Cheapest vitamix/prep you have found for uk

[rhythmofthecosmos]

Am going to buy one only not for £400

I have seen the amazon website where you can get a good one for $500 thats around £250 and have a friend in CA who is willing to pick it up and send it to me so the overall price will be around £330...

just wondering if there is any other ways I can get one without having to go to all this hassle :)

thanks

[Pennypower]

I am trying to find a cheap one too. I actually put a post up on freecycle. Yeah right like anyone with a working Vitamix would actually give it away for free .
Never hurts to try right?

[Arky]

Relax. The solution is simple! :)

I, too, live in the UK and I, too, refused to pay the rip-off price for a Vitamix in the UK (if you live in the USA, it's a different story).

If you look in the archived posts section of this site, you'll find a post from me that, in hindsight, offers such a glowing review of a particular blender that I have to admit, it looks, even to ME, like it's an advert, but I assure you it's not. It's a 100% bona-fide review of a blender that I'm still using, and am still extremely happy with:

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showpost.php?p=79601

It just so happened that I was one of the first people in the UK to buy a NewGena and not long afterwards, the product left the market for about a year but has recently returned. Although this may seem disconcerting, I can assure you that I've been using mine continuously over the past 26 months or so and it performs flawlessly, absolutely ZERO problems.


I almost fell off my chair laughing when I recently stopped by the website I bought it from and found they had spotted my old post here and linked to it! However, I should point out that my review refers to their original NewGena blender, not the new-and-improved one, so their link to my post, from the webpage for the NEW item is a little misleading.

Here's the original version (the one I bought):

http://www.ethicaljuicers.co.uk/blender_newgena.php

..and here's the new version (which I have not bought or used):

http://www.ethicaljuicers.co.uk/blender-newgena-pro.php

The new version may well prove to be excellent but I cannot comment upon that - all I can say is that I stand by my original glowing review of the original NewGena blender - in my opinion, it's as good as a VitaMix, NO QUESTION (in fact, it may be slightly better).

Also remarkably similar is JuiceProducer.com's new offering:

http://www.juiceproducer.com/HPblender.php

...which I suspect is essentially the same unit as the original NewGena. I should also point out that both EthicalJuicers.co.uk and JuiceProducer.com are great companies to do with business with, in the UK. Mark, at JuiceProducer is refreshingly (and disarmingly!) frank and honest about the pros and cons of the products he represents, which I for one really appreciate.

Living in the UK, one becomes accustomed to being ripped off by retailers, while our counterparts in the USA get their foods, supplements, appliances, and fuel for a relative fraction of the cost. That being said, I've been pleasantly surprised that, if you hunt around enough, as I did, it IS now possible to find something just as good as a Vitamix (and I really do mean that, these are NOT substandard copies of a VitaMix, they absolutely compete on all levels, and at little over half the UK price). I don't think this was true, prior to the arrival of the NewGena on the UK market, at exactly the time when I was lucky enough to be seeking such a product. Before the NewGena, one really did have to buy a Vitamix or a K-Tec/Blend-Tec in order to get that level of quality and performance.

If either of you have any questions regarding the original Mk1 NewGena, I'll be happy to tell you whatever I can. If you need more info on the other 2 options I mentioned, you'll have to approach the retailers themselves. Frankly, the Mk1 NewGena, at £209, is an absolute steal, and JuiceProducer's offering is also top value for another £26.

