I got one of the $100 ones in February and now it's doing the same thing and will only work with a large bag, won't suck the air out of a small one any more. Also only works with hard items like smoked fish or frozen things. I have been real careful with mine so I don't think anything is clogging it, but I'll take it apart to be sure. Just stupid cheap junk like most of the crap appliances you buy today