The Magic Bullet Review
It appears that our quest to be Mrs. Gadget is fed by infomercials. At any rate, we've only had the Magic Bullet for a day, and already we're ridiculously enamored of this gadget.
The Magic Bullet, of course, is a small blender (its base is about the width of a largish mug). But in place of the large, heavy pitcher that sits atop most blenders, the Magic Bullet has a collection of inverted oval-ish plastic dome cups and mugs. (And a pitcher. And a juicer attachment. And two blades. And plastic covers for refrigeration and storage.) Simply fill the container, screw the blade to the bottom, pop it onto the base and press. Seconds later, you're done.
My guess is that, like us, you'd end up using the little cup for most quick jobs. You laugh. What can be done with the Magic Bullet's small cup? Surprisingly, quite a lot — particularly for jobs for which you'd probably bypass using a blender at all.
For instance: grinding coffee to espresso fineness in ten seconds. Or: we feed our venerable cat the same organic chicken and turkey (don't ask!) that we enjoy. He preferred the ground turkey, but a trip to the store twice a week wasn't exactly thrilling. Now we pop a big chunk of cooked chicken breast into the smallest cup (no chopping it into smaller chunks for us!) and the Magic Bullet ground it into delicious fineness — literally in two seconds. No driving. Happy cat.
What we most appreciate about the Magic Bullet is that it's been so well thought out. Extremely convenient. Easy to use. Small. No having to "find room" for it. No heavy parts. Cleanup is a snap: no more knocking your knuckles against large glass blender pitchers. Just unscrew the blade, wash the cup and blade, and you're done. Hey, even we can wash a cup!
And the current offer is two entire packages for the price of one. Very nice.
—————-
ADDED: Unfortunately, after less than a week, our Magic Bullet blender just stopped working; the motor no longer runs. More reviews echoing same at Epinions. Too bad; we did like it.
ADDED: we got the two Magic Bullets for the price of one; as of February 2008, the second one is still going strong.
SOLUTIONS:
Where to get new gaskets? See MariaV's comment #54
A fix for the base unit? See Curtis Williams' Comment #118
A fix for an earlier version?M See John Jr.'s Comment # 135
142 Comments for "The Magic Bullet Review"
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Joyce Herston says:
I own a magic bullet also. There is a defective part on the base, its the plastic gear. First it cracks and then breaks. Mine broke 30 days after the one year limited warranty. They offered a replacement base for $30 plus $15 shipping. This problem is more widespread than I thought. Amazon.com has the reviews to back this up, also expotv.com, hsn.com, & pricegrabber.com.
Please follow up review, this problem needs exposure.
Consumers are being ripped off, and the customer service for homeland housewares is terrible. I wish something could be done. The part that breaks costs around 50 cents wholesale, consumers should not have to buy a whole base for $45, just for the plastic gear to break again! I do love my magic bullet and wish the company would make the gear out of a sturdier material, then give their customers a free gear!
Editor says:
I do know what you mean, Joyce … and I agree that providing a sturdy — and free — replacement gear would an excellent next move on Homeland Housewares' part in response to its having provided a product that breaks itself.
Assuming that that kind of forward thinking occurred to anyone in the company, you would think that such a move would cost them little enough in return for good customer service, good will, and for the sake of the company's reputation and long-term viability.
Bill Nickerson says:
Our Magic Bullet Blender is 4 months old and has stopped working. The contacks must be worn, if one pushes hard enough and keeps trying, sometimes it will make contack and operate.
Anyone know where the Home Page is for the Company that makes them?
I would not pay $45 for a new base, that is $11/month asuming the new one would last 4 monts
Editor says:
There's a link to HomelandHousewares.com in the article (above), but I don't know whether they're the actual manufacturer.
I know what you mean about the cost; I think that, if and when our second Magic Bullet wears out, I'll just get a food processor. Which is a shame, because the Magic Bullet is incredibly convenient for small jobs, and doesn't require the rather amazing cleanup procedure that a regular food processor has. (I haven't had one in years, though, so perhaps the cleanup is easier nowadays.)
Anyway, hi. <grin>
T Bradley says:
Hi,
Been there, Done that twice! I own 2 and like the convenience, but the reliability is inadequate. All I need is replacement gears! I will not replace the unnecessary and very expensive parts and the shipping charges are a joke!
Editor says:
Well, that's three comments (plus ours), and all are having problems with the mechanism. Doesn't sound good.
MWheeler says:
I gave one as a gift, only later to be informed that it stopped working after 2 months of use. Very disappointing since the concept is great, and that it was not a cheap purchase. Would have expected a much longer longevity period of this product.
Editor says:
MWheeler, I can certainly understand the disappointment. I think many of us liked the concept and how easy it is to use, but the fact that it can simply break down after a short amount of use is extremely disappointing. (My second one hasn't broken down yet, but we haven't used it so much.)
One would think that they would rework the breakable mechanism(s) so that this would stop happening. This can't be good for business.
John Walker says:
After 2 weeks the high torque power base gear broke into pieces while grating cheese. Heartland claims that if you didn't buy it direct from them, than it's probably a bootleg and they won't sell you a replacement part. They also told me they had enough customers and didn't care who I told about their product. I didn't want a free part, just some one to sell it to me, good luck.
Editor says:
Sorry to hear about it. How utterly strange — and how non-caring about their customers. Did they not ascertain whether yours was truly a "bootleg", as they put it?
Well, as I said, if and when the second one (we got two in one package) breaks down, I'll be opting for a "real" (regular) food processor.
anthony says:
This is a piece of junk. Like several of other people have mentioned, the gear breaks and they want to charge you $45.00 to replace the entire base. Don't waste your money. Buy a food precessor.
Mark says:
I have had my Magic Bullet for less than one month, and I make a lot of smoothies with it. I was crushing ice cubes for a smoothie when it just stopped working! As far as I can tell, the visible plastic gear on the base is fine, but when you push down on it to turn it on, nothing happens. No movement, no buzzing, not a sign of life. Maybe the motor fried itself, or an internal gear broke and jammed up the mechanism. Not worth the money, and it's a shame that this is so common.
Greg says:
There are gears being sold on EBAY at last! Just use the keywords "Magic Bullet gears" and it should take you there. I actually bought a set of gears and I got my MB to work once again!
Greg
allusnixons says:
add us to the list of MB shut downs! i was using to make a simple peach smoothie - a couple ice cubes caused the machine to internally fry or something. i called MB from the buythebullet.com website and was told it has an internal thermal device that causes MB to shut down if it gets too hot. 30 seconds of yogurt, peaches and 3 cubes caused the final meltdown. we had no recovery. loved the 10 uses i got out of it. it worked great for making homemade baby food. bummer…
Dana says:
My husband and I got one and now it is dead. I wish I would of saw this website first. He is going to take it apart and see if he can fix it. I really did love it and it was so easy to use.
