Customer Reviews
EXCELLENT CHOICE 
2007-11-13
i HAVE ONLY USED THIS TRIMMER ONCE SINCE I RECEIVED IT, BUT I AM VERY HAPPY WITH IT.American Gardener ReadyHedger 18-Volt Hedge Trimmer #RH18
Worthless junk. Buy anything else. 
2007-10-28
Handle broke within 2 minutes of first light usage.
Company sent a replacement. That broke right away too.
The motor burnt out and died after third usage.
When will companies stop manufacturing such barely functioning junk?
My dad's trimmer lasted 40 years!
I'll never buy anything from this company again.
Great product 2007-06-08
This is the second one I purchased as gifts for my kids, they love it, and of course I tried it out before giving it to them. Very light weight and more powerful than I thought it would be, cut larger stems also. If you trim often then it's really a breeze. You can literally walk across a hedge without stopping. Highly recommend it.
it dies after 1 use 2007-05-19
I was very excited to receive this product. However my enthusiasm died a sudden death when the unit stopped working the first time I used it. I would not recommend this product.
Does a good job, but doesn't last long 
2006-10-19
My wife bought this as a Christmas gift in 2005 (I think, don't tell her that I don't remember what for). It worked well. The short charge time and cutting power definitely fit my needs, and I loved the cordless/gasless feature. Plus, the trimmer would last an impressive amount of time on one charge, maybe close to an hour(?). I wasn't doing much heavy trimming (heavenly bamboo, sparse bushes). However, in September '06, the trimmer stopped working. You press the trigger and nothing happens (the motor wouldn't turn). The battery wasn't the problem. I opened the cockpit and found that if you moved the gears enough, something in the motor would connect again and it would run. However, if you happened to let go of the trigger at a non-contact point, you couldn't restart unless you moved the gears. After about 5 minutes, the motor started smoking. My theory is that something got stuck in the motor and either broke the brushes or burned the motor out. If it wasn't for this fubar, it would be a great tool.
Did not hold up over time 2006-07-09
The American Gardener ReadyHedger 18-volt hedge trimmer is a versatile cordless electric trimmer with double-action quadblades made of 22-inch hardened steel which can cut branches up to 7/16-inch thick. The high power 18-volt motor and NiCad battery system can recharge in one hour, has a 1700 MaH capacity, and the wall charge rack is included. With a comfort switch for hassle-free start-up, this hedge trimmer is especially designed to give you increased mobility and ease of use.
Light duty and unreliable 
2006-06-17
I have owned the American Gardener RH18 for a couple years and it never worked well. First it is light duty and can not handle twigs as large as the cutter bar will accept even on a full charge and then it jams and you have to clear out the jammed twig which can be dangerous if you do not remove the battery.
Then shortly after owning it on a jam it quit working. The motor ran but the blade did not move. I took the bottom cover off and could see where the blade end had come off of the orbital mechanism. I was able to get it back on but it would come off on a regular basis when a jam occured. The problem is the blade is secured to the orbital mechanism with a metal strap that goes on top and then is held in place by the plastic bottom cover. To make matters worse the bottom cover is held on by bolts and screws that attach to four skimpy plastic supports. One of them broke off after about the fifth repair to the unit. To be fair I never had the unit factory serviced because shipping to and back would have been cost prohibitive but I was not impressed with the internal structure though the motor and gears themselves seemed solid and all metal.
After all that I went to Lowes and bought a cheap Task Force corded hedge trimmer for $35. That thing devours hedges with a vengance and never jams. If I had a lot of hedge trimming to do I would probably have bought a Makita hedge trimmer.
The Best Ever 2006-05-29
In the past I have purchased two different battery type hedge trimmers: a Black and Decker and a Makita, both were a pain in the neck..no guts..
Last year I finally found the trimmer of my dreams, the RH18. It is the best there ever was or will ever be. I never thought I would find a machine that would please me as much as this machime.
I bought my first RH18 for myself and was so pleased with it's ability to handle my huge yard surrounded with a 4 foot high hedge and in parts 6 feet high by the end of the season I bought one for my son and another for my best friend, They are enjoying their trimmers as much as I have mine.
This year I am buying another only because I am afraid one of my neighbors or visitors will steal my favorite gardening tool. I would hate to be cought without my RH18 anytime during the summer of 06.
Believe me, there is no other hedge trimmer like this one. I am so impressed with this machine. It is perfect in every way and when they say it holds a charge, IT DOES.
This is one great machine.....
Best Cordless Trimmer !!! 
2005-07-26
I owned the AG predessor to this model, and it was useless. After 5 repairs, and many complaints, the company sent me this model. What a difference. I found it to be flawless. It even outcuts a corded trimmer I own.
Buy it---you won't be disappointed.
PS--I don't give ANYTHING 5 stars.
Broke in 4 minutes 2005-05-04
The title says it all. The motor caught fire four minutes after I started using it. How much worse can a product possible be?
