Viking Stand Mixer
So, here's the story. After the second time I managed to strip the plastic gears in my Kitchenaid stand mixer by kneading dough, I gave it away. I replaced it with the 1000 watt Viking after hearing they had metal gears. Got it online, set it up and started kneading dough - at "stir" speed it vibrated and the top popped up; thought it was the dough hook height - couldn't move the hook thread - Viking customer service sent one that was adjustable - still the top popped with kneading. A couple more contacts yielded instructions to send the mixer to their service department - the technician's explanation of what was occurring-"The manufacturer substituted a weaker spring in the lock mechanism and they would replace it." I suppose at that point I could have contacted the online vendor and demanded my money back but then if I got another one, it would have the same problem. I decided to treat it as one does a car that has to go back in with a "recall". I just got it back, held my breath as the mixer shook but it held itself down while the dough hook kneaded. I keep thinking about how many others are out there putting up with this, not knowing that Viking is aware of this manufacturing defect!
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
Start Talking!
Need a question answered? Have advice to share? Start a Talk topic now!
Sign up to get your questions answered and share advice.
5 Comments:
Viking is my next mixer when old KA dies. I have never heard anyone say anything like this. Was it a refurb?
This is why when you get a kitchen appliance you take it through the paces when you get it. You do the dough, heavy duty mixing and light duty mixing and some whipping so if it sucks you send it back right away.
My KA is 16 years old and I knead dough with it all the time. All kinds of dough, pasta, bread, pastry never had a problem.
JerzeeTomato at 6:20PM on 03/29/09
Not a refurb, brand new.... Go figure!
LindaY at 7:14PM on 03/29/09
@Linda- I had the same experience with KitchenAid as you did. I also gave mine away. I also replaced it with a Viking. After 6 months, the electrical switch messed up. I contacted Viking and informed them of the problem. They next-day Fed-Ex'ed me a label for shipping, I shipped the mixer to the service center, and had my mixer returned within a week. It has worked perfectly ever since. I have used it for breads, large batches of cake batter to the top of the bowl, icings, and anything else.
beth1 at 9:03PM on 03/29/09
There can be defect in any brand. The manufacturers buy a lot of parts, and sometimes their sources mess up. For me, the critical factor is how the manufacturer handles the problem. I've had good luck with both Cuisinart and Kitchenaid.
dbcurrie at 11:07PM on 03/29/09
@beth1 & dbcurrie, I concur. I decided to get my mixer fixed and keep it because I really did like how well the mixer worked in other functions and Viking service was courteous and timely. Before their service department told me what was wrong, I just thought I wasn't using it properly in the knead function and just held down the latch lever to keep it from popping up. In my opinion, Viking should acknowledge this defect and publish the model numbers on their website for a full recall - but wait, wouldn't that mean wiping out their profit margin?
LindaY at 9:28AM on 03/30/09