Dan says:
Yeah, Same problem here with my gears a degrading after use…Is it difficult to replace the gears if i purchase them on EBAY? Any special instruction to do so?
Thanks.
-Dan
Roxanne McKinnon says:
I have been using my magic bullet for several months. I am a pretty heavy user for making smoothies with my Medifast products. The gear is finally wearing down on the blade and I am looking for reasonable replacement of same. I really love the convenience as I have travelled with it in my suitcase and car (using an inverter). It's been a real trooper, but I too need new gears.
Editor says:
We've gotten a number of comments, which we've not published, from an individual using different names and/or claiming to have "discovered" where to get them (it's his own site). At any rate, this seems to indicate that gears may be available.
Lorretta says:
I just got a magic bullet as a gift. I didn't ever get the first smoothie made and it quit. One zip and nothing. How reliable is that. I will not send it in for repair because of the cost. Its not worth it.
mike from miami says:
Another sad story. Halfway through a banana strawberry smoothie, the bullet stopped working. It makes an awful buzz but the blades stopped spinning. Oh well. My fiancé is heartbroken but well be returning it from where we bought it 2 weeks ago.
Karen says:
When I got the Magic Bullet I loved it. It did what it was supposed to do, until the gear broke. I was still o.k. with it thinking they must sell replacement parts. Amazing how hard it was to find any information about even the potential of purchasing a new gear. I found all the emails from other people with the same problem instead and can't help but believe the company is corrupt. They really do expect people to buy a whole new base to replace a simple gear part. I'm with the folks switching back to a food processor. I think I'll want to find a way to make this a more visible problem so it's not so easy for the company to blow off it's unhappy customers.
joe muldoon says:
We bought ours in March, 2006. Loved it until the motor fried and it stopped working in September. Called Housewares customer service and they pawned my converns off to some company named Enson "who handles retail returns" becasue we bought it from Walgreens Retail. You call there and you get no answer or way to leave a messgae for Customer service.
This stinks. A piece of junk and the comapny does not stand behind it. Buyer Beware !! Buy something more expensive and better built. This is a China made piece of junk. Too bad, as it is soooo convenient foir the couple of months it actually worked.
Christine says:
Wow, I'm glad I decided to read up on reviews before purchasing this product. I remember the infomercials and being excited to make my own peanut butter. I wanted it to make my coffee even smoother, but I don't want to deal with the hassle. Thanks for all the helpful reviews.
Edward says:
Was planning on buying one for convenience but not anymore. Maybe when their patent runs out and someone else makes one that is more reliable.
Mint says:
I loved the bullet until one of the prongs on one of the cups flew off and hit me in the eye. Out of four cups three have had prongs break off. The rubber on the large blade is worn down and no longer works. No replacement parts to speak of. EBay has some but are spendy. thought about buying another until i read all the negative comments. i have been looking at other travel, or compact blenders. I cannot find the motor capability of the bullet either.
Robert says:
It appears that the motor quits working due to a faulty component on the system board. I believe this to be an SCR of some type but the original in my Bullet was so badly heated, it is impossible to make out a part number. I have replaced this component twice with 'best guess' parts and the unit works again for a while. If a brave sole with a dead bullet would like to take thiers apart and get the part number to me I would be more than happy to post the repair (and possibly upgrade) sollution. The part is a black square with 3 legs coming from the bottom approx 3/8 x 3/8″ square. There is a small tab on top with a hole to mount to the board. Any takers? My email:ballcapbobcenturytelnet.
Greg says:
I loved my Amazing Bullet dearly, and I guess I should be happy it has lasted me well over a year of almost daily use. (mainly shakes and fruit smoothies) Thankfully the only problem that occurred for me was my Bullet tends to eat those rubber rings, causing the blade section to stick to the pitcher and the pitcher shattered as I tried to remove it. So, thats when I went online to find replacement parts for the Bullet, but shocked to read all the testimonials about the defective product and poor customer service. (non-existant customer service may be a better term)
Guess I should be happy mine lasted alot longer than many of those in the reviews.
…..Greg…..
Editor says:
I'm thinking that Robert's idea above is a good one;
as I assume that the company does not make its own parts entirely, it's quite likely that one can buy replacements elsewhere without having to go through (what seem to me) to be the high costs of buying them at E-Bay.
Gina says:
Thank you everyone for placing reviews. I was about to order one because like everyone who has bought one, it just seems so convenient. I liked the idea of being a able to chop onions without all the really hard work (and runny eyes and smelly hands!)
Oh, well…
Danita says:
I also loved my MB. It was so convenient that I practically used it every day. I bought mine directly off their website back in January 2004. It lasted until someime this year (2006). I blame it on my 14 year old son. He began using the blender for several days before my MB's base gear shattered. Of course, he never admitted to the deed.
Anyway I finally chunked the base into the trash a few days ago after holding on to it for months hoping I could find parts, or the company would start selling replacement parts(they were prepared to sell me a base for $40 s/h included).
I had to dig it out because I found someone selling the gears–one base gear and two blade gears–for $18.
<snip>
I'm debating on whether to take the chance on buying a product from what appears to be a "non-company".
I love that blender but my Oster has lasted me 20 years! If Oster has an individual size blender cup, I would say adios to my MB!
Elisabeth says:
Thank you so much for these reviews. My husband sat and watched this infomercial at the store like a kid with a cartoon. He thought the MB looked great, but I'm really glad I read this website and saw all the problems you are having. Sorry you had them, but thanks for sharing! I won't waste my money.
Editor says:
Elisabeth, you're quite welcome.
Danita, my apologies for deleting the URL of the company offering the gears; unfortunately, he/she/they have tried to post their URL and email address here a number of times under different names and email addresses. That doesn't necessarily mean anything, but we err on the side of caution.
That said, I totally agree with you — other machines have lasted a very long time, so that what I've come to expect. And the convenience of the smaller cup is, well, convenient.
Danita says:
Update to my previous post.
I immediately went looking on the web for an individual size cup for my Oster–and yes they do exist! Apparently there are 4oz and 16 oz sizes made by Oster and also some 6 oz sizes made by others. I bought the 16 oz at Walmart which is a travel cup with closable top. I made my smoothie and it worked like a charm! Of course my Oster is a kitchen center unit and so takes up more room on my kitchen counter than the Magic Bullet. But after the Bullet cracked, I had already gotten used to having it out instead of in the cabinet.
Now I have to decide what to do with all the Bullet acessories. I had bought the large box with the big blender and juicer attachments which I never used (and apparently never will).
