Disappointed with new Blendtec blender... should I get the Vitamix?

[cjoklo]

Hi everyone. I just bought my new Blendtec over the weekend, and I've had mixed results, so far. I LOVE the soups I'm able to create in this blender. The potato soup and tortilla soups I had the past couple of nights have been amazing. However, I'm a little bit disappointed with the smoothies I've made. I am getting too many solid chunks not being blended, and I'm thinking about taking it back and getting the Vitamix instead.

Here is the smoothie I'm making. Sorry for not being exact with the measurements. I am adding these in order.

A handful of red grapes at the bottom of the blender
A handful of spinach leaves
a whole apple, quartered
A handful of frozen fruits - mango, strawberry, peach, pineapple.
About a cup of orange/pineapple fruit juice (to help the blender do its thing).

I have made this smoothie 4 times, and every time, I am getting surprisingly large mango and pineapple chunks not being blended. I am thinking that the blender is having a hard time blending the frozen fruits thoroughly. I started off using the "smoothie" cycle, and then switched over to the "whole juice" cycle at the advice of a Blendtec representative. I'm still getting chunks. Even after the cycle is finished, I hit the "pulse" button about 3 times, and the chunks are still getting through. Not sure what else I can do, at this point. I can run the cycle again, but I really don't think I should have to. The longer I have the juice in the blender, the more it gets oxidized and heated up, which is something I don't want.

Will the vitamix blend this better? I don't like the idea of using the damper, or paying for a more expensive blender (only $349 for the Blendtec), but if it does a better job making smoothies, I may give it a shot. Hopefully it can still make the really good soups I've gotten out of the Blendtec.

Thanks for your help.

[DebB]

Hi everyone. I just bought my new Blendtec over the weekend, and I've had mixed results, so far. I LOVE the soups I'm able to create in this blender. The potato soup and tortilla soups I had the past couple of nights have been amazing. However, I'm a little bit disappointed with the smoothies I've made. I am getting too many solid chunks not being blended, and I'm thinking about taking it back and getting the Vitamix instead.

Here is the smoothie I'm making. Sorry for not being exact with the measurements. I am adding these in order.

A handful of red grapes at the bottom of the blender
A handful of spinach leaves
a whole apple, quartered
A handful of frozen fruits - mango, strawberry, peach, pineapple.
About a cup of orange/pineapple fruit juice (to help the blender do its thing).

I have made this smoothie 4 times, and every time, I am getting surprisingly large mango and pineapple chunks not being blended. I am thinking that the blender is having a hard time blending the frozen fruits thoroughly. I started off using the "smoothie" cycle, and then switched over to the "whole juice" cycle at the advice of a Blendtec representative. I'm still getting chunks. Even after the cycle is finished, I hit the "pulse" button about 3 times, and the chunks are still getting through. Not sure what else I can do, at this point. I can run the cycle again, but I really don't think I should have to. The longer I have the juice in the blender, the more it gets oxidized and heated up, which is something I don't want.

Will the vitamix blend this better? I don't like the idea of using the damper, or paying for a more expensive blender (only $349 for the Blendtec), but if it does a better job making smoothies, I may give it a shot. Hopefully it can still make the really good soups I've gotten out of the Blendtec.

Thanks for your help.

I have both a BT and a VM. This sounds like a frozen blend I use that I buy @ Costco. Try thawing this first - that's what I do. That should do the trick! On the frozen blend I use or even just the solo frozen strawberries - they're really big. They're as hard as a golf ball and I think they're hard on the blender, no matter which one. So now, I always thaw this blend and especially strawberries.

If I want it thick and icy - I add in frozen blueberries. They're a much softer fruit. Frozen bananas blend super too - but have a way of dominating the flavor, so sometimes 1/2 a banana is better...

[cjoklo]

I have both a BT and a VM. This sounds like a frozen blend I use that I buy @ Costco. Try thawing this first - that's what I do. That should do the trick! On the frozen blend I use or even just the solo frozen strawberries - they're really big. They're as hard as a golf ball and I think they're hard on the blender, no matter which one. So now, I always thaw this blend and especially strawberries.

