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.

How long before the public figures out that MY-ELLIE is an overpriced panasonic????

JUST WONDRING

MOLE

Hi Mole,

How's it going?

I get your point but I think Miele rates its prestige by at least usually appearing to go the extra inch (I definitely intend no comparisons to claim they're that far ahead of anybody else) when others who I feel  might find it no particular problem and well worth the time to spiffy up things appear to want to do no more than they just have to.  That can always make people at least take a moment's pause in their purchase considerations.  Yet in reality, Miele is an ideal like a Mercedes or  a Cadillac.   We'd all like to have one but can't afford it or justify the price of one when faced with practical matters.

Kenmore is an old name and not suffering all that much by way of Miele or Dyson's exsistence and may do even better just by being a recognizable and relatively affordable name brand in these especially tight times for those with leanings toward "deluxe" and even not so deluxe vacuums.  Nonetheless I'd love it if Kenmore would fix up a bit and then make so bold as to say, "We have been and still are just as good as any of the rest." 

if Kenmore/Panasonic cans would simply add on that half-an-inch-worth of tubing that Miele fits into its disposable bag mouth to better prevent dust escape in the bag chamber, as far as I'm concerned, that one little thing would rank them just as good and  well worth it due to more sensible price.  After more than 20 years, the flimsy Kenmore hose-to-machine lock could definitely use a re-vamp to something sturdier.  Why haven't they?  Does it cost that much to have a foreign-made machine slightly altered/upgraded when after all the people at the factory that actually makes it get only chump-change for their effort in the first place?

Per Carmine's citing of Kenmore's 25 percent market share, they'll hold their own on name the same as Miele.   Though product information and opinion are a hundred times more accessible to most of us today than in past, there's that crowd that still follows the least path of resistance in ordinary household purchases.  The ideal of course remains but not many of us expect to get it. Many are and will be impressed by the Miele name but more than that many will continue to run to Sears, HSN and big box stores looking for price relief because a vacuum cleaner is just a vacuum cleaner to them. 

As for the Miele S7, again considering tight times, my only question is, will its introductory price be attractive or nose-bleed high as is usual?

Best,

Venson

Venson wrote:

Hello Venson:

I'm going with "attractive" vice nose-bleed high.  You cited the reason: "tight times."  In fact you put it mildly.  Most retail industry watchers are predicting this holiday season to be the worse in 17 years.  Most retail stores agree and are cutting back holiday help as well as prices.  This year is particularly worse because there are 5 fewer days in the holiday season vice last year 2007.

Times are very bad.  Unemployment high, retail sales down, housing market worse since the great depression of the 30's, tax payer bailouts of the Wall Street stalwarts to the tune of ONE TRILLION DOLLARS [does anyone think this is socialism and inflationary beside me], financial markets tanking at home and abroad.  And no end in sight.  No light at the end of the tunnel.  2009?  2010?  Who knows how long the difficult economic times will last?  There's already rumblings of massive credit card debt becoming 'toxic' just like home mortgages and the subprime slime. 

Miele sales prices definitely will have to be affordable for those shoppers looking to buy from independent vacuum cleaner stores.  If not affordable, the Miele new vacuum sales will be non-existent. 

Carmine D. 

Hi Carmine,

What can I say except that you're so right?  "Tight times" is nowhere near an effective description of what's going on as of late.   I find the whole thing so thoroughly confusing that I'm just plain flabbergasted.  Besides which, the result of an effort to more thoroughly put a handle on what is happening to daily life in a world we believed impenetrable by real harm is hard for a guy who still can't watch "Nightmare on Elm Street" without peeking through his fingers.

I just happened to be browsing the New York Times online today and came across a link to a virtual tour of an apartment on sale among many other in downr.  It was in a renovated building on Prince Street in Manhattan but bore nary a stellar feature.  It had just two bedrooms, one bath and no view but the selling price was near $800,000.  All I could ask myself was, how could this be happening when no one is supposed to have any money?  Are there really still people who can either afford to buy or acquire financial backing to buy "nothing" for that much money.

As well, when the first news about the AIG bailout hit the presses a few days back, I wondered how it could be that despite our inescapable awareness here of the homeless situation in the city, the overwhelming need for the development of more affordable housing not for some but everyone, and  the need for a new school or two that suddenly 85 billion dollars could be dug up to help a corporation that had already had a lot of money and blew it mess up some more.

As always -- my Miele was bought on a little bit of "mad" money and that's probably the only way I could with good conscience advise anyone whose income did not balance proportionatly against the expense.to get one.  People will still be wanting vacuums but no matter the talk of convenience and ultimate effectiveness, bottom line, the larger part of us will learn to make do.  I hope that the longtime price gougers will find a lesson in that somewhere along the line.

Venson 

mole wrote:

Nothing to do with Panasonic, whatsoever . This new design range of uprights, are Miele thoroughbreds. The shape of the bag compartment area takes its design cues from the cylinder cleaner range.