All this being said, I'm still not adverse to getting another Magic Bullet if the price is right and/or parts are available from the manufacturer.
MARY says:
I BEEN READING ALL THE BAD AND WRITE THE GOOD I WATCHED THEY 1ST INFOMOCIAL ON THE MAGIC BULLET AND ORDERED IT 3 YRS AGO ,USED IT EVERY DAY AND LOVED IT..IT FINALLY BURNED OUT AND JUST RECIEVED ANOTHER FOR XMAS TODAY I ASKED FOR JUST USED ITA AGAIN :o)..LETS SEE IF THIS ONES IS JUST AS GOOD AND LAST AS LONG..,,
Tom says:
Whew! Thanks for the warnings! My wife received one for Christmas. We were debating whether to keep it or not as we already have a blender and the KitchenAid Mini food processor (smaller than the bullet and more powerfull).
Back to the store it goes!
Editor says:
Thanks for the tip, Tom. the KitchenAid looks promising.
And to everyone — welcome to DesignerJones.com.
Jimson says:
Here's a link to their Better Business Bureau company report. Conveniently located on the right side of the page is the "File complaint" link, FYI you can file complaints for product quality.
http://www.labbb.org/BBBWeb/…CompanyID=13203957
scott says:
wow!received magic bullet for christmas,hope mine will last for a little while used it a couple of times and really love it.
Bill says:
Add us to the "dead base" society. Purchased at Walmart, thinking what a great idea, it lasted two uses before the base simply died (while making sugar-free chocolate, not a high-load task). Called and got the same runaround the folks above did with Enson (leave a message, have left two (one week apart), two weeks and still no call back. Please folks, don't buy this product, the quality is simply horrible, companies like this should go out of business.
Editor says:
Thanks.
It's "funny", because we started DesignerJones.com to share good stuff — great restaurants, great stuff, experiences, beautiful whatever.
But, once our Magic Bullet died, having already posted about how great it was, we could not in fairness just delete the post as if it had never existed.
Roxanne McKinnon says:
In response to Bill 01/14/07:
The Magic Bullet does have an internal thermostat which, when overheated, will shut it down until it cools. This is to prevent burning out the motor. Have you tried your Bullet since to see if it will work? I found out (the hard way) that if I wasn't careful about not blocking the vent holes on the bullet, it would shut down real quick and I would have to wait what seemed like hours for it to cool down enough to use again. also, sometimes if you don't get it pushed into the right spot it can't make contact and turn on. Just a couple of suggestions.
My gears which I thought needed replacement (08/16/06) really didn't, however, I am still hoping to find a reliable source for new parts (I cracked one of my mugs in a travel accident with my luggage).
Dave Norton says:
No complaints here! Frequent use for over two years, no problems other than losing the cross blade base. I find I can get an accessory package deal with cross blade and a bunch more cups and stuff for $29 plus $6 shipping. I'm happy!
Gazza says:
OK, here is where I'm at!
I am just about to click "Bid Now" on eBay for an "Amazing Bullet" (the generic or competition brand to MB) and thought, maybe a few reviews would be good.
Stumbled across tis page and had a few hundred "second thoughts" :P
BUT, after further investigation I've found that the AB has alot more second hand parts floating around and more readily available. Hmmm, its going to set me back around AUS$45 (incl postage)- not bad for here.
I might just go it and see what happens!
Thanks for the reviews though. I wont say you didn't warn me!
Thomas B. Jacob says:
The first time I used my Magic Bullet, I knew it would not last. You cannot engage and disengage moving parts and not get wear and eventual failure. I am a design engineer. I know. This is faulty design. It lasted almost a year. I thought the parts might be easy and cheap to replace. Think again. And the customer service is unbelievable. Now they want me to send them multiple photos of my Magic Bullet and multiple copies of my of the material that came with it. It will be in a future garage sale. My next stop is Consumer Reports.
Editor says:
Thanks. Hadn't thought of the issue regarding engaging/disengaging moving parts (but then I'm not an engineer). That makes sense; thanks for that data.
Dave Norton says:
Regarding Tom Jacob's comments: Don't engage / disengage the drive while it's running! We see no abnormal wear on ours after 2+ years. Regarding customer service: yes, they wanted photos of our unit IF WE COULDN'T PROVE WE BOUGHT FROM THEM. All it took was our name and approx. date of purchase, they verified our purchase, and are replacing our lost (not worn or broken!) cross blade base for less than $10. It's a fine unit, well designed and made, and adequately supported.
Editor says:
Thanks for your comments, Dave.
I have to say that, although our first Magic Bullet stopped working after a week, the second one has been working since I wrote this article — which I'm surprised to see is now over two years ago.
I guess the fact that the first one stopped working so quickly just kind of sticks in the mind.
Teresa says:
I received my MB as a gift about three years ago, and it just died on me this past Fall. I WAS very pleased with it, and was prepared to go the distance to replace whatever part needed to be replaced, but have since run into a series of unfortunate events. It started when I learned that the company Homeland Housewares doesn't sell replacement parts. Unable to locate a reasonable way to discern what I did need to replace, this sad tale ends when I believed a non-company website when they said they would replace my gear base and blades for what seemed like a VERY reasonable price. The person's name from that website is Greg Kisinger, his email address is grevicci @ cox.net.
I write this as a warning in case anyone else is looking to replace a gear base or blades from this individual — I wouldn't recommend it. I haven't received anything from him as promised, and his "website" appears to have mysteriously been discontinued. I know that it was naive of me to venture into this deal, especially in today's age of phishing and other financial fraud, but what can I say, I trusted this person and just wanted to get my bullet working again. Proves the saying caveat emptor!
I'm thinking about reporting this to the BBB or Consumer Fraud, I just want to see if this person will make things right first. Hope all is well with everyone else and their bulleting!
mary says:
when my blender top wore out and i needed a new i was able to buy a new one and also when the motor burned out i called they replaced it after 3 yrs for a small charge less then the blender it self a very satisfied customer will always own one now my 2nd in 5 yrs
Harkant says:
Thanks………………
I almost bought one!!!!!
Ray Reardon says:
I just got off the phone with customer service for the "Magic Bullet" Don't bother trying to get parts unless you send them proof it is an authentic item not even something as simple as the gasket that goes in the cup. They were rude and the only excuse was they didn't want to provide parts for something that was not theirs. I like the product but not the service!!!
