Beware this shredder

Have used this unit for 18 months. 18 months of blissful shredding, filling the paper box, useful security feature with a magnetic gizmo that recognizes if anything but paper is present and auto shuts-off. While cleaning out our office and shredding a bit, the machine stopped working. Not overloaded; I was shredding 2-6 sheets at a time, well within the unit's capabilities. It simply refused to shred anymore. No movement of the gears in the forward direction whatsoever. Runs fine in reverse. Over the phone the fellowes phone reps diagnosed the problem as gear stripping or gear failure of some sort. Because the problem is not with the blades, which are warrantied for 5 years, they refused to do anything about it. I find it extremely convenient the unit will work flawlessly for 18 months then completely break down; the company must have known this to give a mere 12 month warranty on anything but the cutting blades. I am a home user and use this machine once every 1 to 2 weeks. It has never overheated.