If I want it thick and icy - I add in frozen blueberries. They're a much softer fruit. Frozen bananas blend super too - but have a way of dominating the flavor, so sometimes 1/2 a banana is better...

Thank you for the reply.

Yes, that's the exactly the frozen blend I buy @ Costco.

I would think this expensive top-of-the-line blender should be able to blend frozen fruit like mangoes and strawberries. The creators of this blender make videos showing it can blend phones and whatnot, so why should frozen fruit be a problem? It can turn ice into powder snow very easily... So I'm not correct in thinking the Vitamix would be able to handle these frozen fruits?

Good suggestion with the blueberries. I'll give that a try.

[DebB]

Hi! Yes - the BT can handle the frozen mangoes, but there's just something about strawberries. They freeze hard as a rock. I haven't tried frozen strawberries in my VM, so I honestly don't know.

And to be fair - the only frozen strawberries I tried were from the bag of just frozen strawberries. Those berries are really big. But that's just been my experience...? I've had the BT a lot longer than the VM and decided some time ago that I wouldn't use the frozen s'berries without thawing them first, so I just didn't (by default) with the VM as well. I view it as no different from say chopping a piece of celery into 5-6 pieces or a pepper into pieces before blending. It just makes the process (I find anyway) easier all the way around.

Perhaps with the VM and using the tamper, they would blend up just fine. I do actually have a tamper for the BT (it's one I ordered years ago on eBay and it's homemade, made from dowels, pretty neat actually. I only used it for "juicing wheatgrass" in the BT though).

Another thing I find is that if the majority of the fruit I use in a smoothie is frozen, it's thicker than I care for. But, that's just my taste. I have a fruit smoothie every day and pretty much have it down pat as far as the final consistency and how I like it. It's fun to experiment around with though.

Aren't those frozen fruits and produce in general - just the greatest from Costco? I'd sure hate to be without Costco. (And don't get me going on those campari, on the vine tomatoes - whooh delicious!)

I hope someone can help you out with the VM question. I'm using the VM right now to make my smoothies and I still thaw that frozen fruit blend first. Today I added quite a few frozen blueberries (everything else was thawed and I used fresh OJ from 3 oranges). Because of the amount of blueberries I used, I had to get out the tamper to tamp it down into the blades as it wasn't blending well without it. Just tossing that in FWIW ;)

[qwerty988]

I just got a Vitamix and the one thing I won't dare put in it is frozen strawberries! They're like rocks, especially if your freezer is powerful. I tried it once and I thought I almost broke the blender!!

[Raw Angel Mom]

Add water to your smoothie, it will help to disloge. Frozen fruits, will make it cease.

Start by putting your green and water, blend gently then add your fruits. If you add frozen fruits, do this only when you are ready to blend right of way.

My vitamix would have the same issue


All the best

[Revvell]

Interesting why you don't want to use the tamper in a VM. I just stick it in there and rarely do any tamping. It just helps everything go round!

Having said that, it's interesting that a blender (the BT) that purports to be able to blend golf balls (or, whatever their advertising is) can't handle frozen strawberries?

I've got both and use my VM more than the BT which only travels with me... never at home. I blend frozen everything, including strawberries. I had my old VM for about 15 years; my new one, ummm.... 2-3 years, I guess. I agree with Raw Angel Mom ~ more fluid! That's almost always been the answer to any blending issues I've had ~ which have been rare.

[cjoklo]

Thanks for the replies.

I got a very smooth smoothie this morning by running the "Smoothie" cycle after the "Whole juice" cycle. It was still cold, too, which is what I was worried about.

I am thinking of returning the blender and ordering it through Costco online. For an extra $50, I will get the Wildside pitcher, which I hear is more efficient than the Fourside. Can anyone confirm that?

[appifanie]

you guys are scaring me - i put frozen strawberries in the vitamix sometimes and haven't had a problem.

also, i got a reconditioned vitamix and it was $398.

[DebB]

Thanks for the replies.

I got a very smooth smoothie this morning by running the "Smoothie" cycle after the "Whole juice" cycle. It was still cold, too, which is what I was worried about.