Bob Tolefson says:
Sure was disappointed to read all the negative comments. I've had 2 MB's, the first I bought in Holland after seeing Mick and Mimi and Hazel and all the rest of them on the same infomercial we have over here. I liked the thing so much I bought another one (actually 2 for 1 price) when I moved back to the US. I've used it for well over a year and just today my little plastic gear broke. Looking to replace it I instead find this site. I guess I'll just have to break out the 2nd machine and hope for the best with it's longevity. I really like the machine. Unfortunate that the company doesn't care enough to stand behind it's products.
Here's an idea! What if I were to remove the gear from my 2nd MB and find someone who could manufacture it? If I sold them for a reasonable price I bet there would be a fairly substantial customer base. Seems most of us really liked the machine and were sad to have to let it go.
Editor says:
That may be, Bob.
We're still on our second Magic Bullet; we haven't used it in some time, but we didn't *stop* using it because it broke.
Maria V says:
I read all the blogs on this website and felt compassion for all of you, like me, who love the Magic Bullet's ease and convenience, yet are frustrated with its lack of reliability and the company's attitude of "let the buyer beware". I have seriously considered emailing GE and asking them in their hugeness to buy the company and improve on this product, whose idea is excellent, but whose reliability is poo-poo.
My personal experience with it is that it has chewed up all the gaskets and now it leaks, and of course, when it leaks the liquid gets into the gears and blocks all the holes which mades it overheat and could possibly be a contributing factor in some of your gears breaking or motors overheating. I also got no help from the manufacturer who ignored my very polite emails asking to purchase new gaskets from them. (BTW…GE Corp has always sent me new replacement parts, most of them free of charge for any GE product I have ever owned. They are the rock of Gibralter. Go buy their stock. Great company!….and no, I don't work for GE).
Anyhow….for those of you seeking replacement gaskets, don't waste your time or money trying to purchase them on ebay. They're up to $11.00 now plus shipping. (Shipping???? Stick them in an envelope!)
Any auto parts store should be able to sell you replacement gaskets of the same exact size in silicone rubber which has the greatest temperature range, is FDA approved and does not break down when washed in the dishwasher and they sell for under $5.00 a pack of 4. Give it a try. I bought some at my local auto parts store and was in and out of the store in 15 minutes with my new gaskets. Just bring in a sample or bring in the blade and they'll fit it for you.
That's my 2 cents. I hope it helps at least somebody out there!
Editor says:
Where to get new gaskets
For anyone needing new gaskets, take a look at Maria's comment above.
Thank you Maria. That's a terrific solution which should help many people. Thanks for helping out.
Danita says:
After reading Dave Norton's comment, I decided to email the MB company again and ask for a replacement plastic gear. They offered me a new base for $14.99 plus $5 s/h.
A lot better deal than the one they offered me back in December (see December post) which was the base for $40 s/h included. I'm wondering if all the negative responses from their customers are finally loosening them up. I can tolerate the $20, and I will keep my old base just in case the motor on the new base burns out. I'll just pull off the plastic gear and put it on the old base. Of course if the plastic gear breaks again, I'll just have to say adios to the MB. :)
Bob T says:
I like Maria V's idea about contacting GE and asking them to buy the company, improve the product, and re-market it. But why just GE? If we got a campaign going we should contact all the major appliance manufacturers to increase the chance one of them would do it. Hamilton Beach, Westbend, etc … all good companies. Anyone want to get this campaign rolling?
Tonya says:
I bought the magic bullet loved it- I even told my husband it was the bomb! The [bleep] broke after only 3 uses when I was very excited to make my daughter a smoothie. I am angry and would like to know how to get my money back.
[We're trying to keep it family-friendly here. ~Editor]
Editor says:
Tonya, I don't know whether anyone's had any luck in getting a refund. You can read the comments above, and perhaps contact the company.
Susan says:
I reluctantly ordered this machine, as I have many other blenders at home. When it arrived, I used it for a couple of months, sporadically, and then the little pieces in the base broke off, therefor unusable.
I have tried to find a replacement and can't. No more for me. I live on Soc Sec.
Glenda says:
I have had my Magic Bullet about 2 years, but I didn't use it that much. In fact, I never even got around to taking the tie off the cord! My husband just had dental surgery so I was making a puree out of potato salad (soft stuff) and it just burned up the motor. There was no reason for that. I find it is overpriced and limited. The smoothies I made were lumpy and the stuff at the top of the cup was never pulled to the bottom. I finally bought a smoothie machine for 1/4 the price and it works great. Then try and find a replacement part for these things, especially the power base unit. I found ONE on E-Bay and they wanted almost $30.00 for it. Not worth it. Magic Bullet my you know what!
Tom Ellis says:
MY MAGIC BULLET HAD PACKED IT IN!!
LOOKING FOR GEARS, ANYONE FOUND A WAY TO PURCHASE THIS PART??
IF SO WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE INFO ON WHERE OT GET THEM.
Andrew says:
My girlfriend and I were looking into getting the Magic Bullet- After reading bad review after bad review- We're having second thoughts-
hmmm Are there any GOOD reviews out there?
I don't think we'll spend $60 for a few uses- or even a few months…. We'll spend $100 and get a decent processor or something-
Great reviews everyone-
It helps people like us who do our research from getting 'jipped'!! :)
Crystal says:
THANK YOU MARIA V!!! We have a Bullet Blender, and we like it, but the same thing happened to us that happened to everyone else…our gaskets got chewed. I've been looking online and I discovered that the price of replacement gaskets was ridiculous, plus the shipping on these itty bitty silicone rings was $5!! So, when I read Maria's comment, I was thrilled! FInally, a solution…we've been using the silly thing without the gaskets and we've found that leaks are bad juju…
Angelina says:
I went to 3 auto part stores and no luck!!!
No one could match the gasket.
Help!!!
Maria, can you give more info about what they gave you.
Chip says:
My MB has been worthwhile for well over a year - I use it every day, all the time. The plastic teeth in the gear, however, have worn away the rubber teeth on the underside of the blades, so now the blades don't turn! Also, some of the plastic tabs on the cups broke off, so they don't work either! At least the motor still works…I found this website looking for replacements - any ideas?
Kari Robinson says:
HI all, sorry to hear about all of the problems. I do not have a MB, was looking at getting one, not so sure about that now.
For thoses of you that need new gears try Radio Controlled hobby store. My Hubby has RC cars and is alwas replacing plastic gears of all sizes. Thry even sell metal gears for some of the sizes, the metal gears run about $20, but the plastic ones are only about $5. Don't know if there is one that will fit or not, I would take the gear (what is left of it any way)
Good Luck all.
Jerrold Buck says:
I have heard all of these complaints since having bought our MB in March of 2005. Even Consumers Reports saidfthe unit overhetaed and burned out. You think the company would make changes to improve the product, but they are probably too busy spending the money they made selling so many.
