Hope i have posted this in the right section..
I have not been cake decorating for very long and i am just starting to get orders from friends and family for cakes and now 2 wedding cakes! ahhhh
My question is... do you guys think it is worth buying a kitchen aid?? I really want one but here is Australia they are $799rrp and the cheapest i have found is about $650..
I don't want to spend that sort of money if it is not going to be a wise investment..
What types of machines are people using??
Atm im using a hand held mixer that is 10 years old so pretty much anything will be better than that! hahaha

Oh yeah!!! You will love it.

Go for it...You'll LOVE it!!

Hi

I received my kitchen aid as a tip from a very dear client she got me a 600 pro series it replaced one that my grandmother had. still works by the way. I baby it even though I know that there really is no need to. I am a home based only doing things maybe 1 a week. Unless it is the holiday seasons. I say they are well worth the money I cried when I received mine as a gift she said for always giving her more than what she was expecting and everyone is always amazed she said I am her little secret well let the secret out HaHa.
Kerri

I have 2. Both gifts from my DH. You can't go wrong with a kitchen aid.

I wouldn't trade my Kitchen Aid for anything! I love the thing!

If you think cake decorating is in your future, even on a small scale, it's worth it. I have a kitchen aid pro 6 qt, 575 watt. The only thing I don't like about it is the top of the mixer does not lift up when removing the bowl. I have to remove the hook when I remove the bowl. I did not know that when I bought it. So if that is important to you be sure to look out for it. I was looking for a large bowl, which is why I ended up getting this one.

Definitely! Don't know what I would do without mine!

I say YES! I love mine, it was well worth the money!

I always tell my husband it was the best gift he ever bought for me. Who needs jewlery, I'd rather have a kitchenaid

have you checked ebay?

Definitely. Get one. Then save for an Agbay.

When I first got into cake decorating I had a Black & Decker stand mixer. When my Dad saw how much I loved what I was doing and I was getting orders he told my Mom "Write her a check for a Kitchen Aid she needs one". That was 13 years ago it still works like a charm. Yes a kitchen aid is very worth the investment.

After getting my Kitchen Aid I don't know how I ever managed without it. And I know I would never have been able to make fondant or gumpaste without it. I could have bought several kitchen Aids with the money I waisted on hand mixers and cheaper ones that would burn up in no time.
They stand behind their products too. It is a great investment.

WOW thanks for all the feed back! Guess i better start saving my money to get one.. I have checked a few out on ebay but there are not many in Oz.. will keep an eye out during the christmas sales and maybe get one cheaper.. Or maybe santa will bring me one! thanks again so much for your advice everyone!

Tip for buying: William Sonoma sells Kitchen Aids and they guarantee their appliances for life! I have two Kitchen Aids for my cakes. My first one lasted over 25 years. I bought the replacement at WS. After three years it quit working and I had the receipt and took it back. Ten minutes after arriving at William Sonoma I was walking out with a brand new Kitchen Aid. They may cost a little more in the beginning but the guarantee and convenience of return are worth it completely!

OP, I feel your pain. I am getting by on a hand mixer right now also. Hope to be getting a KA soon though.

And that is interesting about the William Sonoma policy... peace of mind about your mixer breaking may be worthwhile.

I have 2 KA's; One is over 30 yrs old, K45. The other is fairly new K 5 Professional. I gave the K45 to my daughter when I bought the big red one for my husband one year for Valentins' day. Ha, ha, HE never uses it. I confiscated the K45 back from DD when I found I had to do multiple things at the same time to save time. Wish I had a larger one . . . but they are both GREAT! You won't go wrong.

I have 2..A 5 qrt and a 4.5....Love them!!!

Just a tip: I went to Kitchenaid.com and they have a section for refurbished stand mixers. That's where I got mine. It was originally a $600 mixer and I got it for $250!! You have the option of buying a warranty for it too, so You don't have to worry about having problems with it down the road. I love mine!!

I checked and some seller will ship internationally... I know shipping is killer, but if the mixer is a good price, you might get a good deal

Thanks for the shipping suggestion foxymomma ill keep an eye out for a good deal..hollysuann i had no idea that kitchen aid sold refurbished ones! ill definitely check this out.. thanks so much! Treestump56 that is such peice of mind to have a lifetime guarantee from william sonoma will definitely check that out too!
Thankyou to everyone for the suggestions!

Well after much deliberation i finally decided to get a kitchen aid! I could not go past the 90th edition candy apple red.. It is just beautiful!
I have not had a chance to use it for a cake yet..(that is this weekends job!) but i used it for pancakes the other day and it was wonderful.. no more sore arms from mixing! and soooo much quieter too.
Thanks to everyone who suggested getting one.. i just know that i im going to fall in love more with my kitchen aid everyday..

My two most prized posessions are my KA and my Agbay...I don't know how I ever made cakes without them!

It is worth every penny! The hardest decision is which color to get. In the end....I picked two! Wouldn't trade them for anything! Best investment! I say GO FOR IT!