I have recently been bitten by the cake decorating bug and am addicted. I am currently using a little hand held mixer and would dearly love a KitchenAid.
My mom just called to tell me that they are on sale at Canadian Tire this week for 35% off, but I'm not sure how good the one that is on sale is. I will only be making cakes for family birthdays and holidays and eventually might make some for friends.
This is the machine that is on sale:
KitchenAid Ultra Power Stand Mixer, White
Sale: $239.99
Reg: $369.99
Product #43-2166-2
Features
* Powerful 10-speed 300 W motor
* 4.5 qt stainless steel mixing bowl with handle
* Tilt-up mixer head for easy bowl removal
* Includes dough hook, wire whip and flat beater
Do you think this one would be good for me? I know I have seen others with the bigger bowl and more powerful motors, but the price of this one seems good.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated 
Check around on price online first, because I don't know if that's a good price. I've seen those on sale for around $190 here, but I don't know if that's a normal sale.
If you're using a hand-held mixer, you will LOVE the kitchenaid. The one you're looking at is the smallest one, but as long as you're not doing a bunch of large cakes it will be fine for what you need.
ARGHHHHH! Every time I see or hear "Canadian Tire" my blood boils. 
OK, that being said, have you checked Costco? Also, my sister bought one off the shopping channel for a song before Christmas. Make sure you look around because there's nothing worse than making that purchase and then seeing it the next day at walmart for $50-100 LESS. 
Just a heads up that I got the 5qt Kitchen Aid at Bed Bath and Beyond with a 20% off coupon for $240. So to me that price is a bit high for the 4.5qt. If you have a Bed Bath and Beyond around you and don't have a coupon...you can get one from Ebay fairly cheap.
Amazon. com has them for under $200 ( around $196), plus free shipping! I would look there!
A little more info about me I guess...
I live on a little island in Canada and the closest stores are a ferry and 4 hour drive away.
There is a Costco down in the city and they have the 5Q 475W motor one for $399.
Amazon has great looking deals, but sadly won't ship to Canada 
So that is a no go.
I checked the shopping channel and they have the Artisan for $399.
I guess by the sounds of it you guys don't think the Canadian Tire one is the way to go possibly?
Any other advice greatly appreciated.
Can you purchase directly from the KitchenAid online outlet store? I just ordered a 450 w 5 qt pro series for $165.00 american. It was on sale for $220.00 and I found a coupon code for 30% off anything on the site. I am so excited about my fantabulous deal! 
I actually got mine from Canadian Tire a year ago from my DH for my B-Day and it suits me just fine. It's the exact model you mentioned and he paid about $300 so I think the price you mention is a very reasonable price. Even the one at Costco near me has only been as low as $300 but that was during Christmas - now they are back to over $380 there.
Currently I am just baking for family & friends and I find it is just perfect for a single batch of cake or batch & a half of BC. I've even used it to make MMF. I do have an extra bowl though for when I need to make more than one thing at a time which is a big time help.
My SIL got the 5 qt this past Christmas after seeing mine and quite frankly, the bowl doesn't look much bigger so I doubt it is much more beneficial or efficient for the home baker.
HTH.
** edited for typo **
Can you purchase directly from the KitchenAid online outlet store? I just ordered a 450 w 5 qt pro series for $165.00 american. It was on sale for $220.00 and I found a coupon code for 30% off anything on the site. I am so excited about my fantabulous deal!
I got really excited about this, picked one out, went to check out and unfortunately they don't ship to Canada either Thanks for the suggestion though.
I actually got mine from Canadian Tire a year ago from my DH for my B-Day and it suits me just fine. It's the exact model you mentioned and he paid about $300 so I think the price you mention is a very reasonable price. Even the one at Costco near me has only been as low as $300 but that was during Christmas - now they are back to over $380 there.
Currently I am just baking for family & friends and I find it is just perfect for a single batch of cake or batch & a half of BC. I've even used it to make MMF. I do have an extra bowl though for when I need to make more than one thing at a time which is a big time help.
My SIL got the 5 qt this past Christmas after seeing mine and quite frankly, the bowl doesn't look much bigger so I doubt it is much more beneficial or efficient for the home baker.
HTH.
** edited for typo **
Thank you for your post. It sounds like I would be using it for the same things that you are. I like the idea of making my MMF in it. I wonder if it would be big enough for the WASC recipe that uses two mixes or if I would have to do it in 2 batches. So much to think about.
Can you purchase directly from the KitchenAid online outlet store? I just ordered a 450 w 5 qt pro series for $165.00 american. It was on sale for $220.00 and I found a coupon code for 30% off anything on the site. I am so excited about my fantabulous deal!
I got really excited about this, picked one out, went to check out and unfortunately they don't ship to Canada either
Thanks for the suggestion though.
Oh, BUMMER!
I'm so excited! I just found a mixer on Craigslist and they will ship to me.
It is a floor model being sold at a liquidation place so I hope it all works out ok. They assure me that it is new, has all pieces and is under warranty.
It is the pro series 475W, 5quart with the bowl lift.
I really hope this all works out.
Wal-Mart has the white class 4.5qt on sale for $229. It'll probably be on sale at that price for a month.
I'm so excited! I just found a mixer on Craigslist and they will ship to me.
It is a floor model being sold at a liquidation place so I hope it all works out ok. They assure me that it is new, has all pieces and is under warranty.
It is the pro series 475W, 5quart with the bowl lift.
I really hope this all works out.
That's great. I got mine on Craigslist. It was a gently used KitchenAid 6 quart Epicurean. I paid $110 for it. Best $110 I ever spent.
Mine is from Costco. I love it! It's a 5 quart bowl and I often wish I had a 6 quart bowl because I do big batches of everything I do. Best gift I ever got! Anything is better than a hand mixer.
I wonder if it would be big enough for the WASC recipe that uses two mixes or if I would have to do it in 2 batches. So much to think about.
No it's not. I have a 5 qt and I have to use my hand mixer (which works just fine BTW) between the 2 mixes and all the other stuff that goes in it's not big enough The recipe actually says to use a hand mixer also.
Congrats on your new purchase!
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