Hi all! 

I'm not sure where I should post a general question such as this, so I hope it's ok to post here.  

I'm looking at buying a stand mixer for my kitchen.  I want to have something that can mix my marshmallow fondant and frostings with ease.  I REALLY want a Kitchenaid, of course, but can't afford $300+.  This is what I'm looking at ($80):

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000COC69C/?tag=cakecentral-20+mixer+with+rotating+bowl

Does anyone here use this?  What type of mixer to you all use/recommend?

Thanks;

Leslie

Welcome to the forum.  I recommend saving/waiting for sales to get a KitchenAide. 

I got my KA Artisan for $150 on Craigslist  three years ago and it is great.  Here is an example of a craigslist ad for an owner selling a KA in Conway ARK:

http://littlerock.craigslist.org/app/4048359375.html

Black Friday is the BEST time of the year to get a KA--bar none. 

My advice is don't be afraid to check out other brands than Kitchen Aid. 

Oh wow thanks!  Is that a recent ad from Craigslist?  I actually tried to purchase a kitchenaid from an online yard sale (fb) for $150.  The lady was asking $200 for it and never replied to me when I offered her $150 :(

I can't figure out how, but I missed the part about how much you wanted to spend and that link to the two beater mixer. I agree with Apti.

Don't get that Sunbeam if you plan to do any serious baking. I have a very similar one and it's fine for the mom who only bakes occasionally (just like a handheld mixer) but not for a regular baker. I got this one on EBay new for $70 which they still occasionally pop up for http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2051575.m570.l1313.TR2.TRC1.A0.Xdr+tech+mixer&_nkw=dr+tech+mixer&_sacat=0&_from=R40

http://www.rakuten.com/prod/dr-tech-professional-5l-stand-mixer-classic-series-650w-5-speed-s-blue/230762441.html?listingId=215226474

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007TOI9GC/?tag=cakecentral-20

I would still rather have the KA but for the price i couldn't beat this. It has a VERY powerful motor.

The middle one for $139 doesn't have all of the attachments like the meat grinder or ice cream maker but it is the same mixer

Oh my goodness I LOVE that mixer... but not the price.  I would love to find something like this on sale - great buy!!  I just don't have the money to buy one at full price.  I currently use a hand mixer for frostings (on my 2nd one now) and mix my MMF by hand ugh.  

Did you see the link in the middle for $139/free shipping?

No!!  I thought I clicked on all of them but I missed that somehow!  Thanks so much, this is such a great deal!  Gonna talk to my hubby about this when he gets home :D

It doesn't quite scrape the bottom. As I said I would have rather had the KA....but when it came down to cost and the size of my start up fund I went with this and have no complaints.

No mixers are made were you don't have to scrape the sides and bottom a little. I curse my Hobart sometimes when I'm scraping the bowl because that little mixer was designed so beautifully - the beater was set at an angle and it scraped all around the bottom and the sides perfectly. I miss that little mixer. I think I paid $30 for it at Ross.

It looked more like this:

Well, I don't consider it asking permission lol, but we are a team and neither of us have ever made a substantial purchase without discussing it.  

Our current situation is a bit unique, however, as I am recently unemployed (baking cakes from home as I get orders) and staying home full time with our special needs child who is unable to attend school this year due to his medical needs. 

Oh I wasn't recommending that YOU do like I do! LOL. It apparently didn't work out my way...lol

A

Some men apparently can't handle independent women.

Oh no worries, I didn't think that at all! :)  

I was just sitting here reading over the description of the Dr. Tech mixer - I'm so super excited about this!  Honestly, I don't mind scraping a little, I have a nice set of rubber spatulas (ha!).  I notice that the bowl doesn't turn on most mixers.  That seems to be a big draw to the Kitchenaid.  Am I right on that?  Do you think it makes a difference?

Lol renting a beach house sounds like fun!!

On my cheapie one the bowl turn from the centripetal force of the mixers turning...sometimes. Most of the time not. SInce I only have experience with these 2 and the KitcheAid at the restaurant I cannot offer anymore insight into other mixers.

I got my second KA mixer on clearance at Home Goods. Someone had dropped something on it and it had a huge dent in the casing. Still works great. Sometimes you get lucky.

If you can't afford the KA, I recommend a Cuisinart hand mixer. That sucker has a lot of power and I think is a good alternative.The Sunbeam just doesn't Not touch the bottom, it like misses the bottom 1/2 inch or so.

The Cuisinart, has a lot of power. My sister has one and I would use it any time.

AWhen my KA was out of commission earlier this year I was using my handheld KA mixer for all my buttercream and it handled it like a pro.

Depending on how quickly you're going through the cheaper mixers, you might find it better to just get a KA when they go on easy pay on QVC, they sometimes have deals that come with some nice extras.

AThanks for your help ladies! I talked with my hubby about this when he got home and he did some searching and found me a KitchenAid (RED to match my kitchen!) For $229 on Ebay - new in the box! With shipping it was $259. And the "bill me later" option gives you 6 months before you have to make a payment, so we'll be able to pay for it with our tax refund next yr. I am beyond excited! He's the sweetest :)