Baking day is about to get even more fun for excited shoppers who snagged a cult-classic kitchen appliance that typically sells for hundreds of dollars.
“I found this at a thrift store. Is there anything I should check before stripping it?” a shopper wrote on the Reddit subreddit r/KitchenAid, sharing three photos of a KitchenAid stand mixer. , one of which had a serial number on it.
Other Redditors recognized the mixer's value and assured the original poster that the KitchenAid will run smoothly for years to come.
“Great find! Your product was manufactured during the week of May 3-9, 2004. With regular maintenance and repairs as needed, it should last for decades.” one person wrote, directing the OP to resources to keep the appliance safe. At its best.
OP initially didn't reveal how much she paid for her coveted mixer, but she wrote “I won by being frugal” on one of the photos, suggesting that she saved a significant amount of money. In the comments, they admitted that they only spent $45 CAD on the product.
While some KitchenAid models can be purchased for less than $400, many of the brand's stand mixers sell for closer to $1,000.
But fortunately, thrifting has made high-end products more accessible to many consumers. Zojirushi rice cookers, Staub cast iron Dutch ovens, and Spin coffee machines are other items found by savvy shoppers.
The growing market is not limited to kitchenware. According to ThredUp's 2024 Resale Report, the value of the global used apparel sector is projected to reach $350 billion by 2028.
Buying second-hand items isn't just easier on your wallet. It also benefits the planet by reducing non-biodegradable waste, which leaches toxins into the earth during the slow decomposition process and generates global warming gases.
More than 100 million tons of textiles end up in landfills every year. Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 2.2 million tons of small appliances will suffer the same fate.
According to one Redditor, OP may also have been lucky to find an older model.
They said, “Wow, you hit the jackpot! The old ones are made much better than the new ones.”
Another person pointed out that KitchenAid mixers can last a long time with proper maintenance.
“My car is 35 years old, so I sometimes take it apart and service it,” they said.
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