Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I just want to offer my observation after using this item for a couple of weeks. All but one of the functions work well. Sadly, the function that works poorly is the one that seals the bag. It is so frustrating for me and members of my family to push a bag into the sealing slot and have nothing happen. Pulling the bag out and reinserting it sometimes helps. Turning the bag over sometimes helps. What does it take to trip the bag sensor, I wonder? Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. The inconsistency in operation is the most aggravating part. And, yes, I've read the manual (several times). I leave a very generous amount of bag to feed into the sealer. I am using genuine Foodsaver bags. I hold the bag as suggested and push it into the slot and push and push and nothing happens. I can push the bag in until it can go no further without wadding up. Still, the machine will not clamp onto the bag and seal it with any reliability. I am not the only one who has this problem. Because of this I am only rating this as two stars. It is very frustrating. I bought the top of the line to have no problems, instead the main function, sealing, is compromised in this model. I should have bought the much cheaper clam shell model that allows positioning the bag and closing the unit to seal. I am considering returning this expensive model because the frustration it causes completely outweighs the benefits of its fancy features. **** Update Sept 2015 I returned my FoodSaver for a replacement. The replacement works correctly! Now, it is a pleasure to use and not frustrating at all. I realize that my initial review was the result of a fluke, specifically, a defective unit. However, the entire experience has left me with a bad vibe about this product not to mention a whole lot of wasted product. That's why I'm leaving it a two stars. So, if yours is working as mine was, don't waste time fiddling with it and trying all sorts of innovative techniques to try and make it work. When it works correctly it senses the bag on the first try, even raggedly cut bags, and seals them just fine. I wish I had returned mine sooner and saved myself a lot of frustration.