Negatives: bags are a huge challenge to find (edit: bags that aren't overpriced). Virtually every draw string bag out there doesn't fit, and drawstring bags are virtually always made with seams that make them prone to tears if you try to stretch, this can has an unusually large mouth and will only fit non-drawstring contractor bags. For someone like me who lives in a studio, you want a bag that has drawstrings to reduce odor so you don't have a smelly-smell when you accumulate one or two bags before trash pickup. Ninestars sells bags for the can, but they're 3x-4x the price (about a dollar a bag) of a typical garbage bag which is for me unacceptable. I didn't buy a great can to in-debt myself further with 3rd party bags. Other cons: a small number of people have had sensor issues, but these can all be resolved with a simple reset which is included in the instruction manual. The motor on average seems to last 1-3 years judging by the reviews here and the fact that most people don't write reviews. That being said, a medium minority have issues from the motor being damaged sometimes due to inadvertent damage from pushing down or forcing up the lid while the sensor is on. The lid cannot be opened manually while the sensor is on! There are two buttons "open" and "close" which allow you to open the can with the motor when the lid is "on", but you can't pick up the lid or push it down with the lid set to "on". its easy to turn the lid off for manual use; the switch is water proofed by a plastic cover and is in the center below the hinge of the lid on the interior backside of the can lid. Easy to do without lifting off the lid, which isn't difficult either. I believe that many of the people claiming their can broke within the first day or week simply didn't read instructions and made the mistake of forcing the lid while it was "on", as most people don't read instructions for your garbage can and its an easy mistake to make (speaking of which, turn off the lid when you have company over, and just leave it propped open). Tbh, the only problem most buyers will face is the lack of bags available (which I have solved in this video) and one last problem: potential liner-retaining-ring fragility. The liner retaining-ring is made of plastic and doesn't appear to be a particularly resilient or flexible plastic alloy. I wouldn't flex it very much, but to remove the bag you have to remove the retaining-ring and over time you run the risk of accidentally snapping it by say, putting it on the ground while you tie-up/remove the bag and pushing it between the can and the wall. The ring can be purchased on ninestars website but for 10$+13$ shipping, which is ridiculous for such a small part. Just put it somewhere where you won't kick it or anything while switching out bags, like a counter top.
Pros-or-Cons-depending-on-who: This can uses 3 D-size batteries only; I've seen easy mods a non-electrician can do with a soldering iron that will allow you to make a plug for the can. From my usage, I only use hands-free sensor when cooking and I need my hands free, and these batteries should last 6 months or longer with that level of use. The batteries are about a dollar each so its really not that bad either. I prefer batteries because I like to be able to pickup and move my can when needed without the hassle of finding a wall outlet. Also, the lid isn't metal but rather a metal-painted plastic, but I don't think anyone really cares it doesn't make a difference. Also the bottom of the can isn't continuously metal, rather its made of some kind of black plastic; I don't know how this effects durability of the can. It could enhance life or shorten it; I'm guessing its better, a metal bottom can be bent and cause the can to wobble or be disbalanced, whereas the tough plastic-rubber bottom of this can appears to be more flexible; it also reduces the unpleasant "gong" like sound you get when moving a metal can.
Apart from these few problems, this is an excellent can and well/fairly priced by the company. This is THE best can out there for your average Joe; For only 10$ more than a typical rubber-maid(TM) can you can get something that has hands-free action. Simple Human is over priced, even 65$ for a trash can is overpriced, you might think. But once you have this can, and you see the way it makes you enjoy picking up and keeping clean, $65 will seem like an investment in your future and a change to a new way of life you could have never before imagined for yourself. Yes I'm being a little extra, but I'm also being sort-of serious. I used to be a lazy dirty college student and this can has changed my life. Thank you ninestars for representing what is "Good and Green" in the world, as Sam Wise Gamgee might say. Just make that flimsy liner-retaining-ring out of a stronger plastic alloy and this will be the can of Emperors, and archaeologists will dig it up and believe we were a hobbit-sized people of beautiful satiny steel sarcophagi. This can is the ultimate in the evolution of garbage cans; I mean yeah if they said "thank you for stuffing me" or breathed sighs of relief every time you changed the bag that'd be cool, or if they ground your trash up into compost automatically or sorted refuse into recycables or by color or whatever... yada yada that would be cool. But if you want those things you're like a Vegan who doesn't eat Tofu. Get this can. Just get it and change your life for the better. Stop researching garbage cans for goodness sake all the info is here just buy the stupid can. Put googly eyes on it and name it after someone you hate, I don't care what you do just buy the can so the company stays in business and I can buy another one every 3-5 years for the rest of my life without scouring craigslist ads or ebay. This is the logitech z2300 of the garbage can world, it will rise in value after purposely poorly engineered cans which are designed to fail and be re-bought dominate the market and you're forced to buy a brand new z623 (not a bad subwoofer at all, I use and prefer this but the z2300 is better) because all the z2300s on craigslist are now 2-3x their original value 10+ years after manufacture.
GET. THE. CAN.