Note that the NewGena Mk1 has a 'clockwork' timer dial (which I set to permanently 'On'), a variable speed dial (gorgeously smooth variation in power with this) and a rocker switch which, on stage 1, links the variable power dial into operation, and in stage 2, offers all-out instant 100% power. What I tend to do is turn the dial to minimum, switch the rocker switch to stage 1, then gradually turn the power up to full, at which point I then flip the rocker switch to stage 2, which gives about another 10% power (it's not a good idea to just flip the rocker switch instantly to stage 2, from a stand-still, as this unecessarily stresses the bearings of the blender and splurts the ingredients everywhere unless the lid is fully attached). The lid is a strong solid rubber item that forms a very firm and very reliable seal with the top of the jug, provided you bother to push it all the way on. I can categorically state that, provided you push it fully on, this lid will NOT come off, even when operating at full power, so no nasty surprises there. You can definitely leave the blender on full power without risk of ingredients leaking over the top, but personally, I'm lazy and I only loosely put the lid on, cranking the blender up to full power gradually. The Mk1 NewGena is 1380w (2hp)

In contrast to this switch arrangement, the JuiceProducer blender replaces the timer dial with another rocker switch for 'pulsing' the ingredients. In all other respects, though, it's essentially identical to the NewGena, given that it has a variable speed dial and 2-stage rocker switch. The JuiceProducer blender is 1500w, although, in real life, I very much doubt you'd be able to detect any difference in power between this and the 1380w of the NewGena (I've never found the NewGena lacking in any respect).

It's not really a case of one being better than the other, it's rather a case of personal preference. You pays yer money and you takes yer pick. Of course, if you can stretch to it (and can wait until it is released in May), the updated NewGena 'Pro' (1500w with analogue and digital controls) does look rather enticing and will be somewhat quieter, on account of it's polycarbonate housing. You can get it at a fair discount, if you preorder it. That said, I actually prefer the simple, no-nonsense, analogue controls of the other blenders (including the Vitamix). I think NewGena have decided to offer digital control on the new model, in order to entice potential Blend-Tec customers, since the analogue controlled Mk1 already caters for potential Vitamix purchasers. Judging by Blend-Tec's paltry 12 month warranty (evidently, they have very little faith in the longevity of their own products), I suspect they are going to lose a great many sales to the NewGena Pro. Only time will tell...

Happy blending, both of you, whichever model you choose!


J.

[rhythmofthecosmos]

SOLD!!

at £179 who can say no!!!!

its sold out at the mo I just hope they dont put the prices up before they get more stock erkkk

thanks

[Arky]

Oh yes, you're quite right - I'd forgotten the black version (I bought Chrome) is £30 cheaper. £179 is rediculously cheap for a blender of that quality and performance.

Although it is listed as out of stock, I suggest you go ahead and call the retailer, as it might just be that it's a special order item at the moment, given that the pro model is about to be released.

Do let me know how you get on, I'd like to know. Perhaps if you tell them you heard about it from my old review that they linked to, they might make a special effort for you, as a member of this board ;)

J.

[ethicaljuicers]

The newGena was discontinued due to an infringement of a design patent held by Vitamix. Vitamix appointed lawyers served documents Ethical Juicers with all the details and we withdrew the product in response. The machine at Juice Producer is not the same machine or even from the same manufacturer. But it does look extremely like the Vitamix as did the newGena so it is my guess that soon this machine will also be withdrawn for the same reason.

[rhythmofthecosmos]

aww man,

i was going to order from you guys on friday as well

[Arky]

The newGena was discontinued due to an infringement of a design patent held by Vitamix. Vitamix appointed lawyers served documents Ethical Juicers with all the details and we withdrew the product in response. The machine at Juice Producer is not the same machine or even from the same manufacturer. But it does look extremely like the Vitamix as did the newGena so it is my guess that soon this machine will also be withdrawn for the same reason.

Thanks for clearing that up. I must admit that when I bought my NewGena from you, I did wonder if Vitamix had anything to do with its absence from the marketplace very shortly thereafter. Without knowing exactly what patents were held to be infringed, I cannot draw any personal conclusions on the legitimacy of their legal action, although if it's just on the basis of outward appearances of the unit, it would seem rather absurd, particularly given the dated design, and the fact that many patents have a 10 year limit, anyway. Still, don't get me wrong, I have no desire to open a can of worms, in that regard, and I fully acknowledge the quality and excellent performance of Vitamix blenders. I don't have an issue with their products, just with their UK pricing and apparent general 'attitude'. Perhaps, in time, these will improve.

