topic K.A. name will not be in Kitchen

K.A. name will not be

okaywitheasypay — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 16:07:49 GMT

my only standard for purchasing a counter top appliance anymore. I went to use my 9 cup food processor the other day and the slice selector lever broke off ! I looked up the warranty and of course it was 1 year and it had been 1 year +. I sent an e-mail and never recieved a response from K.A. ( I knew QVC would do nothing after the warranty was up). After the holidays , today I finally called K. A. --geared up to listening to recorded music for awhile ( was 20 minutes first time ) lost connection then waited another 15.

I must say the representative was helpful and polite. She said they would send a refurbished one in the same color with a six month warranty. I would have to ship back the one I had. Better than some companies, but still I had bought a new one. I have nothing against used appliances when I purchase them at my option. I shop yard sales , thrift stores etc.& make good use of bleach when I get home. I declined their offer though as I figured it would just be someone else's problems and I would stick with my own. It is stuck on thin slice which is what I use most. So far everthing else works.

I was so glad I had not done a review on this. I did recently.

Re: K.A. name will not be

151949 — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 16:21:58 GMT

There are people who repair KA appliances, you may have to travel a ways but I would google and see if I could find anyone.

Re: K.A. name will not be

okaywitheasypay — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 16:36:55 GMT

Yes , I asked the rep ( I live in a very large city) but she said there wasn't any. I may check on my own and see if any K. A. repair places are close . I would be willing to pay a bit to have it restored as it cost a prety good chunk of change! It would take special tools for DH to get to it.

Re: K.A. name will not be

KYToby — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 18:37:09 GMT

Perhaps I am misreading this, but I do not see the problem or think the complaint is valid.

You have a broken appliance that is outside of the warranty period. KA is sending you a replacement. Yes, it is refurbished and not new, but your broken mixer is not new either. Very few companies would even do this.

I would say that you are fortunate that KA is offering this option.

Re: K.A. name will not be

chickenbutt — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 18:39:16 GMT

I agree that that is a very kind offer. Out of warranty is out of warranty. Even some companies will replace with refurbished when IN warranty, so they really don't have to do anything.

I'm not a fan of KA, but I think they are going a bit above and beyond.

Re: K.A. name will not be

jaxs mom — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 18:48:14 GMT

The point is that it really shouldn't be breaking after just over a year of use. My KA FP ended up with the center post broken. I went back to Cuisinart. I think the only thing I have left from KA at this point is a hand mixer that I very rarely ever use and one of those mini choppers which I also rarely use.

Re: K.A. name will not be

chickenbutt — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 18:51:12 GMT

Good point, Jaxs Mom! You are totally right. The problem is that they just don't make them as well as when they were made by Hobart for all those years.

Although I've never had a need for a stand mixer over all these decades, if I should develop that need I would definitely NOT go for KA at this point. I'd buy either Hobart of Viking, or even Cuisinart like you. I have a number of Cuisinart items and have always done very well with the brand.

Re: K.A. name will not be

jaxs mom — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 19:02:28 GMT

I gave my KA mixer away when I bought my Ankarsrum mixer. They are made in Sweden. I had the Cuisinart mixer for two years and then the bracket that holds the head down broke and because the head is spring loaded you'd have to stand there holding motor head down to be able to mix. My husband said that there was no way to really fix the problem.

Re: K.A. name will not be

okaywitheasypay — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 19:42:59 GMT

KYToby, yes you did misread it. as stated the product I wrote about is a food processor. Refurbished can be many reasons -- didn't like the color, didn't want it, broken before the warranty ran out, or many reasons. Nonetheless in another home and reworked. Obviously mine is used , but by me. I am glad you feel that I am fortunate that they made me this offer . I do not. I guess it is more a matter of disappointment that items can only last a few months longer than a warranty in a product that touts dependability (many xs over & over on QVC).

Re: K.A. name will not be

grannyjan — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 21:32:33 GMT

refurbished is not a bad word......I have bought several things that were not "new" and went on to use them for a very long time..case in point....I wented a DSLR camera, Canon, and it was almost $1000 new. A refurbished one came with everything (2 lenses, bag, battery charger, 2 batteries etc) for under $500. It has been wonderful....

Sometimes refurbished just means that someone for some reason returned a product....sometimes they haven't even been used......but they can't call it new anymore.

Don't be afraid of that word.....

I have a KA stand mixer that I bought in the 80s from Penneys.....I have bought attachments new and they work with my old mixer...........how great is that?

Re: K.A. name will not be

CLEM — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 00:24:34 GMT

I had a KA food processor for about 5 years when it just died for no reason at all. Probably just to annoy me. Didn't buy another one.

Re: K.A. name will not be

Sweetbay magnolia — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 11:08:35 GMT

Hi, @okaywitheasypay. I had a KA coffee maker a few years ago. It was a very pretty red, had a large (14 cup) capacity, and brewed tasty coffee. It was not inexpensive. Into storage went the boring 12 cup Mr. Coffee. Unfortunately the pretty red machine died before I'd used it a year. I'm hesitant about this brand now. Not saying I'd never buy KA again, but I would be cautious about an "investment".

I didn't wrangle with a replacement or a fix. Back to the $20 Mr. Coffee which is still going strong.

Re: K.A. name will not be

ID2 — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 12:39:20 GMT

I'm so reluctant to buy anything new in small appliances now-a-days. I have admired the KA mixers and my dh has offered to buy me one. I just can't do it! I still have my Oster Kitchen Center which comes with tons of parts to do anything! Its 38 years old and still works like brand new! I did buy an small KA hand mixer a few years back and HATE it. It just doesn't have any power! I still pull out my harvest gold Sunbeam hand mixer, another applicance I have that I got at my bridal shower 38 years ago!

Re: K.A. name will not be

okaywitheasypay — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 14:22:28 GMT

grannyjan, I have purchased refurbished items myself and had mixed results . With this fp the other functiions work so I do not wish to gamble on exchanging for one that someone returned.

to the last 3 posters, you grasped why I posted. Not to complain and -- itch (well maybe a little) but to remind all to shop with caution when putting out bigger $$s because it is a name brand. I also have their stand mixer that I purchased before the fp and so far /so good (ok knocks on her head). The presenters are always talking about a fifty year old mixer still going strong well I wonder if that will be the same with the ones purchased recently?

I am sure I will still watch the KA lady as she really has some good hints. If only she could tell me how to vary my slices with a broken lever.

To the poster with the 38 year old appliance I say yea! Leave the dance with the one you came with!