Manual Vacuum Sealer System & Starter Bags review and price compare 2025

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Product overview

Brand	Seal-a-Meal.
Color	Limited Edition
Operation Mode	Manual

product features

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THE FRESH SOLUTION FOR FOOD STORAGE: Vacuum sealing removes all the air from specially designed bags, then uses heat to create a secure seal, ensuring food not only takes up less space in the fridge, freezer, or pantry, but also stays fresh longer compared to non-vacuum storage methods. USE WITH SEAL-A-MEAL & FOODSAVER BAGS & ROLLS: Compatible with 8-inch, 11-inch, 1-quart, and 1-gallon Seal-a-Meal and FoodSaver vacuum seal bags and rolls, including FoodSaver Easy Seal & Peel vacuum seal rolls a
PRESERVES TASTE & NUTRIENTS: Confidently store fresh fruits, vegetables, cuts of meat, fish, and more! When air is removed from the bag and finished with an airtight vacuum seal, food is protected from the deteriorating effects of air, which causes freezer burn and spoilage. EVERYTHING INCLUDED TO GET STARTED: (4) 1-quart vacuum seal bags, user manual, and 1-year limited warranty
MAKES SAVING TIME & MONEY EASY: Prepare meals or ingredients ahead of time for no-hassle weeknight dinners that you can microwave or simmer in the bag, and spend less time grocery shopping by buying in bulk and storing extra food for later without fear of freezer burn
ONE-PRESS VACUUM SEALING: Simply press firmly down on the lid with both hands and hold until the Hands-Free Indicator Light illuminates. It is then safe to remove your hands from the Lid. The unit will continue to vacuum and seal the bag
NOT JUST FOR FOOD STORAGE: Use your vacuum sealer to store liquids and creams when you travel, protect important papers or photographs from mildew or possible water damage, create your own refreezable ice packs, and much more

product description

Color:Limited Edition

Air out. Freshness in. The Seal-a-Meal Manual Vacuum Sealer System is the fresh solution for food storage. This system keeps food fresh longer by removing air from specially designed bags and creates a secure, airtight seal so you can store food in refrigerator, freezer, and pantry for a longer period of time compared to non-vacuum storage methods.

product details

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Questions about Manual Vacuum Sealer System & Starter Bags

does it come with bags

Answer: The bags that come with the unit actually doesn't seal as well as some no-brand bag roll I bought. They are not just slightly less tightly sealed -- they are NOT sealed at all after the 1st pass! FYI, I bought this roll from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0063HZVBC It's 100% sealed in the first pass.

Answer: It comes with starter bags. I can't remember the amount

Answer: It comes with 4 bags. I bought a roll at Target at a very good price, and a friend taught me to wash the bags and reuse them, which stretches your dollar.

Answer: can't you read?

Answer: Yes, mine came with three or four 8" bags, but they will be gone almost immediately. I found it better to just buy a couple of rolls of bags. Then you can trim them to the size you need.

Answer: mind did. I think it was 6 - 8 inch bags.

Answer: it came with about 4 or 5 the sealer works great

Answer: No. Not at this price!

Is there a way i can seal small items with out wasting a huge bag.

Answer: Buy small bags (quart size). Depends how small your food is, starting place the food on the bottom of the bag, shake the bag, then begin to do your sealing process. You then can place the new load in the same procedure and seal. You now have your food stack or lined up in separate compartments but one bag. The food then can be trimmed to separate them or leave it in one bag then freeze them

Answer: I made smaller bags. I cut off a section and sealed two ends, then put hamburger patties individually in their own small bag. Sealed that end. That way no waste.

Answer: You can cut the bag in half or to fit the item you are vacuum sealing. Then just seal the open end(s) before vacuum sealing. Hope this helps.

Answer: I buy the rolls & cut them the size I need them. Just be careful not it too small or it doesn't have enough room to close and seal. Learned that the hard way. Hope this helps

Answer: If your using a tall 12" bag (for example) seal the top closed without anything in it. Now you have a sealed bag on both ends. Cut the bag MidWay in half. You now have 2 smaller 6" bags to work with. Fill bag, seal it and ready to go is the other half...Hope it helps!

Answer: These vacuum sealers will seal almost anything. I regularly use cheap quart zip lock type freezer bags from the dollar store. I cut the zipper part off with scissors put a serving of food in, fold a pleat in the opening and vacuum and seal perfectly.

Answer: In addition to the rolls, I have purchased both pint and quart sized bags online. No need to spend a lot of money on brand names. They all work the same. I've just worn out my second Seal-A-Meal in 16 years and am purchasing a new one today. Very easy to use.

Answer: Sure, use the 8 inch roll and just be sure to cut off enough to seal both ends.

Does this work with the bags only, or is it compatible with the rolls of FoodSaver?

Answer: Yes, it works with the foodsaver bags. I ordered a roll when I ordered the sealer, and cut the rolls down to smaller sizes when I need them. The only problem I have run into is sometimes I dont get a side sealed correctly when I cut them down, and the sealer will just keep vacuuming and not seal. Now I know to just reseal the side I cut, and once I do that it works perfectly.

Answer: It works with both.

I want to preserve my fresh garden herbs. Will this do the trick?

Answer: This vacuum sealer is perfect for vacuum sealing fresh garden herbs.

Answer: how long can i store seal a meal vegetables in refrigerator not freezer

Can you use the seal feature without the vacuum on this system?

Answer: No, it's all a single operation. To start the operation you have to close it, hold it by hand, it starts the vacuum and finishes with the heat that seals it.

Answer: Don't see any reason it wouldn't seal if you just put it on the seal strip.

Answer: The machine is started by pressing down on the lid. A light will come on to let you know you can take your hand off of the lid and the machine will seal. It all works as one so you wouldn't be able to just seal.

Answer: Yes you can it's a little tricky but you just have to line the edge of the bag along the front

Answer: Yes you can, but it would be just like a ziplock baggie.

do I have to buy a specific brand of bags made just for this FSSMSL0160-000 sealer, or are the bags interchangeable?

Answer: The bags are all interchangeable. I like to buy the box of bags and rolls from Costco. I forgot the price - maybe $39 or more. But you have a good size variety and they last forever.

Answer: i used the bags that came with the sealer as well as bags i purchased on ebay. they both work fine as long as they fit the machine. as far as specific brand, i am comfortable purchasing anything that fits.

