New Ultimate Mandoline: Bigger Size and Affordable Price at $59.50

[its_me_susan]

Is there anyone that likes the new mandolin? I was just about to order the smaller sample package just to get that and the new cutting board, but now I am rethinking. I did not have the USG before. Should I just skip it?

Get the old US&G before it retires! That is what I will be saying at ALL of my August shows!

I just spoke with test kitchen, are you ready????

Q: Is there a way to keep the blades up so we can use the mandoline without the oblong holder that doesn't fit MANY foods.

A: No. You will need to cut or select foods that will fit. (Does this mean bring the food holder to the store with us?).


Q: The food is not releasing my cucumbers with the crinkle cutter. What can be done?

A: Cucumbers are one of those softer foods; they recommend potatos, zucchini, squash. (Hey - my most regular use of the US&G is daily cucumbers!!!) Be sure you use fast speed and extend your swipe to the end. I told her I did both and still did not release; but I won't give up will keep trying. I told her that many of us had tried potatoes, and didn't seem to matter what we used, still food did not release from blade.

I suggested the remodel be the OLD US&G with the crinkle cut blade, and the safety features of the new food holder but in the same large round shape. By the way, she said it was larger and they couldn't made the holder larger. I told her the only thing the old retiring model needs is a good steel mesh GLOVE like this http://www.allheartchefs.com/fshandshield.html

I'm discouraged. But - hoping practice will improve it for me. I really do love the crinkle cut blade and think I can sell alot of these noisy things if I can show people how to release the food!

 

[Shawnna]

okay ChefBeckyD....you said you took notes about the serving set up at conference....could you give us your highlights? I am not creative at all and always have trouble making my table and serving line look good.

I have never been very impressed with any of our linens so I totally overlooked that we have paper napkins....and they are expensive.....too tacky for me...LOL

 

[pamperedalf]

okay I am a little pissed, my adjustable blade is already broke! ugh
I can fix it myself, but I don't want this to happen to a custumer and have to tell them how to fix it.The levers to push the blade up is not working, HO just got a nasty email from me! We will see what they say!

 

[its_me_susan]

okay I am a little pissed, my adjustable blade is already broke! ugh
I can fix it myself, but I don't want this to happen to a custumer and have to tell them how to fix it.

The levers to push the blade up is not working, HO just got a nasty email from me! We will see what they say!

Amanda that happened the 1st time I tried it - but take the food handler off and put it back again then bring it ALL the way down then up.... good luck.

 

[cmdtrgd]

For those of you who are having problems, I'm sorry. I hope that when I FINALLY get my sell-a-thon products, I will not have as many problems as you. As always, with a new product there will be adjustments needed to be made as well as manufacturing problems to fix. There are only so many people that can test the item before it is sent out to us. Please keep emailing and calling HO with the problems so they can be fixed! At least we could know that it is a possible problem that is being addressed and/or fixed. Amanda - I hope it gets fixed for you very soon!

 

[its_me_susan]

For those of you who are having problems, I'm sorry. I hope that when I FINALLY get my sell-a-thon products, I will not have as many problems as you. As always, with a new product there will be adjustments needed to be made as well as manufacturing problems to fix. There are only so many people that can test the item before it is sent out to us. Please keep emailing and calling HO with the problems so they can be fixed! At least we could know that it is a possible problem that is being addressed and/or fixed. Amanda - I hope it gets fixed for you very soon!

Kate, what have they done in the past to fix these sort of product problems? Will they send us new versions or pieces? I felt so bad for the poor PC office test kitchen worker. It worked for her... I wasn't mean, but it must get discouraging when you are so excited about the new products. I'll bet they are just as disappointed as we are.

 

[cmdtrgd]

Susan - I have no idea what they have done in the past. I do know that PC stands behind its products. If there is a major problem with a blade or the guard, they might end up replacing that one part. But, if they don't know about it, they can't fix it.