I am thinking of returning the blender and ordering it through Costco online. For an extra $50, I will get the Wildside pitcher, which I hear is more efficient than the Fourside. Can anyone confirm that?

I'm stretching my memory here as I've been using the wild side for quite some time now.. If I'm not mistaken it's got larger (longer) blades than the regular? Is it a bit bigger too? I really don't remember as I packed away the original carafe and use the wild side almost exclusively.

I'm glad you found a combo that works to get that smoothie blended and how you like it.

[k8sl8]

Thank you for the reply.

Yes, that's the exactly the frozen blend I buy @ Costco.

I would think this expensive top-of-the-line blender should be able to blend frozen fruit like mangoes and strawberries. The creators of this blender make videos showing it can blend phones and whatnot, so why should frozen fruit be a problem? It can turn ice into powder snow very easily... So I'm not correct in thinking the Vitamix would be able to handle these frozen fruits?

Good suggestion with the blueberries. I'll give that a try.

The blenders CAN handle the frozen fruit - it just takes longer than you are blending them or for that matter longer than you probably WANT to blend them. I don't thaw my fruit, but I do let it sit out for a few minutes while I do other stuff. Makes all the difference in the world. If they are rock hard, you will get round frozen pieces.

[michigan roman]

way i see it the blades hitting hard frozen stuff are going to maybe slightly momentarily tilt blade assembly before it moves back into its normal straight up position .
and more times blades hit hard stuff the sooner the caused blade tilts are going to crack the bottom of the pitcher . not to mention the motor having to work harder to drive blades through harder stuff .
thusly ide put frozen stuff in big pot and smash with something before putting in blender , finding something that makes the ideal smasher would make it an easy task

[Ravenna]

That's why I've got Vitamix. I have control of how long I want to run it and I can vary speeds as it does its job depending on the ingredients. I do not use damper at all. here is sample of my smoothie. I put bananas, blueberries, frozen fruits (from Sam's), couple dates, put some water (that will soften frozen stuff while I'm washing greens) and bunch of greens. I start from slowest speed on Low, increase it somewhat slowly to highest on low setting and then switch to High. Run about 30sec to a minute and it is done, nice and smooth. I did not want to be dependent on programs in Blendtec plus somebody said "you never know how it is going to behave when it has computer and such high speeds vibration", so I got Vitamix and love it. About 3 years now.

[Mary Kay]

I use frozen strawberries in my V-M all the time. I always wash them though first in warm water (we have clean, well water) and this may thaw the very outsides. Then, by the time I load up all the other stuff in it, which includes from frozen almond milk cubes sometimes, I just blend it using my tamper. I often use my tamper, which I know the Blendtec does not have.

HTH,

Mary Kay

[T-Bird]

I was disappointed when i first got my VM - just because I had been expecting the world.

After I adjusted, I really love it. the order you put things in, the proportions of different densities, frozen-ness, liquid to solid, etc all impact the blending.

You just need to learn your machine and adapt to. Then you can enjoy it.

I've never had a BT - but just saying there is an adjustment, especially if you thought it was going to be "perfect"

[cjoklo]

Just an update.... I took the Blendtec back and bought the Vitamix 5200. I haven't used it yet, but I have a feeling I am going to enjoy this more. I like having a low speed option for chopping things up and making chunky salsa. It's hard to do that in a Blendtec, considering the pulse option still spins the blade at over 4000 RPM... too fast in my opinion.

Thanks for the suggestions and advice.

[cjoklo]

Wow, very smooth smoothies with the Vitamix. I'm already impressed. I had to use the tamper.

Is it common to detect a slight electric/burning smell with the vitamix? I know sometimes these electronics can have a little bit of oil that burns off after a few uses. Hopefully it goes away after a little while.

[Mary Kay]

I think the tamper is a great addition to the V-M. I never detected any new smells though...but I'm not a good person to judge this as I have a very bad sense of smell...LOL, possibly because my nose was broken as a kid, then as an adult, I had it re-broken to fix it....