Answer: All the bags are interchangeable.

Answer: I also assume the bags are interchangeable.

Answer: Pretty much interchangeable..

Answer: If you value your money; you would not waste it with this product.

Can the vacuum sealed bags be used as a boiling bag?? I have the old seal a meal from thes to seal veggies pre cooked and then boiled. Will it work?

Answer: I have used them for veges and home made soup, on Med heat. You need to partially thaw first to make sure there are no holes in the bag. Probably would work for Spaggeti sauce, but I wouldn't boil the water then put the bag and contents in if its a rapid boil. Have to experiment.

Answer: Yes you can use the bags to boil.I take my left-overs from the freezer to the boiling water to re-heat.

Answer: Yes they can. Just boil water and drop in bag.

Answer: I do not know as I haven't tried that yet.

Does anyone knows how long the manufacture's warranty is for this unit

Answer: This is a terrible product...if yours does need to be returned for some reason through the one year Seal A Meal warranty, be prepared to do a dog and pony show...and you'll still end up with a non-working product!

Answer: Our vacuum sealers have a one year limited warranty.

Answer: Sorry I don't but thought they were good for a year. You could email seal-a-meal .com and ask that question. I bought two of these units for my sister in laws and they love them.

Answer: I don't know. However, I would caution you to not purchase this item. I purchased TWO and neither worked. Obviously, I returned them (Amazon has a fabulous return policy and system!) I ended up buying a Food Saver brand, which is fabulous.

Answer: Sorry I don't know. Besides I sent this one back since it did not work properly and purchased a more expensive vaccum sealer which we love.

can I buy replacement parts for it

Answer: For customer service and parts please contacts us at http://www.sealameal.com/contactus.

does the machine cut the bag after seal or do i have to cut the bag?

Answer: This model does not have a built-in cutter. You will have to use scissors to cut the bag prior to sealing and/or vacuum sealing.

Answer: No it does not cut the bags for you

Answer: You must cut the bag.

Answer: This machine does not cut bags. Also, this machine only worked for me until after the warranty expired about 3 and 1/2 months. I cannot recommend this sealer to anyone. Thanks.

Answer: bags don't need to be cut however I found this machine not worth the money

Answer: You must cut the bag. I really like this item. Bags are cheapest on Amazon, not Wally World!!

Answer: you cut the bag. I was so disappointed with the machine save your money and buy the "food Saver"

what comes with this product

Answer: Just a few bags come with the seal-a-meal so buy either a roll to make your own sizes or a box of quart size. You'll love the seal-a-meal. For instance, now when I buy a loaf of bread, I immediately put four slices per bag and freeze them. No more dried out bread!

Answer: You get 3 or 4 sample bags. So if you intend to use it regularly, either buy a box of bags or a roll of bags so you can adjust to whatever size you need.

Answer: Just a few bags came with the sealer.

Answer: The actual sealer and 6 - 8" bags.

does it have a bag cutter bar

Answer: No. It just seals and does a very good job.

Answer: No, it does not.

Does this have an accessory port to attach a hose? If so, will the FoodSaver hose fit?

Answer: Never seen any ports on the unit. Nothing in the instructions indicates that capability. This is a basic unit, it works well but no frills.

Answer: As far as I am aware, the FoodSaver does not have a port for a hose. However, it is a great product for the money.

Answer: No, there is no vacuum accessory port on this model.

Answer: No it does not. Its a no frills, inexpensive unit. Love mine!

Answer: No, it does not that I am aware of. Great device for the money.

Answer: No it does not. Works great and is an excellent product tho.

Answer: No this model does not have one. It is a very basic model.

Answer: Sorry, there is no excess report. No place to plug in any hoes

Answer: No

Can you add a liquid without it being sucked out? I'm wanting it for marinating meat.

Answer: There is a simple way to seal without suction (vacuum). The sealer bar is in front of the vacuum chamber. Simply put bag edge on the sealing portion in the very front. Otherwise the law of physics apply, and it real doesn't matter what sealer you use. It will suck liquid or marinades out of the bag. There is no seal only button. Please for you others, I will not respond any more!

Answer: I've used a foodsaver for years to package bags of soup. There is some soup pulled into the drip tray but it is very minimal. The slot that the unit is pulling the air out through is very thin and once the liquid hits it, the added resistance is enough to trip the sealing strip to heat and seal the bag.

Answer: A great idea is to first freeze liquids in a ziplock bag. Once frozen, open the ziplock, but do not remove the frozen content. Place the unzipped ziplock inside the food sealer bag with the zip facing DOWN. Seal!!

When sealing steaks should the steaks be frozen first ?

Answer: You do not have to freeze the steaks prior to vacuum sealing, but we do always recommend pre-freezing any foods that have a lot of juices as this will allow the juice to remain in the food while vacuum sealing. This will help with flavor once you do thaw and cook the food, as well as helping to ensure you get the best vacuum pack initially.

Answer: No, we seal them then freeze them. However, there are conflicting opinions.

Will this machine seal mylar bags?

Answer: We only recommend using Seal-A-Meal® or FoodSaver® bags.

Answer: The Product is designed specifically for their bags. I have not found generic bags that will do. I suspect that you may void the warranty or have a nasty melting problem if you try. More likely though, I think it will simply fail to engage because it does not sense the proper texture of material in the groove where you must place the bag ends.

Answer: tried sealing one or two when we received the sealer and the rolls. as far as I can tell they sealed fine...have not used them "for real" yet so cannot give a sure answer.

Answer: Notice the manufacturer didn't say no. Where I come from that means yes but I'm not allowed to say.

Is it 110V or 220V?

Answer: All of our products that are sold in the United States and Canada are manufactured and UL approved for 110-120 voltage.

How to make bags from the rolls?

Answer: Cut a length from the roll the size that you wi8sh to make. Place one of the open ends on the bar that makes

Answer: hi; first you cut the size you need from the roll. then you seal one side and now you have a bag, sealed already at three sides. load the bag and seal the remaining/open side and .. ready you are!

Answer: Cut the size bag you want, then seal one side. This will give you three sealed sides. Load your bag and seal as you would an ordinary bag.

