I am lucky enough to have a friend with all of the attachments and she let me borrow them. If I could buy them all I would, but I can't right now. If I had to choose one, it would be the slicer/shredder, then the strainer, then the grinder and sausage stuffer. But the slicer shredder is my first priority to get, especially since my Oster kitchen center has seen his better days. They are expensive, I have family members who are diehard flea market and yard salers keeping their eye out for me. I will wait until spring to buy any of them, i'm holding out to see what my sale scouter find after the season is over. But if I have to buy a food processor, i'd pay way more than $50 for a good one, same true for the other attachments, to buy a good one cost more than the attachments do and they take up way less room than individual appliances do. Sheri

Hmm, I've also been reading this thread with interest because I was just about to buy a KA stand mixer. On their website, it says the Professional 600 series is "Flour Power" rated for 14 cups, "8 loaves white bread, 13 dozen cookies, 8 lb. mashed potatos" Also from their website: Warranty Our Hassle-Free Replacement Warranty guarantees that if your countertop appliance fails during the first year, KitchenAid will replace it free of charge. We will: # Deliver a replacement to your door # Arrange the return of the failed appliance # Guarantee the new appliance for one year For more information or complete warranty details on KitchenAid® countertop appliances, please call Customer Service at 1-800-541-6390. Sure doesn't sound like your experience. Maybe I'll have to look at the Cuisinart instead. W.

The "oil" you see is actually the grease they use to "pack" the motor head, and it has liquified. The grease protects the motor head from all the friction caused during use. This oil liquifying is usually caused by the motor being stressed. This happened to us twice with our KA mixer. We got it from someone who claimed she "never used it", but she must have at one point, for the grease doesn't liquify on it's own...LOL. Not meaning to make light of the situation, but all is not lost. You can bring it to a KA repair center and they can re-pack the grease for you. The last time we had it done, it cost us around $45.00. It actually lasted for quite a while before we had to do it again...but the last time was my fault. We have the "Classic" model, which doesn't have the higher horsepower, so the motor becomes strained easily. You still got a nice deal, though...and once you have it repaired, it should be as good as new.

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!