Okay.
I make absolutely NO secret about my loyalties to Blendtec and I’ll tell you why. But FIRST, a sad story.
After whipping up a batch of ground flax seeds for our eco-chips the other day, I went to turn on “Buddy” the Blendtec Blender and…
..nothing.
No heart beat.
No gentle hum.
No twinkling blue light telling me he was okay.
Dead. My favorite kitchen appliance and the only one I actually use had gone to the “other side”.
Immediately I emailed Jeff Robe, the marketing director at Blendtec headquarters and I expressed my grief over the trauma and my concern. How could this happen? And ALAS! What is a Raw Diva to do without her Blendtec?
Well, Jeff isn’t the Director of Marketing for nothin’, I tell you. Here’s what zipped to my inbox faster than you can spell “V-i-t-a-m….”
-Cathy,
Could you please contact Tera to issue an ARS label so she can return
her blender then have repairs take a look at it and let me know what
caused the problem? Please send her a replacement unit so she isn’t
without a blender.-Tera,
Was that a black Total Blender? Please let Cathy know which color it
needs to be and give her your contact information.Sorry about the problem Tera. Stuff happens, what can I say. :-/ We’ll
definitely get you fixed up, as we do with all our customers.
Let me know if you need anything else. I wish you and yours a very Merry
Christmas and a wonderful holiday season!Jeff Robe
Director of Marketing
BLENDTEC
Aside from the fact that:
1. I’m quite sure that’s the most effective customer service experience I’ve ever had, there are a lot of other reasons that I am undeniably, unquestionably, ever-faithfully a BLENDTEC GAL!!
Here are 9 More Reasons Why I Love Blendtec!
2. It’s MUCH easier to clean
3. It’s MUCH easier to scoop stuff out.
4. It turns my sesame seeds into tahini in the blink of an eye! Other blenders just made sesame lump.
5. It makes the SMOOOOTHEST raw hummous you have EVER tasted. I pummeled my sprouted chickpeas into another blender and got chunk-o-licious plop compared to the super-whipped creamy hummous in my Blendtec!!
6. It is MUCH more aesthetically pleasing. (Aesthetics count!)
7. It fits under your counter tops! The other doesn’t because it has a weird, lumpy bulge on the top.
8. The marketing directors have STYLE! Pizzaz! And they make good videos.
9. They totally supported our Green Smoothie Day event and said that we could happily tell people who could not afford blenders to something from their local hardware store or a garage sale. I like that!
10. It’s a stronger, better blender. Period.
If you haven’t seen the video of Sebastian, yet, it’s worth watching. The kid’s a blendtec baby, too. Soon we’ll have Mika’s Green Smoothie video coming out! I didn’t mean to indoctrinate them, but our house is brand loyal where it counts. So, if you’re new around here and wondering which of the mega-blenders to get… now you know my story on the subject!
December 16th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Tera — thanks so much for posting this about blenders, and Blendtec in particular. A lot of people have been asking me about blenders lately, and I tell them that I love my blender, but since I had limited blender experience previously, and certainly can’t compare it with any other high-end blender I sometimes wonder if they belive me.
One feature that I love — but not when it happens — is that the Blendtec will simply shut down when it overheats. Unfortunately it generally blows a fuse in my kitchen when it does that, but it is better for being without a good blender — even for just a few days — simply because I pushed it past the limits. And now that I’m learning to not be quite so ambitous (like filling it FULL of chunky veggies or nuts all at once!) it doesn’t happen nearly as often.
And for the kids — the automatic buttons and that cycle counter are very attractive. I just went over the 1000 mark last night!!!!
I’m even taking my Blendtec with me to Texas (driving from WI) – yes, “have blender, will travel”
January 19th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
I think I need to have my own raw food blog because when I called Blendtec they could not have possibly cared less that my blender was less than three months old and dead. After MANY phone calls and emails, I was allowed to send it back AT MY OWN EXPENSE and they fixed it… but I was without it for 8 weeks. I love my blender too but not Blendtec. Of course, I’ve heard similar stories about the competition, so go figure.