While I appreciate that Vitamix wish to protect their products, it appears to me, as an outsider, that this particular company seems to have a somewhat inflated opinion of itself, its position in the marketplace, and of the (in the UK, at least) retail value of its products. Instead of making any startlingly significant innovations over the past several years, it would appear that the attitude might well have been one of 'we are the best, we will remain so, and it's better to stifle our competition than to raise our game to stay ahead'. Perhaps I am way off the mark, but that's how it appears to me, and if I am correct to any extent, then such a situation would hardly benefit consumers (who, after all, are the only thing keeping the company alive). Whatever the case may be, I am very pleased to see that you have regrouped and devised an alternative offering, again offering it for a far more reasonable price than the established competition. The UK semi-commercial power blender marketplace has been desperately in need of a shake-up for many years :)

It's a pity that the original NewGena experienced such a short presence on the marketplace. It's a great machine and I've been very happy with mine. I also noticed that Mike Nash of AggressiveHealth.co.uk uses one (you can see it in one of his YouTube clips, where he's demonstrating making a smoothie - youtube.com/watch?v=IR_vMbuhK1s ).

I hope the forthcoming 'Pro' version of the NewGena is of at least the same build quality and performance as the original. If it is, I wish you every success with it, and anyone reading this thread would do well to consider buying one.


J.

[Arky]

BTW, just reading your original post, rhythmofthecosmos, I notice you are considering having a Vitamix shipped to the UK, Do bear in mind that US units are intended for use with a 120v mains supply, so in order to use it in the UK, you'd need a step-down transformer, and a big one at that. I'm talking of the kind of thing you see construction workers using with their building site power tools - a heavy yellow brick about the size of a car battery. These are not cheap and if your blender is circa 1500w, you're going to need a high-rated version (about 7 amps minimum). In short, it may not actually save you any money to get a 120v shipped privately to the UK, after all. On top of these practical considerations, you should also note that Vitamix will not honour the warranty on a 120v device shipped abroad for non-USA usage.


J.

[raw_danceruk]

Been doing some research

I have found this product @ Energise your life £225

http://www.energiseyourlife.com/Powe...er-pr-148.html
Ebay again is an option

Plenty of Commercial 3hp blenders kicking around in the £200 price range (ukebay)

or.. Blendtech Xpress £399 ish..

I still find the tag for the Vita-prep to be a bit spendy at £595

.. I dont know what the answer is, I am still looking for a solution myself!

[Arky]

Been doing some research

I have found this product @ Energise your life £225

http://www.energiseyourlife.com/Powe...er-pr-148.html
Ebay again is an option

Plenty of Commercial 3hp blenders kicking around in the £200 price range (ukebay)

or.. Blendtech Xpress £399 ish..

I still find the tag for the Vita-prep to be a bit spendy at £595

.. I dont know what the answer is, I am still looking for a solution myself!

Thanks for the links, Raw Dancer. I just looked at the EnergiseYourLife blender and it says it's only 950watts - that's about 2/3rds the power of the NewGena or Vitamix options, so, to be honest, I don't think it would satisfy the blending needs of a serious smoothie fan. I guess you really need to consider how serious your blending needs might be, as it'd be a shame to spend over 200 quid on something which might not please you in the longrun. For about the same price, it might be worth grabbing one of the 1500w JuiceProducer blenders while you can!

If you decide to save and buy a Vita-Prep, don't forget to budget for a spare caraffe at approx. £100 each , but at least you get a cookbook included (which, Vitamix claim, is worth £50. WOW, that must be quite some cookbook). So, I can buy a competing blender for around £250 (including an industry-standard, fully ball-raced polycarbonate caraffe, with stainless steel blades and heavy duty rubber lid), or I can buy 2 Vitamix caraffes and a Vitamix cookbook for the same money. Decisions, decisions... ;)


J.