Live data from Hacker News

KitchenAid’s Key Ingredient: Investing in Workers

wsj.com

31–40 of 42 posts

Re: KitchenAid’s Key Ingredient: Investing in Workers

#31
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The other one is the latest generation of the original Electrolux Assistent, introduced in 1940.

I have an Electrolux Assistant that I use principally for bread making. Much better than the Kenwood and Kitchen Aid style stand mixers. Mine looks like this: https://cbsethumb.blob.core.windows.net/534x389/69/97/90/ele...

These are HEAVY duty. Sometimes the power switch can crap out, but that can be fixed.

Re: KitchenAid’s Key Ingredient: Investing in Workers

#32
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The regular KitchenAid is so-so, but the Pro (with the bowl-lift mechanism) has a significantly better dough hook and a stronger motor; it’s well worth the extra hundred bucks (especially if you bake bread)

Just don't throw the hook/beater/whisk in the dishwasher like this idiot did... And that's how I learned about aluminum reacting with dish detergent.

Ah! Maybe that’s what was causing my failures.

Re: KitchenAid’s Key Ingredient: Investing in Workers

#33
Perhaps the other piece of the equation is making cheap junk and selling it at premium prices.

At some point in the past few years, KitchenAid products replaced steel internals with plastic ones. You still have a big honkin' powerful-looking mixer or blender, but it breaks just around when the warranty expires.

On the other hand, they still have a reputation for products which last forever, as their products did until a few years ago. That allows for obscene markups and short-term profits.

I'm not sure when the change happened. You can see it in Amazon reviews, though (and my own products; I have a broken mixer and, stupidly, two broken blenders, both with powerful-looking steel or cast-iron externals).

Re: KitchenAid’s Key Ingredient: Investing in Workers

#34

Perhaps the other piece of the equation is making cheap junk and selling it at premium prices. At some point in the past few years, KitchenAid products replaced steel internals with plastic ones. You still have a big honkin' powerful-looking mixer or blender, but it breaks just around when the warranty expires. On the other hand, they still have a reputation for products which last forever, as their products did unti…

The same thing happens everywhere. My kitchen was!fully Miele. So, after around 3,5 years or so. The dishwasher broke. So I thought: call a specialist, get repaired. It is is Miele at least! (you can get replacement parts even after years) so, guy came, saw the brand. Checked, said, something with the heater. Several models have that problem. And it is super expensive.. I should just buy a new one. Asked him what I should buy, you know what he said? It is not worth anymore.just buy 2 or 3 cheap dishwashers in 10 years then just one expensive, which brakes anyway after 3 to 5 years....

I have a 15 years old Miele washing machine I bought used. Still running like a champ...

Re: KitchenAid’s Key Ingredient: Investing in Workers

#35
post #28

I firmly maintain that the KA stand mixer is pretty overrated. People praise it for being long lasting, but it's a mixer... just a motor and some gears. I've still got my grandmother's sewing machine, and electronic devices that are older than I am still in working condition. It's not like it's a particularly cheap product. It's pretty high up there, so quality should be somewhat expected. That said, it's not abuse p…

> The attachments aren't really worth it either. They're horribly expensive if you don't buy it on sale or as part of a bigger package and now you're locked in with your machine. For things like meat grinding, I would much rather get a dedicated all steel grinder. Sure, dedicated tools are superior, however each of the attachments has significantly less marginal space cost they a dedicated powered tool that would rep…

Until your motor unit craps out, and then it turns out that particular system isn't produced anymore, so you have to throw out all your attachments too.

Re: KitchenAid’s Key Ingredient: Investing in Workers

#36

The article isn't about KitchenAid Mixers. It's about KitchenAid/Whirlpool investing in its workers through programs such as paying for further education and training. Please stop talking about your personal opinions regarding the quality, utility, or value of their mixers and other kitchen appliances, and please stop upvoting these posts. That has nothing whatsoever to do with the point of the article and is noise.…

I sympathize but this happens on every thread. Articles about Google setting up a permanent Mars colony would have posts whining about Reader. Articles about an Apple credit default swap denominated in Renminbi will have comments complaining about how the latest refresh of the Macbook Pro wasn't really a "Pro". And so on.

Re: KitchenAid’s Key Ingredient: Investing in Workers

#37
Bought a KitchenAid stand mixer - the motor made a loud "aircraft landing" sound. When I called the number in the instructions they told me that their warranty doesn't cover sounds, and that they couldn't do anything for me. I tried to explain that I had worked with motors a lot, and this wasn't a normal sound, and asked to speak with a supervisor. The supervisor told me the same thing - no warranty for that type of problem. I haven't bought anything from KitchenAid since then.

Re: KitchenAid’s Key Ingredient: Investing in Workers

#38

The article isn't about KitchenAid Mixers. It's about KitchenAid/Whirlpool investing in its workers through programs such as paying for further education and training. Please stop talking about your personal opinions regarding the quality, utility, or value of their mixers and other kitchen appliances, and please stop upvoting these posts. That has nothing whatsoever to do with the point of the article and is noise.…

The point of HackerNews is to spark interesting conversation as much as anything. Often that involves going off on a tangent. At least that's why I come here, and I'd guess I'm not alone.

Re: KitchenAid’s Key Ingredient: Investing in Workers

#39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The attachments aren't really worth it either. They're horribly expensive if you don't buy it on sale or as part of a bigger package and now you're locked in with your machine. For things like meat grinding, I would much rather get a dedicated all steel grinder. Sure, dedicated tools are superior, however each of the attachments has significantly less marginal space cost they a dedicated powered tool that would rep…

Until your motor unit craps out, and then it turns out that particular system isn't produced anymore, so you have to throw out all your attachments too.

KitchenAid has an all attachments fit all mixers guarantee. Combined with the company being pretty old and not looking like it's going anywhere, that's a huge part of the appeal of the brand. Being fairly confident the scenario you're proposing wont be an issue.

Re: KitchenAid’s Key Ingredient: Investing in Workers

#40
post #38

The article isn't about KitchenAid Mixers. It's about KitchenAid/Whirlpool investing in its workers through programs such as paying for further education and training. Please stop talking about your personal opinions regarding the quality, utility, or value of their mixers and other kitchen appliances, and please stop upvoting these posts. That has nothing whatsoever to do with the point of the article and is noise.…

The point of HackerNews is to spark interesting conversation as much as anything. Often that involves going off on a tangent. At least that's why I come here, and I'd guess I'm not alone.

I think it's more people who don't read the article, pattern match on a keyword in the title, and go off on a tangent on that keyword.

Article comments should be relevant to the article posted, not any unrelated topic that simply mentions the word.

Post reply on HN