Vita-Mix 1320 Professional Series, Platinum Review

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(More customer reviews)My wife and I have two Vita-Mix blenders. We bought one at a fair 6 years ago, and picked up a new-in-the-box commercial model at an auction about 3 years ago. We have used both heavily. Vita-Mix blenders are tall (too tall to fit under typical kitchen cabinets), heavy, loud, and very, very effective. Like most, we've burned through any number of typical home blenders. The Vita-Mix blenders last.
Customer service is superb. We've had exactly one problem - the variable speed dial got really difficult to turn. With about two weeks go to on the original 5-year warranty (warranties have changed since - they're longer now), Vita-Mix fixed the base, including paying shipping both ways, and also told us to send along the container so they could make sure it was in good shape - and then replaced the blade for us.
Vita-Mix blenders come with a tamper, and a lid designed to take the tamper. Most of the time you don't need it. It comes in handy for very thick, very cold blends, like thick smoothies, ice cream, etc. You will absolutely, positively need to have a tamper - or stop and use a scraper - with ANY blender, no matter how powerful, the shape of the container, or configuration of the blades. "Tamper" is actually something of a misnomer. While it is used to tamp at times, it actually changes the mixing dynamics by effectively taking up part of the volume at the center of the container, eliminating cavitation in mixes where that's helpful.
The Vita-Mix base units are heavy because they use heavy-duty motors. Don't be taken in by competing companies' horsepower claims with lighter-duty motors with half the weight. The competitors hit higher horsepower ratings by running their motors at higher speeds. All blender motors run fast, of course, and bumping up the horsepower by pulling more amps this way can be appropriate for some motor applications, but you can't consider one factor in a vacuum. The Vita-Mix motors are heavy, and heavy motors last longer by using heavier cores and windings, both of which make the motor stand up longer to heavy use and heat without breaking down. Vita-Mix containers also employ a heavy flywheel below the blades. That, in conjunction with the heavier-duty motor, is what gives you longevity, and the ability to chop heavy stuff for years. If you look at the motor-to-container connector, you will also see that the Vita-Mix uses a larger diameter connector - less stress, more life, and lower possibility of stripping.
I do wish they were quieter, but the competitors are in the same ballpark, claims to the contrary notwithstanding. The height can be dealt with by simply storing the container away from the base (which we leave on the countertop). My only real complaint is the cost of extra containers. I'd love one of the 32oz containers, but think $100-$120 (typical price at a fair)is too much.

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Vita-Mix CIA Restaurant Commercial Blender Review

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(More customer reviews)Necessity or Luxury: Depends on if you have experienced it (& if you plan on using it regularly)
As a guy who takes his smoothies and soups very seriously, it is a necessity for me. While some might argue about the price (Covers the purchase of an average blender every year into perpetuity if purchase price is invested in an annuity), I find comparisons to other blenders moot as the results from the Vitamix is not reproducible by an average blender (no strawberry/blackberry seeds in your smoothie, no bell pepper seeds in your soup). And, cleaning takes seconds!
The Motor of the Vitamix 5200 is the same as the CIA Commercial blender and costs a little less. The CIA edition comes with an exhaustive recipe book and a CD. Did I mention the blend sound reminds me of a revving Ferrari? (All the more reason to go RED!)

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Vita Mix 1723 Professional Series 200 Blender, Onyx Review

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(More customer reviews)This thing is AWESOME. I'm so glad we took the plunge! This blender is the BEST one I have EVER used. Blends ice perfectly, leaving no chunks, easy clean up, makes soup. I'm pretty sure it would chop up rocks if you tried. My husband and I have been using this to make shakes in the mornings. I put strawberries, other frozen fruits, halves of apples (with the core and seeds still in tact), ice...everything comes out perfectly for a smoothie. The seeds from the strawberries don't even make it through the blend.
I can pull out my fruits, blend a smoothie, and clean up in less than 2 minutes.
Don't deceive yourself into thinking, though, that you will never use the damper. If you make thick shakes, you will use the damper every time....
For those that don't know, you can make your own soups (add your veggies and broth) and run the blender for a full minute or two. It will heat your ingredients right up.
Clean up is as simple as adding a few drops of liquid dish soap, a little warm water, run blender for about 20 seconds, and rinse out!