 

[AmyLee]

Honestly? Overall, I am disappointed with the new products. I'm excited about the knives and measuring cup cutting board, but a lot of the other things are just kind of weird. Especially the purple linens. They remind me of something you'd find at a preteen birthday party. I'm worried about how my customers are going to react to everything. My other beef is the catalog. I wish they could have made it more different from the Spring/Summer. Alot of the pages are exact replicas from the current catalog. I understand it costs money to change everything, but I felt like I was looking at the Spring/Summer catalog for a lot of it and think my customers will feel that way too. Ugh! I can only hope for the best.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

okay ChefBeckyD....you said you took notes about the serving set up at conference....could you give us your highlights? I am not creative at all and always have trouble making my table and serving line look good.

I have never been very impressed with any of our linens so I totally overlooked that we have paper napkins....and they are expensive.....too tacky for me...LOL

Shawnna - my notes are really bad - I was writing in the dark & trying not to miss anything on stage.....but basically it was this:

Build Height to your table - use 3 tiered stand or other SA - you can use boxes etc... to build height - cover with cloth napkins, placemats etc.....to hide the boxes.
Use your favorite items in innovative ways - lots of great ideas - like taking the new white rectangular SA piece, putting some ribbon thru the handle and using it as a menu board (set it up on an easel) with erasable markers.
(I really liked this, but others didn't - I thought it was a classy touch) Using your napkin rings as rings around candles - bunching several taper candles together and holding them together with a ring, sitting on a small SA plate.
Use your Large SA bowl and Woven Sqaure as a beverage center - Line the Woven square with a cloth napkin or towel, set the bowl in it, fill the bowl with ice and your favorite beverages (wine, soda, juice, etc...)

I think there are pictures posted too - so you can see what the finished tables looked like - there was one "anytime", and one holiday theme.

 

[its_me_susan]

Mine was noisy too, until I figured out that there is a groove on the sides of the food holder that fit over the edge of the mandolin. Once I threaded it on properly, it was quiet.

I am going to be sure to share that with people when I demo it! LOL.

R

Please tell us more about the threading!!!

 

[gilliandanielle]

I am keeping my USG!! I ordered the Ultimate Mandoline and am excited to get it, but my main use for my USG is grating cheese. I am NOT going to cut my cheese to fit into the food holder just to get the blade to come up. I am keeping my old one so that I can grate cheese without the food holder!

 

[pamperedalf]

At conference they did say that was the only blade you didn't need the food holder for, because there is no reason to raise the grater blade.

 

[mommyhugz1978]

I am getting ready to order my sample supply soon, and it seems that their is a mixed feelings about the new products...... I don't have any of them yet... BUT I do love US&G.... so I am eager to see what the Mandaline is like.

 

[jmabner]

I really don't like the new mandoline. My food keeps getting caught in it and I don't think it is practical for larger foods. I sent an email to the home office and even called, but haven't gotten a resoponse. With the higher price point and lesser quality I really have a hard time recommending it to my customers. If enough of us complain to the home office do you think they will bring back the old one???

 

[Jodi'sKitchen]

Ordering Sample Packages I have a question.... I just ordered Package C & D. I wanted to order the large package but just could not afford it. (I missed the first level of sell a thon by $200). If I wanted to order the other package later when I get more money, can I do that? I know that you are only able to purchase one of every package. I just did not know if you can purchase the packages in stages. Thanks for the information I get from this site. It has really helped with my business.
Jodi

 

[TinasKitchen]

Jodi, I believe we have until Sept. 30th to order. You just cant order Pkg A and then B, C or D b/c they have the same items in them. But you can order E and F and still order A-D until 9/30

 

[Jodi'sKitchen]

thanks for the reply. That really helps.
Jodi

 

[jessica_momof6]

I haven't used the new mandoline yet, but I am glad that they made it safe to use.
We can all say that we watch our fingers during usage, but the fact is-it cost a lot of money for all the accidents that happen to our customers from cutting their fingers on the old US&G
I am sure after a while, I will get used to it being different. I really like that the blades are in a seperate container.

I love the tiles bowl I got in the sellathon package. the colors are so much nicer than the stripes.
And the eggplant color is a beautiful fall color!

 

[mommyhugz1978]

Now I personally love my US&G but I have cut my self before.... so I am eager to use the mandoline to see what it is like......

