Is a reconditioned Vitamix worth it?

Short answer

Yes, if it is a Vitamix certified reconditioned blender and the saving outweighs the shorter warranty. Vitamix inspects and tests these units itself and covers them for 3 or 5 years depending on the model, against 5 to 10 years new. A marketplace “renewed” or “refurbished” Vitamix is a different thing: a third party sells it, and the Vitamix warranty may not apply.

Reconditioned units are one of the main ways buyers get into a Vitamix for less, along with holiday sales. The trouble is that two very different things are sold under similar names, and Vitamix’s own pages don’t agree on every term. Below: what each label means, what the warranty covers, how to work out whether the saving is worth it, and which models to look for. Every model mentioned here is in our high-speed blender comparison.

What “certified reconditioned” means

Certified reconditioned is Vitamix’s own program. Vitamix inspects and tests each blender, then sells it again with a Vitamix warranty. Its reconditioned warranty page sets out the terms:

• Warranty length: 3 years on Explorian units, 5 years on other models.
• What it covers: parts, labor and shipping both ways.
• Extension: an optional 3-year extension is available.
• Trial: the same in-home trial as a new blender. Vitamix’s FAQ describes a 60-day trial for new blenders in the US and Canada.

The pages we read don’t say which parts Vitamix replaces, or whether the container is new, so check the listing for exactly what comes in the box. When we checked, Vitamix’s US reconditioned range included the Ascent X2 and X4, the VX1, the Propel 750, the Explorian E310 and the 5200. What is in stock changes, so look at the current list before you settle on a model.

Certified reconditioned vs “renewed” and refurbished

Amazon “Renewed”, deal-site “refurbished” and other marketplace listings are sold by third parties, not by Vitamix. Vitamix’s warranty certificates exclude blenders bought from unauthorized sellers, so the Vitamix warranty may not apply to them, and the cover you get is whatever the seller offers. 5200 owners we read in Woot’s forums warn that units sold there carry a 90-day seller warranty, not the seven years Vitamix gives a new 5200.

• New, from Vitamix or an authorized retailer: the full Vitamix warranty for that model, 5, 7 or 10 years.
• Certified reconditioned, from Vitamix: inspected and tested by Vitamix, with a 3- or 5-year Vitamix warranty and an extension available.
• Marketplace “renewed” or “refurbished”: who checked it, and how, depends on the seller; the warranty is the seller’s, and Vitamix’s may not apply.

If a listing says “certified reconditioned” but the seller isn’t Vitamix, ask whether the blender comes with a Vitamix warranty certificate before you pay.

The warranty: what it covers, and where Vitamix’s pages disagree

On new blenders, Vitamix’s warranty certificates cover defects, parts and labor, with standard shipping both ways. Vitamix decides whether to repair or exchange the blender, and a replacement keeps the original end date. The certificates exclude cosmetic wear, seals, commercial use, use outside the country where the blender was sold, and blenders from unauthorized sellers. The reconditioned page we read lists parts, labor and two-way shipping but doesn’t spell out its exclusions, so read the certificate that comes with your unit.

The length of cover matters because, on a Vitamix, the parts that usually wear out are the container’s blade assembly (its bearing and seal) and the drive socket on the base, not the motor. One 5200 owner we read had the container’s blade bearing seize at about year seven, and Vitamix replaced the container under warranty. On a five-year reconditioned warranty, that repair would have been the owner’s to pay for. There is more on wear parts in how long a Vitamix lasts and what the warranty covers.

Does the warranty transfer if you buy one used?

Vitamix gives two answers. Its warranty certificates for new blenders say the cover belongs to the original owner and is not transferable. Its FAQ says a second-hand blender received as a gift is honored from the original purchase date. The reconditioned warranty page doesn’t mention transfer at all. We can’t say which rule Vitamix will apply to a particular machine, so before you pay for a used Vitamix, or count on a hand-me-down’s cover, call Vitamix with the serial number and ask whether it is still covered, and until when.

Is the saving worth the shorter warranty?