Answer: Simply cut bag to desired length, place one end partially in(over the heating strip but not in the vacuum chamber) press and hold until hands free illuminates, then release when light goes out. That seals one end and the other is done once item is in bag, insert that end all the way into vacuum chamber, press and hold, wait for hands free, then once light extinguishes release. Hope that helps

Answer: The rolls come in tubular form. Simply seal one end. Cut to desired length, insert food and seal the other end. They are much more economical than purchasing bags. I love them.

Answer: Seal one end. (The roll must stay tightly rolled or the machine will suck out the air from as much material as has been unrolled) Cut to size. Fill and seal.

How long does it take to seal a bag?

Answer: I just got mine and I am not happy with how long it takes. It takes 60 seconds to seal even if you are using a roll and just sealing one end to make a bag. You then have to wait another minute to suck the air and seal the other end. That is a long time of holding the lid down.

Answer: The amount of time used to seal the bag would depend on the size and contents of the bag.

Answer: It depends on the size of the bag. Not long at all. I love this device. I have saved money by using it. You should play with it to get used to using it as with anything new. Ive found it to be worth having.

Answer: In my personal opinion I wouldn't buy this machine. It didn't work a all for me

Answer: about 1 min

I'm going to be sealing baked goods. Can you stop the machine, or are you at the mercy of an automatic process? Will my stuff potentially be crushed?

Answer: This Vacuum Sealer does not have a pulse vac button; with baked goods we recommend pre-freezing before vac and sealing.

I want this for the bags of salad I buy. Am I able to reseal the bag of salad itself, or do I have to use their special bags?

Answer: I wouldn't because the plastic in the bagged salad is very thin and the seal a meal is made for the heavier plastic bags sold with it. You would probably end up with a gooey mess of melted plastic and ruin the machine if you tried it. There are bag clips you could use on your salads, that's what I use. Or, there are battery operated bag closers, that melt the bags closed at a safer temperature but I'm not sure where to get them. I have one I bought years ago through a mail order catalog. They are rather small and hand held. Good luck.

Answer: Actually yes you can. You’ll need to fold over the top of the salad bag several times prior to sealing. That way the plastic is thicker and can seal without incident.

Answer: I would like to say that the salad bags are to thin, and would melt through. I haven't tried it though.

Answer: Requires special bags.

Can a heavy duty ziploc bag with the top cut off work in the machine? Thanks Sue

Answer: greetings sue i cut the top off of a ziploc bag and, yes, it did seal it you might have to play with the bag to get all of the air out !!

Answer: I don't believe you can do that, the bags the machines uses are a different material. I think the ziploc would just melt

Answer: Yes, you can seal the bags but you can't get the air out unless you use their bags.

Answer: No, you need bags designed for these machines, everything else melts

Answer: I do not know. But I will try heavy duty zip lock and let you know..

Answer: Sorry, I've had no experience along those lines

can you use any seal bags like food saver bags or seal a meal bags

Answer: I've used food saver bags and seal a a meal. Both work fine. Need heavier plastic than zip lock.

Answer: I only use seal a meal not to sure about the other seal products.

Answer: I seal potato chips, crackers, cookies, etc. I have only used foodsaver freezer bags.

Answer: Yes. The sealing process is the same; so, any seal bags work.

Answer: Yes I believe you can. I have used both.

can i reheat the food why it is still in the vacuum sealed bag? and if so what is the best way to reheat?

Answer: Yes. You can heat cooked foods, such as leftovers, in a Seal-a-Meal® bag. The bags should never be used to cook raw foods. When microwaving, cut open a corner of the bag before putting it in the microwave so steam can escape. Avoid microwaving foods containing a lot of oil, as oil will get hot very quickly and could cause the sides of the bag to stick together.

Answer: To heat food that I sealed in a bag I use a knife to put a slit in the bag to let the steam escape if I am using the microwave. Or, you can put the sealed bag in water till hot. Either way works.

Answer: what method of reheating. boiling water, skillet-stove top, microwave, grill?

Trying to decide between this model and the Seal-a-Meal VS108-P Vacuum Sealer. Anyone know the differences?

Answer: The 108 -p has the accessory port

Answer: They are both made by the same manufacturer and are essentially the same machine. And my experience after one was returned, is that it works really well. Does the job for a good price

Can this vacum sealer be used with the metallized bags?

Answer: I have used it to seal bags with liners that look like metal such as chip bags, but I would never buy this model again.

Answer: I have sealed Potato chip bags, but don't know how much metal was in the bag.

Answer: No, and attempting to might even damage the device.

Does it come with bags

Answer: It comes with starter bags. I can't remember the amount

Answer: It comes with 4 bags. I bought a roll at Target at a very good price, and a friend taught me to wash the bags and reuse them, which stretches your dollar.

Answer: can't you read?

Answer: Yes, mine came with three or four 8" bags, but they will be gone almost immediately. I found it better to just buy a couple of rolls of bags. Then you can trim them to the size you need.

Answer: mind did. I think it was 6 - 8 inch bags.

Answer: it came with about 4 or 5 the sealer works great

Answer: No. Not at this price!

Can you seal cakes or cupcakes, or will it just flatten it out?

Answer: We would recommended pre-frezzing cakes, breads, cupcakes before Vacuum Sealing.

I have one of the original Seal-A-Meal appliances, do the bags for the new ones work for the original ones? Christy

Answer: I would imagine so as a thermal seal is still melting the food-grade plastic. This is my first sealer so I can't answer 100% but I know most of the bags they advertise will cross over for use with other brands.

Answer: I would imagine so. I'm not really experienced in "seal-a-meal appliances, but from what I can tell, logically, they all appear to be interchangable. The plastic lies across the vacuum tray that draws out the air and the sealing bar "melts" the plastic, sealing the strip of plastic. The bags that came with mine were 8 inches across. Provided your's will seal standard sized bags I would think it should work.

Answer: I'm not sure, because I am still using the ones that came with the unit. The whole thing is new for me and I'm just starting out, but the roll of new bags that I bought appears to be the same as the ones with the unit.

Answer: Yes. You can use any style heat seal bag.

Answer: the slightly ribbed plastic bags are what are required. smooth bags like ziplock bags will not work

Answer: As far as I know, any thermal plastic type bag will work in these machines.

Answer: Sorry but I don't have any old bags to try. The old bags had holes you had to fit over pegs which aren't necessary anymore. The new bags are different, heavier material. I'd say try it and see if it works! I don't think you would hurt it.

extended warranty available?

