As a senior citizen, I didn't want to have to do a lot of knot tying, or fiddling with the bags and this seemed like a better solution for me than the original Litter Genie model as my first time using one of these. I also like the look better. After about a month, I'm very pleased with my purchase. Initially, I used the Genie only for poo, as both kittens were using pine pellets in Tidy Cat Breeze boxes, so there were no pee clumps, a solution *I* liked very much! However, it became clear that one kitten did not *like* using the pine pellets, was holding his pee longer than he should, and to avoid urinary tract issues, I am now using non-clay clumping litter. So the bags are filling faster now, but it looks like we will use about a bag per week for two 10-month-old boy kittens of about 10 pounds each. Better than what the manufacturer describes! This may change as they develop their full growth and I expect it to, but if we use 2 bags per week, cost would remain reasonable for us and this is so much less unsightly than my previous 4 gallon OPEN wastebasket lined with regular trash bags. The set up is easy, though you must be careful to be sure your plastic bag is well held by the plastic hooks. I usually double-over the edge slightly and make sure all 4 hooks are fully engaged. I've not had any trouble with the bag becoming loose and falling off the hooks as it gets full. To gauge how full, you look down in the bag with the odor trap slider door opened, so at that time, it's possible odor might escape, but it's not been an issue for me with a quick peek here and there. You DON'T want to overfill, as that could prevent the odor control sliding trap from closing. Overfilling will also make it difficult to tie the bag off. So STOP filling when the level of litter is starting to approach, but is not yet AT the level of the odor trap slider! Removing the full bag is easy, just lift the top of the Genie, unhook the bag from the plastic hooks, twist it closed, tie it off, gently pull it up, separate the used bag at the perforation. Dispose of used bag, then hook your fresh bag to the plastic hooks, close it all up and ready to go! I think it is a good idea to open up the new bag by putting your hand inside and making sure it is all open and intact. That way the litter can drop in easy. I've had no odors, no problems, the unit feels sturdy and is not very likely to be knocked over by boisterous kittens (whom, just yesterday, brought down my full, 13 gallon kitchen trashcan). It looks nice. Is it perfect? Close, but not quite. I would like to see a pail style handle. There IS a molded handle at the back that you can grab the unit by to move it, but it is NOT well-balanced once the unit gets weighed down by litter! A pail style and hopefully METAL handle would make moving the Genie between litter boxes much easier. And that's why I docked a star. P.S. Just did third bag change, all continues to go smoothly. Am ordering another for upstairs use.