Compare like with like: the reconditioned price against the same model new, at its sale price rather than its list price. New Vitamix prices drop sharply around Black Friday and Prime Day, which can close much of the gap. Then do the warranty sum: divide each price by its years of cover. For the reconditioned unit to give as many years of cover per dollar as a new one:

• Ascent X2: 10 years new, 5 reconditioned, so it should cost no more than half the new price.
• 5200: 7 years new, 5 reconditioned, so no more than about 70% of the new price.
• Explorian E310: 5 years new, 3 reconditioned on the warranty page (5 in the FAQ), so no more than 60% of the new price if the 3-year figure applies.

If you add the optional extension, add its cost to the price and its three years to the cover. And remember the warranty isn’t the blender’s lifespan: owners we read describe 5200s still in near-daily use after 10 to 15 years, and one bought reconditioned in 2014 is still going strong. The warranty is what pays when a wear part fails, which is why it is the number to compare.

Which reconditioned Vitamix to look for

Start from the model you would buy new, then check its reconditioned warranty. Of the models Vitamix listed when we checked, three cover most buyers.

The Ascent X2, if it’s in stock. It has what matters in the current Ascent X range: SELF-DETECT container reading, a timer, three programs plus self-cleaning, and a height of 17 in that fits under standard cabinets. The catch is the warranty gap, 5 years reconditioned against 10 new, so check the new price on sale before you decide. It also comes with only a 48 oz container.

The 5200, for the simplest machine. A speed knob from 1 to 10, a High switch and a tall 64 oz container, with nothing to learn. It also has a long owner track record: owners we read describe 10 to 15 years of near-daily use. The downsides: at 20.5 in on the base it won’t fit under standard wall cabinets, it takes Legacy-series containers only, and reconditioned cover is 5 years against 7 new.

The Explorian E310, only at a clear discount. It is the simplest 48 oz Vitamix: ten speeds on a dial, a pulse switch, and no programs or timer. Its future is unclear: a large Vitamix retailer says the Explorian line has been discontinued in favor of the VX1, while Vitamix still listed the E310 when we checked. It also has the shortest reconditioned cover on the warranty page, 3 years, and stands 18 in tall, which is tight under some cabinets. If you are weighing it against the newer VX1 or the 5200, read Vitamix VX1 vs 5200.

Still choosing a series? Which Vitamix to buy explains the families. To compare models side by side, see every full-size blender in our high-speed blender comparison, or our picks of the best blenders for smoothies.

Reconditioned Vitamix questions

Does a reconditioned Vitamix come with a warranty?

Yes, if Vitamix certified and sold it. Vitamix’s reconditioned warranty page gives 3 years on Explorian units and 5 years on other models, covering parts, labor and shipping both ways, with an optional 3-year extension. Its FAQ says 5 years, so check the certificate for your unit’s serial number. A marketplace “renewed” unit may carry only the seller’s warranty.

Is Amazon Renewed the same as Vitamix certified reconditioned?

No. Amazon Renewed and other marketplace “refurbished” listings are sold by third parties. Vitamix’s warranty certificates exclude blenders bought from unauthorized sellers, so the Vitamix warranty may not apply, and your cover is whatever the seller offers. For Vitamix’s own inspection and warranty, buy certified reconditioned from Vitamix.

Can I return a reconditioned Vitamix?

Yes, but Vitamix’s pages disagree on how long you have. The reconditioned warranty page promises the same in-home trial as a new blender, and Vitamix describes a 60-day trial for new blenders in the US and Canada. Its FAQ mentions a 30-day guarantee instead. Confirm the return window when you order, and keep the box until it has passed.

Can I buy a reconditioned Vitamix in Canada?

Vitamix’s Canadian site appears to have its own reconditioned section, so check what is in stock there. Buy in Canada rather than across the border: Vitamix’s warranty excludes use outside the country where the blender was sold, and its FAQ says warranty service is limited to the country of purchase. A US unit brought home may not be covered.

Does Blendtec sell reconditioned blenders too?

Blendtec lists factory-refurbished units too. The warranty shown for them in the listings we found is 1 year, much shorter than Vitamix’s reconditioned cover, but we haven’t confirmed it on Blendtec’s own pages, so check the current terms there. For how the two brands compare new, see Vitamix vs Blendtec.