A:AnswerAll of the attachments that use the front hub of the mixer, as well as the Ice Cream Maker Attachment are universal on the K45SS model stand mixer.
A:AnswerWhat you are seeing is probably some sort of wax/grease to make sure the unit does not rust
during transit or while sitting in warehouse/department store
A:AnswerI searched 4 different sites before purchasing my KitchenAide at Best Buy. They had the lowest price, including Amazon, Kohls and Loew's. Best Buy had a sale on Kitchen Aide products so maybe that was the reason for the great price.