How long would meat or fish last without freezing the sealed bags

Answer: As long as the sealed bags are refrigerated, the food should stay fresh 3-5 times longer than non-vacuum packaged foods. Vacuum packaging is not a substitute for refrigeration or freezing. Any perishable foods that require refrigeration must still be refrigerated or frozen after vacuum packaging.

Answer: six months to a year

How long did yours last? I've had it for less than a year and the sealer quit. It vacuums, but no longer heats/seals. Light for sealing quit too.

Answer: we bought 3 of them in aug of 2013 for christmas gifts, by june of 2014 the sealer quit, they replaced it and again in aug, it stopped working and again they were great and replaced it... keeping my fingers crossed.. and the other two i boughtone is working great and the other one just got replaced. this company has been so great. i will buy their items again

Answer: Ive only tried to use it 2 times and both times it was bad. it doesn't vacuum worth crap and when I keep trying it burns the bags while sealing. Piece of crap!

How many pressure does the device draw? I would prefer at least 25mb of vacuum.

Answer: We do not publish exact pressure levels that our products pull, as this information would be considered proprietary. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Is there an accessory for vacuum sealing mason jars, like the kind Food Saver sells for their products?

Answer: Sorry, I don't think it can seal mason jars. The box says it comes with starter bags, so I think it can only seal bags.

Answer: This model is designed to seal bags. It did not include any accessories to seal jars. The ones that seal jars were higher priced and I selected this one to seal bags only and for the low price. It does a great job on bags.

Answer: No, the Seal-a-Meal vacuum sealers do not have accessory containers available.

Answer: no, this is only for bags

It is very loud. My mom had one in the '70s & I don't remember it being so loud.

Answer: From the 70's to now technology has changed a great deal.

Answer: Yes. It is loud. I returned the one I bought (because it didn't work not because of the noise) and went back to FoodSaver. It is less noisy and has a smoother vacuum process (less vibration). In my opinion.

Answer: You are very right. It is very loud but it just plain works! I tried the other two brands, one from Qvc and both just didn't work at all. I had A Seal a Meal when I was younger in the early 90's and it ran forever until I dropped it. :-/

Answer: It is normal for the unit to make noise while functioning. For further assistance, please call us at 1-800-363-8144; Monday through Saturday from 8 AM to 8 PM, EST.

Answer: Yes it was very loud

How are "rolls" accommodated in this sealer? The advrt for this Vacuum Sealer FSSMSL0160-000 says it fits ..................and rolls.

Answer: "Rolls" are not accommodated within the sealer, as they are in some larger models. You must use a two-step process, first sealing one end to make a 'bag', then after food is added, seal the other end to ensure an airtight seal. Works well, just a little more manual than others. jag

Answer: Thank you for your inquiry. You can use Seal-a-Meal® rolls to make custom sized bags. Please follow the link below:

Can I use this to seal mason jars with the attachments

Answer: No, the Seal-a-Meal vacuum sealer will not seal mason jars. There is no attachment that will work to do that with those units.

Answer: It says you can, but mine does not work properly. (It was used).

can i use foof saver mason jar sealer

Answer: You can use FoodSaver bags and rolls with this vacuum sealer; however, it is not compatible with any accessories such as the Jar Sealer.

Answer: This unit is incredibly limited and kinda crappy. Mine stopped working after a few months. And no you cannot use the food saver mason jar sealer with this item.

Answer: No. There is no hose port. You can't use anything that takes a hose to connect it. You can only use bags as far as I can tell. That's OK for me as I am single and don't save much food for longtime storage in my pantry.

Answer: No.

Does it have the port to attach the attachment to seal mason jars with?

How long does my seal a meal have to warm up before use?

Answer:

Answer: It doesn't need any warm up time!?????????????If it's running and not pulling all of the air from the bag, you have a problem. Make sure the bag is in the correct position in the machine. Also, it does not like moisture! Dry wipe your product prior to sealing. If the machine is not running, you Definately have a problem!

Answer: We returned the seal a meal because it did not have a cutter and had to use their bags. We bought a Nesco instead and love it. Use it all the time.

Answer: It happens immediately. However, I have replaced a gasket with a new one, and now the thing isn't working at all.

Answer: No warmup needed.

Which ones are double sealers

Answer: For assistance with this, please contact Seal-a-meal® at (800) 363-8144. We are available Monday through Saturday from 8 AM to 8 PM, EST. Thank you.

compare to foodsaver

Answer: The FoodSaver units sometimes have extra features. FoodSaver are Seal-a-Meal are sister companies and the vacuum bags and rolls are interchangeable.

Is this compact enough to put in a suitcase? Traveling to alaska and would like to seal our catch for travel purposes

Answer: Yes, it is about the size of a shredder, you know the little one that sits on top of a small trash can

Answer: Yes, it is small enough.

Answer: Yes

Answer: yes

Where would I buy the plastic for it? Like the rolls? Does it take any kind if just a certain type?

Where can I get my seal a meal fixed?

Answer: I have no idea where it can be fixed.

Is it working on 220 w electricity?

Answer: Neither the box nor the machine itself have mention of an acceptable electric range. Therefore, I would assume that running it on 220 would put it at risk of burning out

Answer: no 110 electricity and it works great.

Answer: No, all of our products that are sold in the United States and Canada are manufactured and UL approved for 110-120 voltage.

Answer: yes but it doesn't have enough power it looks like to have good sucking pressure.

I'd like to use it to seal at least 40-50 bags in the same moment. How many bags can I vacuum and seal continuously?

Answer: This unit is not designed to seal a large number of bags at the same time period. The quantity of bags you can seal at the same time will vary depending on your vacuum seal conditions.

Answer: I've never attempted that many at a time but you can seal multiple bags at a time.

Answer: When we buy bulk meat I usually do about 10-12 at one time. I would think for that many you many have to wait inbetween every 15 or so and let it cool.

Answer: This unit is not a professional unit---it's only for home use and as far as I can tell it will only do 1 at a time.

How do you seal the bag from a roll?

Answer: Peel desired length off ,cut and seal the bottom, add whatever and seal the top

Can I use this with the silver mylar bags?

Answer: its cheap and the motor went out on me in a week. get a better more heavy duty one. don't know if the bags will work or not, don't think theres a difference

Answer: Sorry I can't help. We don't have these bags in Brazil, at least not for home use.

