Kitchen Aid Pasta Press : Do Not Buy

The new Kitchen Aid Pasta press seems on the surface to be a reasonable compromise between cost ($150 to $200) and use of plastic components to keep those costs down (primarily because the molds to create these parts is so much cheaper with plastic).

The press (or extruder) does point downward, which is important, and it does make some nice pasta...when it doesn't break.

The plastic component that has failed after a mere three uses is the "Pasta Ring" which hold the plates in place. This may be the component that is intended to fail first, rather than more expensive components.

Calling Kitchen Aid's "hassle free" line is anything but hassle free! Long, long wait times. Then, a promise that the part would come in 10-14 days. No show. A follow up phone call (as the website is so poorly designed that for accessories you have no way of contacting them)--with the accompanying excessive wait time—gives me the information “oh the part is on back order—with no estimate as to when it will be available.” When I enquired as to what happens to my warranty ticking away, customer service did the audio equivalent of a shrug.

Not only is this annoying, it shows an extreme lack of customer commitment for a couple of reasons:
1) Why wasn’t I informed of the delay?
2) The warranty on this accessory is a mere one year. Twelve months. I will have spent over two of those months waiting for a small part (assuming it ever shows up). If the same part fails again, the warranty will be over. So much for “hassle free.” In fact, this is potentially something Attorneys General at various states should investigate for fraud. The warranty becomes no warranty at all.

I would note for all consumers that KitchenAid is owned by Whirlpool, which also markets Maytag. One might be careful buying any of those three brands, which used to have a good reputation, but as the small appliances degenerate are the large ones far behind?

I am writing a snail mail letter to KitchenAid and Whirlpool. As I receive, or not, any response, I will post it.

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