Vitamix and Excalibur

[sprouts2go]

It's time. My little dehydrator died. My blender is making funny noises. Any suggestions on what I should buy along with these as in sheets types and such. Also best place to buy with warranty. I thought maybe just going to the sites but asking incase you all have better ideas.

[Ilse W.]

There was a recent post (maybe a week ago or so) about (possibly reconditioned?) excaliburs from the manufacturer at a discounted price. I bought mine directly from the manufacturer several years ago, and got all sorts of extra goodies free with it. My vitamix is also from the company website, a factory reconditioned 5000 with the usual 7 year warranty and all the extras for $299. Just can't beat that. With Eva's "distributor" number, I got free shipping to boot.

[spicyfull]

Emma I remember that Thread also but can't find it. What they did was to contact Excalibratur and I think they directed them to the refurbished ones. They were less expensive, I just don't know by how much. So give them a call or go to their website.

[Eva]

Seriously -- Emma scored (yay!) with the $300 -- that's a rarity. Usually they only have refurbished models that are a newer model. I recently got a new one, and the best price I could get was $399 (but no shipping because I had that code -- 06-003381)

My info here for some options (http://www.uncooking101.com/saving-money-on-raw-food-equipment.shtml) Copy/pasted from there: When they are not available, you can call Barbara at Vita-Mix between 9 and 6 EST on business days. Her number is (800) 848-2649, x.2310; she will see if they have other refurbished models available. She can set you up with 3 payments and no extra fees for that convenience.

And -- I'm not affiliate for Excalibur (ought to be -- I LOVE their dehydrators!!) -- but here's the link for that: http://www.excaliburdehydrator.com/Dehydrators-37-cat.htm
It's the last one on the second page. :)

[Eva]

Oh yea -- and I like to buy straight from the company myself. Seems best for warranties, but you'll have it no matter where you buy it.

Definitely get the teflex/paraflex sheets for the dehydrator!

[cara4art]

Definitely get an Excalibur dehydrator, AND the sheets, as Eva mentioned. I've had my dehydrator since 2000, but it was only last year that I got the teflex sheets for it, and it opened up a whole new area of food prep for me, since at that time I was shifting into raw anyway. Before that I was just using the dehydrator to dry fruit and tomatoes. As far as the blender, definitely move up to a high-speed one like the Vitamix, or the Blend-tec hp3a which is what I just got, and loving it. The difference between blending with a regular old blender and a high-speed one is like night and day IMO. For instance, in seconds you have a beautiful, truly smooth green smoothie, even with including some stalks and stems of the greens in it which you never get in a million years with a regular blender(and you might burn out the motor trying too). Both appliances well worth the money. Save up, and drop big hints to family and friends about birthday and Christmas gifts(like a chip-in towards getting these). My husband, who is not easily impressed and is fairly frugal to boot, like myself, said go right ahead and get the Blend-tec recently after our trip to Hawaii last month - cool!

[DebB]

I'd like to cast another vote for buying directly from the manufacturing company themselves.

I've read posts where people have not bought from the company, have had problems and the person/company they bought it from hung them out to dry.

I had a problem after purchasing my BlendTec. One simple phone call and -boop- they sent another container in that day's mail.

To me, it's worth (what could be) a few extra dollars over where I might save elsewhere. *Ü*

[raweater]

I'd recommend the Blendtec over the Vitamix, I have a detailed review here that explains what it does more than the Vitamix and it costs less at $325:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Blendtec_TB_621_BHM_Blender/content_452726918788

I must say I had my jar's blade jammed after 6 months but I think it was my fault from moving the jar while the blender was operating (a habit from my old blender which had an auto-stop feature as soon as I took the jar off). Luckily the blade has a lifetime warranty and they replaced it quickly. I don't think the Vitamix has a lifetime warranty on anything.

For the dehydrator you're probably better off with a 9 tray and the non-silicone reusable sheets (I only got 4 for my 9 tray model, I rarely need more than 4 sheeted trays anyway). I had gotten the silicone ones first and everything ended up welded onto them and had to be dissolved off in hot water so I wasted a few recipes with those and stopped using them.

[RawKnitster]

I found my Vita-mix 5200 at Costco for $395. Don't know if they have it all the time. There was a demo going on at the time.

Your not going to find a new Excalibur advertised cheaper than their website. The 9 tray 3900 model is listed at $219. I bought a 9 tray 2900 locally for $179. I'm not sure what the difference is, but the 2900 works for me.

Seems both Vita-mix and Excalibur have tight controls on how much their products are sold for. Doubtful you will find any better prices, at least not advertised prices.

What about Alissa's store? She is offering a Vita-mix 4500 for $399.

[rohrforraw]

I just bought a good4u food dehydrator. It is cheaper than the excal. It got good reviews on the internet. Also, i have a ktech blender. It is great. It also got rave reviews on the internet. Just google both and find out which one you like.
Lee

[RaeVynn]

Go ahead and get a Paraflexx sheet for every tray in the Excalibur, while you're at it.
I didn't at first, and I had to go back and buy 3 more later, as it was just too inconvenient to not be able to do an entire load of crackers at once!

The Raw Food World carries the Excalibur and sheets, at about the same price as everywhere else. You might find a deal on "last year's model/color" on the manufacturer's sites, though. :p

[raweater]

Excalibur also sells new/blemished ones at a great price, I got my 9 tray from them new/blemished for $159, and never noticed any blemish anyway, and even if I did I prefer to have a scratch on it and $100 more in my pockets.

[DebB]

I also wish I'd gotten 9 Paraflex sheets when I got my Excalibur. I got 7 thinking it would be "more than enough". There have been several times I would have used all 9 if I'd had them.

I'll order 2 more in the future, but right now I don't want to pay the S&H on just 2 sheets. I'll wait until I have a larger order. *Ü*