Answer: u can use anything pretty much just melts it shut.. but u cant control the amount it vacuums on anything

Can i use any bags with this vacuum sealer model#cmvs-s150

Answer: This page is for questions about Seal-a-Meal vacuum sealers and not Cusimax. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Answer: Any vacuum sealer bags would be fine, but not like a sandwich or freezer zip lock

Answer: I have no idea. The one I purchased did not form a vacuum so I returned it

Product reviews of Manual Vacuum Sealer System & Starter Bags

winejew : Great price for a quality product

What a simply smart design. I saw 4 options on Amazon, but the price differences were significant. As I only had so much left on the gift card, I went this route. Very glad I did. It works simply and easily. Does everything you need it to and does it well. We put some thin sliced ribeye in one of the quart bags and gave it a try. The motor is loud enough that you know it's working, but I wouldn't mind using it with a hangover. Creates a very nice vacuum in the bag and, with the seal, it looks like something I bought at the store. We used to have a handheld pump that seemed to work well, but the seal would also leak after awhile. Also, we could never get the same quality vacuum we get with this unit. Looking forward to using this for our camping trips.

KODY : Great Vacuum Sealer!

I as going to buy a Seal-a-Meal unit on one of the shopping channels that they had as the special of the day but had trouble with the price tag of over $150 after taxes and shipping. Of course I came over to Amazon to see what they had and to find something comparable. I have only used it a couple of times but this unit is so easy to use and works GREAT! I have already bought some of the other brand rolls of bags to use on this unit which are cheaper than the brands. Thanks you Amazon reviewers...you are what led me to buy this!

B. D. Brault : Great Economy Vacuum Sealer

I've been needing and meaning to get a vacuum sealer for quite some time. However I wasn't looking for an ultra-top-end device. I'm sure I will use it more often as needs arise, but I bought it specifically for smoking cheeses and allowing them to mellow sealed in the fridge. I know that all of these devices' internal components are made by the same manufacturer - so in looking for a basic no frills model, it all boils down to price. I was very pleased to find this low cost sealer on Amazon with prime shipping - I wanted to smoke cheese today with these low temps in New England. Well I am pleased to report that it works just as the directions advise. It comes packed with 4 small bags - and I used all 4 today. Insert the end of the bag with the end resting in the drip catch pan, close lid, press and hold until it tells you not to and wait. All 4 sealed beautifully. Now the problem is waiting the 3-4 weeks to try the cheese.

Anna Garcia : Pain in the Vac

Broke on me after about 3 months of heavy use. I remember when I was using it I would often time daydream on engineering it to work better. It takes awhile, it's obnoxiously loud. I'm sure a more expensive model would still suffer from the same problem of being made with 1990s technology. You have to press really hard along the entire machine for the seal to work right. it's really tiresome and I can't imagine elderly or disabled people having an easy time using this. For what it's worth, it did what it was suppose to and did it well. A horrible experience though especially if you're going to be mass producing something. It's just you and the carpel tunnel-inducing machine for hours listening to it's motors and fans do their very loud work.

Will Miller : One word: Awesome

I have not had any issues with getting a good seal. Currently I'm using 8" x 50' Vacuum Sealer Rolls that are textured on one side. Not sure if that helps with the seal as I've not used any other bags. I froze chicken breasts for about 1 hour before vacuum sealing. There was still some liquid extracted to the drip tray but the bags still sealed tightly. I'm thrilled with this sealer probably due to the negative reviews and having such a positive experience.
I am now confident I'll be able to seal open bags of hops to cut down on waste and save money by buying in larger quantities. In addition I can now buy meat in bulk and store knowing I don't need to worry about freezer burn.
The instructions were clear and easy to follow. Normally I skip instructions but due to the negative reviews I wanted to make sure I'm following all the rights steps.
Next up is vacuum sealing steak to sous vide.

6/19/2021 Update: Still going strong!

kjer : Spend more money and get more features. This product ...

Spend more money and get more features. This product seals well, and the vacuum is powerful, but you have no control over the vacuum. I sealed some brownies(two per pack) and when I finished the third packet I noticed it was sucking the oil out of the brownies and making a greasy mess and flattening the brownies to hard pucks. I snipped the corner to release the pressure and resealed. This product would work well as a vacuum gluing bag in the shop for small items. I am still in need of a vacuum sealer for the kitchen.

Justin Mumma : Still works 4 Years later

I bought this at the beginning of 2014 to waterproof some camping supplies in vacuum bags. I never got around to reviewing it but I was very happy with it and loved this price. I never expected it to last but I’ve started using it to seal food and the thing is still going great after 4 years.

Samie May : Broke After Warranty Expired

I've had this for just over a year and it is no longer working. The warranty just expired. The devise no longer waits for liquid to be removed before sealing, therefore it is trying to seal the bag with water in the way. I was just sealing lunch meat, nothing too complex. I may have gotten 50 seals out of the machine before it broke.
It is really disappointing, I was really excited about the sealer while it was working. Now I'll have to scrap this one and purchase the big name brand...I wish I would have saved the $$ and purchased it first.

Billz : Like it.

Does the job well and consistently. I'm using it almost exclusively to bag my favorite Chuckeye and Short cut steaks when I find them. Today I bought a bunch of massive Chuckeye's at $2.49 a pound, how crazy is that? Vacuum, date them, and throw them in the freezer. I'm not sure what additional bells and whistles someone would want, this works perfectly for me. Using Freezer bags - not rolls. The precut bags are significantly cheaper and just the right size for me.

Laura : Doesn't keep a seal on veggies

I am completely baffled as to how anyone got this product to work. I can and freeze a lot of veggies in the summer so I purchased this item thinking that it might do a better job of keeping my produce fresh. I got the item today, attempted to freeze 1.5 cups of corn kernels and after 6 attempts finally gave up. It appears to suck the air from the bag but in the process it also sucks the juice from the item which won't let a seal stay on the bag. If any liquid is on the seal the bag won't seal. This might be fine for meat, but it doesn't work for a bag of veggies. This was a completely waste of money so I'm returning it. Very disappointed as I wanted to be able to better store my produce. :-(

Kindle Customer : What a poor reincarnation of a device.

This is my second Seal a meal. My husband made fun of me and when we moved from a house into a condo he thought it was a waste of space. I have used this many 10 times and it no longer works. The vacuum function is fine but the sealing function does not work.