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Vita-Mix 1300 TurboBlend 4500 Review

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(More customer reviews)I have owned the Vita-Mix Super 5000 since 1997, and I love it. I can grind flour, make juice, soup, ice cream (the fruit smoothies I make with this are to die for)--in short, every kind of food processing you can imagine. This baby is built to last and has a 7-year warranty.
In 2004, a couple weeks after the 7 years were up, I was very upset when it broke down. I thought, "Isn't that just the way these things tend to go with warranties?" I searched for Vita-Mix on the web (the URL is their name, and there is a link on this page, to them, too). I clicked on the button for service, got their 800 number, and called them at 6:00 p.m. Eastern time, and they were there. The service rep was friendly and knowledgeable. She asked me to describe in detail the symptoms of my ailing Vita-Mix. She then said, when I asked about it, that even though I was past the window period to do so, the company would still allow me to buy a three-year extended warranty for $120. I jumped at that, and found out that I could use it to cover the parts (and shipping) to fix the problem. She said I needed an "assembly piece" that sold for $75 without a warranty, a "drive socket" worth $12.00 and the shipping of $9.95 would be no charge to me. She said she was including a small wrench and instructions and I can fix it myself. So right off the bat I used most of the $120 to fix my first problem.
I've never seen anything like this kind of service. When our tabletop water distiller broke, we had to send it in for warrantied repair, which cost $50 shipping (we paid), and weeks to get back. I think shipping the Vita-Mix to the company might have cost nearly that much, so I was delighted to have this option of getting the parts in 10 days to fix it myself and have my beloved Vita-Mix back working within a week and a half.
If you are ever in the market for a food processor that is professional quality that works great with amazing customer service, this is it. The price is very competitive for what you get, and the product itself is fabulous. (Only one tiny little caveat--which is true for =any= blender--wear earplugs when you do the very high speeds or you could hurt your ears.)
Update March 23, 2009: I've owned the Vita-Mix 12 years now, and I still love it! See my comment to this review with today's date which contains information on my experiences with the sales personnel of the Vita-Mix company today.


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Vitamix 1700 Turbo Blend 4500 Countertop Blender with 2+ HP Motor Review