February 1st, 2009 at 6:53 pm
I too like the blendtec although I don’t have one. I watched and sampled the blendtec demos at the fair and Costco many times. I also did the same with Vitamix. One day on craigslist I found a Vitamix 5000 for $175, so I bought it, (stupid. Don’t do this because then you have no warranty). Turns out it didn’t work because of a crack in the container. The Vitamix rep at the fair gave me their demo, new blade, recipe book and lots of other stuff. I’m very greatful and I love my Vitamix but, I still want a Blendtec. At the fair last year my 2 friends bought a Vitamix (Blendtec wasn’t there last year). Yesterday one of these ladies and I were talking on the phone and she put her tapper in to loosen her smoothie. She forgot to put it in the tapper hole and took the entire top off. Needless to say, she still SLOWLY drank her smoothie but kept spitting out plastic from her tapper! The Blendtec doesn’t need a tapper, and as stated before, it just shuts off if it gets jammed. My daughter got a Blendtec last year and loves, loves, loves it! 3 of her 5 children (ages 7,9 & 12)can take turns making their smoothie treats. It’s safer than my blender. So, it may be another 10-15 years, but I will get a Blendtec!!!
February 17th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Okay, this is awesome confirmation that a BlendTec is the way to go. I’ve been pining over the Vitamix for years… but the vocal minority of folks who have a Blendtec are so passionate about them and so articulate about why they are better. I’m convinced that the BlendTec is right for our family. Can’t wait! We’ll be able to afford one within the next month or so and I can’t wait. Thanks for this post…
February 20th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
I have two – not one but TWO Vitamix 4000 commercial – the old shiny beautiful ones … Two because we have been on smoothies since 1995, it is an addiction, and the stress of what would happen if one blender broke down, just makes my adrenalin go wild.
I have used the newest Vitamix at the Living Food Institute … The machine is ugly and bulky and I do not like the new canister … the top is hard to place and awkward to get off.
I am now the proud owner of a Blendtec, thanks to Tera recommendations. It is stylish and very powerfull … easy to use … makes smooth hummus and nut butter in a minute.
The older version HP3A has excatly the same motor as the Toal Blender.
The HP3A has 4 be programmable buttons for you favorite settings … you can find coupons on the net that gives $ 80 off … I went ahead and got the Total Blender … I realize I would have been well of with the HP3A , BECAUSE i DO NOT NEED ALL THE PROGRAMS THE tOALbLENDER HAS
March 9th, 2009 at 9:36 am
Hi Tera,
Have to add my 2 cents here. If blendtech is the same as Ktech, then I have one. I used mine for the four years I operated my own organic sprout garden, market & eatery in Florida. The Ktech basket kept getting stuck, the blades would not move, and I was constantly replacing the basket, at about $75 each. (I would order 2 or 3 at a time!) I still have this blender in a box in storage. What sits on my counter in my kitchen today is a Vitamix from probably the original Commercial Vita-Mixer days. It has the stainless steel basket. I picked it up at a yard sale, (spending less than $20 for it) I ordered new blades and gaskets for the clic on top, and it’s blending like there is no tomorrow. The stainless basket is so much better than the plastic with all the grooves, etc.
I kept my ktec because I really did enjoy using it. I am hoping that someday, they will have eliminated the basket blades getting frozen, so, I can use it again.
Yes, I like them both.
oh, and thanks for following me on twitter.
Namaste,
Deborah
March 28th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Hello, I’m a totally newbe here. But I’m going really crazy of what you’ra all writing here!:) You’re GREAT!
My little question is: if I have a blender like tjis Blendtec, do I still need a food processor? I think that many of you use both of these. What do you need a food processor for if you have a blendtec????
April 6th, 2009 at 7:07 am
I really like this! Thumbs up, Tera, for a good reporting job.
Blessings,
Gypsy Queen
April 10th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Got em’ both and love em’ both! My only issue with the Blendtec has been needing to replace the jar after 1 year due to a faulty bearing. It was under warranty and Triangle Healing on Vancouver Island did a smashing job of getting me a new one. My partner and I both agree that the Blendtec makes the smoothest smoothies. For chunky blending I love the Vitamix and its wonderful tamper.
July 10th, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Oh yes! I switched up to a Blendtec several months ago after years of the big stainless steel Vitamix (which is great, don’t get me wrong!). Blendtec is much better, in my opinion. We use it 2-4 times per day every day. No problem! Blends ANYTHING better than Vitamix in my opinion. Leaves the greenest hard stems or hard vegetables totally blended smooth. Yum!
