The Thermomix Decision

[DePome]

I am having a dilemma! I saw a disappointing demo today with a man who didn't know his stuff and wasn't much of a salesman either. The food wasn't flash, but nothing that a good cook can't improve on (who the hell makes risotto without parmesan, or white wine for that matter?). But these aren't my issues. I already knew that I wanted one, but had decided to just not 'go there'. But then I bloody did, didn't I?!!

I know a lot of folk with a TMX, most of you in Brisbane (plus Bel ) and I am sure that you are very similar to me in the kitchen. You eat 95% fresh produce, you enjoy cooking, and you make the time to cook nutritious food. So what IS the benefit of the TMX to you?

Then there's the price. I can only assume this is pyramid selling, and that, therefore, I would probably be paying 100% more than I should be. There may be patents all over it, but the same goes for Dyson's stuff and yet there's tonnes of imitation Dyson vacuum cleaners out there doing a very similar job. Am I going to see something similar in Harvey Norman next year for half of the price? I am starting to think it's unethical to limit the accessibility of superior products, simply to maintain a high retail price, and line the pockets of many people in the pyramid.

What are your thoughts?

[cef77]

I have a friend who is a TMX demo woman, she does an amazing demo! I love it, just need to convince DH that we *need* one. I am Gluten free, so I can see the benefits for me. They also have interest free on at the moment I think.

[mama_bel]

Yes to cooking similar to you and yes to using and loving the TMX.

The Thermomix has been around for 25 years (Germany) but only in Australia for a few. AFAIK in 25 years no one has produced anything very similar. Using it, I'm convinced of the quality. It is like no other appliance I own or have owned. It's like a luxury car compared to, well, what I normally drive, LOL.

I'm not sure of the exact layout of the company, but I think there's just the woman who imports them in Perth, then area manager type people, then the consultants. And I think the commission is maybe around $300-$400 per sale to the consultants. Maybe it's more "pyramid" than that, I don't know as I'm not a consultant and haven't even looked into it.

Good luck with your decision!

I'm sorry you had a crap lunch, normally the demo menu produces an excellent feed.

[DePome]

I wouldn't say it was crap Bel, but he clearly isn't a foody, and was just doing a job rather than pushing his passion. Two of us remarked that there was no sugar in the bread that he was trying to raise in ten mins, and he was oblivious to sugar being used as yeast food. The bread was tough as, and tasteless (but then, she and I both own breadmakers and adore them). The recipes weren't great, but if you're 'into' food then it can't be hard to improve them.

I have been saying I won't buy one because $2000 is nearly 7 adjustable stumps for our house LOL! But now I am thinking it should be half of that price. How can I justify so much more, simply to pay the go-betweens?

Disclaimer: I stopped buying Tupperware and Enjo a couple of years ago :P

[mama_bel]

I have been saying I won't buy one because $2000 is nearly 7 adjustable stumps for our house LOL! But now I am thinking it should be half of that price. How can I justify so much more, simply to pay the go-betweens

But when you buy anything else similar, you pay go-betweens. Retails sales assistants at, say, Betta Electrical, get bonuses. And they have a mark-up on wholesale rate. And the wholesalers pay the importers and the importers pay the exporters and they pay the manufacturers... And each time a little is added to the original price. Well, that's my understanding of buying retail.

I don't mind direct marketing. It's just people doing a job. And the product is often superior.

[soulmama]

I haven't put sugar in any of the breads I've made D.... there is none in the recipes except the brioche...

No problems, always rises well and tastes beautiful though..

And I think if you had a better demo (Kara, where are you???), you'd understand a bit more.

[michelle_j_r]

i think as far as the pyramid selling thing goes... unless you buy any product direct from the hands of the person who made it then it is near impossible to avoid dodgy markups. And although i do not know under what conditions a TMX is made i would have to assume that buying any electrical appliance from an electical store a lot of your money goes to dodgy chinese or korean workplaces and companies of questionable structure so i don't mind paying a commision to a local rep that has made an effort to demonstrate and assist me with the product one on one.

But yeah, it's a lot of money! I am hoping it lives up to its reputation and my high expectations.

[cherish]

I don't have one (though would love one) and the food I have tasted was lovely.. the bread was delicious! So I don't know what went wrong.. maybe you need to go to one of Kara's demos!

[Mercurious]

I think you would be shocked if you knew some of the wholesale prices of the things you pay for. If you buy bread, do you really think it cost $3.00 to make? How about glasses? You're talking about a write up of a 500% plus.

I definately understand the concern of a cheaper copy coming out and the price going down, especially with the popularity of them increasing out of sight.

I guess it's one of those times you have to decide "what is it's value to me?". I personally could have a $50K car in the driveway that wouldn't have more value to me than the little cheap Barina I actually have.

What it's going to do for you?; will it makes your life a lot easier?, and put hours back into your day? Do you really need those things? or do you really need the $2000?

[Rach]

What Bel said... can't elaborate at moment as I have sleeping/feeding babe on one arm!

