[Food] Costco - Blendtec Total Blender $449.99 & Vitamix Total Nutrition Centre ($499.99)

[Frank311]

dammit too tempting
with a baby on the way spending way too much money but I always wanted a blendtec or a vitamix

I've got a baby on the way as well, I plan on using my vitamix to turn leftovers into baby food. Healthier for baby and my wallet. It also makes the best hummus I've ever had, so smooth.

[jmcx]

I just got a vitamix and I'm in love. I use a blender 2 to 3 times a day. I make all my food from scratch, so I use it for more than just smoothies. It's way quieter than my juicer, which sounds like a freakin chainsaw.

I have a baby due in April. I think it was worth it if only because it keeps me on the straight and narrow health wise. Oh yeah, but I got mine brand new in the box sealed off kijiji for $280

[CanadaGooseForumAdmin]

Oh yeah, but I got mine brand new in the box sealed off kijiji for $280

Awesome price! Why did the seller part with it?

[cdwalkman]

Blendtec all the way!!!! It will destroy a Vitamix, plus, as has been stated, the Vitamix looks like it was made in the early 70s, it's enormous. I got mine last year through Costco.com since they weren't carrying it up here, it's the best! If you're deciding between the two, just watch some of the youtube videos comparing them, the Blendtec is definitely superior (e.g., http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO7bkHxiQEM - bunch of fools, but pretty good comparison of the blenders).

[murphys]

i have a blendtec ICB3 and I will never, ever, look back.

It's amazing, I have a kale shake every morning and add to it a whole blender full of rock solid frozen fruit. It eats them in one cycle (40 seconds) and the finished product is completely liquefied.

You cannot go wrong with a blendtec. FYI the refurb ICB3 is $200 (retail $1500) at vminnovations.com (there's a thread on it somewhere) - they only ship to the US but the shipping is free.

If anyone is interested, here's the recipe:

1-2 stalks Fresh Kale
Costco Frozen Superfruit (Blackberry, Blueberry, Raspberry, Pomegranate)
Costco Fresh Medley (Apricot, Peach, Strawberry, pineapple)
1 Banana
1 Apple
1 tbsp Coconut Oil
r3-4 tbsp vanilla yogourt
1 pinch hemp hearts
top up with a bit of milk


40 seconds later, breakfast is served

[jfd3220]

I got a Vitamix at Costco when they were in Etobicoke. It's awesome. Liquefies everything. No little leftover bits of kale or seeds. You get all of the nutritional value of the food as well as the fibre.
I also got the dry container which I don't believe the Blendtec has. It pushes the contents up as opposed to sucking them into a vortex and it has a hammermill blade, so it handles dry contents much better. I've been using it to make chickpea flour that can be used in all kinds of recipes and is way more healthful than wheat flour. It takes less than a minute to turn 2 cups of chickpeas into flour. You can also make rice flour, oat flour, etc.. It can also be used for nut butters and to knead dough. You can look at it as an investment in your health.

[GunnyHighway]

I didn't like the idea of jerking a black phallic plunger into the Vitamix to unjam stuff from their blade, probably more for the women. The Blendtec along with the Wildside jar pretty much destroys everything on it's own. The jar design is so great infact, Vitamix tried to copy it and lost millions in court.

Vitamix is probably a tad sturdier, less electronics. But the Blendtec is far more aesthetically pleasing, shorter profile along with the vortex designed caraffe, made it a no brainer. I don't have to ramp up the speed manually. Just one button and it starts and stops on it's own. Super easy to clean too. Throw some water + soap then hold the pulse button for a few seconds.

[tido88]

I didn't like the idea of jerking a black phallic plunger into the Vitamix to unjam stuff from their blade, probably more for the women. The Blendtec along with the Wildside jar pretty much destroys everything on it's own. The jar design is so great infact, Vitamix tried to copy it and lost millions in court.

Vitamix is probably a tad sturdier, less electronics. But the Blendtec is far more aesthetically pleasing, shorter profile along with the vortex designed caraffe, made it a no brainer. I don't have to ramp up the speed manually. Just one button and it starts and stops on it's own. Super easy to clean too. Throw some water + soap then hold the pulse button for a few seconds.

Here is a YouTube channel which compares the two pretty well I think: http://www.youtube.com/user/blenderdudeTV. Also if you're planning on making peanut butter the Vitamix+plunger seems to work much better: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMnOq...ture=plcp&hd=1

[yaldaren]

The Blendtec has disappeared from the Costco.ca website. It is $30 off on the Costco.com website so maybe it will reappear tomorrow in time for the 3X Aeroplan points.

Edit - It appears that it is out of stock online and so doesn't come up in searches but it is still there if you look at the featured blenders...

[nunoicx]

does anyone know is Blendtec online price the same as in-store or cheaper?

[ggtech]

The Blendtec has disappeared from the Costco.ca website. It is $30 off on the Costco.com website so maybe it will reappear tomorrow in time for the 3X Aeroplan points.

Edit - It appears that it is out of stock online and so doesn't come up in searches but it is still there if you look at the featured blenders...

Darn it!!! i have been waiting to get one of these. but the price made me hesitate. So i bought a Nutribullet to hold me over for a year or two. It works good, but im not satisfied. All my smothies are thick because i use all frozen fruit. The Nutribullet starts to bog and sound not to healthy.

I was going to return it tommorow and pull the trigger on the blendtec. Now i dont know what to do. I hope they get them in stock ASAP. i have searched every where and this is the best deal going for Canadians. Now if it goes on sale $30 off... even better.

[cdwalkman]

does anyone know is Blendtec online price the same as in-store or cheaper?

Have not seen them for sale in-store.

[skule123]

i have a blendtec ICB3 and I will never, ever, look back.

It's amazing, I have a kale shake every morning and add to it a whole blender full of rock solid frozen fruit. It eats them in one cycle (40 seconds) and the finished product is completely liquefied.

You cannot go wrong with a blendtec. FYI the refurb ICB3 is $200 (retail $1500) at vminnovations.com (there's a thread on it somewhere) - they only ship to the US but the shipping is free.

Anyone else gone this route? I'm strongly considering this versus a new one. Would love to hear about other good Canadian blendtec alternatives to Costco after it left the site, too.

[ggtech]

I wonder if its possible to call Costco and try to get the scoop. maybe they are just out of stock, and will be back in stock. Would be also good to know if thats it, in which case need to look for a plan B.

As for the refurb ICB3, I read on another forum that if you order from their ebay store, they ship to canada for $80. But you are responsible for any broker fees at the border. question is how much will the fees be. Another thing to consider is that the Jug on those are not BPA free. so you most likely will want to buy a new jar. so the real question is all said and done what is the total.

here is the link to 2 ebay listings i have been eye balling:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Blendtec-ICB3...item51a0bfe54e

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/BLENDTEC-ICB3...-/350481365441

[Fantaz]

Are there any deals on Vitamix parts? I need a replacement dry blade set. (I think they're around $12-$15?) The wet one mostly does the job though.