The agitator design is from Miele cylinder powerheads, with an enclosed agitator cavity. Panasonic use a different agitator design with those edge-wheel brushes and metal end plate covers, that allow too much air to skim over the surface of the carpet, and not enough air to be drawn through the carpet.

The motor will very likely be of the latest Miele 'Vortex' design. Panasonic have their own motors.

The bags are Miele; filters are from past Miele designs.

The hose design is different to Panasonic's.

And it will probably be made in Germany. Panasonics were originally Spanish made, and now made in China.

All-in-all, a totally dissimilar machine to the Panasonic cleaners.

INFORMATION: The correct pronunciation of Miele, is "Meal-a", with the 'a' sounding as in "apple".

Hi Trillo,

You are right to a certain point,

However the panasonic / riccar simplicity mid range machines work and feel just like the meela, after 3 years the same problems will crop up [its just the way it is,its called the human factor],

Should the customer be charged nose bleed prices just because meela says they should?

There is no one on this forum or any vac dealer in the country that can look their customer strait in the face and say that the meela is a better machine than a panasonic.The s7 bag housing looks a lot like the riccars right down to the latch.

I just hope myellies reputation is not compromised, Lets face it they were never known for an upright cleaner,they are testing the waters and lets just say that [THEY WONT GET EATEN UP BY THE SHARKS].


Here some advice for them and the others[ITS THE ATTACHMENTS STUPID]

The only function of a vacuum cleaner is to suck air in and blow air out, Who watches you do housework? Vacuums have been the same for over 100 years they pick up dirt and filth in the dwelling thats real enticing isnt it? Since when has a vacuum cleaner become an art form, Oh i know MIELE has or had a machine called the ART remember them? IT was a real black mark for emmer besser,

B.T.W. the upright market is really going down the chute,in case you have not noticed................

regards

MOLE

mole wrote:

Hello MOLE:

You think and speak like an old time vacuum man.  [God Bless you!]

Ironically, Joanne Richard from the Toronto Sun, who reviewed a dyson DC24 and Miele S7 [posted on this thread] is a self-proclaimed canister loving lady [could be her Canadian culture].  The cann fans are the rise in the USA.  Up to and through the 50's, tanks/canns were more prevalent in US homes than uprights.  The trend changed in the 60's and later, thanks to HOOVER.  But, the vacuum pendulum is swinging back again towards canns.  What's old is new again!

The lines of distinction between vacuum makes are getting blurred too.  Miele S7 looks like a RICCAR Radiance.  HOOVER cann looks like a RICCAR cann!  What gives here?  The times they are a changing.  Brand name loyalty is kaput.  Price and performance are the key reasons.  A $50 Dirt Devil upright cleans and grooms carpets as well as a $700 Kirby!  In tough economic times, [like these now] many vacuum customers prefer the former to the latter.  If the DD lasts a year or 2, rather than 30 years, who cares?  People are worried about keeping the roof over their heads and putting food on the table tomorrow and next week.  Not what vacuum they will pass down to the next generation. 

Miele prices comparable to other high end vacuum store brand prices.  Count on it!

Carmine D.

Miele may have never been known for an upright, but they have never been known for a BAD upright either.  The Powerhouse models, while not a dedicated Miele design (Panasonic if I recall?), are still good vacuums that are fairly lightweight, reminiscent of the old Sharp uprights.  And their Universal Upright, when equipped with a power nozzle, is a fantastic cleaner, only downside is no brush on/off switch.  Definitely gives cleaners of similar size a run for the money, like Oreck...

I haven't yet seen one in person so I can't tell, but I do agree that the S7 appears to be a bit on the large/heavy side, like the Radiance/Synergy which weigh a TON.  Hopefully, unlike those, the handle grip won't snap off.

CarmineD wrote:
Hi Carmine,as you already observed this trend has been going on for 4 years now, many insiders that you and I know have said this same thing,there is no distinct design differences, bagless,bagged,uprights,canisters,all little clones of each other.

The only companies that have held true to their tradition are AERUS/ELECTROLUX, KIRBY, AND REXAIR/RAINBOW, I would even throw in TRISTAR/COMPACT,Even a few imports have held true also,such as HENRY,SEBO IN THEIR UPRIGHTS[OTHER THAN THE FELIX] which the jurys still out on,The germans have seemed to sell out bosch/miele are almost the same,And the chinese stuff looks like they use the same set of blueprints and specs,

MOLE

mole wrote:

Hi MOLE:

God Love these companies and their managements for keeping them unique and classic.  If I were in the vacuum business still, or getting into it now, I would specialize in these vacuum brands exclusively and even perhaps Venson's pick: The Nilfisk not to mention my own fave: Lindhaus.  Might even consider Dave's ORECKS for the older crowd.  And thumb my nose at all the others for giving in and going along to get along. 

Be well vacuum cleaner Old Timer.

Carmine D.