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(More customer reviews)I went shopping for a new KitchenAid stand mixer to replace the one I got for my ex girlfriend. The best I could find, new, was the 4.5 qt "Classic" model line ranging in price from $170 to $220 depending on where you shop.
I stumbled on the refurbs sold here at Amazon. This 6 qt model, in Empire Red, caught my eye and the $199 price, compared to the $430 MSRP ($369 around town, new) was attractive as well.
With KitchenAid stand mixers of any type, you had better like them a lot, since they are likely to be with you a long, long time. This 6 qt "Professional" model line seems to be no exception.
The good: Arrived within a week of order. Looks fabulous. Got the Super Saver discount, free shipping plus a $25 promo, bringing the price to $175 bucks! Sweet deal! 30 pounds of bright red countertop hardware!
The bad: The product description for this, and virtually all the refurbs listed at Amazon, indicate that the pouring shield is included. It was not. After going around with Amazon's very prompt and helpful customer service people, they offered to refund my money. I indicated I only wanted the shield, as promised. No joy. My first clue that this was not going to go my way was gleaned from the shipping carton from KitchenAid, made and specially printed, proclaiming it is a Factory Reconditioned product. The slightly modified warranty (6 mos. vs 1 yr) was also printed right on the box. Also indicated were the factory's own words indicating the "refurb/recond units do not include a pouring shield." A call to KA confirmed this to be true for ALL refurbs. Will I ever get a shield? Maybe, if I pay from $20 to $30 to purchase one myself. Amazon would only refund my money, however, Amazon also offered a $15 promo cert for my trouble. The item is again out of stock. I am keeping the mixer!
Bad news #2: When I turned the mixer on for the first time, a loud clunking greeted my ears. This kind of "went away" for a time then returned. I considered using the famous KA replacement guarantee. They give you another replacement unit, to your doorstep, rightaway.
I flipped the speed switch up through the 10 speeds. At speeds 8-10, thr mixer started to imitate the sound of a F-15 fighter revving for takeoff! Ear protection would have been required to be near this thing! Pushing inward on the speed lever knob lessened the racket somewhat. I did the unthinkable and removed the top motor housing cover, looking for a wire or some foreign object lodged where it should not be (and should have been noticed by the factory repair person when repacking this mixer for resale as a refurb.) DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME! Shock hazards, as well as finger munching hazards, exist within the case!
What I found was simply that the fan that cools the motor (runs at very high speed) was hitting the case!! How did it get out of the factory making such a racket? I asked KitchenAid that very question and they were suprised as well. The mixer is almost silent now, even when running at top speed, as it should be for a $430 unit.
One more small item. The dough hook and beater bar are described as "burnished" finish. In fact, they are just polished cast aluminum like on the lower cost 4 and 5 qt models. Unlike these, however, the "lower priced" parts come with a nice, slick polymer (?) coating that sheds food much easier than the plain metal parts. The "burnished" parts have rough casting flash on the edges as well. Not a very fine job of polishing out the mill imperfections in my opinion. It does make these parts look very "industrial" and professional however. They could have done a lot better here.
In conclusion, this was still a super deal for me, since I was able to fix it myself. For most folks, they would end up returning it to Amazon/KA and have had a bad experience to relate. In my case, I just want that darn pouring shield!
This is mixer was the deal of the decade as far as I am concerned. I have no regrets. It is typical KitchenAid quality at a super price, delivered, tax and shipping free to my door.
The refurbs are not always in stock so grab one when they become available. Just do not expect the listed pouring shield!
In the box: A fine red 6 qt mixer to pass on to your great grandkids, a beater bar, a dough hook, a user manual with a lot of recipes and a wire whisk. No pouring shield.
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