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Kitchenaid repairs and better mixer

"Bev C" <beverlyyvonne@gmail.com>
Sun, 4 Jun 2006 07:28:45 -0500
v106.n023.5
Erik wrote requesting an alternate mixer for his bread, and recounted 
his horror stories of KitchenAid.  While I agree with him that the 
mixers aren't what they used to be, I was quite surprised with the 
lack of customer service.  I am currently on my third of the new 
mixers. The first one just quit ­ no reason I know of.  The second 
one also quit but I suspect in this case it was because we were using 
the vegetable puree attachment.  Liquid was backing up into the motor 
and poof ­ it was history.  For each of the above-named problems, I 
was sent an immediate replacement machine ­ KitchenAid's warranty 
calls for that ­ an immediate replacement, none of those repairs that 
stretch out forever.  Each replacement machine starts the warranty 
period all over again.

I am sorry to say that we no longer use our KitchenAid 
attachments.  We used to use a grain mill but the process was so hard 
on the mixer (and so slow), we bought a stand-alone mill.  We also 
used to use the food mill attachment a LOT ­ now I notice that this 
product is no longer included in their advertised "attachment 
pack".  With the new mixers, apparently food backs up into the 
machine, although the company vehemently denies that.  Well, except 
for one person we spoke with who said that we needed to cook the 
tomatoes first and couldn't push them through, rather let the auger 
bring them down.  Well the auger doesn't work like that, the 
instruction book says the tomatoes can be raw, and what's the purpose 
of the wooden push tool if not to help the product along to the 
auger.  So we bought a stand-alone food mill as well. I "do" still 
use my KitchenAid but only for occasional quick breads, cakes or 
cookies.  But the expensive attachments (over $250 retail) languish.

A word of note on those "wide-bowl" mixers.  Indeed, it is much 
easier to pour ingredients into the bowl ­ but the bowl needs to be 
scraped!  Never had that problem with my old KitchenAid - which still 
works but that's a whole nuther story!

Bev C