Mary Kay

[Raw Angel Mom]

Just an update.... I took the Blendtec back and bought the Vitamix 5200. I haven't used it yet, but I have a feeling I am going to enjoy this more. I like having a low speed option for chopping things up and making chunky salsa. It's hard to do that in a Blendtec, considering the pulse option still spins the blade at over 4000 RPM... too fast in my opinion.

Thanks for the suggestions and advice.

Congratulations, you will love it. I love mine, i know!

[Kiravana]

I personally do not have the blendtec, nor have I tried it, but I have the vitamix and I am absolutely in love with it! Its my baby.. :)

[walnutty]

I had to use the tamper.

Did you use a tamper with the Blendtec?


That's the only reason you would get smoother smoothies with a Vitamix, because the Blendtec is a much more powerful blender!

[ShantiDass]

I'm glad you like the VM. I have that and I recently purchased a BlendTec. I love the BT and am not a fan of the VM. The VM over heats and I have to wait for it to cool down before using it again. I know someone who puts hers in the freezer to cool it off when making nut butters. I've not had that problem with the BT. I also like that it fits under the cabinets on the counters and it easier to scrape food out of because it doesn't have a zillion sides to it.

People seem to really like one and not the other. Right now, I'm team BlendTec! :cheer: But, if something else comes around, I reserve the right to change my mind.

[walnutty]

Speak of the devil...

My Vitamix just died AGAIN!

I placed a service call to Vitamix and it's going to take a week just to get the shipping label to return it! BOO!!!

[ShantiDass]

Oh, no! I'm so sorry. That must be so frustrating. The woman who did the first raw class I ever went to had 2 of them so when one overheated, she could use the other one while the first one cooled down. She said she also had hers break and had to send it in for repair. Doesn't sound like fun.

[cjoklo]

Did you use a tamper with the Blendtec?


That's the only reason you would get smoother smoothies with a Vitamix, because the Blendtec is a much more powerful blender!

No, I didn't use a tamper with the Blendtec, because it's not designed to be used with one. I did have to stop the blender and push some food down with a wooden spoon once, though.

The Blendtec may be more powerful, but I think blade design is the key difference, here. I think the propeller style blade beats the food up more, while the Vitamix blades cut better. That might be why I'm not getting any chunks at all in the Vitamix,

[cjoklo]

To Vitamix owners, is it normal for the Vitamix to "pulse" a bit on high speed? When the vortex is going and the liquid is getting smoother and less thick, I noticed a slight pulsing sound and effect in the liquid. I don't know how else to describe it. Hopefully someone knows what I'm talking about.

[dmb2002man]

i do frozen strawberries, pineapple and bananas (cut up) and never had no issues with VM. It will pretty much do ANYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Raw Angel Mom]

Did you use a tamper with the Blendtec?


That's the only reason you would get smoother smoothies with a Vitamix, because the Blendtec is a much more powerful blender!

I never use the temper with my Vitamix and my smoothie come up so smooth. If the smoothie is thick, yes you need this addition. I make sure to blend my green first, then water fruits and used to add frozen fruit but not anymore now. Either way, i didn't need to use the tamper.

[gerri922]

I'm new so don't know how this is done. I was in costco and saw the blendtec. I am currently making juice in a breville, using lots of carrots, celery spinach kale oranges pineapple. Will a blendtec do all this and make juice? thanks gerri

[DebB]

I'm new so don't know how this is done. I was in costco and saw the blendtec. I am currently making juice in a breville, using lots of carrots, celery spinach kale oranges pineapple. Will a blendtec do all this and make juice? thanks gerri

Hi gerri922 ~ Well, yes - a high speed blender can make juice, but you have to add enough water to get it to blend first. Then you have to strain it through a nut milk or paint strainer bag.

Since you've already got a Breville, that would be a better choice for your actualy juicing. The blender is best for blending.

Is that what you mean? And Welcome!! to the forum!

[JoyceHollis]

Hey DebB, you sure know lots about this stuff! You're so awesome to share your knowledge so freely.

I'm juicing with a blender right now and then straining the pulp out. Is there a difference between this juice and the juice from a super-fancy (and super-expensive) real juicer?

