Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Venson,

You do make a good point.  When I initally contacted Miele it was to let them know that I was a "test" household and that even though the Miele is now released, I am now having XYZ problems with the vacuum.  I guess it started out as an FYI and then when I wasn't getting satisfaction from my Vac Shop, I called them back and kind of laid everything on their shoulders.  It really is up to my Vac Shop to rectify this issue.  They ordered the wrong replacement hose, they damaged the vacuum during repair, they offered a shoddy fix to the damage and gave me a hard time about actually replacing the damaged part.  However, Miele needs to know about the service I am receiving from the Vac Shop.  Just from dealing with my Vac Shop recently, I can tell you there is no way they will replace the vacuum.  They didn't even want to replace the correct part that they damaged.  I also remember that Miele made the vacuum I now own and I have had 3 issues with the product already.  The initial hose breakage, the vacuum not leaning down all of the way, and the indicator not working properly.  Not including the bad hose replacement and damage.

We'll see what happens from here.  I still have not received a call back from Miele from my call around 9:30 this morning.  I'm going to contact my Vac Shop later today to see if the hose has been replaced and if I can pick up my vacuum tonight and use it until either a replacement or my back panel is ready.

Melanie

Please correct me if I'm wrong but I believe you posted early on in recanting one of your conversations with MIELE that you purchased a "test" model from your local vacuum store.  To which, the MIELE person[s] expressed a mild degree of shock. 

Carmine D.

That is correct.  When I purchased the S7 it was referred to as a tester model and I agreed to be a test househould so that's what I keep calling it.  The proper term would probably be the prototype model.  When I told Jim what I had paid for this model (as a test household) he seemed a bit suprised that I paid for the vacuum, but then did say that he was not sure how they handled that.  I think he was just out of the loop on how they handled the prototype or test models when they first put them out during that testing phase.

Melanie

Carmine makes a good point.  There's something fishy going on.  It's kind of like Circuit City selling the Dysons that were provided free of charge for cleaning the store.   

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Venson,

Miele decides which dealers are allowed to sell their products.  Miele doesn't have to own and operate stores to get their products sold.  They can choose which dealers sell their products.   Even if the dealer did something unethical, ultimately Miele's reputation is on the line, since the dealer is an extension of Miele, as far as the customer is concerned.   The customer expects Miele to screen their dealers.  While it may not be fair, you sometimes have to go after the one with deep pockets.  Furthermore,  this is a test machine and she has been filling out surveys for Miele's benefit, they should be treating her like a queen. I don't think it's the dealer's fault that Catlady's Miele has had 3 defects.

Miele has got to be concerned the Catlady will say bad things about here Miele purchase all over the internet.  Potential Miele buyers, who are likely internet savvy, will likely see her complaints and consider them in making the purchasing decision.  Personally, if I had the problems she's having, I'd post my complaints about the vac store and Miele on every consumer web page I could find (e.g. www.epinions.com, http://forums.fightback.com/,  www.consumerreports.org (members only), etc.)  

When you paid for the MIELE S7 vacuum from your local MIELE dealer, you were no longer a "test" household/consumer.  You were a full fledged buyer and owner of a "test" vacuum that is not made for sale to the general public.  Unless policies and procedures [correct me authorized MIELE dealers if I'm speaking wrongly] have changed over the years, and they do, "test" models are "loaned" to dealers for display and demo.  In some cases dealers will allow their best and privileged customers to borrow the "test' models for their own use in their homes.   Hence, the surveys.   But these "test" models have to be returned to the dealer.  This is usually done [ "borrowing"] when the customer drops off a vacuum for repair and is in dire need of a vacuum to use in the interim.  The dealer has the customer's vacuum and the customer has the dealer's vacuum.  In kind exchange, pending the pick up of the repair and return of the "test." 

Carmine D.

Severus:  Thanks on the first note.  On the second, this begs the question:  Why would a consumer buy a "test" model especially with unknown and as yet unreported [by way of a formal survey] defects? 

Carmine D.

You now have me wondering if somewhere along the line I was not told the truth about the vacuum I purchased.  I would also like to hear another Miele dealer's take on the test/prototype I purchased.

Melanie

Why wait?  Go directly to MIELE and ask what the proper accounting/treatment is for the MIELE S7 "test" models by MIELE dealers from MIELE.  

Carmine D.

I'm old and have a very bad memory.  So please correct me if I'm wrong, as I usually am told here by so many posters.  But didn't you [Melanie] post here that your local MIELE dealer was kind enough to 'loan' you the MIELE S7 to test in your home [before you purchased]? As well as other new vacuums?  If so, how long was the actual S7 MIELE loaner period before you decided to buy it?

Carmine D.