August 11th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
[...] very lucky to be sponsored by Blendtec and Excalibur and we want to make sure that the winners of these prizes feel honored to be given [...]
August 11th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
[...] very lucky to be sponsored by Blendtec and Excalibur and we want to make sure that the winners of these prizes feel honored to be given [...]
August 12th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
[...] from the 10 reasons I’ve written before about why I prefer Blendtec, and aside from the fact that Blendtec wins the banana ice cream making competition HANDS DOWN, E V E [...]
August 12th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
[...] from the 10 reasons I’ve written before about why I prefer Blendtec, and aside from the fact that Blendtec wins the banana ice cream making competition HANDS DOWN, E V E [...]
November 26th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
I have a Blentec and do love it!
But….. I tried to make nut butter last night and it didn’t work at all. It pushed the ingredients to the sides every time almost right away. I did just what the guy did on the blentec video on the web site but it didn’t work at all! I have also tried the ice cream which didn’t really work.
What am I doing wrong??!! I only do raw food so it was soaked cashews and almonds mixed.
Would really appreciate some help because I ABSOLUTELY LOVE NUT BUTTERS and was soooooo very frustrated last night when I couldn’t make them.
February 28th, 2010 at 12:59 am
Reading these reports about Blendtec I’m wondering about exactly HOW smoothly they grind the hard green vegie stems….ie I have a Breville (Optiva) and it’s a good strong machine, but I get a layer of finely ground up fibre floating atop the liquid. Does the blendtec imporve on that? ie does it incorporate the fibre into the drink rather than it floating around seperate from the liquid? I know this is getting into the nitty gritty but I’d need a good reason to change my blender!
Hi, Ei. It totally blends the fiber!!
March 8th, 2010 at 5:41 pm
Hi
I went to Costco on Saturday to buy a Vitamix blender, which I had seen demo’ed there a couple weeks earlier and after some research was ready to buy. Surprise! A Blendtec demo was happening in the exact spot that the Vitamix stand had been, and they were not selling Vitamix, so I watched the demo. Seemed like it did the same stuff Vitamix does and was $5 cheaper ($384). I brought it home and made a few different smoothies to freeze. Then I made hummous. After about 3 minutes of trying to make hummous (using all very soft ingredients: cooked garbanzos, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and tahini), it started smoking and then just stopped. I returned it the next day for a refund, then went home and did more research, most of which said the Blendtec compares well to the Vitamix 5200 *if* you get the Blendtec with the 4″ blade (mine had a 3″). So now I am shopping for one with a 4″ blade which supposedly works 10 times better and hopefully will not die within 1 hour of using it.
HI, Phil.
I have a 3″ blade and it ROCKS. Never had any problem and I pulverize the schnootz out of everything I can get my hands on. Vitamix can’t do nearly what the blendtec can do for icecream, whole juices, et.c I’ve SO got to do more videos! Good luck, Phil! Keep me posted. Sounds like your might have had a problem, but really I have NO complaints about the 3″ blade.
xox
March 14th, 2010 at 11:28 pm
Darn, just when I was convinced I was going to spend the money on a Vitamix, I had to stumble onto this site. Of course there are other sites that state all the advantages of Vitamix and why they like it better then Blendtec-but heck, I’m sure they’re both great…I just don’t want to be disappointed no matter which way I go. UGHHHHHHHHHH LOL
Wishing everyone well
March 19th, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Love the Blendtec! Just got mine today from Costco and what a difference from the Cusinart smoothie
March 24th, 2010 at 10:57 pm
well i just purchase a blendtec two days ago. I love it much better than my $50 blender. I see this as a good way to get my health in check. Vitamix didn’t seem like a good blender for me. If I have to work at mixing my own veggies/fruits I might as well get a mixer. Blendtec has made me brocolli and cheese soup, orange sherbert, a bunch of smoothies. Now I can see what the rave was about.
April 6th, 2010 at 4:58 pm
123vita has videos of the Blendtec and Vitamix blenders as well as the other major players blenders. Having experienced touch pad failure with other devices, I prefer switches. I purchased a commercial grade, Waring MX1000XT (3.5HP) for $310 from a different site and received it in 7 business days direct from Waring/Conair. If I had the funds my first choice was the Vitamix Vitaprep 1005/3HP but I still got a blender similar in HP for a lot less. And the Waring blenders are compatible with the Vitamix blade/container system. My third choice would have been the Omni V.
