Simply Smart Zipoloc Vacuum Sealer System

I bought this Ziploc vacuum sealer about two years ago and I have not looked back. I threw out my other machine because it just didn't work and the bags were so expensive. The Ziploc bags are so much more affordable and they feel like so much better quality. My food lasts so much longer and I am just extremely happy with the machine. How much better does it get when the bags/rolls and machine are not expensive at all and it's a Ziploc product?!

I've wanted a vacuum sealer for ages, but found they were always out of my budget range and the cost of the bags, ee-yow! I spotted this Ziploc on sale at Wal Mart and miracle of miracles, I could afford it. The cost of a roll of bags was steep I thought, but what the heck? One splurge comin' right up! Now, I have to warn those who are about to get this; there is no on/off switch and instructions for it are nil. After turning the unit over and over for 15 minutes looking for a well-hidden button and studying the pictures on the box, it finally dawned on me that the unit turns itself on when you've put your loaded bag into the chamber and are ready to seal something. Then you simply press the "let's roll" button of your choice on the top center. You can vacuum seal, or just seal a bag shut without the vacuum. I got my food inside the bag, made sure the top was clean and positioned it. I pushed down, and nothing happened. Did it again, nada. Now I'm starting to think I really goofed and envisioned a return trip to Wally World with my new toy under an arm. I got kinda frustrated and pushed down harder. *CRACK* O great. I tried and tried to get the lid back up to free my bag of food. Becoming angry and frantic, I pushed down kinda hard on the lid again. *CRACK* Begin pushing buttons randomly. All of a sudden, a red light came on and the bag began to give my food a form fitting hug. The *CRACK*s I heard were the lid locking into place. You have to push down kinda hard and if you are doing this right, it'll sound like you broke the lid, until you get acquainted with how this works. There's a lock on each side of the lid. On each side of the lid is a button. At first, they will look like unit styling, but they have a function. You'll push those down when your bag has finished to release the lid. A side note that some people may have missed who gave this unit a bad review for not sealing; after the vacuum motor shuts off, give your bag about 10 seconds after the red light goes off before you release the lid. I learned pretty quick that skipping that step can result in a not so great seal. I've also learned that stuffing a bag too full also results in a bad seal. I really like this unit and think it's a good one to learn on while I save up for a high dollar sealer. Or not. As long as this unit keeps working like it does right now, I'm staying with it. I've used it to divide and vacuum seal two family packs of chicken pieces (BIG packs), a meatloaf, and 4 or 5 pounds of lunchmeat that wasn't going away fast enough. In all that, I've had 2 bad seals that were entirely my own fault. As long as you don't stuff your bags too full or rush the finish sealing process, you'll be fine with this. As for bags, I've found that I can do a little better at Amazon; but another recent lesson - bags are going to be a little pricey no matter what, but the money you'd lose to spoilage/freezer burn will make up the difference easily.