★★★☆☆
BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
I used a Terminator zapper from Don Croft for 3 years which I bought for around £100. However it always stung me, even on the soles of my feet, so I had to continually move it around. I did feel better (more energy) for using it, but it did not get rid of the pinworms I had (and the reason I had bought it), despite sometimes using it for 5 hours or more a day.
I did get fed up that the worms were so persistent and somedays used the zapper until it stung for a while - that was a mistake as I have been left with many scars all over my stomach from the stinging. The copper plates would go dark after a few hours so it needs cleaning everyday (I would use toothpaste as a mild abrasive which was quite effective). However it is not waterproof so cleaning had to be done with care.
The other issue I had was that there was nothing to attach the zapper with to me and my skin (I mainly targeted my abdomen where the worms reside). As I wanted to use it for several hours I had to find make shift ways of carrying it next to the skin. I tried using a scarf, a bandage and tucking into my leggings. It would often fall out as I stood up or was looking after my children! Over time the internal workings started to break because it kept falling (which was my fault for dropping it, but in a way, the product design's fault for not being supplied with a way to attach it, so it could be used continuously).
Also the battery needed replacing every 3 weeks and, over time, the way that the battery attached to the device started to break as it was only made of flimsy plastic and not very strong. Now the device is unusable because the plastic battery attachments have completely broken. We did try to fix the internal workings which broke after it kept falling (my husband soldered some of the parts which temporarily fixed it), but this battery attachment part could not be fixed. Don did offer to fix the device, but the cost of returning by recorded post did not justify taking this option (I live in Europe), especially when a similar device could be bought for 1/3 the price - a little more than the cost of postage.
Although a good idea in principal, in practice I do not rate it that highly and I would not buy another one - Don was very helpful when it broke and with advice during the time I used the zapper, but for me this product did not solve my basic problem and reason for purchase (pinworms) and caused me scarring.
The zappers that come with wrist bands do not appear to cause scarring or stinging and I will be trying one of these next - I have not given up on the idea of zapping and thank you Don for the opportunity to try out your device, which I know you make with love and good intention.
