This heavy-duty Elite Garment Steamer by PurStream is my first ever garment steamer. I ordered it because my husband recently got promoted into a supervisor position that requires wearing a dress shirt and tie. After ordering him a supply of great dress shirts, ties, and dress slacks reality hit me. I was going to be responsible for the upkeep of his new clothing that required special care ... namely, ironing. Anyone who knows me knows that I'd rather scrub toilets than iron. Thank goodness I am gifted with a creative mind ... "Ah-ha!", I said to myself.. "I'll get a garment steamer." After researching online, Pursteam was my brandname of choice - both for quality and price.The steamer arrived in a timely fashion and was adequately packaged, with in-box styrofoam, tape, and padding to keep the unit and accessories from shifting or getting bounced around and damaged during transit. Accessories and directions were included; directions were easy to understand, although one aspect had me doubting that I was putting the telescopic pole on correctly. There was much discussion in the comments section from various consumers that the pole would need to be held at a 45 degree angle in order to attach it to the base of the steamer accurately.) I had attached the pole by inserting it straight up and down, but then removed it again thinking that I had done it wrong -since instructions (as well as online comments) said that the pole should be held at an angle when inserting it. After fidgeting with it a bit, I realized that (for some reason) mine wouldn't go in at an angle, but would when it was held vertically over the steamer baseThe pole attaches securely, as does the collapsable garment hanger, hose holder, and the hose and wand (steam nozzle). Anticipating the delivery of the steamer, I already had several of my husbands dress shirts and a pair of dress pants cleaned and ready to steam. Was I impressed with the performance of my new Elite Garment Steamer by Pursteam? You bet! Wrinkled/creased thin silky / gauzy materials, and no-iron and permanent press blends yielded the most dramatic results ... wrinkle free and smooth! Double cotton weaves and 100% cotton shirts took a bit longer to steam and although not perfect, results were better than expected. (While pure cotton garments did not look iron-pressed after steaming, they were nevertheless neat looking enough to be wearable for casual purposes, without having to touch up with an iron. I am well pleased.I have included before and after pictures; the grey shirt in the first two pictures is a no-iron blend, and the blue shirt in the last two pictures is 100% cotton in a double weave.PROS* The unit was shipped securely packaged inside and out.* The unit arrived in just a few days.* The water reservoir holds 61 ounces, which means longer steaming time (up to 60 minutes), with fewer refills.* The steam is very hot; according to packaging, hot enough to kill up to 99.9% of germs* Steaming garments is quicker than ironing; it is better for garment fibers, can increase longevity of garment fibers, and avoids the risk of burning a garment (because the iron was set too high).* Cost of the steamer was reasonable.* No questions asked return policy and 5 year warranty.* While this is not considered a portable unit, it is not too large or bulky and can easily be stored away in a closet or corner of the laundry room when not in use.* Because of the design, the steamer is versatile; it can be used to steam drapery and furniture upholstery, as well as vehicle fabric upholstery.* The heating element is heavy duty - which means a more powerful, higher-heat steam.* While the power of many of the hand-held portable streamers are rated at around 850 W, the power of this unit is rated at 1,500 W.* Large wheels at the back of the unit make it easy to roll from one location to the next.CONS* Only time will tell whether the plastic material of the attachments will hold up well under frequent use. I will have to update this review and adjust the 5-star rating if I discover that the attachments break under normal but regular use.* While the hose is adequate, it might have been nice if it was somewhat longer, to stretch over and around furniture when steaming upholstery. Also, if the hose was made from a different material that was somewhat more supple and didn't bind at the base just over the metal 'spring' at the base, it would be easier to use the steam head around the garment at the back without always having to unbind the hose.JANUARY 9, 2016 UPDATE: I have had the Elite Garment Steamer by PurSteam in my apartment less than 2 weeks and have used it a total of 4 times (on a total of about 10 or 11 shirts), and in the middle of my 4th time using it, it simply stopped working! The 'on' light went off, and I cannot get it to turn back on. There is ample water in the reservoir; I lifted the reservoir and made sure there was water flowing to the base as it should. I unplugged the steamer, and waited awhile, and then replugged in a different socket ... nothing! The steamer has not been knocked around or abused in any way, and has only been used according to instructions that came with it. I may have just gotten a lemon, and other Elite Garment Steamers may hold up well, I don't know. I am very, very disappointed in the steamer I got, however, and plan to return it as the advertisement stated that there was a no questions asked policy if returned within 30 days. I am supposed to be fully refunded, but I will update again to share whether or not this proved to be so, or if I had to pay for the return postage and what that cost was.JANUARY 10, 2016 UPDATE: after hubby arrived home from work, I discussed the problems with the steamer. It was discovered that the steamer had tripped the circuit breaker; this rendered the outlet useless, and that was why I couldn't get the steamer to work again. However, the fact that the steamer tripped the circuit breaker while in use, was indicative that my particular steamer must have had electrical problems.FEBRUARY 16, 2016 UPDATE: after writing the above updates, I posted a request for a refund from PurSteam. They immediately responded and provided a URL where I could print off a pre-paid return label and instructions. The process was hassle-free. Saturday I packed up the steamer, attached the return label to the box, and dropped it off at a UPS store. I was advised to keep the shipping receipt since the pre-paid return label specified it was for shipping up to 12 pounds; the weight of the box with the steamer (liberally wrapped in bubble wrap) that I sent back weighed nearly 14 pounds. (The UPS customer service agent said that the UPS driver could either accept or refuse packages weighing more than the amount specified on the label.)- Two days later a refund for the entire purchase amount did show up my online credit card summary. Although I was disappointed that my steamer didn't perform better, I was very happy with the return and refund process, which was prompt and hassle free. That said, I would not hesitate to purchase from PurSteam again in the future.PERSONAL MESSAGEThis review took time to write, but I provided as complete and straightforward a review as possible, along with pictures. Why? Because I am like you, and depend upon the experiences and comments of other consumers when making an Amazon purchasing decision.