Some atachments are very pricy and if you use the strainer atachment, its use is usually limited to just tomatoes. Seeds of smaller berries are going to jam or go through the holes. The strainer as no optional sieves. My old Oster Kitchen center as more stuff for cutting and slicing that I used all the time, especailly the slicers, and grater disks, not to mention a food processer. The KA seems to have wire wisk beaters which tend to make you use a spatula to clean off the sides of the bowl all the time. The Oster has an offest beater and goes against the bottom and sides while also rotating the varios bowls. then there is a blender atttachment as well as an ice crusher, and ice crem maker that uses the traditional rock salt and ice. Its no longer made, but if you find a used one, grab it, try it out, and I am sure it will become a necessary device for many food prepping issues. If they were to atart making them again, they would probably outsel any other multifunctioanl product, proved it was advertised well. Now Oster/Sunbeam are Jarden owned, who also make Food Saver, and many other products, as well as all Ball canning supplies..

I do have a Hobart N50 (bought for me brand new by my mother about 6 years ago) and yes, it was awfully expensive but I love it! I don't know that the present day Kitchenaids are made in the USA or only assembled in the USA from imported parts. I tried to purchase an N50 on eBay but it was a nightmare. It was described as being "like new" and the price was around $1000.00. When I received it, it had dings, the bowl didn't seat properly, and it was a general mess. I got a refund but I had to pay enormous shipping to return it. If I hadn't received the N50 as a gift, I think I would have looked for an old Hobart/Kitchenaid mixer.

I went through a KitchenAid Artisan in three years, which disappointed me. I did some research, found a local store carrying the DeLonghi (now with as much badge engineering as GM: Kenwood, DeLonghi, Cuisinart, Viking). I talked with them, bought it, brought it home and started a batch of Oatmeal Raisin cookies; it blew a circuit halfway through the batch, where the puny KA would just keep mixing. I called the store (their solution? "Let the mixer rest for 30 minutes and resume." My response, "Mix for five minutes, rest for 30? Really?"), and cleaned the mixer, returned it, and got a refund (after much wrangling). Instead, I bought the KitchenAid 600 Professional, which ran for three years before grinding gears off this morning on a batch of PeanutButter cookies.... My mixer gets used twice a week, usually on desserts, and never get close to bowl capacity, so they're not abused. All of which to say: you can spend $400 for three years of mixing with a KA, or the same for a DeLonghi that shuts down in ten minutes.... The earlier comment about wattage ratings is accurate: it's not about output, but usage. Based on experience, I'd buy the Hobart (KA is a spinoff of Hobart), but based on budget, I'll either repair the KA or replace it with another.

I know! It's difficult! I used to sell Pampered Chef and "earned" my white one for free about 12 years ago. I admit I purchased the yellow today : ) With the $30 back and the free extra attachment, and 5 easy payments plus only $10 shipping I couldn't resist! Plus I used ebates and got 2.5% off that way. There's a free subscription also to Food and Wine Magazine or some other Travel magazine when you do the rebate. Unfortunately there was tax but still was a good deal : ) Good luck!