So if certified-reconditioned Vitamix blenders are basically as good as new, for hundreds of dollars less, then why would anyone spend more money to buy a new one? “We’ve asked that question ourselves,” laughs Hacker. (For context, brand-new machines have a seven-year warranty otherwise, they’re the same terms and conditions.) But in terms of function, these reconditioned blenders should be in perfect working order when they arrive at your door, and they come with a five-year warranty to boot. What doesn’t get dealt with as rigorously on these machines are cosmetic flaws, like scratches on the base. Blenders that were returned for serious mechanical issues, however, are tossed. The returned blenders go through a 17-step process that includes testing all of the components to ensure that they work, fixing the ones that don’t, and replacing items like the container and tamper, before re-boxing and selling as reconditioned. Rather than send these otherwise-functional machines to the landfill, Vitamix formalized their reconditioning process in 2012, and today, they recondition thousands of machines from their factory in Ohio each week and prepare them for resale. “Sometimes they’ll want a different container, so instead of purchasing an additional container, they may do an exchange.” “In some cases, they can have it for a year and then bring it back because they want a new color,” says Hacker. Wanting a different color is still a primary reason for Costco returns of Vitamixes, not mechanical defect. And more often than not, the returned machines were barely used, if used at all. So when Vitamix started selling more machines through the wholesale retailer, they also received more returned products than ever before. “Costco’s business model, and the reason everyone loves them, is that they bring value to their members, so any product that you purchase at Costco can be returned for any reason,” explains Hacker. They’re all technically used and have been returned to the manufacturer, mostly by Costco customers. You could be getting factory seconds with cosmetic issues or returned machines that have been tidied up a bit before they get repackaged, or even packages that were accidentally opened before they were shipped out.īut in the case of Vitamix blenders, the process of reconditioning machines is a serious, formalized 17-step process, and these certified-reconditioned blenders are what Holly Hacker, director of direct sales and customer experience at Vitamix, calls “truly good as new.” These refurbished blenders aren’t new, though. That’s also because “ refurbished” means different things to different manufacturers, a point that Amazon even acknowledges. Because it’s such a bargain, it’s not exactly made clear what you’re getting. That’s certainly been my experience with listings for refurbished or reconditioned kitchen appliances, like blenders or stand mixers, on Amazon. Your reconditioned Vitamix’s journey could have started at Costco.Įven if you love a good deal, there are some situations when a price seems suspiciously low.
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