Back to Basics Smoothie Elite

Pros: easy to use, makes great drinks
Cons: none

I finally broke down and bought a Smoothie Elite. I have been using my mothers' and absolutely love it. It is so easy to use and makes great, healthy drinks. The Smoothie Elite works so much better than a conventional blender. I have ...

Pros: It blends.
Cons: Loud motor, leaky valve, bulky appearance, hard to clean.

I received a Smoothie Elite as a Christmas gift and was mildly appreciative of the gesture, but needed a blender, so I didn't return it. After using it once, I figured out it would never replace a true blender in my kitchen. Now it's just a prop ...

Pros: Inexpensive
Cons: Cheap parts were not designed to handle vibration

The Smoothie Elite's price and its ability to chop ice were a big factor in the purchase. The blades, however, are weaker than advertised. After one blade bent from hitting an ice cube wrong it chewed up the plastic stick that comes with the unit. I ...

Pros: Good Idea
Cons: Unhappy Customer

I bought the Smoothie Elite drink maker and couldn't wait to use it.The second time I used it I saw smoke and could smell a burning smell. The rubber at the bottom of the container was melted. I was able to get Online service, and at no charge to me I...

Pros: Spout on jug and the three button design. Its also attractive on the counter
Cons: Its makes a terrible mess and is unusable.

There is a serious design flaw in this blender. The spin direction of the blades is the same as the direction to unscrew the bottom of the jug for cleaning. The net result is when you try to lift the jug for pouring the entire contents pour out the bottom onto the counter and through the bottom of the motor. It now happens 70% of the time I use the machine despite the fact that I check it completely before use. Had the jug base connection been reversed, the action of blending would keep the bottom secure.

Do not buy this product until this is fixed. I have not found a way to contact the company and this machine will be in the trash before long. Cleaning the floors and counter is too aggravating to continue using it. What a waste of money

Pros: Handy item if it would work the way it was supposed to. We enjoyed it.
Cons: Materials used to construct it were inadequate. Did not hold up.

My mother in law had one and we liked it. Hers was one of the older designs and the base came unscrewed from time to time when you used it. The one we got had a lock on the bottom to stop it from unscrewing during use. However the bottom leaked where the shaft for the blades goes through the base. The spigot broke after about three months. It was made entirely of plastic and just did not hold up. Now I have a paper weight as I cannot find the manufacturer information (yes I misplaced the paperwork) on line and get a replacement part. Gonna use my blender instead.

Pros: cute idea.
Cons: poor quality, definitely disposable.

we bought this unit at the end of last summer and used it several times, always with soft fruit, and some non-fat milk. we never even used ice as my husband hates cold drinks. by the third time we used it, the motor smoked, and it began leaking. it was never dropped or abused in any way. i took it apart and noticed that a small crack had formed in the blade assembly. totally not worth the money. we're very disappointed in the quality,

Pros: It makes smoothies
Cons: Hard to clean, bottom comes unscrewed, smoothie leaks into the motor

I received this as a gift and didn't use it for more than a year, but I started changing my eating habits and have begun making frozen banana soy smoothies for breakfast. It does the job but I did experience the bottom coming unscrewed once (I thought I just hadn't screwed it in place that once, I'm dismayed to learn it may be an habitual occurrence! What a mess.) The dispensing valve is useless, in my opinion, and my biggest complaint is that the thing is just a serious trial to clean. Ye Gads! I don't use a dishwasher and washing this thing by hand takes diligence. There are ALL kinds of little depressions and raised things and things to take apart and lift up and clean under ... it ridiculous. But I'll use it until it breaks, I guess, then I'll buy a good blender.