I am probably jinxing myself by saying this, but so far we have lost only one seal to wear and tear, no motor burn out yet. We use the little sucker two to three times daily, sometimes more than that.
Thanks for the suggestions on where to get seals and gears. I would never have thought of a hobby shop for spare parts.
lisa says:
Sad to see so many bad reviews of the company! My Mom gave me her 2nd Magic Bullet and the 2nd time I used it the plastic gear on the bottom of the large chopper ripped off while making smoothies for my family. Today I was looking for the companies website for a replacement part. I didn't have much luck finding the website, however, I'm thankful to have found this website and not wasted my time, patience, or money on the company. I hope for their sake that they realize that they are only hurting their company and that someone else out there will come up with a simular item that works much better!
Chris says:
Thanks for all your reviews! My wife and I were planning on buying one, and looking for the best price when we stumbled onto this site. Now we've decided not to purchase one thanks to all of your reviews. Thanks again, Chris and Amanda
Elizabeth says:
I've had my Magic Bullet for only about a half a year (sence Christmas) and everything with the moter and the gears is still working fine. I only use it maybe 3 times a week to make smoothies or milkshakes. But recently when I was making a smooothie, I put it in the refrigerator with the cap. A few hours later, I took it out and there was a crack.
Does anyone know where I can buy replacement cups?
thank you!
Jim says:
Target sells the Magic Bullet. If yours breaks, Buy a new one there & return the old base to them a couple days later & say it stopped working. Target will get full credit from the manufacturer & maybe eventually will get the message & build it a little better.
Maverick says:
I am also one of the people who looking for "a working MB base but broken plastic gear."
The plastic gear is a small round plastic than make the blender spinning. However, I could not find one a replacement for it. Four of mine friends having identical problem. It is just a purely design defect.
Should be use smart material, like metal/copper to make that piece.
I would suggest anyone who want to buy the MB, who will sure encounter this problem.
If anyone have luck to find the replacement (I could not find it on ebay), beside sent back to for a joke shipping price for replacement.
Let me know:
—
Maverick, I removed your email address, as posting a live email address on any website will cause it to get spammed from here on out. ~Editor
Shannon says:
I have had my magic bullet for about 1 1/2 yrs.. When I first got it the motor smoked and quit working. I called them and they shipped me a new one. I have also experienced the gasket problem and the gear problem ( I have 2 ). My problem is the blade attachments teeth. I've gone through 3 of them now. I am currently waiting on a reply from the company on about replacing these. My kids use the bullet alot also, and we will miss the convience. I am like everyone else, I wished it was made better. I was considering buying another for gifts, but after happening upon this site, I am glad I didn't. Thanks!
PAngel says:
I was considering buying the Magic Bullet but will probably not do so now. Thanks.
Editor says:
I know what you mean. Although our second Magic Bullet has lasted since I wrote the original article in October 2005, I haven't been too impressed with what the above comments indicate about the lack of support.
Mike Parker says:
I purchased the Magic bullet, this was the biggest mistake that I've made in several years. During the first month it quite working.
So far we have written to 24 different links on the internet including this one and no-one will answer our emails about the warentee.
This gadget is underpowered and will not preform as the ads say, this I know by personal experience.
Model #MB1001,
Mike
Editor says:
Mike, if you're saying that you wrote to DesignerJones.com, I don't recall seeing an email from you.
However, I should point out that DesignerJones.com is a kind of online magazine/blog that is totally unaffiliated with the Magic Bullet people; all we did was write about our experience with the machine. We don't sell or support the Magic Bullet and in fact don't know anything about the warranty. I guess I could dig up the paperwork that came with it, but I'm guessing that you have that too.
Lori B says:
Same problem here - we were happy with ours, bought another for my mother-in-law. Used mine to give her a demonstration how great it was - and it made a screaming noise. We discovered the gear had sheared in two. Three weeks later, and three sets of photos later, the company is still determining if we deserve the honor of purchasing a replacement part. Very frustrating. I used the link posted earlier for the Better Business Bureau, and filed a complaint - we'll see what happens. But, surprisingly, their rating is AA - and not many complaints. Everyone who has this problem should file a complaint! Maybe I'm naive, but I still think there's power in numbers! At the very least, maybe it will catch someone's attention.
Editor says:
That's a surprising story, Lori — surprising that they're hesitating in providing replacement parts.
mike says:
Buy the Power Chopper, I have had mine for 3 years and I use it at least 3 times a day to make my boy frozen drinks. The only thing wrong is the blade attachment broke after three years. The only reason I’m buying a MB is because I can not find a replacement blade. I’m going to try the MB and if I don’t like it I'll just return it to Target and order online the Power Chopper for $29.99.
mike says:
Editor, what is taken so long to respond?
dottty howell says:
I bought the MB several yeaars ago and really loved it for smoothies. However, they will not allow me to buy new gaskets which really amazed me as I thought all companies sold repacement parts.
I will try Anita's solution and if that does not work I will throw it away and vow to new buy another product from their company. I have already stared telling everyone that I know not to buy their products as their company obviously has poor customer service policies.
Editor says:
Mike (comment #82), I'm not sure what you mean about taking so long to respond. I didn't see that your comment needed a response. Could you explain?
mike says:
Sorry! I had placed a question to you but did not post!?
Editor says:
Alright. What is your question? If you'd like to send it privately, use our email form.
MBuser says:
I found a link describing how to remove the drive gear, just in case anybody is having any trouble with this. http://www.99watts.com/mbdrivegear.html.
Bob T says:
Hey MBuser!! Thanks for the great tip! Or better said, thank your wife. But now comes part B of this problem. Where in the world do you get a replacement gear?
Editor says:
A couple of people had mentioned that replacement gears can be purchased on Ebay. I haven't tried it.
Bob T says:
I just searched eBay for them and could only come up with either the whole system or just the base. These bases range from $5 to $20 with shipping charges adding another $9 to $15. If someone would only reproduce that little gear, I'll bet they would make a small fortune. I use my MB almost everyday and knowing that it will eventually give out, I've been searching around for something similar with no luck.
Editor says:
Has anyone visited a local hardware store or the like? I'm thinking that these parts can't be so unusual.
Linda S says:
I bought the 2 for 1 deal off the TV about 3 years ago and have never been disappointed - other than the fact I realized later that what I paid was the price for two anyway. No matter, I gave one to my brother as a gift.
We use ours nearly every day - especially my son, who is into protein drinks and fruit smoothies. The base gear did break one time. After three phone calls (customer service department could use some help)and miscommunication about my new address, I finally got a new base - for which they only charged me shipping. I think the mix-up with the address saved me the $20 for the base. I am now considering the cordless unit they have out as I love the machine!
