I know this is an older thread but after owning several various Foodsavor vacuum sealers, including a some of the their better ones and always let down with them after a year or two, I finally got fed up and bought a LEM MaxVac 500 about a year ago. We primary use ours for fish and wild-game with occasional other uses. so far so good. a much heavier built unit made for basically continuous use. I've been very happy with it so far.