Back-to-Basics Smoothie Elite Maker
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Back-to-Basics Smoothie Elite Maker
Customer Review: Interesting concept, poor engineering
Summary: 1 Stars
The idea of having a blender capable of crushing ice to make great smoothies is apparently appealing to many people. However, the best thing about this machine is the stick that it comes with to move the ice and other contents around to aid in the blending. That is about it. The spout for pouring the contents, while theoretically sounds good, is painful to clean. I would rather have a lip in the container and a handle on a side to make it easy to pour the contents out. And like what soooooo many other people said, this thing breaks easily. The cogs in the blade component strip and the thing just starts to leak everywhere.Customer Review: Parts keep breaking
Summary: 2 Stars
After the second use, the spigot broke off. Not a big deal, we just poured from the top. Then the handle broke off about a month later. So we now hold it by the sides to pour. Then the stirrer separated top from bottom. Granted, it's now about 4 years old and we use it regularly, but it is becoming a bit ridiculous.
The motor, however, is noisy, but has never given us a problem. It makes smoothies well from fresh and frozen ingredients. Cleaning is another issue altogether though. It needs to be taken apart into all components and it is still difficult to clean thoroughly. Served its purpose but will not buy again.
Customer Review: Not for the mechanically challenged
Summary: 5 Stars
I can't believe some of the reviews I've read. The machine can't leak if properly assembled. The spout won't break off unless you abuse the machine. The materials it's made from are excellent!
I'm a mechanical engineer, and as such, very critical of equipment designs. This unit is very well designed and will operate well for those with at least a small measure of mechanical ability. If you are mechanically challanged, as some of your reviewers appear to be, I reccomend a spoon and plastic tupperware pitcher. If you appreciate a workhorse appliance that does what it says it will then the Back to Basics is for you!
Customer Review: Teeth at bottom of liquid chamber worn down
Summary: 1 Stars
I agree with Terry Cappetta's review. I've had mine for about 2 months and used it about 25+ times with no problems, and like his, the teeth at the bottom of the liquid chamber wore down. The unit with the motor still spins fine, but the teeth at the bottom of the liquid chamber will NOT attach to the base unit and therefore will not grind the ingredients. All I see are black shavings from the bottom of the liquid chamber. That's too bad, considering it worked fine until now. Unit still LOOKS new, but what good will a good-looking unit do me if it doesn't work properly? I really liked this product until now.Customer Review: Just a few improvements
Summary: 3 Stars
The smoothies are VERY good and it does crush ice well, but I am not so impressed with it's basic design. A handle would be SO usefull, as would a small spout for pouring directly from the blender (this is almost always necessary as the spout becomes clogged very easily). I can also see strange electric "sparks" beneath the buttons in the little space where the buttons are not entirely surrounded be the plastic. I have talked to some friends and I have been assured that this is nothing dangerous, but it still bothers me.
Overall, I don't see how this too much better than a regular blender.