EBay has a Group Deal today on the Bellini Kitchen Master Intelli BTMKM600X from Target at $249. It's generally $399 so is a saving of $150 & has free delivery.
This machine is similar to the Thermo Mix but is a fraction of the price & has great reviews on the actual Target website.
We broke 5 bellinis… After that I gave up and let the wife buy a thermomix. It really is chalk and cheese between the two units.
Bellini is a budget brand though with cheap parts..
Target have another model of this with significantly higher cost (and maybe features). Perhaps this other model is more a direct (fairer?) comparison to the cultish Thermomix
edit - the higher specced model also includes the "Yumi" recipe system in it, for what it's worth
My wife and I have been using this machine for 6 months and love it. The motor isn't as powerful as the Thermomix so you just need to know the limits of the Bellini - study the manual and rejoice in the fact that you can buy 8 of these for the price of one Thermomix (at $2078 you still only get 2 years warranty!). A great way to give thermal cooking a go and see if you like it. Great online support and recipe database at the "Bellini Addicts" Facebook group.
That's probably better advice than visiting the "Berlusconi Addicts" Facebook group
Good deal, I've had my Bellini now for 2 years and am very happy with it. Cheapest it normally gets to is $279 from Target, so I think this deal is excellent!
$250 is a steal. (I've got a HotMixPro, and love it, but $250 (from Target) is a great way for people to investigate these devices.)
great reviews from everybody except those stay at home mummy bloggers who didnt buy this one and blew their husbands money buying a thermomix instead :p They all say it has reliability issues. I say they have jealousy and buyers remorse issues ;)