This is our third one. We use it daily, so yes, it does wear out eventually! I think the first one was 7 years, the last one was 8 years, so it was time! We can't live without, so we gladly replace it. This has all the features of a coffee maker—pre-program to come on the morning, keep it hot for an hour—and then a few more. You can pick your temperature and your brewing strength to get the perfect tea. No more boiling water and forgetting it boiled and now the water isn't hot enough. No more steeping tea and forgetting it, and now it's too strong. No need for a time, it lowers the tea to the perfect temp water, steeps for the perfect amount based on tea strenth, and then lifts the tea out, and keeps it warm until you're ready for it. Perfection!!!

It's great, versatile

The first Tea Maker I bought lasted 14 years without breaking. When I called in after it finally gave up the ghost, they offered me 30% off my next unit! Waiting for shipping was a pain, but once it got here it works great. The best part is that now I have an extra carafe so I can have a pot of decaf ready for night-time. If you're a tea aficionado, the Tea Maker will change your life.