Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Hello,

I'll be honest, I know nothing about vacuum cleaners except that I need one. I have 4 criteria for selection:
1) Works well
2) built well/will last me a long long time (serviceable)
3) Made in US, Japan, or Western Europe
4) Hopefully no more than $350

I think Oreck may end up being my choice since it's made in the US and I haven't found any others that aren't manufactured in south east Asia. But that's why I'm here! To tap into your brains :)

christine wrote:

The name of the tool is "Parquet Floor Brush" SBB-3  It's designed for wood and tiled floors.  It has 2 soft rollers [rubber] for easy gliding action and dual 11 inch natural [horsehair] bristles that sweep gently over the floor surface, brushing dust particles out of cracks.  Miele recommends for low and medium pile carpet too as well as smooth surfaces.  A mainstay of the Miele tools.

Carmine D,

You did very well, at that price you should at least buy the dealer lunch and dinner,because he certainly did not make any money to buy his or her own.

This just confirms how bad things are at retail,the dealers are dropping like flies.Selling machines at cost is not very condusive to stay in business,I suppose they gave you the internet price?.

Then these companies wonder why the dealers feel the way they do......[rant for the day]........

MOLE

mole wrote:

Hello Mole:

I was surprised by the Miele price.  And the $100 trade in allowance for a Dirt Devil!!!! Perhaps it is a demo-display model.  If the poster goes back to buy the parquet brush, the store may make up for the low price on the vacuum. 

Carmine D.

Christine

The floor brush is the SBB 300-3. They also just came out with the Twister XL that's a monster of a brush (16" cleaning path!!!!!). I would NOT recommend either for carpeting. You probably couldn't push it on a carpet anyway.

I agree that price is VERY low.

Also got the word Vac prices are going UP!!!! Simplicity & Miele. That's Twice in 7 months for Miele.

Companies just don't get it yet... The answer has always been pass the cost of business onto the consumer. I'm afraid they all went to the well too many times. The Goose that laid the golden credit card has been slaughtered. The consumer is tapped out. Corporate greed, backed by Communism with near slave labor posing as Free World Capitalism is as dangerous to the American way as any other Terrorist organization and the oil companies should be threatened with nationalization for the safety and well being of America. (WOW do I sound like a raving Socialist!) But come on now!

This would be a perfect time for Simplicity's American made machines to LOWER their price. Stay entrenched with the indies and weather the storm. I think Miele is going to go Mainstream and get into BB& Beyond and Home stores maybe Target style stores as well, within the next 2 years. Phase out the smaller stores and get the Larger Appliance stores to make a bigger commitment.

Lucky1 wrote:

16 inches.  Wow.  That's as wide as most full size upright head nozzles.

Carmine D.

Lucky1 wrote:

Hello Lucky1:

You may recall a month or so ago when word of the new Miele upright line was posted,

I said Miele is looking to dominant the US vacuum market. 

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:
Will they if they keep raising prices? The Chinese are cornering the market for low priced vacs, how soon before they squeeze out the Premium Brands?

PERFECT is only the start... next they will hire an Industrial Design Team and start making some contemporary looking vacs of some quality to move out the Germans. While keeping the Euro high now, it works good for the europeans against the dollar BUT it will have an effect on pricing their products out of the hands of the worldwide market. I don't know if that will be a good thing. The Japanese did it to the US and destroyed our manufacturing base...Will europe unwittingly follow suit?

The double economic whammy:  Recession and inflation simultaneously.  The high cost of oil translates to higher raw materials' prices for the vacuums and higher transportation costs to deliver the vacuums to market.  Manufacturers pass the price increases along to consumers who are already squeezed by the recessionary conditions.  Compounds the effects of the bad economic times.

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:
Hi Carmine, I do not begrudge any one making a honest living, But enough is enough,lucky1 is right the whole industrial base has been stolen from us,and we just sat back and let it happen,Can it be turned around?

Its really a shame that all this is happening,while a choice greedy few,sit back and enjoy watching this,[our government],is a joke,

Doesnt make you feel all warm and fuzzy knowing that toyota, is now the #1 AUTO MAKER IN THE WORLD,WITH PLANTS HERE IN THE STATES,AND THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE GAVE THEM,REMEMBER THE JAPANEESE WALKING AROUND WITH THE POLAROID INSTAMATICS?.

MOLE

mole wrote:

Hello Mole:

Let me think on this awhile.  I can recall these feelings and thoughts when the Japanese did the same [and still as the chinese now] in the 50's and 60's.  I'm sure you can remember too.  Capitalism at its best/worse. Look at China and its earthquake devastation.  Sad.  Industrial power and didn't have a back-up plan for a natural disaster.  It's pitiful how the authorities there are handling the matter.  Like our citizens with the aftermath of Katrina.  Who weathered it well?  ORECK and helped the needy in the process.  US grown.

You've heard the expression: What goes around comes around.  Toyota for the first time in years reported a quarterly loss.  Substantial.  Why?  It geared up for alot of new truck sales right at the same time as the gas prices soared.  Result:  They ain't selling their big trucks.  One of their mainstays.  And we already talked about toyota's recent quality concern issues pushing cars to market by cutting corners and time for quality assurance.  [Sound like a foreign vacuum brand discussed here alot.]

Small business owners like yourself weather economic cycles [good/bad] better than the big dogs.  Just keep on keeping on. 

Carmine D.