Kitchen

[KP2]

I'm a baker and in the bakeries I've worked in, the mainstay appliance is Viking, but some of the smaller appliances used in some of the smaller bakeries I worked in were Kitchenaid.

I can confirm that Kitchenaid mixers are ****** made to sell at price-gouging amounts.  One mixer I used was brand new, the bakery just bought it, and after the second use of using it, the lift handle for the bowl stripped!  We couldn't get the bowl lowered again.  Another KA mixer at another bakery I worked at, the gears stripped out and we couldn't get it to change speeds anymore.  All in all, I think I use probably around a dozen different KA mixers and each one of them were pure ******.  Most of the bakeries that used these threw them out for other brands, which we never had any problems with.

My favorite mixer brand is Sunbeam.  I even bought a Sunbeam stand mixer for myself.  Iv'e been using it for years and have NEVER, EVER had any problems with it!  And on top of that, it's like a 1/4 of the price of those Kitchenaid mixers.

If you are going to invest in something decent, get something else, don't get Kitchenaid.  I've found that Sunbeam, Cuisineart, and Hamilton Beach make better products that Kitchenaid.

[blackhole99]

I've had my Kitchen Aid artisan stand mixer for over 25 years, even used it hard when I operated a home bakery and it never failed me. 

[Sooner]

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@KP2 wrote:

I'm a baker and in the bakeries I've worked in, the mainstay appliance is Viking, but some of the smaller appliances used in some of the smaller bakeries I worked in were Kitchenaid.

I can confirm that Kitchenaid mixers are ****** made to sell at price-gouging amounts.  One mixer I used was brand new, the bakery just bought it, and after the second use of using it, the lift handle for the bowl stripped!  We couldn't get the bowl lowered again.  Another KA mixer at another bakery I worked at, the gears stripped out and we couldn't get it to change speeds anymore.  All in all, I think I use probably around a dozen different KA mixers and each one of them were pure ******.  Most of the bakeries that used these threw them out for other brands, which we never had any problems with.

My favorite mixer brand is Sunbeam.  I even bought a Sunbeam stand mixer for myself.  Iv'e been using it for years and have NEVER, EVER had any problems with it!  And on top of that, it's like a 1/4 of the price of those Kitchenaid mixers.

If you are going to invest in something decent, get something else, don't get Kitchenaid.  I've found that Sunbeam, Cuisineart, and Hamilton Beach make better products that Kitchenaid.

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@KP2 I respectfully disagree.  From personal experiences I find them good products and most reviews agree.  

[GenXmuse]

I love sunbean products though I’ve never owned any KA stuff.  My counterspace is at a premium and honestly, I don’t bake a whole lot.  I just use a hand mixer.  They sure are gorgeous though!!  

[151949]

My family owned a bakery from around 1920 until the 1970's and used all HOBART mixers and other equipment. Hobart was the original name of KA  and those were 50 year old - used hard all day,  every day mixers. My personal home mixer is a 1943 KA that my Mom got from my Great grandparents as a wedding gift.It still works perfectly after 74 years. At one point it did need a repair and my DH was able to do it at home in our garage with online assistance from the KA tech. They helped him for free and were very nice to deal with. They have even sent me a decal to put on the mixer celebrating it will be 75 years old on Jan 30th. 

[deeva]

I've had my KitchenAid stand mixer for twenty years and my KitchenAid hand mixer for fifteen. Never had any problems with them.

[SharkE]

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@blackhole99 wrote:

I've had my Kitchen Aid artisan stand mixer for over 25 years, even used it hard when I operated a home bakery and it never failed me. 

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That's because it was made "25 yrs. " ago.

[ID2]

I agree with the OP. I had an Oster Kitchen Center that I got for my bridal shower 39 years ago, It had attachments (that came with it) for everything you ever wanted to do. I absolutely loved it! It finally gave out last year. I got a KitchenAid stand mixer with some other parts (bought separately of course). I'm just not sold on the quality of this machine. Nothing like my made in America Oster! Its robbery how much they charge for it too. 

[Gram W]

As we read here daily many products we now purchase are not the quality we purchased from the same brand 10-20 years ago.   My great Sunbeam mixer is 10+ years old and still going strong.  I see no need to buy new because of features or color.   I have clothes purchased from QVC that I still wear after 7+ years.  I will no longer buy from that designer because the last several purchases were not a good quality.  They did not last after a couple of washings in cold water, air dry.

As with any purchase buyer beware.  Price does not guarantee quality.  Do your homework and shop around.  Buy the best you can for the price you can afford.  Remember great brands in any field probably make several grades of goods to cover multiple markets.  

[151949]

Also some people just break everything!  I am someone who is very very careful with my belongings and I tend to have things forever, where as someone else can buy that exact same thing , own it a week and it's ruined already. 

I had a 1980 MGB for 26 years that still looked perfect when I sold it.The reason I got rid of it was my back was so bad I couldn't get in & out of it anymore and using the clutch had gotten difficult with my bad knees. That car was in such great condition I sold it for $12,000 more than I paid for it. The buyer said he has looked at dozens that were just junk, he couldn't figure out what they had been through. 

My point is - at times the item in question may be bad quality but often the owner is the problem not the item.