Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Regarding the machine not cutting at all since being taken out of the box and my efforts to get it working using on line help and two calls to Cricut customer service: UPDATE: I’ve spoken to customer service twice and a number of experienced Cricut Maker users. I completed all their recommendations (which included buying a NEW mat when the mat that came with the machine was only a few days old and never been through a successful cut) .....this was $14.99. Because experienced users cited how critical critical a tight adhesion is to the mat, I spent $17 for a brayer that rolls over the fabric on the mat. The brayer is a snappy tool but it didn’t get the fabric secured any more tightly than running a credit card over it. Because Cricut customer service doesn’t take calls on weekend, I tried their on line help and chat help without success. I was referred to the manual. So right at 9AM Monday I called Cricut customer service. After being on line listening to sugary sweet music for 35 minutes I talked to customer service. They instructed me to send a video and there could be no guarantee as to when the video would be reviewed by their tech team. It could be 1 to 3 days. I followed all their instructions and have sent the video to customer service. I’ve attached this video to this updated review. Original review: I’m an appliqué quilter as a small business and cut hundreds of pieces of appliqué a month. When I read about the Cricut Maker I absolutely had to have it. My usual process was to draw my appliqué on heat n bond then iron the heat n bond onto the fabric then cut. WELL with Cricut I cut just as much. You don’t get a clean cut. The fabric stays attached and you can’t pull it apart or the fabric gets distorted. I’ve tried the different pressure choices, with and without heat n bond AND spent time with Cricut customer service. Basically the YouTube reviews and Cricut Customer Service says that’s normal and to overlook the strings. Honestly, it’s easier to use my original process. Pulling the appliqué out makes a mess crinkling the fabric and causing strings and pulls. Frankly it’s easier to cut the appliqué out of a drawn piece rather than cut out a piece that Cricut touched. The only way to get a clean cut from Cricut is to literally cut around the appliqué very carefully being sure to cut only the strings that are attached. Otherwise you run the risk of distortion and pulled fibers. I’m likely going to return it but I’m very disappointed. I thought this would be a game changer for my business.