OK this is for all those people out there like me that can't afford the Kitchen Aid mixers...
Hubby bought me a Cook's brand stand mixer from JCPenney's in January for my birthday. Well HE finally used it for the FIRST time last night. ANd has asked me to come here and brag about it lmao. He made me 4 batches of buttercream last night all at once!!!!!!! I chewed him out lol. He said he didn't even have it on full power (had it on #5 of 12 settings!) mixing it and it was fine. The only problem was it just barely fit lol. So I say for HALF the price of the mid-range KA (he paid $150.~ on sale from $300.~) it's better then the KA IMHO!! I've never used a KA hell I haven't even used this yet lmao
I woke him this morning at 6:50 Am to tell him I was heading down to start the cakes, he said "it works great omg that mixer baby it's so nice I love it you'll love it" all in this half awake not wanting to wake up voice you've all heard it from your hubby I'm sure lol. I said "How dare you! You cheated on me with my own mixer! and you let my mixer cheat on me! OMG! How could you!" he just laughed. Her name is Trixie 
and she's so pretty! lol Although she isn't a KA she's better in my opinion. She has 700 watts!!! the best KA only has 600 
So my recommendation as well as hubby's recommendation is if you are like us and can't afford the $500.~ for the KA mixer of your dreams get this one from JCPenney's for less then half that price!!! She's not as shinny but she's a beauty! 
Also when I went to grab the picture I noticed it's still on sale!!! It's orignally $300.~ it's on sale for $149.99!!!!
Becky AND James lol
edited to add that it comes with everything shown unlike the cheaper KA's where you'd have to buy the splatter shield seperate. I always thought it'd be a great asset to have the shield because it makes for easier pouring and adding of ingredients So you get everything pictured plus 700 watts of kickass power! for $149.~!!!
4 batches of buttercream?! Is she a 6/7 qt?! I can barely manage 2 batches of buttercream in my KA Artisan! Woohoo for you - I'm on the lookout for a bigger mixer!
Quote from the J C Penney Website!
cooks 5qt Stand Mixer
700W motor
12-speed variable control with soft start to reduce splattering
Suction cup feet for added stability
Stand mixer includes big 5-qt. stainless steel bowl and pouring shield that are dishwasher safe. Includes flat beater, dough hook, and balloon whisk (all non stick and dishwasher safe). Stand mixer is imported from China.
I have to defend my KA. 
Hubby upgraded me to the top of the line (I think) KA which came with a 6 quart bowl, splatter guard/pour shield, free attachment (I'm getting the pasta roller for fondant-$99 but got it free) and it wasn't $500 or I would have killed him! 
LOL! Oh......and proudly made in Ohio! (though I'm sure some part of it was made out of the country like most things these days) It has stainless steel attachments so that they can be used in a commercial bakery (some states have requirements and the plastic-coated attachments are not considered 'able to be sanitized')
I've never seen a mixer like that! Very modern design. Reminds me of a sports car or a power tool (garage type, not kitchen type). Maybe that's why your hubby likes it so much! 
The attachments are nice and are not plastic although I thought they were at first look too lol. The Balloon Whip is stainless steel as well as the bowl. The beater whipper and bread dough hook are both very heavy steel with non-stick coating or it's like a cast iron with non-stick coating. They are very heavy and very durable.
I visited the KA website which is where I got the price quote of $500.~ from but I have seen it retail in Sears and JCPenney for about $400.~
I'm not trying to start a peeing contest at some would call it lol. I was just thinking of the people that can't afford to spend over $200.~ on a mixer lol. I'm still at SAHM/W and the only thing I'm doing to make money right now is cakes and none of my cakes have made anywhere near enough for me to even think of buying a KA lol.
I just got to use it on my cakes. So far I've made 4 cake mixes in it and it's wonderful! Like always you have to scrape the sides down to make sure everything is getting incorporated properly, I've seen em do it on Food TV with the KA all the time lol, and like most mixing bowls since the beater doesn't touch the bottom of the bowl you have to scrape the bottom as well to make sure it's all getting in there lol but heck I do that with my hand mixer all the time anyway lol. It's great though I love it! The base suctioncups to the counter top and the bowl locks into place and doesn't move at all! My daughter couldn't get it unlocked which is good lol. And the attachments slide onto the post and you push up and twist to lock them in place which is also good cause she can't take it without permission and lick it clean when I'm done lol.
Ok back to the kitchen to get the cakes outta the oven
Both my sister and I have purchased this mixer in the last 6-8 months. My sister had a KA that never functioned properly - kept ruining the paddle and ka wouldn't help. So she needed to replace it. She says it's louder than her KA but other than that it's great. I think it's great too. I just couldn't afford a KA so that's why I decided to try this and I don't regret it. Great for someone with a budget and they are now coming out with the attachments for it. The only attachment I think is too funny is the Blender. The mixer is tall and to set a blender on top of it is just too funny in my opinion.
Judi
That a great looking mixer (700W is great)....but I love my KA 600 Pro! Mine is a rebuilt machine and I've had it for 10 years now with no problems, and best of all...my in-laws paid less than $200 for it! That's also an option for anyone who wants a KA, but may hot have the cash for a new one!
