I'm sure I'm going to get a lot of flak for this, but I actually think the vitamix is a great product.
I bought one about 4 years ago after doing a lot of research, I bought it from a show and paid £390 for it. I bought it because I wanted to increase the amount of raw fruit and veg and whole food in my diet.
It's by far the best kitchen gadget I have ever bought, and I've used it pretty much twice a day since the day I got it, I've had other blenders, the vitamix is not the same. Other blenders do a decent job of fruit, and if you only want to make fruit smoothies you probably don't need a vitamix, but when you include vegetables and greens the vitamix is in another league.
I probably sound like I work for vitamix but I don't, I just think it's a great product, but for 99% of people it will probably sit in the back of a cupboard after a couple of weeks, as the new years healthy eating resolutions fade into memory, in which case it would be a very bad buy and a total waste of money.
I was very surprised to see it on Ideal World, and I'm surprised they sold any, however, I would think some of the people who receive it, provided they are seriously wanting to improve their health and diet, are going to love it like I do.
I've been following these forums for a while, but I'm a bit shy and have only just registered prompted by understandable negativity of this product.
Sorry to have ranted on for so long!
Julie