Update 2 years later:

Before getting the Dualit, I went through a number of hand mixers. They all disappointed me. The first one was an old Sunbeam I inherited from a friend. That one worked fine, but was annoying to use, because it was a little weak, and the plastic cover of the switch was broken.
The next one was a cheap Oster, which broke down smoking shortly after the warranty had expired. I went back to the Sunbeam.
Then came an Aldi sold product (I don’t remember the maker), which fared similarly to the Oster. Back to the Sunbeam, which still worked just fine.
Next was a hand/stand mixer set by Hamilton Beach. The beater bearing broke. Out came the Sunbeam.
Fed up with the quality of the cheaper mixers, I decided to splurge and bought a Dualit. The reviews and maker web site pointed to good quality, so I was hoping to get someting lasting. The first unit came with a broken dough hook. That was replaced by the service company that does the support in the US. After a few months, one of the beater bearings came loose, so I could only use one beater. Looking at it, I saw that the housing of the bearings is plastic, and that broke. So, I sent the whole unit to the support company, and they repaired it under warranty. Then, after the warranty had expired, the beater bearing broke again, and made the mixer unusable.
Usage: Fairly normal cake and cookie baking. Some more use during Christmas preparations. No super-firm doughs that make the motor whine.
Guess what: I’m back to the Sunbeam, and it still works.

Pros: Nice design, sturdy feel, I love the retractable power cord, although it’s difficult to maintain, so it does not always retract easily, or it gets stuck and you can’t pull it out.
Cons: Does not stand up to the cake/cookie dough making I did.

I would like to reduce the rating to 2 starts, but the rating system does not allow me to change that.

Put it on your wish list–a great gift for anyone who loves to bake or cook.