I bought one of the this machine long time ago, more than 12 years and finally the machine die. I bought this machine and it's works great. The only issue I have is that the jars bearings don't last. The second jar that I bought from the other machine I bought at costco only last me long. The bearings are starting to lock and since I have this new machine I will use the new jar. Hope the new jar will last. But I still recommend this machine.
I was excited for this splurge purchase and felt that I would go against the Vitamix craze and try Blentec...I am finding that smoothies are problematic at times with ice and I need to stop and start and mix contents up to get it moving again. Certainly not what I expected from this price point.
I got this as a birthday gift because we have been using a regular blender for smoothies every morning. And it's amazing how smooth it gets our drinks. The one thing I don't like is the plastic container because it is plastic and hard to clean. I'm looking forward to experimenting with all the wonderful recipes you can find online.
I've been dealing with basic blenders & food processors for years; went through several & never thought I could blow a lot of cash on a blender. But after adding up what I've spent on lesser machines-- I should have gotten a Blendtec years ago. I wish the machine was entirely manufactured in the US; it would have earned 5 stars if it was. It is noisy-- but it's fast. Once you get the hang of the settings it's one of the easiest blenders. Just make sure you clean it immediately when you're done. The pitcher material stains very easily and winds up looking dirty, even when it's not. Still, I wouldn't trade it. I've only had it a few weeks & haven't started grinding coarse material, but I'm hopeful it will last.
I got this for gift and love it. It's powerful for sauces and smoothies. Wish it had a small cup to do hot liquids in. I blend my coffee in the morning and find the big jug a bit big. Otherwise, it's great.