[DebB]

Hi JoyceHollis ~ What a sweet compliment - thank you so much! I do love how we all share on this forum, I've learned so much here!

As far as the difference between the juice we get from using our blender and a high end juicer -- I honestly couldn't say...

I was just talking about this with a good friend a couple days ago. They're currently using their BlendTec to juice greens and they don't care for the green juice at all this way. They said it was extremely foamy and just didn't work out well for the greens.

I've used a blender to juice wheatgrass, but I had nothing to compare it to. I knew it was watered down as I did have to add water to get the WG to blend, but it worked fine for me - I didn't mind that there was water in it.

So in regards to making green juice - perhaps a straight up juicer would then be better for my friends? I can't say for sure since I have never tried a blender for green juice. I make a green juice (dandelion greens, curly parsley, 1 beet with leaves and alfalfa sprouts) daily in my Samson juicer. The screen over the juice cup catches the foam and I can say that I'm left with just juice.

We've had our Champion juicer since the early 80s. This is wonderful for soft fruits (amongs other things), but doesn't excel with greens. Then we have the Samson which is just the opposite. So between the 2, we're covered -- but realistically, who wants to buy 2 juicers?

Sheesh - what a rambling post! (And I didn't even answer your question! Hmmm)

[Mary Kay]

Walnutty and all,

I would also overheat my V-M ---oh, maybe once a month. Frankly, I did kind of wail on it.....So I sold it and bought a Vita-Prep Pro, which is the professional-grade of V-M. The Vita Prep is a 3hp one---like the Blendtec. I think I've still managed to overheat it once or twice, but rarely.
I think it's the best of both worlds ---the blending power of the Blendtec, which is also a 3hp, AND the tamper, AND the variable speeds. I'm pretty happy with it now.

Maybe you could let V-M know how mad/upset you are. They're really good about refunds. But for some reason you can't (at least I don't think?) exchange it but I may be wrong. And it's also funny that when you call V-M, they will try to talk you out of the Vita Prep Pro. It only has a one-year warranty because it's meant for commercial use --nursing homes, bars, restaurants etc. But I'm not worried about the warranty. They do seem to last!


HTH,

Mary Kay
Mary Kay

[DebB]

Walnutty and all,

I would also overheat my V-M ---oh, maybe once a month. Frankly, I did kind of wail on it.....So I sold it and bought a Vita-Prep Pro, which is the professional-grade of V-M. The Vita Prep is a 3hp one---like the Blendtec. I think I've still managed to overheat it once or twice, but rarely.
I think it's the best of both worlds ---the blending power of the Blendtec, which is also a 3hp, AND the tamper, AND the variable speeds. I'm pretty happy with it now.

Maybe you could let V-M know how mad/upset you are. They're really good about refunds. But for some reason you can't (at least I don't think?) exchange it but I may be wrong. And it's also funny that when you call V-M, they will try to talk you out of the Vita Prep Pro. It only has a one-year warranty because it's meant for commercial use --nursing homes, bars, restaurants etc. But I'm not worried about the warranty. They do seem to last!


HTH,

Mary Kay
Mary Kay

Hi Mary Kay ~ This girly's wondering what you're making in your VM that's causing it to overheat and bumping you up to a commercial unit! Do tell and spill those beans! ;) You've got me so curious!

[Mary Kay]

Well, one time I was on a trip and didn't have my food processor to make a raw pie crust, so I had the v-M about 3/4 full, and it overheated. Also, just plain old avocado pudding....but again it was a large amount --for a potluck or something...almost full...Now mind you, I did put whatever milk I used in first, but I also add dates and carrots and hide spinach in my avo puddings.....Then another time, I was at a filming for a video raw food demo...the V-M was close to full of cubed soaked butternut squash, and it died.....It's generally when filling it too full and wailing on it. I've also done some non-raw things like pancakes and it's died too....But again, I was abusing it...filling it too full most of the time. But occasionally I'd think I was being really good! and it would die too.

HTH, Waving to DebB...Like your new picture. LOL, you have grey hair, but you look very young. You go girl!

