I have had mine less than a year but it gets a workout. Mine is the DM1000 and since then I bought the Fiji also which holds more ice and I needed two for some of the parties. The only difference between the two besides the price is the amount of ice they hold. Both are great machines, make great frozen drinks and smoothies. I guess half the drinks we make have no alcohol in them. One machine can keep a small party going but over 10-12 drinkers you need another machine. They have a triple machine out on the market but it's pretty expensive but wish I had one
Stock up on bananas, strawberries, melon, any fresh fruit, rum, tequila, vodka, peach schnapps, blue curroco, coconut syrup, lime juice, orange juice, pineapple juice and any of those cartons of mixed tropical drinks found at the grocery store. The heck with the recipe books just pour in what sounds good and flip the switch.
Also the premixed drinks in big bottles work just fine, add shaved ice and pour.
We call this an unnecessary appliance we can't do without.
PS the drunker you get the easier it is to use