I am very disappointed as I had many great experiences with my really old and well used device over many, many years . It is sad. I will now reorder a vacuum food sealer but not Seal-a-Meal :(

Patricia A. Gort : Very disappointed that the sealer quit working after using it for only a few months.

This worked the first two or three times I used it. Now it will not seal a bag or vacuum a bag. There is no phone # for help. I’m very familiar with the sealing process, and this just doesn’t work.

Mghirardi : Good product, great price.

So far I like this machine a lot. I like to buy big packages of chicken pieces and put two in a bag and seal them to freeze. You do have to let it cool down in between uses or it won't seal. Getting the bag into the right spot to get the vacuum sealer to work took a little practice, but I've figured it out now. Pleased with this product overall.

team W : Seems fine for general use

I am new to vacuum sealers, but this works just fine for my needs, and it wasn't expensive. Stick the open end of the bag into the little opening and push down. You will have to get a sense of how much extra space to leave on top, you can't overfill the bags. But it seems to make a good seal if you have good bags.

I don't expect to use this constantly. I am backpacker and am mainly using it so I can divide those big cans of dehydrated trail food down to individual portions and save a bunch of money over the pre-packaged ones. That and the occasional trip to the warehouse club when you need to divide up 10 lbs of chicken to freeze or whatever.

Apparently, these things all wear out eventually, so I figured I might as well just get a cheap one. I probably would get something more heavy-duty if I was using it constantly, but unless you are sealing 5 or 10 things a week regularly, this should probably suffice.

D'Arla Nowlin : but it has done a great job, so far

This is a no-frills sealer, but it has done a great job, so far. You can use rolls or bags with it. After reading other reviews, I knew to pre-freeze anything that had enough juices or liquids to pose a problem during the vacuum sealing process. For most things, I can put the food in the bag, fold the top underneath, freeze overnight, and then vacuum seal it the next day. For things like soups and sauces, I freeze them in covered plastic containers, then pop them out of the container, and vacuum seal them. Everything then stays fresh and I don't lose food to freezer burn. I love that I can freeze individual portions of food, and have a variety of meals quickly available without having to cook every day. I'm now freezing and using leftovers that we used to often let spoil before we finished them. I'm very glad I bought this. It saves money on groceries, and it saves time and effort.

Fred H. : It's dead

I had been thinking about getting one of these, so I took a chance and bought this unit in Sept 2019. It no longer seals. I am a casual user, probably have used 1.5 rolls of bag material (seal a meal brand), and then it just quit sucking air.... When it was working, it worked great and I really like having a vacuum sealer, but I would recommend looking around a little more as this unit is just not reliable.

Cheryl D. : This is a great, quality product. Highly recommended!!

I have now been using this vacuum sealer for over 6 months and have had no issues. Because my husband and I use it on a daily basis, we keep it on the kitchen counter and it does not take up much space....very compact, but does an excellent job. I had researched vacuum sealers for a long time before buying this one, and most are highly overpriced for what you get. Why do you need a vacuum sealer with all kinds of bells and whistles? I made the decision to buy this one based on other Amazon reviewers and the low price...I have not been disappointed. We freeze a lot of our food because we buy in bulk and it is only the two of us. It has prolonged the life of all of the items we use in the freezer and fridge. All you have to do is put your bag in, press down and wait. It will automatically shut off when it is sealed. This was one of the best purchases I have made on Amazon. If anything should ever happen to mine, I will come right back and buy the exact one again!

Amazon Customer : Food saver vaccum

Works good on some products. Too much water or blood lessens its effectiveness. Fresh shrimp is a NO. Too wet with shells on. You must put bags in the proper place for this to work. Keep inside edges of bags DRY! Wipe with paper towel. Keep suction tray clean and DRY!

Matt C. : I guess you get what you pay for.

After a few months of using this thing, I've pretty much just gone back to ziploc bags for most of my needs, as this thing isn't worth the hassle. If your food has any kind of moisture, the seal will be crap, and even if you get a great seal on something, you'll notice in a few days that air has leaked back into the bag due to a bad seal. I still use it when I'm freezing large amounts of something, but for most things now, I don't even bother.

Susan Bailey : Won't last long

It worked great for a day. I called Amazon and they sent another one right away. I was happy as a lark and used it for another 2 months. Then abruptly, the suction stopped again just as the first one did. The return window is also very small. I ordered it in June and the return window was closed by July31. This thing seals great but the vacuum suction sucks

Shasta : disposable short term use only

Worked very well, while it worked. I bought it in April 2014 and it stopped sealing in June 2015.
If you want something to last, this is not the product for you. If you want something that you will use for a short period of time and then send it to the landfill, this is your item. Having this item really helped me eat healthier for the past year because I could make my own frozen meals with real food and not one full of chemicals. Just wish it was build to last.... Such a disappointment that so much of what we make it disposable crap. Not sure which one to try next... Maybe I'll get a vintage sealer from eBay when companies too pride in their work and made things to last, not just to break a few months past warranty.

B. D. Brault : Great Economy Vacuum Sealer

Loadnabox : Just what I've wanted for a while now!

My wife and I buy a lot of food in bulk and stash it in a deep freeze. I had been using ziploc bags, both the standard and the "vacu-seal" ones for a while.

The regular ones were OK but I could never get as much air out of them as I wanted. The Vacu-Seal ones always got bad leaks and would wind up puffed up after weeks in the freezer. I had a lot of food get freezer burned as a result of the poor results from those.

I was nervous about the incredibly cheap price of this unit since it's a quarter of the others. I haven't been disappointed in the slightest. The heat sealer works even when some liquids are present along the sealing line. The food I've sealed with it I checked on recently. All of it is still locked up super tight.

I'm thrilled, for $50 (item plus bags) I have a device that will help me to save hundreds over the next few years!

Barbara G. : I loved this from the 70's

This arrived on June 10 - it is not allowed on 7/30 to be returned...it stopped working last night...it began not removing the air 1 week ago, I contacted the manufacturer who told me what to do, I did it, and now it has stopped doing anything. The rubber seal comes apart, and it won't turn on. I loved this from the 70's, but this product does not work as well as the one I had back then. I will pay more and try for Food Saver - believe it or not, they are the ones I called by mistake and have such wonderful customer service, they tried to help me over the phone with a product that did not belong to them....sad, I'm now stuck with a product that does not work, less than 2 months after ordering....sad

KODY : Great Vacuum Sealer!