Mary Kay

[walnutty]

This last time my Vitamix died I was making a cacao shake. It had 3.5 cups of liquid (coconut water, agave & vanilla) and 5 frozen bananas (broken up into pieces) in it with some raw powders. It overheated and died, which it should not have.

[DebB]

Hi Mary Kay ~ It sounds like your VM is a little work horse for you! I'm pretty new to my VM and haven't had it overheat yet (although it's happened with my BT, but it was the carafe failing). Thanks for replying - I love sharing and learning this way.

Thank you for the gray hair compliment! It wasn't easy for me to let go of coloring my hair almost 2 years ago (sigh). Although I didn't know I was all gray 'underneath' :)

[DebB]

This last time my Vitamix died I was making a cacao shake. It had 3.5 cups of liquid (coconut water, agave & vanilla) and 5 frozen bananas (broken up into pieces) in it with some raw powders. It overheated and died, which it should not have.

Were you able to reset it walnutty - or was it dead-dead?

[walnutty]

Dead-dead. I had to send it in to be fixed.

[Cruditas]

I have a Blentec which I love love. I do put the chuncky items in first (carrots, ginger, celery, etc) with water and hit the juice button. I then add my greens, banana, cacao, flax then at the very top put in the frozen fruit and push the smoothie button. I have not yet had a problem with it not taking care of the strawberries. Sometimes if there is not enough liquid in the jar it may leave some frozen chuncks. I don't have a VM so I can't really compare. Nothing like a yummy smoothie:drool:

[Brendon]

Did you use a tamper with the Blendtec?


That's the only reason you would get smoother smoothies with a Vitamix, because the Blendtec is a much more powerful blender!

Not true.

Blendtec 'sells' the fact that they have a 3 horsepower motor, and they also make it well known to onlookers that the Vitamix is only a 2 horsepower motor, but when you compare the wattage of the machines it looks like this:

Blendtec: 1560
Vitamix: 1380

The difference here is negligible.

[qfmother]

I have used an older Vitamix for years, but recently my husband bought a Blendtec from Costco after much research. He also bought a tamper that another company makes to fit the Blendtec, and we have definitely had to use it for our daily green smoothies and his nightly ice cream. The problem we've had with the Blendtec is the leakage from the lid! We use the larger canister, and use the same amounts that we've used in the Vitamix for years, but can't get the lid to seal well enough to stop liquid from dripping out - sometimes a lot of it! We've made several messes trying to fix the problem. We do have a large family (8 children) and so we need a blender that can handle a large quantity. I understand that we could fix the problem by not filling it up as much, but after using the Vitamix that would seem like a downgrade to us - and we think it should do the job since we paid so much for it.

Anyway, we haven't returned the Blendtec to Costco yet, but we just received a reconditioned Vitamix in the mail yesterday. The lid seals just fine, and I'm anxious to try it for some other things to compare to the Blendtec and to my older model Vitamix. The Blendtec made an extremely smooth cashew-based dip for me last week, and I am hoping that the Vitamix will do that too!

Does anyone have any comments on the lid leaking? My husband really wanted to keep the Blendtec, he likes it better for a few reasons - but we just can't do it if we have to reduce the volume of each batch, it won't work for us with a large family.

[DebB]

I have used an older Vitamix for years, but recently my husband bought a Blendtec from Costco after much research. He also bought a tamper that another company makes to fit the Blendtec, and we have definitely had to use it for our daily green smoothies and his nightly ice cream. The problem we've had with the Blendtec is the leakage from the lid! We use the larger canister, and use the same amounts that we've used in the Vitamix for years, but can't get the lid to seal well enough to stop liquid from dripping out - sometimes a lot of it! We've made several messes trying to fix the problem. We do have a large family (8 children) and so we need a blender that can handle a large quantity. I understand that we could fix the problem by not filling it up as much, but after using the Vitamix that would seem like a downgrade to us - and we think it should do the job since we paid so much for it.

