A plea for help in Australia

[mixfinder]

I have lifted this post from the Kitchenaid forum. I am hoping one of the Austalian collectors can guide this family to an appiance technician/magician who can repair her expensive waffle iton. While it costs an obscene amount of money it high received high marks from CR and Cook's.
Thank you so much!
Kelly

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Hi,

My fabulous and loving waffle maker is sick!!!!
It's been great and used to make the best waffles ever....(at least once a week) but now it giving problems.

Unfortunately it's out of warranty too. I've had it for a couple of years and it's been working great up until now... how sad hey !!!

I turn it on, like I always have...and watch with mouthwatering anticipation as the needle in the gauge moves slowly up towards the ready-set-go area.... and the ready signal sounds....

I start crying..... cause only the center plates are hot.... neither of the clam shells get hot... which means the waffle only cooks on one side... not so nice to eat... in desperation I did try one and no amount of maple syrup helped......

So I had to suffer just toast this morning instead....

Is there anything I can do please? I love it so much .... and now for the worst part... are you sitting down???

I live in Australia and Kitchen Aid don't sell them Down Under, so I had to import this one... the waffle machine was only a couple of hundred dollars, but the freight alone was over US$300...so if there was any help that someone could give me, that I can do down here, I'll make them waffles next time they're in Australia.

It's been going great up until now.

Fingers crossed you have an idea for me to try.... or a part I can buy from you...

I'll be the one with the syrup bottle in one hand and a fork in the other....
See ya....
Many thanks... Vicki
email :- [email protected]

 

[ronhic]

Kelly

From the users profile on the other forum, can you tell us which city she's in?

...and whilst Kitchen Aid don't sell them in Oz, I would have thought that they may have been able to suggest their own repairers could look at it...

 

[mixfinder]

Where in the World?

I've suggested Vicki send you an email and I'll sit out since you are bound to be more help than me. Thanks a million, Chris.

 

[ronhic]

Not a prob.....

..and depending on where she is, I may suggest other washer forum users who will have better local knowledge...

 

[petek]

Those KA Pro Line small appliances were obscenely priced for being Made In China imports. Hopefully she can get it fixed

 

[mixfinder]

Bloated Nothingness

I have participated in supporting the Kitchenaid arm of Whirlpool. In the spring of 08 I was one of several who were part of an informercial for Kitchenaid Classic Mixer. So far the tilt head mixer has been left untouched and remains a quality piece of American built appliance. Everything else is outsourced and the parts and repair are hard to secure and many item are discontinued. Kitchenaid remains steadfast in their response all is well when issues like the coffee pot that ran over, the slow cooker that cracks, and self cleaning ovens that fry the electronics has infuriated owners and release a backlash of poor reviews.

 

[petek]

Funny you mention the self-cleaning oven that fries the electronics.. We have a KA Superba and the oven lock on it got fried "closed and locked" of course.. not open so I could use it LOL

Not saying their small Chinese made appliances are terrible quality only that they are trading on the name sort of. Big money for low cost sourced products.

You have to wonder. People will pay $200-$300 for a made in China KA toaster, couldn't they make that same toaster over here and sell it for $200-$300 and still make a good profit? I mean really,, when you remove that gray metal cladding from that toaster it's just their less expensive plastic clad toaster in there.

 

[twinniefan]

Peters of Kensington

Hi Kelly,
I am not too sure about waffle makers, but there is a shop in Sydney who do sell the Kitchen Aid mixers the shop is called Peters of Kensington,(they are a fairly high end type of store i.e. expensive),but maybe even if they don't sell the waffle makers, they may be able to suggest where Vicki may be able to get service.
They do operate onlne also, the site is petersofkensington.com.au.
Hope this helps,
Cheers,
Steve.

 

[mixfinder]

Strong Support

Thank you Steve for your helpful suggestions. I will forward them to Vicki. Chris has been in contact and she's in an area that's flooding and she's poised to evacuate by plane. Hopefully Chris can fill in the blanks about the area she lives as its quite remote.

 

[ronhic]

I'm actually thinking....

...that Nathan or Leon would be more helpful as they are at least in the State...

 

[mixfinder]

A Lovely Story

I am often moved by the open and helpful willingness of those outside the US to freely offer help and advice. Thank you.

I'm the one with a waffle on my plate and dripping syrup from my lips.

I owe you guys... "Mr Waffle Maker is Back"...and has earned his seat on the plane in case of a quick evac....

You were very right with your distant diagnosis... two things I found.... residue of old batter in the contacts as you said I would, and also one of the spade clips was not seating properly.

After a good wash in metho and a little loving care.... he's working great again.... waffles for dinner tonite......and the best of all... no parts left over.

I'm part of the real world now...and it doesn't matter that I'm in the middle of the back of beyond between Windorah and Adavale

 

[hunter]

Kitchenaid Range

I have a Kitchenaid RANGE -- I think it is one of the 'Architect II' ranges. It hasn't yet fried the electronics during self clean but *I THINK* that it was re-engineered after a bunch of others DID. (The Architect I?) In any case I got a 5 year extended warranty on it so that helps.

It also has a cooling fan that sometimes switches on when using the oven OR the stove top.

Several things that are nice about it is:
1. Temperature probe.
2. Warming drawer.
3. Three of four burners are 2 zoned.
4. It is white -- white front, white top, white sides, with the exception of the touch screen and the door which are 'black.'

Downsides:
1. Its oven thermometer could be way more accurate.

Having said that I bought a Kenwood Major mixer even though I live in the USA in 1994 because I was told EVEN THEN that the quality on their 5 quart stand mixers was going down. I haven't regretted it.

As much as I think vintage appliances were better made, self cleaning ovens are great.

Hunter