I posted a thread earlier, as I considered upgrading from a foodsaver to a chamber type sealer. Eventually I talked myself into the purchase. I was considering the VP112 initially, but finally settled on the VP210--I felt it would be sturdier and liked the double seal strip (plus it looks really cool)...
I searched the net and talked to Lisa at VSU. The bad news is, she's not the cheapest game in town, and the discounts posted on this forum do not apply to the VacMaster line (bags OR machines). The price difference (for the machine) between VSU and another place I considered (a reputable internet business that you'll easily find if you care to look around) was about $100, or 10%.
However...in my searching, I found some complaints about shipping damage with the company online. I talked with Lisa, who was very helpful, very upfront about her price point and the reasoning behind it. My short answer--I bought her explanation. She's a smaller business who likely doesn't get the same discounts as the big guys, she pays extra for great shipping and has never delivered a damaged machine, and she offers unbelievable customer service (I'm not saying company 'X' doesn't--I'm just sayin'). She wasn't upset or defensive, she understood if I needed to go with the other guys (because of price) and hoped that I'd still consider her for my bag needs in the future. I really don't have the time or patience to deal with a damaged machine and Lisa was very impressive, so I chose to use VSU.
I placed my order on Jul 3 and it arrived Jul 19--that's over two weeks, but only eleven business days (don't forget 4th of July). So, a little longer than I would prefer, but still what I consider reasonable. I also ordered some bags from VSU, as I had no idea what the VP210 teaser/'sample pack' would include. I ordered the bags on July 10th (afternoon) and received them on the 16th--four business days, entirely reasonable. Shipping was a bit high at $15 bucks for the thousand bags I ordered, but after receiving them I see why--pretty heavy. VSU price was essentially the same as (though other sizes I looked at appeared cheaper than) company 'X'.
So...the VP210 arrived on the 19th. It arrived in perfect condition. And it looks great, the pics on the net don't do it justice--very good fit and finish. That was just a couple of days ago, so I haven't had much time to play with it--but so far, it seems to do what it's supposed to. It does require a bit of adjustmnet (you must set seal time, cool time, vac time) and I've read some net reviews complaining about the complexity of this process. You gotta be kiddin' me...let's just say if you can smoke a 'Q', these settings will be a walk in the park. The sample bags were also a pleasant suprise...three sizes were sent and there were about 25 bags of each size. More than enough to get started and get a feel for what one would need.
The bottom line?
I'm pleased with VSU and Lisa in particular (thanks for all your help!!); I would and will use them exclusively in the forseeable future (provided they maintain their high standards, of course--but I'm not really worried on that count).
I bought the VP210 because I plan on doing a lot of vacuu-sealing, so I should know more about its performance soon--if ya'll have any questions, don't hesitate to post!
I searched the net and talked to Lisa at VSU. The bad news is, she's not the cheapest game in town, and the discounts posted on this forum do not apply to the VacMaster line (bags OR machines). The price difference (for the machine) between VSU and another place I considered (a reputable internet business that you'll easily find if you care to look around) was about $100, or 10%.
However...in my searching, I found some complaints about shipping damage with the company online. I talked with Lisa, who was very helpful, very upfront about her price point and the reasoning behind it. My short answer--I bought her explanation. She's a smaller business who likely doesn't get the same discounts as the big guys, she pays extra for great shipping and has never delivered a damaged machine, and she offers unbelievable customer service (I'm not saying company 'X' doesn't--I'm just sayin'). She wasn't upset or defensive, she understood if I needed to go with the other guys (because of price) and hoped that I'd still consider her for my bag needs in the future. I really don't have the time or patience to deal with a damaged machine and Lisa was very impressive, so I chose to use VSU.
I placed my order on Jul 3 and it arrived Jul 19--that's over two weeks, but only eleven business days (don't forget 4th of July). So, a little longer than I would prefer, but still what I consider reasonable. I also ordered some bags from VSU, as I had no idea what the VP210 teaser/'sample pack' would include. I ordered the bags on July 10th (afternoon) and received them on the 16th--four business days, entirely reasonable. Shipping was a bit high at $15 bucks for the thousand bags I ordered, but after receiving them I see why--pretty heavy. VSU price was essentially the same as (though other sizes I looked at appeared cheaper than) company 'X'.
So...the VP210 arrived on the 19th. It arrived in perfect condition. And it looks great, the pics on the net don't do it justice--very good fit and finish. That was just a couple of days ago, so I haven't had much time to play with it--but so far, it seems to do what it's supposed to. It does require a bit of adjustmnet (you must set seal time, cool time, vac time) and I've read some net reviews complaining about the complexity of this process. You gotta be kiddin' me...let's just say if you can smoke a 'Q', these settings will be a walk in the park. The sample bags were also a pleasant suprise...three sizes were sent and there were about 25 bags of each size. More than enough to get started and get a feel for what one would need.
The bottom line?
I'm pleased with VSU and Lisa in particular (thanks for all your help!!); I would and will use them exclusively in the forseeable future (provided they maintain their high standards, of course--but I'm not really worried on that count).
I bought the VP210 because I plan on doing a lot of vacuu-sealing, so I should know more about its performance soon--if ya'll have any questions, don't hesitate to post!