I absolutely love my KitchenAid mixer!  It has been running strong for 20 years.  I love the attachments (especially the fruit strainer).  The beater is the only exception.  The enamel chipped off original beater, when it was just a few month old, so I called KitchenAid.  The rep said it was my fault for not adjusting the bowl height, so they wouldn't replace it.  So I gave in and purchased another one.  Before long it was chipping as well.  It has nothing to do with bowl height because even the top of the beater, that never touches the bowl or anything is chipped like crazy.  I hate to buy another and begin eating enamel again, but not sure what to do.