DSnow : Lasted 3 months

I bought one in 2014 that worked great for 2 years and then it wouldn't seal anymore. I wasn't too upset about it because I used it really frequently and, for the cost, I thought I got my money's worth. This summer I bought a new one to replace it. It stopped working after 3 months. When you read these reviews, keep in mind that most people are reviewing it the same day or very shortly after receiving it. These seem to do really well for a short period of time. You might get one that lasts 3 years or one that last a couple of months (when the return window is closed), just know that it's a crapshoot.

Danehorseworx : I do allot of fishing mostly saltwater so after a couple good days I have allot to keep or share

I researched this and other similar items for quite a while as well as asking personal friends of their experiences. I do allot of fishing mostly saltwater so after a couple good days I have allot to keep or share ! The Seal-A-Meal has worked wonderfully without fail. It's easy to use and clean up afterwards as well ! I would advise to dry as much moisture as you can off what your sealing. (it does pull out moisture but you have to put a little effort in as well !! LOL) Great Grouper almost a year later !! I'm born and raised in Florida so I know what fresh fish is !! LOL !! I love mine and would suggest this to anyone !!

Kindle Customers Suzy : Do not buy!

Instructions are very bad. I wasted many bags and had to repackage food 3 or 4 times before I got it right.
To seal only, the edge must not touch the vacuum chamber. To vacuum and seal, the open edge must be very straight and hanging in the vacuum chamber. You must push very hard of the cover and NOT let go when the hands off light comes on.
Even then, if there is moisture from the food, it will not seal properly.
I tried with bags and rolls, same problem. I should have bought a more expensive one.
I gave it 2 stars because it sometimes work.

winejew : Great price for a quality product

a loyal customer : it doesnt do a good job in terms of taking all the air out ...

it doesnt do a good job in terms of taking all the air out as it has a light and weak vaccuming. However, I am not complaining as this was what I expected for the price. I decided to go with this one over the more pricy ones just because I am planning to use it for about a year. I am moving out of the country and not carrying stuff with me thats why. Otherwise, if you are planning to keep it for life, I recommend you go with better quality sealers. They are worth it belive me

barbara baker : Same Model ordered back to back and both would not Vacuum.

Purchased the first Seal-a-Meal Manual Vacuum Sealer. Received it. Tried to use it and it would not vacuum. I had a family member that owns one (No clue on what make and model of theirs.) try to use it to make sure that I was not making a mistake. Same issue when they attempted to use my first one that I purchased. I returned it.

I decided to order another one. I was hoping that the first one just happened to be defective.

I received the second Seal-a-Meal Manual Vacuum Sealer. Tried to use it and had the same problem that I had with the first one. I had a completely different family that owns one (No clue on what make and model of theirs.) attempt to use it. Same issue as what I had with it.

I am Very Disappointed in this Model of Vaccum Sealer.

I would not recommend this model to anyone.

DSnow : Lasted 3 months

Sea girl : My sister told me it was great and I'm not disappointed

I love this Seal-a-meal. I used it constantly over Christmas this year. It is for normal home use. Not buying huge cows to freeze in the freezer. Wonderful to use just the sealer for chips, brown sugar, crackers, cheese, and more without the vacuuming. Cooked 4 pounds of sausage and vacuum sealed it individually to put it in my freezer so It was ready to pull out and use for breakfast casseroles over Christmas.Loved everything you can do with it daily. I think of something new to use it for everyday. I have been using the bags (they work great) but I'm using it so much I think I'm going to try the rolls they offer on Amazon.

shari l. : Heat strip stopped sealing after a year

I used this product pretty regularly over the past four years. First year was pretty wonderful- I even ordered one for my mom. But then within the second year I had to “double seal” my bags bc a dimple defect in the sealing strip would cause an unsealed bubble along the seam of the plastic bag. I’m very careful and nitpick over the proper maintenance and treatment of appliances. I never allowed liquids, and allowed cooling periods in between jobs. After four years, I gave up, the product no longer served a convenience to me. I was doubling sealing bags just to make it work. Appliances shouldn’t have a short life like that. I suppose I should have reached out to the manufactuer for warranty, but I wanted it so badly to work for us. I’m just disappointed. If anything, it lasted us a long while considering it’s price point.

James L. Mesojedec : This one is just as bad. First to make a heat seal I have ...

Does not work well. Spend a little more money and get a FoodSaver. This is the second one of these that I got as Amazon graciously sent me a replacement no questions asked when I wrote them that the first one didn't work. This one is just as bad. First to make a heat seal I have to hold down for at least a minute before it does anything. Then with the food in the bag it runs and runs again forever before even beginning to suck out the air. Then it barely heat seals without a good vacuum. Unless the bag is perfectly dry the seal is so weak that it pops open. I should have spent the extra money and bought a FoodSaver and plan to do so after Amazon issues me a refund.

Sea girl : My sister told me it was great and I'm not disappointed

Raemar3356 : Was not a good product from the beginning.

Although it kinda sealed for about a month with minimal usage, it just wasn't reliable. It didn't always seal completely and food would get freezer burned. And the gasket was constantly coming out of the channel it's in. I now have 2 rolls of vacuum seal bags and just got sick of it this morning and threw it out. Not worth buying.

M. Farrar : An excellent value if you recognize it's limitations.

First and foremost this is NOT a top of the line unit. It has limitations but if you work within the parameters of those limitation then it is an exceptionally good unit. It pulls a very good vacuum. Good enough to essentially wring moisture from unfrozen meats and anything that has any moisture to it. When I buy meats in larger sizes with the intent to divvy them up into smaller sizes I've found that it helps to freeze them beforehand, either fully or partially. Otherwise the vacuum pulls moisture towards the sealing area and can prevent the unit from getting a proper seal. This is especially true for boneless chicken breasts and ground beef.
Within the almost year that I've been using this sealer I have used at least three different brands of bags/rolls and it has worked on all of them. No problem there and I find that I prefer the rolls of material as opposed to the rather expensive bags. All in all I am very pleased with this purchase and have found ways that it has helped me preserve food that I once had to throw out because it had either spoiled or gotten freezer burned. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this sealer.

