Maxi-Matic EPB-1800 Black Elite Cuisine 300-Watt 16-Oz. Personal Blender

Pros: Um... really no pros. Even on sale, it costs as much as blenders that don't break

Cons: It's garbage. Works ok at first, but breaks after moderate usage. The base of the cups also break easily. I enjoyed using it while it was working, and was disappointed when it broke after a couple weeks of moderate use.

Other Thoughts: I decided to get another... but obviously not this one. I was surprised to see that wallyworld had a Farberware that was very similar to this, but had larger, better cups. I've had the Farberware one for 4 months or so, and it still works like a champ. I'd give the Farberware one 5 stars... oh... and it was $20. Don't waste your time or money on this garbage.

Pros: * Six different cups - one small, four medium, one large
* Four travel lids with a drinking opening and locking cap
* Compact size uses little counter space
* Powerful motor for the price
* Two blender types - one for dry blending, one for wet

Cons: * Pulse blending button can be pushed into the unit, preventing further use
* Two small, two medium, and two large cups would be more convenient
* Travel lids are not water-tight around the drinking opening even with the cap locked in place
* Designed only for short-duration blending pulses

Other Thoughts: I bought this set for my wife on A.M.A.Z.O.N. two Decembers ago for Christmas. It was only $28 but she was quite happy with its abilities and I made sure she was aware of the limitations, which are spelled out in the manual. As it says, this is only designed to be used with short pulses and not long-duration blending, which is why the button has to be held in while blending.

Unfortunately this leads to the problem we experienced where the button sinks into the unit. I had to disassemble it completely to see into the housing to find the problem. The only reason I was able to do so is because I've replaced every single part in hundreds of different models of laptops and I have a natural ability with figuring out how mechanical and electrical items are held together. Once I got inside I found that the button is held in place by a plastic square that is mounted to the case itself, but had split into two pieces on the top and bottom where most of the strain is on the mount. I tried gluing and taping the mount back together, but it was a waste of time.

The manual says that this product has a two-year warranty, but there is no registration process (which I prefer) and no way to contact the company without a lot of searching (which I can't stand). I eventually found an email address for my wife, but after several months she has still not had any response so there is no way to get warranty support. Luckily we've had to trouble with the cups themselves except for the con about the travel lids not being water-tight at the top, so we've been using the cups with smoothies my wife now makes using our regular blender. We may purchase another one since it's a ShellShocker item today, but my wife might also be fine with just using the regular blender with the cups.

Long story short: I do recommend this product, but it must be used gently and treated as though there is no warranty because it essentially has none.

Pros: It's easy to use. It's like a magic bullet, but differs in a few ways with screw-on lids and coozies. I've never had a real problem with mine with any task I've set it out to do, and that includes crushing ice for smoothies and liquor. The tumblers have molded lines in them to identify 4, 8 and 12oz markers. I've had mine for three years now and it's never broken down on me, so I'd say it's reliable as long as you treat it like a personal blender and not like a device designed to help prepare a thanksgiving dinner for a party of 20.

Cons: Unless you use the lids and drink through straws, the tumblers aren't good drinking vessels because of the threads at the lip of the cup; the magic bullet uses threadcaps so you can drink from theirs. Drinking from these will have you thinking you have a hole in your mouth.

The coozies are kind of lame; I ended up tossing them after a little while because I never used them. They're soft foam so they have to be removed before you wash the tumblers or they'll develop mold.

The 16oz tumblers are difficult for me to clean; I'm a 6' male and my hands can't get a sponge all the way down to the bottom. At the bottom, there's a little indent that I just can't reach without some kind of extension. Probably not as much of an issue for someone who has a dishwasher.

The machine is loud and runs hot to the point of smell; the user manual specifically indicates not to run the device for more than one solid minute.

Other Thoughts: I don't particularly like this blender, but it serves my purposes when I need to blend, and I got it for $20 so I think it was a pretty good deal. I'll live with it until it breaks or until I need something with more capabilities.

Pros: I ordered this item for 18.99 free shipping on a shell shocker or deal of the day. This item is perfect for mixing protein shakes. I've taken care of it really well and i've had 0 problems with it. Be sure to rinse everything immediately after use, the cups are great to rinse then toss into the dishwasher. This product makes me good protein shakes.

Cons: It's noisy, that's what blenders do.

Pros: If you want a disposable blender, go ahead.

Cons: I always mixed fruits and protein powder only, no ice... I didn't last me a month.

Pros: None

Cons: Leaked right from the start

Other Thoughts: Opened the box, took out the cups, poured water and capped it with the blade unit, turned it over and water came out. I didn't even get a chance to use it and it already leaked.

Pros: ordered on 1/20 and received on 1/22. and the 21st was a holiday. Ordered to replace an older one only because I'm down to one cup for the old one, motor still runs strong. Better than the 2 bullets I'd had previously. I use it several times a day.

Cons: tips on cups that must be locked into the motor can break off rendering the cup useless. Lesson: don't manhandle the cups when locking into the motor base.

Pros: As usual came quickly from Newegg.com. Seems to be very well built. Made great gifts.

Cons: None thus far...

Pros: The unit works and I think it works very well. I have ground coffee in it and make many a smoothies (Twice daily) and it has not failed . Recommendation: these work well with fresh fruits and nuts but not really made for frozen things like ice cubes. For those comparing it to the magic bullet or other infomercial products out there, look at what they are blending, its all fresh products.
I found the key to making this unit function better and I think it goes for all blenders out there, add some water to the mix to give a little thinning room to get it started . If you want the ability to put nuts and bolts into a blender like the Montel Williams commercial, this is not it BUT it won't cook your food scaldering hot either.

Cons: The only thing I noticed is that if you use a scrubbing pad inside the cups, they will dull the inner surface.
My recommendation is to fill it halfway with water when done, slap the blender blade back on and run it for 15 seconds to agitate the fluids and rinse it under hot water to dry

Other Thoughts: If you want a quieter unit, wrap a towel around it to suppress the noise, I have a breville juicer and a cuisnart grind and brew coffee maker, and they both register much higher db sound output than this little thing

Pros: Makes amazing protien shakes. I have blended carrots, ice cubes, peanut butter, protien, creatine, yogurt, milk to make some great protien shakes, I got a great deal for 18.00 on the shellshocker deal of the day. I am satisfied so far.

Cons: Loud and gives off a mechanical smell, but that's a given.