Dawne says:
I am not sure that I could write anything different than the rest of these 91 comments. But, for the 93rd comment: "Ditto". Motor fried after about 15 uses. Too bad, seemed like such a good thing.
Mike says:
I bought my MB about three months ago. My last gasket broke after the last use so I called a seller of these products and was told that unless I bought from them, they would not sell me parts. buythebullet.com
Never seen a company like this that sells a product but has no customer service or availability of parts.
Greg says:
Has anyone confirmed finding the gears anywhere , mine finally went out , the plastic gear inside the base broke into pieces. I read some reviews saying check ebay , but they dont have the gears on there right now. Any other ideas ?
Theresa says:
I am very disappointed in the very expensive Magic Bullet. I agree, too much plastic in the housing. Also, the cross-blade and flat blade froze up within a short time of purchase and the plastic that houses the blades split in a near perfect 360 degree line. I plan to go back to a food processor. I had my original food processor for 32 years and gave it away when I purchased the Magic Bullet. Am sorry now!
Editor says:
I'm sorry to hear that, Theresa. They do have much smaller food processors nowadays, but the Magic Bullet have a convenience factor that's hard to beat.
HPenny says:
I maybe bragged tooo long, I have had mine for just short of a year.. two weeks ago while I made the granddaughter a smoothie, up inside where the rubber gear connects to the plastic cap that holds the blades the Bullet profusely started to leak, all over the counter top.. I cannot see the crack or break.. but leaking that much, it 'is' broke :(
Tisha says:
I had my MB for a while in the box, and when I finally started using it, it only lasted several months before the plastic gear in the base cracked. Very disappointing when you gave away your regular blender, thinking the MAGIC BULLET is all you need. If you want to feel better, I bought mine when they sold a single one for $99.99 and didn't start using it until right befor they appeared in stores for $69.99. Then my gear broke! I saw some in Costco for $39.99 but the gears are a clear plastic. My old broken one is black. Does anyone have one of those clear ones that broke? Or are they not making them better?
Darla says:
I have my bullet for over a year and it's generally worked well (though in more than 10 seconds most of the time) but the crossblade had broken 2 times, it like the plastic underneath has worn down and isn't catching. My Mom gave me her extra one last time but now I had to Homeland Housewares, they were rude and incredibly unhelpful. Although I have an authentic Magic Bullet they won't sell me a replacement blade. I am more than willing to pay for it but they refuse to sell it to me because they can't find the original order (it was a gift). How frustrating! I love this product but will buy a knock off now by a company with decent customer service.
mark says:
garbage dont get it ,its made in china and they are now bein sold for 39.99 thats how cheap it is spend the xtra money and get a good product.
Annette Powell says:
YIKES!! I just purchased two MBs for gifts and one for myself. After reading these comments, I wish I had not bought any of them!
Expensive for the lack of durability!!
Editor says:
Okay. All I can say is that yours may last, or it may not. Our first lasted less than a week, but our second is still working.
tish says:
i had my magic bullet for about 3 weeks now and its been great but after reading the reviews im kind of scared because i sure don't want mines to break down
foggyidea says:
I used my bullet on and off for about a year. I liked it and my wife hated it until I tried to make peanut butter and the motor burnt out… Now I am not such a fan… and i cannot find the maker to mail it back!!!
Dave Maslako says:
I have broken the plastic base gear in 2 different machines. The part is a cheap piece of garbage. Where can I get just the plastic base blade. One drop of glue and a blade will fix it.
Laurie says:
I bought my MB from Danoz Direct here in Aus. It's worked fairly well until recently when the cross blade stopped turning, even though the motor was still running. The rubber/plastic gear that the blade is attached to is loose. When tightening it, it goes so far then slips again, so I'll need a new cross blade. I'm just about to embark on the "spare parts journey" like so many of you. I agree with the other posts re getting a "real" company to make these so they last.
Rachel says:
Love love love this product…I am on my second one.
I make sure that the gaskets are firmly smushed into place before blending and that the blade is firmly, but not too firmly (or the cup will crack) screwed on.
Also I do not let anything drip out of the cup and do not leave it running for too long. My husband does not use the care I do and he has made several smoothies flavored with plastic gasket.
So far this one is lasting about a year.
Great product, but touchy!!!
My kids get liquified veggies in most of their meals thanks to magic bullet!
I would love to see glass mugs…so you can put hot liquids etc in them with out fear of offing phalates.
I have tried to get replacement parts…I NEED BLADES HELP!!!!
Editor says:
Thanks for the information, Rachel — it'll help all of us who are using the Magic Bullet.
I looked up phthalates:
Also see: Legal Toxins in Toys May Disrupt Male Sexual Development.
That said, for those of us who are not babies or men, they're still not good for us.
Elaine says:
I find this review website interesting b/c ALL the reviews are negative about the magic bullet. My parents gave each of my siblings (8 of us) one for Christmas several years ago when they were first becoming popular. To date only one of us has had any problems with it (see below) and several of us use it every single day, more than once a day. My family mostly uses it for protein shakes but I use it daily for baby food too. I've made guacamole, salsa, hummus, grated cheese, pesto etc…I've done A LOT. READ THE DIRECTIONS WHEN YOU USE IT. My sister was using it over and over again one day and it quit but you are not supposed to use it like that without giving it a break. It started working again and works fine if you use it for what it's intended. It's for short jobs. I just wanted to put a POSITIVE RESPONSE in b/c I absolutely love the Magic Bullet.
Editor says:
Hi Elaine. Actually, I think what's happening here is that everybody loves the Magic Bullet — and they say so, don't they?
The problem arises when the Magic Bullet breaks or burns out; then we hear complaints and requests for replacement parts (which, strangely enough, Homeland Housewares apparently does not provide or sell).
Our first MB burned out after I had written the original review. Since I'd already recommended it, rather than delete the article entirely, I thought it would be best to record my experience. Then other people showed up to share theirs.
Re using it properly, while it's important to follow the instructions, I do find it more than a little disconcerting that it's so easy to burn it out or break it. I'd have to say that that isn't even hinted at in the infomercial.
That said, our second Magic Bullet is still going strong, and I wrote this in October of 2005. I suppose I should note that above.
Glynn says:
To Elaine,
What a condescending post. Because others did not share your experience does not mean they need to be told to read the directions (ALL IN CAPS FOR ADDED EMPHASIS REGARDING OUR STUPIDITY). The fact is, I used mine about once a week and it did not last even close to a year. I did not get the great price they are now or the 2 for 1 either, so I was out $100.00 on a piece of junk. Reading the directions is not going to correct defective merchandise. Personally, I appreciate knowing the problems people have with the Magic Bullet and wish I had read this site before I bought one.
