I'm a kitchen gadget fiend and freely admit it. There are some items that I buy and then realize they aren't as useful as I thought they would be. Others becomes indispensable. This blender definitely falls in that category! I've had it for 8 years and it's still working as beautifully as it did on day one.This little guy is a great deal - great brand which has well made products and easy to use customer service if you ever need it. This is a good price on a stick/immersion blender, and it comes with a very handy container with lid to blend/store in. Although you can blend in any container it can be hard to find ones with nice tall sides to help prevent splatter. Mostly important if you're working with something hot or something that might stain!I use this most often to correct lumps in my frosting or white sauces. I also use it to quickly thicken up soups by partially blending them. It may not have the power of my Vitamix but it does an amazing job and it very quick/easy to pull out AND clean up. Nice long cord to reach all the way into the pot on the stove from wherever your outlet may be. My only complaint is that food can build up along the edge of the rubber seal on the inside of the metal area covering the base of the blades. I normally use a toothpick to clean along this edge and once in a while run a knife under the lip to make sure all the gunk gets cleaned out.Other than that I love everything about the design of this blender and wholeheartedly recommend it!