Vitamix

[valentinearabella]

For all those who have a Vitamix:
1) What kind of Vitamix blender do you have?
2) Where did you buy it from?
3) How much did it cost?
Also, have any of you heard of the "new" Vitamix Professional Series that you can use at home? I was thinking about buying the Platinum for $405 (includes shipping). But I'm not sure if I should buy a Vitamix 5000 or a Professional series blender. I you could help me out, that would be great. Thanks everyone!

[Shivananda]

I've previously owned the older 3600, with the stainless steel container and the spigot for "steaming hot soup," and have used and regularly use the recent and current models, like the Commercial (Today I used one at a restaurant to make 4 qts of raw General Gau's sauce for a raw chow mein dish, and 2 qts of raw pecan/mushroom gravy to top the raw Egg Foo Yong special).

Although good, I find Vita-Mix blenders to be highly overrated, and horrendously overpriced when purchased new. It's basically a $200 blender with a really big motor plus a whole lot of lot of hype. And charging $80 for a replacement blender jar??? Sorry, that's obscene. BlendTec and K-Tec are both better machines if you are willing to spend that kind of money.

Or, to take another tack, you can regularly find Vita-Mixes almost new on eBay for $150 - 200.

[rawpriestess]

I bought my Vita Mix at the county fair, over 10 years ago, it cost about $399 or so, came with everything you could ever want, cookbook(with tons of raw recipes) mine is a 5000

I love it,

My replacement container only cost $23, which included shipping and the attachment to take off the blades with, just a couple of months ago,
to get a replacement container with the blades is $80

they also came out with a shorter 1/2 size container, so it will fit under your counter,

I would just like to add, that I have had about 15 blenders in my long long long lifetime, and the Vita Mix it the number one tops for me, I've tried many others on a long term basis, and they just don't work the same.

now if you don't want to do ice creams, and smoothies, and make things super smooth, then you could probably use any blender, for a while.

but I've tried to do catering and raw food prep using other people's Ktec, and oster, and many other brands, never the same

when I want to grind flax, I use my Vita Mix, and it takes about 3 seconds to grind 2 cups of flax meal.

When I want to make nut milks, 10 seconds and I have nut milk

when I want a super smooth whipped cream made from macademias or almonds, 20 seconds and I've got it.

When I want fresh chopped cole slaw, 1 second, and an entire head of cabbage is finely chopped, (the secret is add water-before you hit blend for one second, then pour off the water) and you have perfectly chopped cabbage, or any other type of hard veggie, like carrot or turnip anything you want finely chopped or minced or diced, just add it to water, and instantly chopped, or minced or diced.

I LOVE my Vita Mix (obviously) but I'm sure if you just wanted to make a few things, and you didn't mind taking a little more time, that you could find a less expensive blender and use that.

I KNOW that the Vita Mix is the best, because Alissa sells it.

here is the link if you would like to see the appliances Alissa sells

http://www.alissacohen.com/appliances.html

[theresaann]

I think the Vita mix rocks. Mine has been working like a champ for almost 10 years. Not interested in anything else-it's worth the investment!!

[Sunshine9]

I have the vitamix 5000, and I debated whether to get the professional series as well. It was actually a gift, and my mom told me that she got a factory rebuilt one... If she hadn't told me i would have assumed it was brand new, so I would recommend looking into that feature. The only major difference I saw was that with the professional you get a dry container as well, and for me that didn't seem necessary.

I think it is hyped up to be everything they say. It was definitely worth the investment for me. I use it at least once a day, and often twice.

[Shivananda]

I just realized that I had not fully fleshed out that previous thought of mine...

First, in heavy commercial use Vitamixes don't hold up nearly as well as K-Tec or BlendTec (which are the ones you see at places like Starbucks and many smoothie bars). 5 out of the 7 Vitamixes I have used recently in commercial establishments have been broken in some way, and 4 out of 5 of the jars at the restaurant I've been uncooking at recently don't work properly or leak. I've never seen that problem with even the lower end BlendTec or K-Tec, which are similarly priced.

Plus, those two brands have programmed functions that allow automatic blending of a two or three stage beverage, like when you need to chop up frozen fruit for a smoothie, than shift into high speed to fully blend it, then shut off automatically when it's done to avoid overprocessing. I find that feature to be a big time saver, because I can start it and walk away to do something else. That's why they have become so popular with bars and restaurants for doing frozen beverages.

[Neverknow]

LOVE my Vita-Mix to death.

I bought it in 2000 and have had no trouble with it at all.

