Refurbished Kitchen Aid mixer? Does anyone have any experience

B

barbara-in-va

Well-known member
with such a product? I am thinking of getting one for someone who doesn't really cook and will rarely use it(-but wants one). Except for when I am visiting--I am always frustrated that there is no way to mix a batter!!

So, any pros or cons that I should know about?

 
I would buy refurbished over new any day...

the reason? the refurbished one had a problem, went back to a workshop where someone who knows how it is supposed to work took it apart, fixed the problem, and made sure it was working properly. Coupled with the reduced price, this is the much better option. I bought the professional Kitchen Aid refurbished. I've had it for 10 years and haven't had a problem with it.

The new one was slapped togther on an assembly line and the company hoped it was put together correctly.

 
Refurbished, especially if:

I would recommend refurbished if you can get a really older one with the metal drive gear. I got mine repaired and the guy who repaired it said keep this one, as it had the metal drive and all the newer ones had plastic drive gears.

 
I got both of mine free from credit card points. But I have a refurb'd 17" Macbook

and a refurb'd I-pod touch and Larry has a refurb Macbook for 5 years and we've not had problems with any of them.

Oh, and I just got a refurb'd Vitamix this week. Too soon to tell on that one.

 
I'll buy refurb'ed any time from a reputable source. I figure, the bugs have all been worked out AND

it's invariably cheaper.

 
I'm not disagreeing, but I would add a warning: be careful who is doing...

...the "refurbishing". If something is "factory refurbished", it is not always done at the factory. Many companies farm out their refurbs to independent contractors, not their own factories or repair centers.

Electronic refurbs are famous for this. If you are investing a bunch of money in a refurb, it pays to know what kind of warranty you are receiving (no brainer, right?) and if the refurbishing was done "in house", or sub-contracted out. A call to the company would probably be sufficient.

Michael

 
KA sent me a refurbished one after mine died making pizza dough

and it's a great piece of machinery!

 
I have one and would not do it again. Especially if it's low use. Here's why...

This is exactly what I did. I got a refurb (from KA and had it shipped) because I wanted a fancy brushed nickel finish. I don't use it often as it's just me these days. On maybe the 3rd use black gunk dripped out of it into the bowl and I called KA. They were very nice but the warranty is limited on the refurb and she explained that because I was a low use user there is some grease pack inside that sometimes goes wonky with low use so I needed to take it in for repair - on my own dime. She pretty much said it happened a lot on the refurb units. To say I was super disappointed after years of wanting a KA would be an understatement. I never got it repaired because I truly don't use it much, and basically have never gotten around to it, but it I were to try bread or something like that would for sure take it in first. Also, the pin that holds the head on slides out with every.single.use. I have to stop it and hammer it back in place many times every use after having it fall off the stand once. So basically I bought something I used twice and it needs repair and is a known defect if you are a low use user.

(I think I bought it, used it once...maybe twice, then not till the holidays when I had the problem but by then it was out of warranty.)

 
This is all really useful info (more)

I went out on a limb a month ago and bought a refurb'd Cuisinart Coffee maker with thermal pot from TigerDirect. It was only $30 so I took a gamble. So far, so good, but I like the advice on who is doing the refurb'ing.

 
I have an advantage most people don't have. I'm in the business...

...of buying and selling closeouts, surplus and excess inventory. I've purchased truckloads (semi's) of refurbished product, customer returns and shelf pulls.

I work with insurance companies when they pay a claim on a business loss. They technically own whatever inventory the business filed a claim on (once they pay the claim) so I help them liquidate whatever they have that can be salvaged.

I'm very careful who I buy refurbs from.

Michael

 
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