we had an electric one last year and it was really good, pricey though at around £10 but a cheap one is probably crap so you get what you pay for. You don't actually swat with them as this would break it. They are really good for killing flies when they are buzzing around together in numbers. This may sound daft but when we lived in Spain they always seemed to be more sociable than the flies in the UK!!!! Yes, I know, cuckoo! True though, pueblo flies always buzz around together in the house and the zapper was great, just wizz it about and they drop like...flies... not so useful now we are back in the UK as the fles here are more solitary, they prefer their own company.. down the pub with a pint, sat in the corner... :D