Barbara G. : I loved this from the 70's

J. Kallenbach : Does not seal properly

I opened this up took it out plugged it in put some hamburger patties in the provided bags lined up4 everything pushed down to activate and it started working properly after it was done sealing you could see air going into the bag. So I did it again. Several different times and it never gave a proper seal. There were only 4 patties in the bag, so there was plenty of room and it wasn't like it was over full so that was causing some kinds of bad seal. The sealer on this unit is not very good in my opinion. I would probably opt for a more expensive unit with a better seal. I would return it but it is after the return date when I actually needed it. My next step will to be contact sunbeam. 800-363-8144 if you need it.

Stella : Great value for a quality product.

I've used this to save money as I live alone and buying meat for a single person gets incredibly wasteful and expensive as the best deals come with buying in family portions or in bulk. This is perfect for my needs as I can simply take what I want to cook and freeze the rest in small portions.

The instructions are very easy to follow and understand. The machine is simple to operate and I am very happy with my choice as I had been waffling between this sealer and the more expensive Foodsaver. I am more than satisfied with the product and am quite happy at having saved myself money.

I have yet to try with soup or anything with liquid though I don't think I'll bother as I can always use a ziplock for those.

Cmdivers : It is great. It seals meals quickly and keeps food fresh ...

The Seal-a-Meal Manual Vacuum Sealer is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! I don't know why I didn't order one sooner. It is great. It seals meals quickly and keeps food fresh for a longer period of time. This one comes with a few free bags, so you will have to order extra bags. My mom gave me some of hers until the ones I ordered come in. So far this thing is a blessing. I love to buy in bulk and now I can portion out food items, vacuum seal it and then stick it in the deep freezer. It is awesome. I have been able to save some money by keeping food fresh longer. The kids love to use it as well. We now seal lunch meats, snack foods, etc. The kids can cut open the bags, get what they want out of it, and then reseal it for later consumption. It is easy to use and quick. It does say to wait 20 seconds between uses. I can tell you, wait the 20 seconds other wise it gets too hot and melts the plastic. Wait the 20 seconds between uses and it won't over heat. It fits nicely in the kitchen drawer, and does not take up a lot of space. I love this gadget.

Billz : Like it.

Tomasi : GREAT PRODUCT

My wife loves it. We ordered it for our cottage so we could freeze salmon and albacore tuna. The fish keeps much longer when sealed in their bags. She uses it for cheese we get from Costco and it freezes just fine. Also to keep extra spices fresh. If you freeze berries, or anything else soft, freeze them first or the Seal-a-Meal will crush them. Now she wants me to order another one for our home. She prefers to use the bags rather than the rolls, they are easier to deal with. You can cut open a bag, remove part of the contents and then seal it again. And, it is very compact. She loves it.

Timothy D. Connolly : Food spoils quickly once thawed

I used my vacuum sealer a handful of times on a variety of items including pork chops, chicken, and ribs. The one thing I noticed very quickly is that the food would spoil almost immediately once I took it out of the freezer and had it in the fridge to thaw. I was used to being able to keep something in the fridge for an extra day if I couldn't make something right away, but with the sealer I had to use it the same day I thawed it out or else it was likely to go bad the following day.

This doesn't really suit my needs. I've since gone back to just using ziploc freezer bags and they work better.

Mavwrik : When I got this I loved it, it worked great

When I got this I loved it, it worked great, right up until it stopped working. I have only had it 3 months. I didn't even get through one box of bags I ordered with it & now it's just a heap of... Well, I am not happy about it. 3 months? Really? I had a washer/dryer for 30 years & used them 3 times a week. I only used this Sealer maybe twice a week & it couldn't even make 3 months.

Update: I can verify, although I got 3 months of perfect use the unit sealing function has died just like many of the 1 star reviews have previously stated. After 2 weeks & 4 emails to the company their Customer Service is still trying to make it my fault it stopped sealing because I am not cleaning the gaskets, not true. Or that it's Amazon's fault because it was manufactured a year ago & sat in the warehouse several months before they shipped it to me & the gaskets got cracked, also not true. If the gaskets cracked by sitting a long time then why did it work when I got for the 3 months? Also, the rep emailing me is extremely rude & uppity. She is however good at her job. She has me at the point where I am ready to burn it & move on.

amber : works like it should

I have only used it twice, the first time I messed up and it didn't work. I had miss read the operation instructions, once I figured it out it seemed to work well. The item I used was a small round roast and I immediately froze it and it seems to have held it's seal, I suppose I'll find out how well it held once I thaw it. I have also only used the bags that it came with, not store bought once. If I do try other brands and they do not work, I will amend this review.

OldTech1 : Frustrating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hard to use!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Flimsy?????????????

I bought this to replace my old unit. In my opinion, this thing is a total waste of time and money, and a really badly designed piece of machinery. Fool with it long enough, and it will vacuum and seal, but...…………... The top is warped, and it may or may not be built that way on purpose. All I know is press down on both sides (as instructed) and hope for the best. Good luck getting it to work. Considering the problems I had using it, it's WAY over priced, and if you are going to seal several bags of something (like sliced brisket for example) forget it. Gotta be something better out there.

Stan : Basic Inexpensive Sealer

PRO : Seals well. Pulls a good vaccum. Good results. Very good price ($30)

Con: Sealing end of bag leaves 2" Of wasted material. Takes a bit of pressure on cover to activate. IB says to leave 3" more length than item needs. I can see where the excess goes now.

Update 1 year later- had this for 13 months. The heating element has developed a bubble that was not there when I first opened the box. Probably a bit of metal or plastic that got under the heating strip in manufacture and over time formed a bubble. This bubble is impressed into every bag I seal and has resulted in leaks. I left a nice ribeye sealed in the refrig to defrost. A few days later, several jars next to the ribeye were glued to the frig glass shelf. The sealed pouch leaked blood/fluid sticking the bottles to the glass refrig shelf. Appears the fluids pulled under vacuum got around the bubble leaving a channel for a future leak when I let the pouch slowly defrost in the refrig. It was good while it lasted. Down rating this to 2 stars.

Mccynk : Tempermental

I like the concept. This machine is not a slam-dunk to operate (or I have one that is faulty). When you follow the directions it doesn't always work. if you take your hands off when the hands free button lights up the thing will pop open and fill with air again before sealing. If you try a 2nd time too soon, it will seal the bag without sucking the air out. I've had to give it 3-4 tries every time before I get one that works right. Thankfully, it was not expensive.

you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you