I've been thinking about buying this blender for months, but I wasn't sure if I would use it enough to justify the cost, or if it could REALLY be THAT much better than other, less expensive blenders on the market. I did a lot of research but I finally decided that this would be worth the investment since it will last me for years, and so far I really love it. I have been using it every day since I bought it, making smoothies, soups, margaritas, etc. It takes up a pretty good amount of space on my counter, but it also looks beautiful and since I am using it frequently I don't mind having it out. When I make smoothies, it even grinds up the chia seeds and strawberry seeds so there are no little chunks anywhere. It comes with a recipe book, instructional video guide, and instruction booklet. Very easy to use, and it even cleans itself so you don't have to mess around with trying to use a sponge around the blades. Highly recommend.