Michael from Van Nuys, CA says:
I wouldn't buy one of these, simply because of Hazel, who hates to chop "stinky, nasty garlic" or Berman who hates broccoli. All the comments here, regardless of the informercial, would prevent me from buying one anyway. For those of you who ABSOLUTELY MUST HAVE this, buy it at Costco. If anything breaks…EVER…they will give you your money back as long as you have your receipt. No time limit. As far as a mini food processor, KitchenAid is the best. I've had one for years, it's great, powerful, not difficult to clean, and I can still chop "stinky, nasty garlic" without a problem.
saagar says:
I asked about the new added items, the juicer and another, in their website. they never bothered to reply.
Dave. says:
Does anyone know if there have been any Class Action Suits started anywhere against Magic Bullet. I have 2 on the shelf still waiting for new plastic base gears. I will be the first to sign if there is.
carolyn somerville says:
i have wanted one of these for years, and was just about to order one when i thought i'd better google it. the number of complaints about how easy it breaks is scary, i don't know if i should buy? there could be just as many happy customers as unhappy. its the unhappy ones we generally hear from…
not sure
Curtis W Williams says:
I have a solution to the problem that some of you are having with the gear in the bottom of the unit. I have had my Magic Bullet for 3 years or more and just encountered the gear problem a few days ago. After reading some of the comments negative responses from the company, I decided that it would be fruitless for me go the same route.
Solution…When I purchased my unit i received three blades (1 Flat Blade & 2 Cross Blades). Some of you will have to make a decision as to which blade is used the most. I feel that the Flat Blade is used the less therefore this is the one that you will have to sacrifice in the procedure.
Finish breaking the plastic from around the broken base unit until the brass nut is exposed. Hold this nut with a pair of plies or vice grip pliers. Then turn the unit on its side. On the bottom is a hole in the middle. Place a small width screw driver in the hole and turn … counter clockwise … because this is a reverse nut.
Next use the pliers to hold the Blade on one side and turn the other end with another pair of pliers…remembering to turn … clockwise in order to loosen the gear. Take this Gear and screw it on … the base unit … counter clockwise. Your unit is complete and ready for use.
I hope that this information will be beneficial to some of you. I am with all of you that are frustrated with companies the build products and not sell individual parts to fix a minor problem. Leavin us with only one option … buy a new base unit or forget it.
Curtis W Williams says:
I would like to receive feedback on my #118 response.
Mav says:
Curtis
Would you put your solution on youtube (www.youtube.com), I think you have the best solution so far. But see in picture/video would help a lot.
Thanks,
Mav
Mav says:
Thanks, Curtis W William. I follow your instruction everything seems working fine. So I would like to thank your for solution, and put more detail for others.
My unit was working fine(except the broken plastic surrounding by the bass nut)I was thinking to throw it away, however I decide to give it try.
Here is what tools:
screw driver
vice grip plier
needle nose plier
First, I also pick the flat blade; I use the vice grip plier to cramp the flat blade and then use a towel to grip around the black plastic and turn. I got the black plastic from the base. That black plastic from the flat blade will be use it for later.
Second, turn the base up side down, and there is 4-5(I don't remember exactly) round rubber legs, pull each of them out using the needle nose plier. I am able to pull out them using my finger, once they are out, you would see the screws, unscrew them all. Then the cover of the base would pop out, then is a screw right in the middle of the motor; before I do anything, I use a vice grip plier to cramp on the bass nut, one hand holding the grip, the other hand making turn on that screw, the bass unit comes out after few turn. Now we are putting the black plastic that we got from the first step by simply screw the black plastic using hand. Put the base cover back and screw back. Then put the rubber legs back on. That's it. you are all done.
Right after I done, I enjoy a nice strawberry milkshake from my magic bullet which was broken for 4
months. Work perfectly.
It is very simple, I would highly recommend anyone give it a try.
Thanks,
Mav
Frank H. says:
Thank you for the repair instructions in post #118.
Worked like a charm!
Curtis W Williamsm says:
I was thinking about having a company to make the gear and I would sell it, however, this idea is not cost effective. Therefore, this is my final suggestion. If you do not want to sacrifice one of your blades you can go on EBay and purchase a flat blade, cheap. You can then use it for the replacement gear. This is far cheaper than ordering an expensive base unit.
I appreciate your feedback from my original suggestion. It gives me joy in circumventing a Company's hard ball tactics.
Editor says:
Well done, Curtis. Thanks for finding a solution and providing the information.
Dave says:
Thanks Curtis. I used both comments #118 and #123. Cost $8.00 for a new Flat Blade shipped to my door. Everything back in working order. This still does not clean the slate with the makers of Magic Bullet. Time for them to pay the piper for a poor gear design.
Glynn says:
I long ago threw mine out. I sure wish I had known about this. However, I have found that there is life without Magic Bullet. I won't be buying another one.
Al says:
This product (MB) is garbage in terms of quality. It stopped working after 6 months of light use. I only used the MB for banana and strawberry shakes about 20 times over the last 6 months and just tonight it went bust (3/28/08) It did gtreat banana/strawberry shakes with ice cubes and milk filled up to about half way and sugar, it worked for 6 months. We have an OSTER blender for 26 years of heavy use and only had to replace the top glass and blades once (easy to obtain) The top glass my wife broke and the blades were replaced due to heavy use. This OSTER blender is still going strong after 26 years, but the MB failed miserably tonight. We wasted our $60.00; each shake came out to about $3.00 for each blending ($60.00 cost of MB divided into 20 shakes = $3.00 per shake) plus the cost of bananas, strawberries and a little milk. I just calculated the cost of the OSTER blender over 26 years at approx. use of 3 times a week or 150 annually times 26 years = 3,900 times. We paid about $40.00 for the OSTER blender. $40.00 cost of OSTER divided into 3900 times of use = approx. $0.01 per blending and its still going strong like the Energizer bunny; we'll probably replace this blender just to get another coordinated color, but at this rate it will probably last over 50 years which will give us a lot more service at $0.005 ~1/2 penny~ per blending.
paula says:
i've owned the same magic bullet blender for…4 years as of the past jan. 15th. i bought it when i had gastric bypass surgery to get me through the 3-6 month soft food stage.
it's still working beautifully. i use it constantly, even though i've been back on solid food for 3+ years.
it stopped working last week when i kept it running too lone (tipically i run it in bursts as to not burn the motor out) while grinding coffee for expresso. i immediately went to ebay to find a replacement base…and found several…but, before bidding on one i tried the machine again, after the motor had had time to cool…and VOILA…it worked finely.
i love that it takes up practically none of my limited counter/cabinet space, and there's really nothing it wont do that i need. i love that i dont have to use the big blender for tiny jobs. and that i can store coffee (or whatever) in the same container i ground it in.
i got a blender when i got married (9 years ago)…never used it. i use the bullet practically on a daily basis.
paula says:
oh…and i've found replacement parts on ebay for cheap. but it's good to know, if i need to take the less used things apart to fix the base, i can. but just the base, extra blades, just the cups with or without the lids can all be found easily and cheaply.
