This is a case of "you get what you pay for." This is a budget shredder that should be used sparingly. It will overheat after about 3 minutes of continuous use (as per instructions). I will keep it but would recommend a more robust shredder to anyone that has more than a few pages to shred at one time.
Compared to my old shredder this one is a exponential upgrade. Handles more paper at one time cross cuts vs straight cut and has a more powerful forward and reverse motor. The noise level is considerably more muted and the compact size makes for ease of stowage under a desk or corner.