I have a 5000 model with the dry container. I use the dry container to grind almonds and flax. Using it for almonds makes the process of making almond butter sooooo much easier!

I paid roughly $450 for it and found out later that you could get factory rebuilt items. If I could do it over I would buy the rebuilt one for less money and likely enjoy the same quality.

All in all, this machine gets an A+ for home use from me.

[rawpriestess]

If the Vita Mix seal leaks, it can be replaced for FREE from the Manufacturer, you just call them up, and they send you the replacement, it's there in about 1 days, totally free if you are still under warrantee which was 7 years for my machine.

yes commercial appliances get alot more wear and tear, and the people using them probably didn't pay for them, so they can get dropped, banged, slammed down onto the motor base, left on to overheat, etc. Any appliance can get broken or damaged, the Vita Mix has been around alot longer than the Ktec, so I would imagine there would be some damaged ones, that you might come across.

I'm pulling hard for the Vita Mix, I want it to win, Yeah team!!! go go go !

[misslinda]

and if you buy your Vitamix at Costco, you have a lifetime to return it no matter what.

at least that is what I was told by one vitamix owner. :)

[greeninlosangeles]

Can you buy Vitamix at Cosco? How much does it cost there?

[misslinda]

hYE GREEN, i HEAR THEY DO SPECIAL PRMOS WITH VITA MIX. i DONT' SHOP THERE BUT i CAN CALL TOMORROW AND FIND OUT ..........sorry all caps :p

wouldn't that be a coup.........lifetime return policy? :p

[Shivananda]

I'm pulling hard for the Vita Mix, I want it to win, Yeah team!!! go go go !

Why? I have no emotional attachment whatsoever to the outcome of any of this. I just like to pass along whatever factual information I know plus my own personal experience to possibly help someone make an informed decision and get their money's worth. If the market leader is the best, I'll say so. In this case I don't think it is.

I've taken a Vitamix apart, and to me it is not built like a $450 blender in any way. I find it is built like a $200 blender, as I said earlier. So to me it is seriously overpriced, no matter how many people say they like them. But anyway, in a side by side comparison with a JennAir Atrezzi blender, which actually sells for $200 at full tilt department store prices (maybe $160 from discount places), I found the JennAir outperformed the Vitamix on key tasks like chopping ice with no liquid added, blending complex sauces, and pulverizing green juices, even with a lower power ratimg. And although I only had a chance to check it very briefly, it seems to me the $270 KitchenAid Professional Chef's Blender (less on the street) is also very good and wayyy cheaper.

Plus, need I say, the extra $200 or so the Vitamix costs will buy a decent juicer or food processor. I find that to be a significant cost overrun.

And even the lowly K-Tec Champ HP3, at 1500 watts perhaps the most powerful home blender around (Vitamix plays coy with their technical specs, one of my beefs against them, but mentions "peak" power about 2/3 of the K-Tec) is only $399, still cheaper than the Vitamix and in my experience, a more versatile and better made machine. It's easier to clean, fits under most kitchen cabinets, and has the programmed blend cycles I was talking about earlier. And it has a longer warranty.

Your mileage may vary, obviously. But that's what I have to say on the subject.

[valentinearabella]

Thanks guys for all your help! If anyone has anymore thoughts to the subject, I'd be glad to hear them. Thanks again!

[Alissa]

We have the vitamix on sale:
http://www.alissacohen.com/store/customer/home.php?cat=5

[Revvell]

As I've stated previously here (again and again), I have both the VM AND the K-Tec champ. For me, it's VM all the way!!!! I use mine daily ~ as much as 3-5 times a day and it's NEVER given me any problems.

Revvell

[valentinearabella]

Would anyone like to bid on a BRAND NEW Vitamix 5000 (red base) on eBay? Currently the highest bid is $366.00 which is a GREAT deal since a refurbished one costs $369.00 on vitamix.com.
Here is the link:Brand New Vitamix 5000 (http://cgi.ebay.com/BRAND-NEW-IN-BOX-VITAMIX-5000-RED-BASE_W0QQitemZ4446672128QQcategoryZ20668QQssPageNa meZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
I am currently the highest bidder, but something recently came up and I cannot buy the blender at the moment. The auction closes in 9 hours. If someone could help me out PLEASE! You would definitely be getting a great deal because this blender retails at $419. Thanks!

[Lynnz]

Shivananda,
What would be your top pick for someone who wants to spend less than $200?
I would use a blender once, maybe twice a day.

The VM looks great, but I don't want to spend that kind of money yet.