Joolz thanks so much for that little tip!!! I was so scared to even attempt MMF and there was no way I was going to risk ruining any of my appliances making it lol. Now I know I can use my Cook's for MMF YAY! Ty!!!
Hubby just had to make me 2 more batches of buttercream cause I didn't have enough lol. Took minutes! Compared to the 30-45 minutes it took before with the hand mixer lol
I'm not trying to start a peeing contest at some would call it lol. I was just thinking of the people that can't afford to spend over $200.~ on a mixer lol. I'm still at SAHM/W and the only thing I'm doing to make money right now is cakes and none of my cakes have made anywhere near enough for me to even think of buying a KA lol.
....... I've seen em do it on Food TV with the KA all the time lol, and like most mixing bowls since the beater doesn't touch the bottom of the bowl you have to scrape the bottom as well to make sure it's all getting in there .. And the attachments slide onto the post and you push up and twist to lock them in place which is also good cause she can't take it without permission and lick it clean when I'm done lol.
No peeing contest here other...trying to add a little bit of fun to post. No harm meant, no harm taken.
I'm a WAHM with a job that pays on production, making cookies for a little extra money. We're almost in teh same boat. I totally understand. 
I had the cooks mixer. Bought it back in December 06. I loved it at first. Then I started having problems with it. The lever that keeps the motor locked wouldn't snap shut. Took it back to JC Penney to get another one. Got home and the new mixer's speed controls were all jacked up. Speed 1 was like Speed 11. Took that one back and the saleswomen told me that I shouldn't waste my time getting another one and that they had alot of returns on the cooks mixer ( Now they tell me !). So, now I'm back to hand mixing until I can afford a kitchen aid.
Thanks for posting this, I've been looking into getting a second mixer. I too do not own a Kitchen Aid, too expensive, but I do have a Hamilton Beach Eclectrics stand mixer. It is rated very highly by consumer reports and has always had more than enough power for me, it is usually 150-200 dollars depending on where you get it.
ooooh, thanks for posting this! i think there's something wrong with my gal! i turn her up to high and it sounds like she's struggling... 
i wonder if it's time to retire her... 
I have a KA mixer that my mom got me for my Birthday about 7-8 years ago. I would love to have another bowl for it. It's plenty big for what I do but I'd rather have 2 (or 3.........hey why not make it 4 ) just for time saving.
If I had been into making cakes when my sister was cleaning out the house I would have had her and she had a bunch of adapters to it too (she passed away last year ) but my sister gave it to someone she knew there that didn't have one. Wonder if I can contact KA and see if they have replacement bowls
Judi
I think it's certainly worth a try. I have a Sunbeam mixer that I got before I was into cakes and there are attachments that I would love to have but have not been able to find locally, like extra bowls that would be great. I'm in the process of trying to contact the company as well. I would think you would be able to try KA the same way. Only so far I've had no luck. Well I hope you have better luck and you get your extra bowls.
I think it's certainly worth a try. I have a Sunbeam mixer that I got before I was into cakes and there are attachments that I would love to have but have not been able to find locally, like extra bowls that would be great. I'm in the process of trying to contact the company as well. I would think you would be able to try KA the same way. Only so far I've had no luck. Well I hope you have better luck and you get your extra bowls.
Im looking into buying another stand mixer. I found a sunbeam at a goodwill its ancient but still works. Have you had a good response from yours? Whats the going price for a sunbeam?
Brandonsmommy....yes you can go to the kitchenaid website and look at all the things they have there. My sisters bought me a second bowl for my 600 and it is great. My sister ordered on one day and got it the next. Of course we don't live all that far from Greenville OH where they are but still it was almost 4pm when she ordered it and got it the next day. They have sidewalk sales there too from what I understand...have to go check it out...
Did you have to order from KA directly or did you get it at a store??
Judi
I would suggest looking for accessories for your appliances on E-Bay. heck you might even get another older but running machine for the cost of one accessory from a website... Worth a look-see anyway. No harm...
It would be cool to have an extra bowl for my oldie KA... A copper one would be neat... not sure if they make those for it....
Go into E-Bay... put Kitchen Aid mixer bowl in your search. There are a bunch... 4.5 qt... 5 qt.... check it out.
Did you have to order from KA directly or did you get it at a store??
Judi
I got an extra bowl for my KA600 6qt off ebay for almost half of what it costs on the KA website. I got it really quicly too; within 3 days if I remember correctly. I'm glad I did. I use one bowl for cake mixes, buttercream, etc. and then the other one is specifically set aside for Royal Icing.
I've heard good things about Cooks mixers. But I too have to defend my KA Pro600 6qt. I didn't think that there was much difference between 5 and 6 qts until I held a5qt bowl up next to my 6qt bowl. That little difference ends up looking huge. I got my KA for less than $300 refurbished with a 6 month warranty off ebay(KA has an ebay store). However, if I were going to purchase a second mixer, I would seriously think about a Cooks. Besides only being 5qts, the other thing I'm not fond of is the tilt head. Do they have one that has a bowl lift style?
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