We purchased the GSE 5000 juicer June 4, 2013. I spent MANY hours watching videos (DO check out YouTube, you will learn HOW to Use and Clean all the juicers quickly and easily!!!), and comparing ALL the juicer models out there. The Green Star juicers are the brand you want when you are SERIOUS about the QUALITY of your juice. Period. "Fast" juicers basically obliterate the cellular structure of the fruits and vegetables. While this will give you juice quickly, it also destroys micronutrients through the brute force of the extraction, as well as the additional oxidation of the juice by the air introduced through the high speed blades. "Masticating" juicers, particularly the currently popular "Vert" models, ARE better, but are still more gimmick than function. The reviews for these praise the better extraction, but MANY problems appear to occur due to the cheap construction of the devices, particularly the screen, which seems subject to breakage. These models have a LOT of plastic parts that are INTEGRAL to the machine, rather than just covers... Now, the Green Star Elite GSE 5000 does have plastic, but the mechanical plastics are STURDY, DURABLE, and RIGID. The only thinner plastic part would be the unit housing cover. This, with reasonable care, should not crack, break, or otherwise fall apart easily. Since it IS an expensive piece of equipment, DO treat the parts with care, regardless how well constructed they are... If you find this juicer "difficult" to clean or assemble, you simply should not be using any appliance more complicated than a spoon. Seriously. "DIFFICULT" IT IS NOT!!! There are only SEVEN (7) parts to take off or put on. VERY EASY. Almost Idiot Proof. The ONLY difficult parts to assembling it are: 1) making sure the augers are correctly aligned, with the "one dot" gear tooth between the "two dot" gear teeth of the other auger, and 2) Slightly rotating the twin augers when pushing them into the juicer body. They have to turn ever so slightly to align, but again, it is NOT difficult. Just gently "wiggle" them as you continue to gently push, and they will go in. Do yourself and your juicer a favor, and cut your carrots into chunks no longer than about an inch. They will NEVER jam if you do. This goes for almost any vegetable. While the Green Star IS powerful, you purchased it to JUICE, NOT to cut the vegetables up and juice. Also, if you take the extra time to cut the veggies before juicing, you will find that you will have to use FAR less pressure to push them into the juicer. (FWIW, I ALWAYS use the plastic, NOT the wooden pusher - It is DESIGNED not to reach all the way down to the gears, so you will NOT grind any plastic off - ignore that warning in the videos!!!) Get a small bowl, and when the bowl is full, you have enough for a glass of juice. If you are new to juicing: 1) Add ice cubes to your juice. The colder the better when you start, TRUST. 2) Add a bit of water to dilute it if the taste is too strong - It can take a bit of getting used to. 3) Keep a can of frozen Juice Concentrate in the freezer, and add a small spoon to juices that are too "green" to help make them a bit more palatable. Carrots are your juicer's best friend. Put a piece or two after every soft veggie to help push the pulp through. NEVER WAIT TO WIPE YOUR JUICER!!! Every complaint about the Green Star screens is due to people NOT cleaning them promptly (within 30-60 minutes). If you rinse and wipe your juicer FAITHFULLY and QUICKLY, you will never have a screen problem. The Green Star 5000 comes with two brushes, and I have also found that a new toothbrush can do the job of them both pretty well. The screen, which is the hardest part of the juicer to clean, collects fiber on the end where the pulp comes out. This is one reason cutting your produce into small chunks is strongly suggested. Start by brushing the inside of the screen to loosen fibers. Then brush the outside of the screen to remove the loosened plant fiber. It shouldn't take more than a minute or two, tops. For ANYONE who complains about the amount of time to use or clean this juicer, stop and consider the time and energy you would use to prepare and clean up after a regular meal. This juicer extracts MORE juice than any other model except the weird, cumbersome, and expensive Norwalk. And that puppy makes prepping your fruits and veggies into a religious ceremony... And clean up for the Green Star is no more difficult than washing your blender or food processor. Easier in some ways, no sharp blades to look out for. This juicer is an investment, and will change your life in regards to how you look at juicing. Grasses, leaves, even weeds are now part of our diet (Lamb's Quarters are so common, yet SO nutritious - my husband shakes his head, but knows to leave them alone when he sees them, so I can juice them!). The additional cost will make up for itself in the LESS WASTE of juice from your produce, and the WIDER VARIETY of plants that you can put into this machine. With a modicum of care, and a smattering of common sense, you should have NO problems, and YEARS of enjoyment with your Green Star. I know I am having a blast!!! ~M
