Title: Planned Obsolescence
Review: This smoothie maker works exactly as advertised: it doesn't leak, the motor is powerful, & the pour spout is a nice touch. The problem is, like every other blender, the clutch-gear (the fluted piece of rubber which connects the blades in the container to the motor) wears out. Eventually, the mating gear at the bottom of the container chews a clear path through the clutch-gear. The result is that the motor spins freely but the blades are not engaged & the smoothie maker is useless. I've gone through TWO of these machines. If it were an American brand, you could buy and replace the clutch-gear for $2.98, but I have been unable to find parts for this import anywhere on the web. This smoothie maker would be a bargain *IF* you could replace the part. Since you can't, it's overpriced for the short period you get to use it.
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