Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

My V2480 has been a 'set and forget' for something more than a half dozen years. Bought my V2480 as a replacement for a earlier model with a long forgotten three digit identifier. Not a day goes by that my FoodSaver doesn't get used at least once, usually several times. With just two of us here, nearly everything one purchases is sold in portions much larger that we should consume at a single setting. For years the FoodSaver has been used to stock our fifteen cubic foot chest freezer with figs and blue berries from the back yard. We buy large quantities of fish and poultry periodicly which is then stored in the freezer in single meal portions. Fresh fruits and vegetables are maintained in our 'spare' refrigerator in vacuum containers long enough for the two of us to periodically finish of a head of lettuce. Years ago, I bought a spare seal kit, "just in case" it was needed. Finally, it was needed yesterday. Our FoodSaver had been getting tempermental for the past couple weeks. I had decided that it might be time to select a replacement. When I went to the FoodSaver site it appeared that they were pushing the newer vertical and 'automatic' models and I could no longer find a V2480 model. After failing to find a V2480 replacement I began checking local sales locations and on the third stop I found that Bass Pro was selling the model now called the "GameSaver Deluxe" which was precisely the same as my old V2480. Before buying a new FoodSaver, I went home and swapped out the seals in my V2480 and found that it worked as good as new. Having decided that my V2480 was likely over due permanent failure, I ordered up a new "GameSaver Deluxe" as a "ready reserve" for the day that my trusty old V2480 actually does quit. Secrets to longevity:*** Keep it clean and dry! It appears that the biggest enemy of the FoodSaver pump is the juices extracted from meat, fish, and poultry. When the food is 'moist', press the 'moist' button. For years, I have pre-frozen my figs, blue berries and prepared peaches by resting them overnight on a cookie sheet in my chest freezer before running them through the FoodSaver. Place your meat, poultry and fish in zip lock bags before placing them in the FoodSaver bags. Doesn't hurt to pre-freeze meats in the smaller bags also. Several portion size small zipped bags can be vacuumed unside a large FoodSaver bag. Keep the seals clean and dry when the machine is not in use. If you fail to keep the seals clean they will soon fuse to each other and will require replacement. Treat your FoodSaver at least as good as you do your favorite rifle and you should be OK..