[Punky]

For all those who have a Vitamix:
1) What kind of Vitamix blender do you have?
2) Where did you buy it from?
3) How much did it cost?
Also, have any of you heard of the "new" Vitamix Professional Series that you can use at home? I was thinking about buying the Platinum for $405 (includes shipping). But I'm not sure if I should buy a Vitamix 5000 or a Professional series blender. I you could help me out, that would be great. Thanks everyone!

Hello! I have the Vitamix Professional Series model in Platinum. I love mine! So glad I bought it. I got it this past fall. I researched the Vitamix 5000 series as well. The only differences between the two models is aethetics really. The Professional series comes in the 3 colors. The motor and warrenty are exactly the same. Both have the variable speed dial. The jug is a little aesthetically different-black grip handle. Also with the Professional Series it uses just ONE jug for BOTH wet/dry vs. a seperate jug for each with the 5000 series. The Professional Series is a tad more, but comes with a DVD and an awesome very thick cookbook with a big section on raw foods. Either model you get is awesome though and I am sure you'll love it!

[Shivananda]

Shivananda, What would be your top pick for someone who wants to spend less than $200? I would use a blender once, maybe twice a day.The VM looks great, but I don't want to spend that kind of money yet.

Well, as I've said before, if you are ready for a VM, but not ready for the new VM price, you can buy almost brand new VitaMixes on eBay almost every day for $150 - 200. People buy them, try them a few times, and decide it is not for them. So they are very easy to find. And the older 3500s and 4000s can be had for around $100.

But first, what are you going to use it for? To make a fruit smoothie once a day? If that's all you intend, there are many really good blenders available new in the $100-200 range. But even there, I know many people who buy them and only use them a short while, so why invest more than you need to until you are more into this?

And not to overlook the obvious, Alissa sells a Tribest blender for under $100 that is good, and it is more portable and more storable than many others because of its compact size. Have you checked it out?

[Sheryl]

Where can I get a cheap replacement jug? I've dropped mine one to many times and recently blended a spoon! I need to get one! I thought they were hundreds of dollars?

Thanks,
Sheryl

[Leslie_L]

I have a Vitamix 5000. My parents gave it to me for Christmas. They purchased it from the Vitamix web site. I love it I used it everyday, usually more than once a day. It is my favorite kitchen appliance!! It comes with a 7 year warrantee.

You can also get them at Costco and they are a little cheaper. The company does a demo at the Costcos a couple of times a year.

HTH,

Leslie

[Leslie_L]

Hi Sheryl,

You can get replacement jugs on their web site. I believe it is www.vitamix.com.

HTH,

Leslie

[rawpriestess]

Alissa has the Vita Mix on sale for only $349.99

Now THAT is a great bargain, you can get the replacement containers from the Vita Mix website for only $23, Mine finally needed replacing after 10 years of daily high usage.

Now THAT is a great appliance.

[Sheryl]

$23 for a replacement jug is AMAZING!! WOW! I just bought a new jug including blades. I had blended a spoon and cracked the jug, and had doubts about the blades too (they got really loud). The new jug is such a relief - I love how clean and clear it is too (mine was over 10 years old).

Cheers,
Sheryl

[EastCoastie]

We bought an "older" V-M (the 3600) last spring on e-bay for just over $100. It worked great, receiving at least one daily workout. However, we decided to take it to work so we could make green smoothies and such.

At the beginning of the year we bought the new K-Tec Total Blender to replace the V-M at home. The TB gets at least two, if not more, workouts a day and is pretty much self-running (I never have to wrestle the machine with the tamper.) However, it is a bit louder than the older V-M (and we have an open floorplan so sound echo's) so I just had a friend who is a carpenter build me a sound reduction box out of wood. To the eye, it is a bit bulkier than what you see at Starbuck's but the noise level has been reduced significantly (equal to, if not better than SB's).

I've found them both to be great machines, although I think I prefer the new K-Tec a bit more...

[Shivananda]

However, it is a bit louder than the older V-M Just a note to those for whom this might not be so obvious... the reason the K-Tec is louder is that it has a larger, more powerful motor. The old Vitamix was maybe 1 1/2 hp, the newer Vitamix is about 2 hp, and the K-Tec is about 3 hp. With blenders, as in life, power is your friend. :)

[EastCoastie]

Shiv,

I knew about the motor difference. I joke that my blender is actually a lawnmower in disguise, or as my husband says 1/2 a lawnmower.

Anyway, the noise trade-off was definitely worth it in the results the extra power yields. And now that I have it in the box, I can't even really tell. I just have a nicely constructed but rather bulky box on my counter.

EC