I buy on ebay all the time. If you are going to buy a kitchen aid but hmmm, I don't know. I buy small things. I always tell people loking to buy KA's to buy at William Sonoma.They have a life time gauranteeon all items bought there . So if youhave a prob you can return it 10 years later.
Michelle
So do I!!! that's why I now purchase all of my big kitchen items at WS.
can bet a lifetime guarantee!!!!!
M
I'd also be a little nervous of the freight charges ... a KA is HEAVY!!!!
That was my first thought as well. Keeping in mind the KA you find at a local store is already there, the "deal" price of a KA may vanish when you get smacked by the S&H charges.
I've been seeing KA's on sale for 169$ lately so may be cheaper to go buy a new one if a store near you has the sales. TARGET has a white one for 169 plus free shipping
http://www.target.com/gp/browse.html/ref=sc_pgp_r_7_0_1038580_2/601-7002156-6513723?%5Fencoding=UTF8&node=16232871
The less expensive models like the $169 horse power is really low, You really want to invest in one that has at least 350 or more. Especially if you are going to be baking large cakes. The bigger the horse power the longer they should last. I don't thinks you would be able to mix too many batches of MMF in the ones with less horse power. My suggestions is to look on the web for a site that has them at a good price. This is the time of the year to get one at a really good bargain. But don't settle for one with less horse power because it is less expensive.
http://buykitchenaid.com/
5 qt mixer with beater, hook, shield, bowl w/handle & whip included....plus free: ice cream scoop, silicone spatula, whisk, can opener & one other gadget, and one of your choice of two attachments: the pasta maker or the ice cream maker, plus a cookbook....$299
Saw this on tv the other night....pretty good deal....the attachment (pasta or ice cream) is what makes it worth it, I think. 
But I really want a 6 qt pro, so I think I'll wait.
I purchased my KA on ebay. My advice would be to carefully read the listing to make sure it is NIB (new in box) and not a refurbished unit. The refurbished ones only have a 6 month warranty.
I bought the Artisian mixer and the total (including shipping) was $174.
Also, read the feedback of the seller carefully to make sure that people are happy with their purchases.
Good luck!
I bought my 6qt. pro on Ebay for $275 shipped. It was NIB, but I had to look carefully because most were refurbished for that price. If I remember correctly, the mixer was$250 and the shipping was $25.
I picked out a refurbished KA artisan that was purchased for me as a birthday gift from Amazon.com. The refurbished KA's have a 6 month warranty where as they new ones have 1 year warranty. My mixer looked brand new!! I've had absolutely no regrets. Also my shipping with amazon was free & I got an additional discount, which they often offer on KA appliances on amazon. I saved like $150 buying the refurbished one. It's definitely something to think about, I was a bit nervous at first also.
If you are looking at a midrange model...kohls is having that one on sale very soon for $199, model # K5SSWH
5-qt. stainless steel bowl with ergonomic handle
10 speeds
325-watt motor
Heavy-duty transmission
Bowl Lift lever
Metal wire whip
Nylon-coated flat beater
Nylon-coated dough hook
That's how I got mine, and after all of my discounts, I got it for less than $145 online (including shipping and taxes), I only had to pay the shipping surcharge because it was spend $75 or more and get free shipping (excludes shipping surcharges for bulky items)
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%