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(More customer reviews)Vitamix makes excellent products. I have owned this one for about 7 or 8 years and just purchased a Blendtec a few months ago, as well.
Both are great blenders. Comparison of differences:
1) Motor - Blendtec has a more powerful motor. Noticeably more powerful - 3 HP vs 2 HP.
2) Construction - Blendtec is not as substantial in construction. Vitamix feels more heavy-duty, and is heavier. Vitamix will not rock and shake as much. Both are made in the USA with BPA-free containers.
3) Noise level - I don't notice that much difference. Maybe Blendtec is a bit louder, but it doesn't bother me.
4) Controls - There are more controls on the Blendtec - slower/faster, pulse, and preprogrammed selections. For example: Smoothies is one of the preprogrammed selections. So this means the Blendtec will alter its speed on its own in order to make sure items get blended that might otherwise stay bouncing around on top. It is optimized for each setting. You can do the same thing manually with the Vitamix with the spin dial that controls speed. Physically the Vitamix manually spin dial is easier to use. The Blendtec has a digital counter to tell you how many times you have used it.
5) Warranty - the Vitamix warranty is longer - 7 years on ALL parts that can be extended to 10 for an extra cost. Blendtec is normally only 3, not including the containers. This can be extended to 7 at no extra cost if purchased at Costco. The Vitamix had to have its motor replaced once. They were happy to do it and paid for shipping BOTH ways. Customer service was excellent. I can't evaluate this yet for the Blendtec since I haven't had it long enough, but the warranty does not cover shipping both ways.
6) Height - the Blendtec is shorter and fits easily under the cabinets in the kitchen. The Vitamix, at 20.5 inches, does not.
7) Containers - Both are BPA-free. The design of the Blendtec containers, while less substantial, is better. Wider instead of taller, they are easier to clean and easier to get food out of. Plus, this design lends itself to better performance.
8) Performance - the Blendtec will spin and pulverize thicker food even when the Vitamix will sit there and spin with nothing moving on top. The Vitamix requires a bit more work in those cases. If the liquid is thinner, the Vitamix does not do this and spins fine. The Blendtec 4 qt 4 inch blade container is better in this regard even than the 3 qt 3 inch blade container. I don't have to push the food down much at all with the Blendtec. However, with the bit of extra effort, the Vitamix will end up blending just as well as the Blendtec.
9) Splashing - the Blendtec definitely splashes food more in the container than the Vitamix. Be sure to keep that lid on the Blendtec.
10) Guarantee - The Vitamix accepts a return within 30 days and pay for your shipping back:
Vitamix says:
"You get FREE return shipping as part of the Vitamix 30-day NO-RISK trial. Call Vitamix at 1-800-848-2649 for a pre-paid return shipping label. Contact Customer Service at 1-800-848-2649 option #2 to receive a Return Authorization Number."
Blendtec says this about their return policy:
"Any item purchased on [...] that is returned within 30 days of purchase is subject to inspection prior to a refund or credit being given. Shipping fees are non-refundable and in some cases a usage or restocking fee may apply. If a return is near the end of the 30-day satisfaction guarantee period, we ask that you please call a customer service representative so we can document what product is being returned. No refunds will be given after 30 days."I have enjoyed them both. Both are great products. I like the Blendtec a little better in terms of performance, but the Vitacost did a good job, too. Vitacost customer service was really excellent.

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No need to worry about the sound of a strained, unhappy motor with this powerful machine--even when mixing up nut butters or icy concoctions. The versatile countertop appliance features a 2-plus peak horsepower motor, which runs substantially cooler and efficiently generates blade speeds of over 200 MPH for blending, pureeing, chopping, juicing, grinding, and more. The unit's stainless-steel enclosed blade assembly, with sealed ball bearings, can process fresh, whole foods--including the leaves, peel, and stem--in seconds for superior taste and a smooth texture without any stringy bits or unblended chunks. In addition, the unit's easy-to-clean front panel provides moisture-shielded switches, two speed options, and an on/off switch. The heavy-duty, commercial-quality blender also comes equipped with a large, clear, 64-ounce container made from Eastman Tritan copolyester material, which makes it BPA-free, virtually unbreakable, and more chemical resistant. The container offers convenient measuring marks, a plunger, and a spill-proof locking lid that removes easily. Blend a large batch of soup for the whole family or as little as 4 ounces at a time. Make delicious beverages, soups, homemade dips and sauces, salsas, dressings, desserts, baby foods, purees, and smoothies--the options are endless. A Healthy Lifestyle recipe book containing over 150 step-by-step recipes in full color comes included. The 1380-watt two-speed blender measures 7-1/4 by 8-3/4 by 20 inches and carries a five-year limited warranty.

