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Customer reviews for Petmate(r) Le Bistro Portion Control Feeder
Petmate(r) Le Bistro Portion Control Feeder
Maintain your pet's feeding portions and schedule with ease with this automatic feeder. Ideal for dogs of all sizes, this feeder features programmable feeding time and portions for hassle-free use, and the clear hopper lets your easily monitor the food level.
Overall rating:
(11 reviews) 11
2 of 11(18%)customers recommend this product.
Reviews for Petmate(r) Le Bistro Portion Control Feeder
Review 1 for Petmate(r) Le Bistro Portion Control Feeder
Overall rating
Cheap Materials, eats batterys, does not last
April 29, 2013
by Audrocks
fromAtlanta, GA
What is your gender?M
How many pets do you have?2
How often do you shop at PetSmart?A few times a year
Performance
Quality
Value
Had one of the large feeders for about 9 months and it has finally become completely inoperable when the plastic tines that rotate to allow food to drop into the hopper broke. They are thin white plastic and regularly became clogged with small pellets of Science Diet dog food.
In the time before it broke permanently it consumed batterys at an amazing rate. It's a little difficult to program though not complex- just time consuming.
I would not recommend this product.
In the time before it broke permanently it consumed batterys at an amazing rate. It's a little difficult to program though not complex- just time consuming.
I would not recommend this product.
Cons: poor quality
Review 2 for Petmate(r) Le Bistro Portion Control Feeder
Overall rating
Not worth the money
March 25, 2013
by NeeMa
fromWisconsin
What is your gender?F
How many pets do you have?1
How often do you shop at PetSmart?Monthly
Performance
Quality
Value
I purchased this in April 2012. Right from the start I put in brand new fresh batteries but after 4 months the battery light started flashing. Replaced those and again 4 mths later it was flashing again. Did it again in Dec, so I replaced the batteries and tried to purchase a AC adapter to plug in but Petmate was out and wouldn't get them back in stock until April. Those batteries lasted 3 weeks so I called Petmate to file a warranty claim. The rep kept saying it was jammed but I knew that wasn't the case so finally after 3 phone calls she agreed to send a new one. When I received the "new" one it was in a shelf worn box, the parts were not in "factory fresh" bag, it smelled like dog food and the base was scuffed up. When I called them to ask if they only send out reconditioned units she said that it was brand new. I ended up send it back (their dime) and they shipped me a new one. It worked for about a day and now you can hear the food dropping into the paddle area but it won't come down the hopper. Calling Petmate today and going to try and get my money back.
Pros: easy to clean
Cons: poor quality, doesn't work
Review 3 for Petmate(r) Le Bistro Portion Control Feeder
Overall rating
Not worth the money!
February 4, 2013
by Aces
fromOmaha, NE
What is your gender?M
How many pets do you have?1
How often do you shop at PetSmart?Weekly
Performance
Quality
Value
I loved this product when I first used it, it performed as described. But after 12 months or so the plastic "paddles" which dispense the food broke off of the turning wheel. Since I couldn't get a replacement part or repair the problem, I bought another one, and the same thing happened after only 6 months! I refuse to buy a third one.
Also, to anyone who buys this product, I recommend that you keep the directions handy because when you change the batteries you will have to re-program the device.
Also, to anyone who buys this product, I recommend that you keep the directions handy because when you change the batteries you will have to re-program the device.
Cons: poor quality
Review 4 for Petmate(r) Le Bistro Portion Control Feeder
Overall rating
inconsistent and easily broken
February 3, 2013
by pugpeople
fromPort Hueneme, CA
What is your gender?F
How many pets do you have?3
How often do you shop at PetSmart?A few times a year
Performance
Quality
Value
I have a pug (the breed is notorious for overeating). I bought 2 of these (hoping the first one was just defective). Neither one dispensed the correct amount of food (giving too little on one feeding and too much the next feeding or getting completely jammed up because it didn't all drop the first go round). After a couple of days my not too bright pug managed to figure out that if he pawed up into the slot the food drops down from, then he can get it to give him more food (think Pavlov here and you basically get the idea that it didn't take him long to empty the container out while we weren't home- I had thankfully not filled it completely up). His constant pawing broke the mechanism inside that rotates to drop the food. Was completely dismayed that this happened on 2 devices. Trying one of those automatic tray feeders now to see if that will work out better (fingers crossed).