 

[BethCooks4U]

I finally used it tonight and got the hang of it after a few minutes. You need to have the guard on but you can do a longer vegetable without the handle on it. I like the crinkle blade the best.

 

[mommyhugz1978]

I am going to order it as soon as I can .. and add it to my personal PC collection!!!!

 

[kat29]

It's coming in my sample pack. I can't wait to use it. I have the old one and I'm not fond of it at all. I hope this one is alot better. Of course I'll find out when my sample pack gets here.

 

[gilliandanielle]

I haven't used mine yet but I played with it when I got it today and it seems simple enough. I did think that the blade snapping back down was really loud though. I like that you can take the plunger out and do most of a cucumber without it (it will take a bit of coordination) I was worried that the hopper hole was going to be tiny, but I thought it was an OK size. The whole mandoline was a lot bigger than I pictured, and now I need a drawer just for that! I was going to play with it with some potatoes, but mine are bad!! I'll have to buy some veggies just to try it out!

 

[its_me_susan]

I have a question.... I just ordered Package C & D. I wanted to order the large package but just could not afford it. (I missed the first level of sell a thon by $200). If I wanted to order the other package later when I get more money, can I do that? I know that you are only able to purchase one of every package. I just did not know if you can purchase the packages in stages. Thanks for the information I get from this site. It has really helped with my business.
Jodi

Jodi no, per the recent Weekly newsletter you can only order once. But here's an idea.... every time you get a host that reaches 30% off discount, reward yourself with one item ordered on her discount! You'll get 30% off, plus at least 20% commission and the points too. Gives you something to look forward to and motivates you to get those parties sales up.

 

[its_me_susan]

I finally used it tonight and got the hang of it after a few minutes. You need to have the guard on but you can do a longer vegetable without the handle on it. I like the crinkle blade the best.

Beth,
how did you do longer veggie on mandoline w/o handle? did yours release?

 

[barbthechef]

Well I've touched and felt them (LOL) and I just dont know Linda. I like the bags - you hold them differently. And these are gonna be a PIA to clean - even with the brush. That was my one thing I didnt like about decorating - the greasy crisco icing cleanup! I like to just take off my tip and throw the disposable bags away! No Cleaning! My Rant!

Now all that being said - I will get down off my soap box and say I think these will be fine for simple everyday decorating - writing something, a few little flowers - and fun for children. But not something a "real" cake decorator will buy.

I told my 10 year old after I gave them to him before going to a show to try them out on the cup cakes we made.

He didn't like them - couldn't put the frosting in. I used them today and told him - they are not a "hurry up and do it quick" thing. It is a take your time and do it carefully thing.

Hole is too small - I agree. I know - I can fill up the EAD and fill them that way but that is kind of not the point I think.

I would like to see home office go back to giving the Product Advisory Committee all the new products - and let them test them for real - under secrecy - and work out all the bugs before letting the field get them. They are smart cookies and know the customers and the consultants - so why not!
It was great when they used to do it that way!

Hugs from long time consultant - first time poster.
Senior Director - Barb Wilson

 

[AJPratt]

Welcome, Barb! This is a great community!

 

[cmdtrgd]

Great to have you Barb! Your name sounds familiar...who is your Executive Director.FYI, you're not supposed to put your website address in your posts...people get around it by /katejensen

 

[chefjeanine]

You can place more than one order.

Jodi no, per the recent Weekly newsletter you can only order once.

This is what it says in Weekly Bites:

You may submit more than one Sample order through Sept. 30, 2006, but are limited to one of each Package and Open-Stock item. Only one complete set of items may be ordered. For example; if Package A is ordered, Packages B, C and D may not be ordered as they contain the same items.

 

[its_me_susan]

This is what it says in Weekly Bites:

You may submit more than one Sample order through Sept. 30, 2006, but are limited to one of each Package and Open-Stock item. Only one complete set of items may be ordered. For example; if Package A is ordered, Packages B, C and D may not be ordered as they contain the same items.

My mistake, I read it last night. Someone should call to make sure though. When I called PC I was told clearly you can only order once. Just to make sure you get everything you want at the sample price, just triple check before you put in that order. I will before I order my samples.