Originally Posted by Rodney

I'm an old guy. When I was a kid, Sunbeam products lasted forever. They made these huge, powerful mixers that could do about a dozen things, including grind meat. Everybody's mother or grandmother had one -- and had had it for 10-20 years.

In recent years, my impression is that they're now part of some large faceless comglomerate (Jarden Corp., I think) and are turning out cheap plastic appliances that are no better or worse than anybody else's cheap appliances. I wouldn't go to Sunbeam for quality.

If I were them, I'd start a high-end, high-quality line at a decent price; you know, quality and performance at 80-90 percent of the better high-end appliances (Kitchenaid, foreign brands like Braun) for 50-60 percent of the price. Stress quality and durability and a "solid" feel, and make a link between the new stuff and the old instructible Sunbeam equipment of old, for us many boomers who still remember.