Cons: poor quality, doesn't work
Review 5 for Petmate(r) Le Bistro Portion Control Feeder
Overall rating
has worked well for 4 years
November 20, 2012
by precatlady
fromOntario Canada
How many pets do you have?1
Performance
Quality
Value
I have an older version of this model and have not had a single problem with it. It dispenses the correct amount at the correct time, every time. Since my cat gets 1/4 cup twice a day, I don't even have to refill the reservoir very often.
My 7 year old cat hates change (surprise right?) but adapted to this with no problem. Instead of hassling me up to an hour before feeding time, she now goes and sits by the machine!
I have been surprised by how infrequently I have to change the batteries - on average it has been about once a year.
My only complaint is that I find programming the options a hassle. Since I only do it once a year when I change the batteries I never remember how it works. For this reason I recommend keeping the instructions handy. Once I finally found them, I taped them to the bottom of the food reservoir lid.
This has been helpful day to day but also if I go away for a weekend. It means that who ever is checking on the cat can come when it works for their schedule and my cat gets to stick with her routine.
I don't know if the newer versions have a design problem or a programming error but I have been very happy with this product and have recommended it to friends.
Review 6 for Petmate(r) Le Bistro Portion Control Feeder
Overall rating
Not worth the hassle
September 11, 2012
by maf1227
fromMA
What is your gender?M
How many pets do you have?2
How often do you shop at PetSmart?Monthly
We bought this hoping it would help our 2 cats get the right amount of food while we are away but I have found that 1/3 of the time it overfeeds (twice the programmed amount), 1/3 of the time ut underfeeds (half the programmed amount) and 1/3 of the time it is just right. The idea and options seem good but these just don't seem to work too good.
Review 7 for Petmate(r) Le Bistro Portion Control Feeder
Overall rating
Not worth the money
May 14, 2012
by jaryl
fromlatham, ny
What is your gender?F
How many pets do you have?3
How often do you shop at PetSmart?Weekly
Performance
Quality
Value
I had this unit just a few months when it started acting up. It started dumping the food straight through and then overflowed the bowl after only a few uses. I had high hopes so that we could be away a few days without having a pet sitter in. If it had worked, it would have been worth the money. since it didn't and doesn't I recommend people stay away from it. The mfg needs to make a better product before they charge this much money for their product.
Pros: easy to clean
Cons: poor quality, leaks, doesn't work
Review 8 for Petmate(r) Le Bistro Portion Control Feeder
Overall rating
quality and color
April 30, 2012
by mcwho
fromdaytona Florida
What is your gender?M
How many pets do you have?1
How often do you shop at PetSmart?A few times a year
Performance
Quality
Value
Paid nearly $100 a year ago, worked fine but my cat shunned it cause he does not like the BLACK bowl, I always fed him in white bowls so he could see the food. After a year the little rotator paddles that move the food out started to break off, and would then dump too much food out.
Pros: easy to clean
Cons: poor quality
Review 9 for Petmate(r) Le Bistro Portion Control Feeder
Overall rating
Worked well for a little while
November 25, 2011
by MelanieinPhx
fromPhoenix, AZ
Performance
Quality
Value
I had sticker shock at the price of this product, but was tired of my cat waking me up in the morning to be fed. I've had it for about a year and the motor is dying, so it only dispenses about half of what it's programmed to. It's only warranted for a year and at $90 I can't justify purchasing another. Also, food tends to get stuck in the mechanism and jam it up from time to time.
Cons: poor quality
Review 10 for Petmate(r) Le Bistro Portion Control Feeder
Overall rating
Love this product
October 10, 2011
by Talya
fromTucson, AZ
What is your gender?F
How many pets do you have?1
How often do you shop at PetSmart?A few times a year
Reviewer Images
I've had this for over 2 years and have never had a problem.
Review 11 for Petmate(r) Le Bistro Portion Control Feeder
Overall rating
Good Idea. No Durability.
August 22, 2011
by TBaer
fromPhoenix, AZ
What is your gender?M
How many pets do you have?1
How often do you shop at PetSmart?Monthly
Performance
Quality
Value
I used this product for about two months with the appropriate sized dog pellets without problems. Then the plastic "paddles" that rotate and scoop down the food broke off their axle. This does not appear to be a part that can be replaced or repaired. I am very disappointed that such an expensive little machine has such a weak link. Nice while it lasted.
Pros: easy to clean
Cons: poor quality