Yes to about $400 commission but as Bel said, that's on par with what happens in retail and I prefer to line a friend's pocket (or other decent distributor) than a retailer...

If you like bread one of the benefits is that you can make your own fresh flour. No time for mould to develop (as in any bought flour) = lessened allergy issues.

[Snoozie]

DePome... you'd have been demo'ed by the same consultant I had yet we had 2 completely different experiences.

I'm not sure on the mark-up but I don't believe you can buy the tmx any other way than direct selling and I have never seen a comparable product on the market... not saying there isn't one, just that I have never seen it.

My understanding is that the consultants receive commission on the ones they sell... the more they sell in a month, the more commission they earn per machine. They have to attend regular meetings and initially, purchase a business kit... I believe there would be ongoing expenses of stationery and buying the food the host isn't asked to supply.

I thought the mushroom risotto was a bit bland at my demo but figured I could make the necessary improvements myself.

I have used the tmx every single day since I got it and it's definitely instrumental in helping me turn our family's eating habits around. Sounds like you were already on the right path so it comes down to whether or not you think this is a product worth your money.

I believe it was worth mine!

[alzarex]

we too had a very dodgy demonstrator - to the point that friends who were all set to get one and only came for numbers were starting to question it

however more than a demonstrator could ever do i've seen TMX in action at friends places all the time, whipping up desert, some stock, a quick dip and lots more over the course of many days and we're sold on the food prep side of it - ie the fresh flour, fresh dips, tomato sauces - yes we could do them another way, but we just don't have time atm

re the selling method - it really is a machine you need to see in action to get an understanding of and to that extent i'd rather someone trained come to my home and show me thoroughly and be available for all my questions than some general area staffer for a big store that is doing a hard sell on a particular stereo when they are only trained in fridges etc

everything you buy that doesn't come direct from the point of creation will cost more.

and to this end - we didn't buy from our dodgy presenter - we found out about a good one that other local friends had bought from and directed our purchase through her

[~kaoss~]

Don't really know what to add. Sorry you had a crap demo, maybe he was having a crap day.

We have to work pretty hard to get the commissions around $400! It starts off a whole lot lower than that and builds depending on how many machines we sell in a calendar month. Not every demo we do produces a sale either.... it isn't supposed to be a hard sell, but a demonstration of the product. But risotto without wine? What's that about??

I really do feel like it a quality product. As for mark ups, I can't add much than what other people have said, but from what I have heard the margins and commissions for thermomix are a lot less than other party plan style businesses (not that I know what they are, but that's what I heard at a meeting).

I'd be happy to do a demo for you if you'd like (though I might crack under the pressure! ).

You eat 95% fresh produce, you enjoy cooking, and you make the time to cook nutritious food. So what IS the benefit of the TMX to you?

The benefit to me is that it takes much less time, and much less mess to make all the things I like to make from scratch. It also gives me to opportunity to create my own ingredients, such as flours, icing sugars, yogurts etc that are either time consuming to do or difficult to do without special machinery. Also, there is so much value in the fact that is really versatile, so I don't need a breadmaker and food processor and blender and grain mill etc. It is all in one.

Anyway, I'm a consultant, so it is all going to seem like I am selling it.... But really, if the product doesn't impress you, then that's cool. No one can really talk you into it. You are either willing to pay that price or your not....

[Snoozie]

kaoss... I didn't have wine or parmesan in mine either... maybe it's the recipe he's following? As I said previously it was bland but figured I'd be putting my own ingredients in anyway and I like risotto!

[lindylou]

I can understand using stock instead of wine...but no parmesan?!

[DePome]

He rang me earlier, just to clarify that it isn't really pyramid selling, and that he'd looked in to that himself before signing up. I told him I'm very interested but struggling to justify the expense given the things that we want to do round the house, that we're struggling to prioritise. I already own all the other appliances so it's not like I'm saving any money, only outlaying a heap. I have kind of come round again TBH but DH needs to be convinced. My friend, who hosted, has ordered one today even though he put her right off yesterday! She spent last night on the TMX forums and was sold on all the chutneys and sauces that she could make without stirring ! I must say, I can see me bothering to make and preserve more sauces, spreads etc, but really I need to find a supplier of whole boxes of tomatoes before I'll ever go there again. Actually, with the quantities that I make, and the number of jars that I have to fill, I don't think I'd be making them entirely in the TMX anyway... I'd need my stew pot. Oh bugger. I'm having such a dilemma! I think I need to do what my friend did... pour over the recipes to see how they would fit into my life.

[mama_bel]

Just win one.

[soulmama]

Oh bugger. I'm having such a dilemma! I think I need to do what my friend did... pour over the recipes to see how they would fit into my life.

I did.... for 2 months.

[mama_bel]

I went to my friend's house and used hers for a couple of months before making a decision!

[Mercurious]

I went to my friend's house and used hers for a couple of months before making a decision!

I'd love to be able to do that. They really need to hire them out.