherwise, I highly recommend this.

good for branches up to 1/8" thick, not good on grass (Rating: 4.00)
Review : It is just not good on grass even though photos on the box show use in
that situation -- doesn't slice but rather chomps through the area and
just will not cut through grass. So, the long handled attachment
accessory with wheels (for trimming and edging) is not useful. The
long handled attachment also is not balanced so even though you have
more reach for taller bushes or areas closer to the ground, you have
to torque both wrists to swing the trimmer around.

However on shrubbery, it shaves well. Think of how you use a hair
trimmer - that is how it trims bushes and shrubs.

It's lightweight and not intimidating as a gas powered model -- my
wife can use it without feeling scared.

Cordless Electric Shrub Pruner (Rating: 5.00)
Review : We purchased this item recently for our large yard. We have a wide array of shrubs and ground covers. The shrubber did an excellent job shaping overgrown shrubs and trimming woody rosemary ground cover. It worked equally well removing spent flowerheads from perenials. The shrubber is lightweight yet powerfull and was easy to manuver and control even on hilly locations and hard to reach corners. The lock off switch that assures that the power is off is an important safety feature. We are purchasing a second "Black & Decker Shrubber" so my husband and I don't have to fight over the one we already have. Speeds up pruning and avoids sore hands and wrists from too much manual trimming. Great gardening tool--highly recommended!

Shrubbers and plants come in different sizes... (Rating: 4.00)
Review : If you have bought one of these items and don't like it, that's probably why. You have to buy tools based on the type of job and outcome expectations. Your job requires a larger size trimmer.

I'm a big fan of Black & Decker. They've been making affordable and quality products for decades. The 6" cordless shrubber I just bought is no exception. However, you need to buy tools that fit the job. No tool does everything. That said, this shrubber is good for small plants, ground covers, and shrubs with thin stems and branches. I've used it on Azaleas, miniature Gardenias, English Ivy, and other assorted small stem shrubs. On a few of my shrubs, the stalk is a bit big for the tool I bought, so it gets stuck and you have to pull out the stem or branch. But applied correctly, it works well and holds a charge for longer than I expected.