April 8th, 2010 at 1:03 pm
Hi! I finally blew out my old “regular” blender on all my green smoothies, so I need to invest in a more worthy one
So I’m in the shopping/deciding phase. Of course it sounds like most of you think the Blendtec is the way to go, BUT my question is about the warranty. VitaMix has a 7 year warranty for the whole unit, whereas Blendtec has only one year for the container and 3 yr for the base. If Blendtec really stood behind their product, why wouldn’t they offer a competitive warranty? Thanks for advice!
Green love, Brooke
May 8th, 2010 at 1:36 am
I just bought a Blendtec today at costco and it did have a 7 year warranty on the base but you have to send in a the card costco gives you to get the additional 4 years added to the regular 3 to total 7. I think that vitamix used to be the same way with regard to costco. I am very impressed with it and I guess I will stay. It seems very smart in ergonomic design and the utility of the lid and removable and so easily replaceable center is unexpectedly incredible and easy! We made tortilla soup and it was absolutely wonderful and unbelievably easy! My husband couldn’t get over it. I told him while eating this awesome concoction that ease of preparation was only half the story. My daugthter couldn’t wait to go in and clean up “play”. So, we will see how it goes. Maybe before too long blendtec will follow soon with a seven year warranty on the jar as well. It is BPA free. I don’t know if it was before or not. I am so glad it was there for me for mother’s day when my family was ready.
June 20th, 2010 at 11:26 am
Hi Tera, and anyone who reads this,
I bought a Vitmaix 3600 Plus a few years back second hand. It has served me well but a couple of weeks ago the gear under the bottom of the stainless steel basket broke off. I called the company in Windsor , Ontario, and the little part including shipping is about $ 130 !?!?! I thought I might be able to find an entire used VItamix for that price !
I’m not earning right now, and I don’t have the bigger bucks for what sounds like a superior blender, the Blendtec, but Id like to be able to afford to buy one , one day. In the meantime, does anyone know where I can get scavenged used parts for my old Vitamix 3600 Plus. Id hate to throw the whole machine away for one little part !!!
Thanks very much for your consideration, and by the way, I’ve been a more than healthy vegetarian for 36 of my 55 yrs !
July 12th, 2010 at 12:19 pm
I’m looking into those blendtec total blenders now. There is this package offer with one regular jar and one wildside jar, is that a good idea? What can the smaller jar do that the large cannot? Or is it maybe just good to have two jars, but then again even better to have two wildsides then?
appreciate feedback
July 12th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
Helene,
If you have a family, I’d definitely go with the larger one!
But get both if you can afford it. I have two containers for my Blendtec and I love the convenience of being able to prepare different things. A juice for me, a smoothie for the kids, for example.
xoox
Tera
July 12th, 2010 at 7:30 pm
I had trouble making humus and I followed the directions to the T…
July 16th, 2010 at 11:00 am
Thanks Tera! One small and one big might be good then. Not so much price diff here actuallyt, in Europe.
But now another question, I have asked on blendtec.com but they do not reply back… yes they did reply back that they got my question, but then no real reply.. hmmm
anyway, which is the newest blendtec, the one with four buttons on the left side named 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 or the one with the programmes buttons instead, named after the types of beverage: like icecream, icecrush, soups, smoothie etc?
The one sold w/ an european plug are the ones with the 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 buttons, and I dont know if I want that, the other buttons/programmes seem much easier…
Ideas?
July 18th, 2010 at 5:21 am
could someone please chime in about the buttons, please?
I’d love some advice
hi, hon. I’m SO sorry that it took so long for me to find this and respond.
I have the one with the words on it, and used to have one with the numbers on it, so I suspect the words are a newer edition.
HOWEVER, I NEVER EVER EVER EVER use the buttons with words. I think it’s a novel idea, but the ONLY buttons I ever use are the up and down buttons for increasing or decreasing speed. The program thing I never really enjoyed much.
I understand it may be a bit late now for answering this,
but better late than never, I suppose. ? HUGS!! and thanks so much for being here.