Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

  < yr. 1979  < yr. 5/2008

Hi Actionvac,

What are the diffferences in performance.

Thanks,

Venson

RICCAR/Simplicity are a notch above the ORECK.  But I only paid $150 for the new ORECK XL Classic, I had to buy.  And I purchased and gifted 3 more away to family members at the same price.  My dear Wife and I are very pleased with the ORECK's performance for our home and our cleaning needs.  We've used it daily since April 2007.  So the ORECK is a keeper, tho I may trade up depending on the deal.  I may even trade up to the Freedom/RSL4 if the price is right.

I mentioned I'm overdue for the MIELE demo on the S7.  The store owner/operator is also a RICCAR/SIMPLICITY dealer and supposed to have the new RSL4.

Carmine D.

DC18

From my observations and conclusions, it is a makeover to become more appealing to vacuum users of all ages: Young and old alike.  It still has its original trademark features: Simple, light, easy to use and store.  And lasts forever.

Carmine D.  

Hi Carmine,

Not meanning to be redundant, it may have already been mentioned that a truck load of popular vacuums have gone from "facelkift" to "facelift" for years with little significant change internally.  By the way, I checked out Kirby's site and noticed that  they're not bothering to show a complete image of the Sentria -- jus a picture of a salesman at the door with a big box -- maybe because it needs a new face too.

http://www.kirby.com

Venson.

Not redundant.  It is a real issue for the likes of Kirby, Royal, ORECK, Filter Queen, and others who pride themselves on their classic look, feel, and function.  How much change is enough but not too much to rattle/upset your customer base.  Like HOOVER with the WindTunnel and Constellation!  Classics that sell forever.

The Coke case of the 80's is a classic, no pun intended.  In the 80's Coke Classic had to re-invent itself and it went too far.  Their loyal drinking customers shunned it.  In no time, Coke management had to bring back the Classic formula and let it coexist with its new version.  Lesson learned.  Add new products.  Open new markets.  Lower the price.  Change the packaging.  But keep the tried and true trademark product intact.  ORECK has served Dave and his customer base well for over 45 years.  It's passed the test of time in good and bad times.  Why make wholesale changes and risk it all?  Especially in bad economic times like these.

Carmine D.

Thanks for the Site.  I like it.  How can one not?  An infant, obviously born with the Kirby gene, and the Kirby intro:

"For over 90 years, the Kirby Company has dedicated itself to perfecting just one product – a home care system based on founder Jim Kirby’s first vacuum cleaner design. Developed and constructed with state-of-the-art technology, our newest model, the SENTRIA™ system, carries on our tradition of Quality, Reliability and Performance."

And from the Sentria page you mentioned:

Cleaning takes on a whole new meaning with Kirby's Sentria® home care system and accessories. Designed to deep clean, protect and maintain the value of your home, a kirby vacuum is a leader in the industry that outlasts the competition every time.

Our own Jim Kirby, who unfortunately no longer reads and posts here, is a descendant of the Kirby founder.  He's pictured on the History page.  Jim favors him too in looks. 

IMHO, not showing the Sentria but talking it up pretty well is a subtle way for Kirby to convince the potential vacuum customer/reader to request a Kirby home demo.  If I do that, I'll buy one.  Kirby never made the move to lightweight plastic, which many in the industry thought it would do.  Kirby has stayed tried and true to the old fashioned die cast aluminum.  Use to be a lovely old lady in the Cleveland OHIO plant who balanced the aluminum fans for the Kirby motors.  Loved her job and Kirby!  BTW, so did the late great Stan Kann.

BTW, did you upgrade your computer?  I was able to click on the Web Site w/o copying and pasting.

Carmine D.

Hi,

No! The Miele "slimmed down" my computer budget big time.  I just learned to do something new (though it's been htere all the time).. 

If you type in the URL in your post, then highlight it and copy it , then click on the icon of the globe with the linked chain up top -- you get a dialogue box for setting up the link.  (Be sure you keep the URL you've entered highlighted.)  You paste in the URL you copied where shown inside the dialogue box and -- voila -- you've done it.  The link set-up isn't quite like doing the same in Microsoft Word but it only took a minute or two to get the hang of it.  It's easy. 

Anyway. . .  I'm sure you're right about the home demo enticement but personally I like to have some way of eyeballing the product before I commit to having someone in to do a demonstration.  (Gettin' 'em in is easy but gettin' 'em out again is something unbelievable.)

Venson