Anyway, we haven't returned the Blendtec to Costco yet, but we just received a reconditioned Vitamix in the mail yesterday. The lid seals just fine, and I'm anxious to try it for some other things to compare to the Blendtec and to my older model Vitamix. The Blendtec made an extremely smooth cashew-based dip for me last week, and I am hoping that the Vitamix will do that too!

Does anyone have any comments on the lid leaking? My husband really wanted to keep the Blendtec, he likes it better for a few reasons - but we just can't do it if we have to reduce the volume of each batch, it won't work for us with a large family.

Hi qfmother ~ I've also got a VM and a BT. My question is what size is your BT carafe? From the Costco demoes I've seen, what they sell does not come with the large carafe - if comes with the 64 ounce (total volume) size.

I've got that size plus I've got the large 5 sided, "Wild Side" which has a total volume of 90 ounces.

Please don't go by the markings on the side - the capacity exceeds what the marking say. You can go to BlendTec's size and click on the "shop accessories" tab and compare the 2 carafes.

I **love** the larger carafe! I hardly ever use the one that came with the BT, the smaller 64 ounce size. So, I'm wondering if you do have the largest carafe?

Would you please post a link where you got the BT's tamper? I've got a wooden tamper that I ordered some years back on eBay when they still had the old style lid with a hole in it about the size of a quarter.

About your lid leaking - I've never had that happen except once when I really overfilled the machine. BT has wonderful customer service, perhaps a call to them would help you out?

* * *

Having said all that - I'm currently using my VM, but there are SO many things that I actually prefer on the BT over the VM to be honest. My biggest down side with the BT is we've had to replace the carafe 2 times now. Luckily both times it was still under warranty, but that expires at the end of this year. I'm not going to be a happy camper if I have to spend close to $100 every couple years replacing the carafe after the warranty expires... It failed around the blade assembly both times.

[qfmother]

Yes, we do have the Wild Side, and it still leaks. I guess I do need to call the company to see what they say. Here is the link for the tamper - they sell another blender but if you scroll all the way to the bottom you'll see the tamper that fits the Blendtec. Ours works fine, so I would recommend it for anyone with a Blendtec and needs a tamper.

http://3blenders.com/PURCHASE.html

Thanks for the input! I kind of wish we could keep both machines, but finances aren't going to allow that right now... :-)

[DebB]

Yes, we do have the Wild Side, and it still leaks. I guess I do need to call the company to see what they say. Here is the link for the tamper - they sell another blender but if you scroll all the way to the bottom you'll see the tamper that fits the Blendtec. Ours works fine, so I would recommend it for anyone with a Blendtec and needs a tamper.

http://3blenders.com/PURCHASE.html

Thanks for the input! I kind of wish we could keep both machines, but finances aren't going to allow that right now... :-)

Thank you qfmother for the link ~ The wooden tamper is the one I ordered off eBay, but I'm so glad to see that it's still available somewhere. Every now and then people will want a tamper for the BT - particularly if they're using it to blend (and then juice) wheatgrass. I'm glad to know where to direct them.

I was under the impression that the Wild Side was a larger carafe than VM's largest carafe. I don't know, I've never compared them. I hope you get it worked out to your satisfaction :)

[Jackeebleu]

Hey Folks! I'm new to this lifestyle and $300 blenders as well, LOL. I Just started my journey and was googling recipes when I stumbled upon this site. Lots of great info.

On the topic, I've had my Blendtec now for about a week, and everything that has been thrown at it, it has handled with aplomb. I load based on the manufacturers recommendation; softer at the bottom, dense at the top. Never had a lump and all my drinks have poured out easily from the carafe. I figure, the reason you buy a $300 blender is so that you don't have to worry about poking a stick in while the blades are moving. That's why I chose the Blendtec. I've used whole apples, grapes, and ice and been pleasantly surprised that it made whole juice. I've been adventurous with my blending, some were amazing, others not so much. Anyway, I'm really excited about this journey and ready to go.

[Jackeebleu]

Just made an amazingly wonderful smoothie; cantaloupe, whole strawberries, 1 peeled orange, cup of seeded grapes. Pressed the smoothie button on the Blendtec, pure magic.