Editor says:
Thanks, Paula. It's clear that everyone likes the Magic Bullet; they just don't like it when it breaks. Thanks for the tips.
Marion says:
I bought my MB to make smoothies but it doesn't hold enough and they were clumpy. I like my blender way better and it sure more heavy duty when using ice. I used my MB for 4 months, very sporadically, maybe 8 times and one day, when whipping up some eggs, a puff of smoke arose from the MAGIC bullet and that was all she wrote. I actually paid $99.00 for mine, I guess that was before they came back. I won't be buying another one. My blender has been with me for 14 years and has never let me down. I'll stick with it.
Editor says:
Good point there, Marion. It's a little alarming when electrical appliances break on you — nothing like a little puff of smoke to start your day off right!
Good point about the blender, too. While the Magic Bullet is convenient, it does have issues. We do have a heavy-duty blender, and a coffee grinder I picked up at Costco 15-20 years ago, both of which are still working.
AmyW says:
Thank you, Maria V!! My Magic Bullet chewed up a gasket & I've only had it for a month. Figures! I do love the convenience of it, though. I agree with the rest of the comments about the reliability.
Bill says:
Is there a class action suit against Homeland
Housewares for this obviously fraudulent product
called "Magis Bullet"? If so I would like to join.
John Jr says:
Had a problem with our MB this evening .. motor was turning, inside blade was not. The problem was that the black 4-pronged rubber gear in the black base & the 4-pronged clear plastic/rubber gear in the silver base had worn each other out. Each prong is supposed to be 1/4″ high but ours was worn down to 1/8″ - so they were missing each other, not engaging. There was black & silver slivers, shavings & dust in the motorized base unit.
Luckily, Curtis (#118) has a GREAT idea, i.e., use the black gear from one MB to another. However, Curtis mentions "breaking the plastic from around the broken base unit until the brass nut is exposed" .. my 6-month old MB has no brass nut, not in the silver (motorized) base nor in the black base that the cup screws into. The black gear is threaded on while the clear one is pressed on.
So, Iʻm presuming the MB went thru a design change somewhere along the way. For those who have the type MB I do, try this:
1. Use a slip-joint pliers to hold the black gear while holding the blade with a towel .. we donʻt want to nick the blade holding it with a pliers. Like Curtis says, turn COUNTER-CLOCKWISE; the shaft has left-hand thread meaning that it tightens itself when the motor is running. It should not take much effort to unthread - just make sure youʻre turning counter-clockwise.
2. Substitute the good one with the bad one .. turn clockwise .. donʻt make it too tight, itʻs self-tightening when the motor runs.
Mav (#121) mentions unscrewing the bottom from the base unit to access that blade, however, our blade is pressed-on .. you can see the brass knurling thru the clear blade. Removing the bottom plate allows the entire motor unit to move back & forth in the base but the two crimped (red & black) wires prevent the motor from detaching from the base. Plus, the blade is on the end of the motor shaft so it cannot be "unthreaded" at all. Fortunately, this movement is all thatʻs needed to access the clear blade, unfortunately, weʻre gonna need a special puller to remove it.
In the mean time, simply replacing the black gear has our MB working like gang busters. However, Iʻm at a loss understanding why the black & clear blades wore each other out by 50%?!? Might be all the frozen stuff we blend.
On a different note, when I removed the bottom/base screws to allow access to the motor, I was able to see inside the base. Wow, thereʻs a lot of kunk build up inside there. I can see where some motors may burn out earlier while others can last for years (aside from having a lemon motor). It might be helpful to remember to watch for any liquids or solids that fall into the base where the cup threads in .. try to wipe out spills while theyʻre still wet but donʻt let it drip into/under the (3) white vibration pads.
Also, because the motor needs "cooling" air, the fan draws large amounts of air in and out the bottom. Canʻt distinguish between liquid/solids that fall into the base versus airborne/countertop stuff that gets sucked into the bottom. Suffice to say, when the time comes, simply use a quality electrical/electronic spray cleaner (like for any other electric motor) - and you might want to perform this cleaning operation outdoors rather than in the kitchen.
Editor says:
Excellent, John Jr. Welcome, and thank you for this information.
KSgirl says:
I've had my magic bullet for years and have had no problems…
I LOVE IT!
ShirleyValentine says:
My late Father-in-Law purchased a MB for himself and I. The first problem I had was the rubber gasket getting twisted around the blade. I replaced the gasket but this continued to happen so now I don't use any. I use my MB 3-5 times a day and have done so since August 2006. The only problem without the gasket is sometimes there is leakage. My MB started acting up about 6 months ago so I started using my FIL'S that we got after he passed away last year. About a week ago the center plastic mount in the base broke into 10 pieces while blending. I dug out my old base unit and it works but stays on continuously when plugged in! So now I stand there holding the base and the plug in the wall while my Protein Shake is blending. I can tell the motor is on its last legs as it is moaning while blending…LOL So I have all the parts for TWO MB'S and NO friggen base that works properly. I am going to take the blade and cup I use all the time and go to WalMart and see if I can find a cheaper blender that the blade will fit on. I hate the thought of having to use my big blender which is such a PIA to clean–especially 4-5 times a day. I am going to go check out eBay to see if there are any cheap bases but I am even leary about buying one there.
Jane says:
I have had my MB for over 3 years and it has worked perfectly.
Unfortunately, I am glad to see I am not the only one with the same problem of the base wheel splitting and breaking!
I will try the solution that has been given and will continue to look for the "base wheel". I may have a lead and will update if it works!
Hang in there!
Luvenia says:
Brought MB also asking for gasket part to be replaced
I like my MB over one year of working.
Shannon says:
I've read through all of the comments and I have to say I'm shocked — I've used my Magic Bullet constantly for 4 years and I've never had a problem with it. I make protein smoothies every morning and it works great. I did make sure to read the directions when I first got it, and I never run the motor for more than 10 seconds because it will burn out. I know many other people who bought it on my advice and they have never had problems either.
Editor says:
Thanks, Shannon. It's good to hear from people who have not had problems with the Magic Bullet. Our second MB is still going strong after a few years.
Marion says:
I don't know a product on the market that is 100% without defect.