Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

First upright from Miele

29 February 2008 This summer, Miele will launch its first range of upright vacuum cleaners – the S7.  It will consist of about six models, all of which feature ultra large dust bags and  “a unique swivel body, which makes it easy to manoeuvre in even the trickiest  of room layouts”. According to the company,  the decision was made following  numerous requests from customers that wanted to buy Miele  but would only use  an upright model. Text: courtesy ERTweekly.com Picture: courtesy Miele.co.uk, 2009 Edited 21st March 2009; reason: loss of original image.

Hi Mole,

Personally, I all for central vacs but I have one question . . . Would the possibility of a lesser requirement for after-market purchasing (bags, filters, etc.) be a reason for disinterest in CVs by some vendors? Hypothetically, there should be less annual spending on maintenance and consumables(?)for a decent central vac. I'd guess it doesn't pay off unless you can move a good number of units per year.

Thanks,

Venson

Hi Venson.

Yes this is a big reason, But dont forget their are bagged and filtered central systems, The aftermarket is there, Almost every central vacuum customer buys a hose sock[great product], a vacpan  for hard floor surfaces,

 Even garage kits are popular, doesnt beat up on electric hoses,powerheads,attachments.Garage kits are for garage duty only,you know the rough stuff,

There is always a steady flow of service and repair work[service calls], centrals have been around for over 50 years now, there is already a built-in aftermarket.

I agree that a quality system should be cyclonic,bagless, the best set up yet is the self cleaning rayon filter,sort of feels like your shirt,

The attachments and powernozzles go from  bargain basement to ultra expensive.Sort of like MIELES.............


MOLE

Not sure if this has been posted here recently but I just found this today looking around for when the Miele S7 was coming to the us. 

The new Miele S7

Hello MOLE:

Thanks for the summary on CVS.  I'll note too for many years the VDTA did not support and promote them.  Only in recent years has the VDTA taken a more active role for CVS in the industry.

I hail your wish for big box retailers to enter the CVS venue.  Rumors were circulating awhile ago that Circuit City stores were poised to do so.  No doubt its own shakey financial conditions and the awful economy made them scrub the plans [at least for now].

Carmine D.

mole wrote:

Its all about wanting to own quality, just vacuum with a Miele and feel and hear the difference(quiet) and no pollutants blowing back into the air, I am 10 years a Miele dealer and even the smaller 217 powerhead hardly and repairs so far, only the variable speed hoses but were warrantied for life so no biggie and the cord rewind on older models mostly 300 series the contacts would loosen (5 minute repair) but today your box store vacuum is junk with life expectancy of 6 mos to 2 years at best, (I meant Hoover has a self propelled Walmart bagless that is bad within a couple months) except Dyson 5 year warranty but those start at 400-650.00, and if you are my Miele customer it is part only no labor costs so repairs very reasonable, same with Riccar that has very low cost parts. Just placed my S-7 order today so we will see how they go

Speaking of quality, for those that can remember, in comparison to today's appliance prices were the better vacuums in past, proportionate to average income, priced the same?

There is such a thing as quality and such a thing as nonsense and hype. There can be and should be decent vacuums within the $250 to $350 range. (And I'm sure we're all well aware that a $400 vacuum cleaner did not require an expense of $300 to make it but far less. It's one thing for instance to spend a bundle on a vacuum in anticipation long use and another for the manufacturer to further cash in on that perception by price gouging on options and consumables.

One example -- I will never understand why there was not even a mini turbo nozzle included with my Miele Capricorn or why, if I really wanted one, Miele would expect me drop 70 bucks for it. It costs all of five bucks to make -- if that. We're talking a vacuum that has an SRP of $1,195.00.

At least Kenmore included an electric mini nozzle, which I much prefer, in a $400 deal. I also felt that a combi floor tool would meet my needs better than the bare floor tool included with my Miele. It cost over $65.00 to get one by Miele. Save for a cute spin by way of the single pedal to switch fromcarpet to bare floors there is no special quality in any way shape or form. It was merely a purchase I made because I could.

If we're merely talking decent emissions, good cleaning and reasonable convenience, $400 to $500 vacuums, should still be looked on as more the exception than the rule. I like my Miele but will never recommend it over more practically priced machines when observing a budget is a main objective. All that shines ain't gold.

Venson

I have to agree with what Actionvac says, it's about wanting to own quality products.  There is so much 'cheap' rubbish on the markets today, well has been for quite a few years in the UK.  You get what you pay for.

DC18

DC18 wrote:

I'll second that: Owning quality products.  And raise this: Getting the most value [read: useful life] for the money, regardless of the purchases and products.

Being rather old in the tooth, the men of the Church [80/90's] frequently gather for coffee at one or more of the local North LV daunts and talk about the economy, politics, money and the latest Las Vegas scuttlebutt.   Often heard when talking about purchases whether vehicles, clothes, houses, etc.: This is the last one I will ever buy.  It has to last.  Cost and/or time left on God's green earth are irrelevant.   It's about getting the most bang for the buck with your hard earned money.  Their buying and spending habits are ingrained and intact.    Won't change.  Not uncommon for the men to wear 20 year old clothes from Nordstrom's bought during one of its semi-annual sales at half price but still costing 100's of dollars when new.  Nowadays, most with wives who passed, the personal purchases are fewer but still the buying traits of cost for quality [and useful life] remain and prevail.

Carmine D.

Here's a postscript on Nordstrom:

Nordstrom handles returns on a case-by-case basis.  A spokeswoman says the department store will sometimes replace items bought years ago to keep customers happy.  "We really think a reason our customers shop with us is that we stand behind our merchandise," she says.

Carmine D.

I've managed to see 2 of the models in the S7 line up in a shop (not test drove one yet!).  One thing I did noticed it feels heavy to lift!   Like the Vax Mach series! One thing I will praise it for is it's low profile cleaning head to get under furniture, and the fact it lies flat on the floor and doesn't look to bulky!  Not many of today's uprights can do that compared with vacuum cleaners of days gone by!   

DC18