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HealthMaster LWHM Living Well/Montel 1100-Watt 2-Quart Fruit-and-Vegetable Emulsifier Review

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(More customer reviews)UPDATE 9/9/2010: This unit has been out for awhile now, and the complaints are rising steadily, not only here at Amazon, but other sites as well. The complaints, that surface either immediately or within 6 months are: Leaking containers,motors that burn out emitting an electrical odor that sometimes will trip your circuit breakers, container lid is hard to remove and put back on, terrible customer service (from the healthmaster site and not amazon), and now, a poster said that the container is not safe to use because of the plastic, and will emit chemicals into your food! Now, QVC is selling a new and improved Healthmaster, called the Healthmaster VS. It is now BPA free, (the container on this one isn't)they nixed the digital display and the design went back to the old Jack La Lanne style using flip switches and dials. There are already negative reviews of the new machine. PLEASE do your research before buying this product! If you have a leaking container, put clear water into the container and run on speed 8 for about 30 seconds, if it becomes discolored then oil is getting into your mixtures!
MY ORIGINAL REVIEW :This unit is a Jack La Lanne Healthmaster, redesigned with a new digital display, and costs more. I owned the Jack La Lanne, and within 6 months, the bearings stripped, and a rust color was dripping from the container, with the food being tainted by rust on the blades. I threw it out and bought a Vitamix. The same problems are beginning to surface with this machine problems develop either immediately or within 3 to 6 months of use. A neighbor, who loves Montel, and ignored my warnings, bought this machine through the healthmaster website. Within 3 days, the motor burnt out. It took several weeks to get a replacement. Upon receiving the replacement, the motor burnt out again. She returned the unit for a refund, and has yet to receive it. She paid for the extra warranty, and HM did not pay for the shipping to return it (the warranty is bogus, if you read the fine print, the warranty can be voided), YOU have to pay for it. This machine does what it is supposed to do, it makes good smoothies, but simply isn't powerful enough and cannot handle the strain. Other reviews on other sites state the same thing. The infomercial, has the same woman that was on the infomercial for jack la lanne.If you must, buy it here, the return policy is much better, however I recommend that you spend a few extra bucks and get a Vitamix, which I have had for several years now with absolutely no problems, and has a automatic 7 year guarantee,excellent customer service, and they pay for shipping. You get what you pay for. Give yourself, or your loved ones, a better machine than this, especially for xmas.

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Equipped with an 1100-watt almost-2-horsepower motor, this fruit-and-vegetable emulsifier goes way beyond a standard countertop blender. What can't be done with the machine might be easier to mention, but without intending to overwhelm, here's a short list of what it can do: juice whole fruits and vegetables, make ice cream and frozen yogurt, simmer soup, create dips and salsas, blend fruit smoothies and milkshakes, grind nut butters, whisk salad dressings, melt chocolate and cheese, and puree party dips, or use it to grate cheese from coarse to fine, whip cream, mince garlic and herbs, mash potatoes, chop veggies, dice onions, cream butter, aerate egg whites for fluffy meringues, mix up drinks and cocktails, or crush up to 2 quarts of ice in seconds. The versatile appliance replaces 20 different kitchen appliances, including a blender, a mini chopper, a 10-inch cook's knife, a coffee and spice mill/grinder, a cheese/veggie grater, a juicer, a meat grinder, a snow-cone maker, an ice-cream maker, a smoothie maker, a soy milk maker, and a latte whip or other milk-frothing device--just to name a few. The kitchen appliance features a digital emulsification system that pulverizes and liquefies whole fruits and vegetables in seconds, and its centrifugal friction "cooks" foods naturally, retaining the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phyto-nutrients. Choose from a variety of one-touch controls, including eight variable speed settings. The machine also provides commercial-grade wet/dry culinary blades that never need replacing and an extra-large 70-ounce (2 quart) polycarbonate-plastic pitcher with measuring marks up the side, a generous easy-grip handle, a drip-free pouring spout, and a secure-fitting lid with a built-in safety valve that releases steam and pressure when making soup. For added safety, the unit must be properly assembled or it will not turn on; it will also turn off automatically to prevent overheating. Dishwasher-safe parts make cleanup a snap, and four bonus recipe books and a healthy eating plan come included. Endorsed by Montel Williams, the fruit-and-vegetable emulsifier measures 21 by 12-3/4 by 16-1/2 inches and carries a 60-day warranty with a 100-year warranty on the motor.

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