I usually ignore those JML type adverts -- offering fairly cheap products designed for a specific use around the house (current problems being solved: bobbles on sweaters, dead skin on feet, etc.).  I was drawn into the ads for the Nicer Dicer product because I am lazy about chopping and often will pass on having a nice flavourful dish so I don't have to chop up the garlic and onions (sad, right?).  My kids really wanted me to get it, but at €19.95, even with a few accessories (small containters and a peeler) included, not something I'd go for.  But at Dunnes I saw a version for €9.95, without the accessories, so I thought that was worth a try. 

When I got it home I realised it was a slightly different product -- Mini Nicer Dicer -- for much smaller chopping.  I thought this would still work for my onions and garlic.  First I tried shallots and couldn't close the dicer down on the small head of shallot I was trying to chop.  Perhaps shallots are a bit stronger skinned than regular onions, but there was no way this was going to chop at all.  Then one of the layers came off and got really stuck in the grid -- I had to dig it out with a knife.  I thought perhaps if I chopped the shallots into smaller pieces it would chop, but then what's the point!  I then stuck in a garlic clove and it did work properly -- even chopping some of the shallot still stuck in the dicer.  It was also a bit of a pain to get the bits out of the little plastic compartment designed to hold the choppings.  It is supposed to be designed to clean easily, but there are still to many little bits to do this.

It would have been much easier to just chop on a chopping board with a knife and scrape into the cooking pan.

The experience just confirmed my skepticism about these type of products.