Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I received my fountain today and am seriously impressed with the design. In January 2015 I'd purchased the more expensive stainless steel model. (This, my friends, was a total waste of money. Do NOT think you are getting a better product for twice the cost because this is untrue). I am going to breakdown WHY the less inexpensive plastic model is the best choice... The individual components fit together snugly and are perfectly designed to do so. There are no rubber gaskets as with the stainless steel model. Everything is hard plastic that perfectly lines up with hard plastic - no leaking. There are very well designed features that are built into the components that slide into, or snap/click into place. There is no guessing...it fits only one way. There are no pieces that are unstable, can slide or do not have a specific place into which they fit. Everything has its perfectly designed connection mechanism. The pre-filter is so much larger/nicer than the stainless steel model and slides right into place. The charcoal filter fits perfectly in the filter housing and has easily noticeable raised/concave strips that slide together perfectly. No gaskets. The cord for the pump is ingeniously secured inside the main water bowl and underneath. The pump itself has a designated area with sides that contain the motor securely. There is a brace-like feature that connects the intake tube to the motor. It cannot shift of slide as with the stainless steel model. This is going to save me a lot of headaches and frustration. I realize my new fountain is just that.....brand new, pristinely clean and not at all worn. But I cannot stress enough how much better this unit is designed. Do not waste you money on the higher priced stainless steel model. If you keep this plastic model clean (using bottled water will help), I have no concerns about plastic being a pourous material that can hold bacteria. The plastic is a very hard, smooth material. I am extremely impressed with this product and will definitely purchase this again when that becomes necessary. I hope this helps you make an informed choice.