How to Buy an Expensive Appliance like a KitchenAid

I wanted to talk about a strategy to buy a KitchenAid Mixer (and this will work with other mixers/appliances as well.)

While I don’t consider a stand mixer to be an absolutely “essential” piece of equipment, they really are nice to have if you wish to do all sorts of tasks. I’ve always been known more as a baker than a cook, and didn’t have a stand mixer until I was in my 40’s – and if I would have known how to buy one at a great price before then, it would have been a huge help.

If you use actually use yours, and have the time to do so, a good stand mixer will eventually pay for itself by allowing you to make all kinds of things at home that are of a better quality and less expensive than store-bought. I’m not proposing that everyone make everything home-made, but it really is possible to pick and choose items that have the biggest pay off, and having a stand mixer makes doing this so much easier.

There are many other mixers out there, and some better, but I think the KitchenAid Artisan is one of the most affordable and versatile mixers. I’d call it a “good buy.” There are a ton of attachments available and the cost is affordable. Affordable you ask? At $350.00 on sale, or even more if not on sale? Ha, you may say…

First of all, there are all kinds of refurbished models that can be found on the internet for about $260.00, so that’s one thing to keep in mind…but I’ve found that buying a new mixer at Kohl’s is one of the cheapest way to get a KitchenAid. I bought one a few years ago for about $180.00, if I remember correctly.

Today, I priced one out with a cost of $205.75 – Here’s how to do it:

Look for a great sale: The Artisan was $349.00 on sale.
Buy online: Kohl’s online offered a 10% discount bringing the price to $304.00.
Put the item in the shopping bag: Sometime unadvertised sales lower the cost.
Look for promo codes: Kohl’s allows you to apply two – one can be a % off, but if it is, the other code has to be some other type of offer. The best promo codes I’ve seen are for 30%, usually for someone who has a Credit Card from Kohl’s. The first promo code I used in my figure was for 15% off and the second was for $10.00 off. This brought the price to $259.24.
Credit Card: If you don’t have a Kohl’s credit card (and I don’t typically recommend having one!) see if a friend or family member will buy if for you, use their promo code, and allow you to pay them. I didn’t go this route in this example. I could have saved an extra $35.00 if I did this.
Take advantage of free shipping: Kohl’s offers free shipping on anything over $99.00 but has a $7.50 surcharge for this heavy item. The price is now $266.74
Be aware of taxes: Different areas have different taxes, and sometimes it pays to pay attention where you buy on large ticket items. Tax brings the purchase up to $285.75.
Kohl’s Cash: Buy major purchases when Kohl’s is offering Kohl’s cash, $10.00 back for every $50.00 spent. This purchase earned $50.00, dropping the price to $235.75.
Rebates: Kitchen Aid is offering a $30.00 rebate, bringing the total to $205.75.
Attachments: Keep in mind that sometimes “free” attachments, extra bowls, etc. are offered as a part of the sale price and come with the mixer or the mixer box will have a form to send for the item. This one has a pouring guard in addition to the normal attachments generally included. Even if not advertised, check your paperwork over when you get the mixer.

$205 is not a bad price, and remember, I could have saved a little more on this purchase by using a better discount – which would have bought it more in line with my price of a few years ago!

Look at the fine print for rebates and attachments

Now I’ll tell you what I tell my kids…if you wish to make a major purchase like this, ask your family and friends if they will consider giving you gift cards instead of other gifts for your birthday or holidays. (Of course, you could ask for the mixer, instead!) Set them aside and save them up…use your spouse’s, too – this is a household purchase, after all. $10.00 here, $25.00 there, $50.00 here would really make a big dent in the cost.

Kohl’s will accept up to four gift cards in addition to their payment options – so wouldn’t it be nice to use gift cards for the purchase of an appliance like this…just sayin’

And remember when your birthday or Christmas rolls around and someone asks you what you want, ask for attachments: Some are reasonable and others expensive, but are great things to request as gifts.

Other ways to get an expensive appliance like this:

Wedding Showers: Put it on your list! If you know it’s too expensive for your friends or families, hint to them that they might want to pitch in together…and let them know that you will be sure to make them lovely things in the future!
Relatives or Friends: Know someone who has one and doesn’t use it? Ask if you can have it, buy it for a decent price, or barter for it.

By the way, I’m not affiliated with Kitchen Aid or Kohl’s – and this strategy make work at other stores, and certainly will work with other appliances…Kohl’s just happens to have the best pricing I’ve found in recent years.