Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

  < yr. 1979  < yr. 5/2008

Again you are not telling the truth.  I only stated that Wal Wart sells many import products from several countries.  That is only bemoaning to someone like you who always tries to twist statements to your liking.  I have already given my story about how the import cars and cycles got the USA off its' ass and caused them to produce much higher quality.

Americans were content with the junk produced in the USA until they saw what real quality and performance was from Japan.  I applaud Oreck for being patriotic, however patrotism does not always relate to performance.  I have no doubt tabout Oreck quality and longetivity.  When Oreck improves performance to my satisfaction I will certainly consider a pruchase.  Now Carmine and so many others will tell you that the European vacs are probably the best.  Most vac shops push these ultra expensive European vacs above all others.

An import is an import regardless of country of manufacture.  So where is the patrotism among the vac shop owners.  I believe it is profit driven above all else.

Japanese autos are superior to any made in the USA, however I do not drive one because the USA cars are good enough for me.

As an American I have the priviledge of an opinion and my choice of purchase.  Same aplies to others.  So get off the soap box and take your medicine. 

We're talking ORECK and ORECK vacuums here. Stick to the subject.  I would never buy another LG plasma.  Why?  Terrible customer support and service!  They subcontract the service out to contractors not their employees.  Mine went bad during the 2 year warranty.  Nice picture, I must say.  But I'm looking to upgrade soon.  But that's info for another site not here.  

Oreck on the other hand has a network of authorized franchised stores nationwide.  Almost 500.  Oreck employees.  Now scrub the rest of the BS and stay with the US made ORECK vacuums on this thread.  Best in its class.  Others try to imitate and still have not matched it.  It's a niche.  And has a lock on its market: Lightweights and hotels/motels.  And has for over 45 years.  Only one contender is a distant second: RICCAR/Simplicity.   The latter is a premier top shelf seller among vacuum stores.  Also made int he USA.  Just like ORECK.

Carmine D.

When it's mentioned ORECK is made in the USA, is that every part that goes into the machine is sourced and made in the USA?  I'm only asking as alot of companies these days say things are made in a particular place but when you break the product down most of the parts have been manufactured else where first then put together in another place.

ORECK claims like other Vacuum that their vacuum is 99.99% of all particles down to 0.3 microns are trap inside.  There is a 'youtube' video of which ORECK and others like Hoover, Dyson etc... get independently tested including using a particular counter to find it's not that good at filtering amongst other things as ORECK says it is. The other brands fail too! 

Price, why are these vacuums so expensive for what they are?  It may be a niche market they target but as DIB says the original design has not changed so the price should of come down by now.  The UK prices start from £299.00 up to £429.00, that is over double if not more what you can pay for other brands in the UK, the same in the USA to I would think!

DC18

Hello DC18:

You've asked several excellent questions.  Let me address the first.  By law a US company cannot use the claim made in the USA unless a majority percentage of all the components that make up the product are US made.  My sense, without having read the law recently, is 80 percent or more. 

Here'a an excerpt that might assist:

The Standard For Unqualified Made In USA Claims

What is the standard for a product to be called Made in USA without qualification?

For a product to be called Made in USA, or claimed to be of domestic origin without qualifications or limits on the claim, the product must be "all or virtually all" made in the U.S. The term "United States," as referred to in the Enforcement Policy Statement, includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories and possessions.

What does "all or virtually all" mean?

"All or virtually all" means that all significant parts and processing that go into the product must be of U.S. origin. That is, the product should contain no — or negligible — foreign content.

What substantiation is required for a Made in USA claim?

When a manufacturer or marketer makes an unqualified claim that a product is Made in USA, it should have — and rely on — a "reasonable basis" to support the claim at the time it is made. This means a manufacturer or marketer needs competent and reliable evidence to back up the claim that its product is "all or virtually all" made in the U.S.

What factors does the Commission consider to determine whether a product is "all or virtually all" made in the U.S.?

The product’s final assembly or processing must take place in the U.S. The Commission then considers other factors, including how much of the product’s total manufacturing costs can be assigned to U.S. parts and processing, and how far removed any foreign content is from the finished product. In some instances, only a small portion of the total manufacturing costs are attributable to foreign processing, but that processing represents a significant amount of the product’s overall processing. The same could be true for some foreign parts. In these cases, the foreign content (processing or parts) is more than negligible, and, as a result, unqualified claims are inappropriate.

Thank you for the questions.  I will address them as best as I can, based on what I know.  I am by no means an expert on ORECK and all things ORECK.  I'm hoping to learn more too.  Because I like the product.  I use the ORECK XL Classic upright exclusively on a daily bases for my floors and rugs.  I find it to be a good rug and carpet cleaner/groomer.  And excellent on barefloors.  Are there better?  Yes, the HOOVER WT is better for rugs.  ORECK is the best on floors, bar none.  I have more of the latter [floors] than the former [rugs].  A feature greatly underestimated on the ORECK upright: It's edge cleaner.  It beats most vacuums in the industry hands down.  Even the mighty HOOVER.

Carmine D.

We were talking about Oreck until you (as usual) threw Dyson in.  You also mentioned imports so I just asked about your imported TV.  Oreck may be best in its c;lass.  Dyson simply outclasses it.

NOW DROP ALL YOUR BS ABOUT DYSON, WALLY WORLD AND IMPORTS...........

Hello Mole:

ORECK store staff recommend every 6 months on the belt changes.  I do too.  Why?  Firstly, better pick up.  Secondly, assists in propelling the Oreck more easily.  Thirdly, the belts are inexpensive and easy for the user to replace.

Dave started his career as an RCA employee after the end of WW11 where he served as a fighter pilot.

Carmine D.

Hello DIB:

Actually more like 40 years of the same design.  The XL 21 Titanium is really the first major redesign in 40 years.  I'll address that later.

Why no changes?  Consider this:  There are 30 components to the ORECK upright.  Less than any other vacuum on the market.  Considerably less.  Result:  Easy and simple to repair and maintain.  Fewer parts to break and replace.  Hence the reason in part ORECK-s last for years.

Consider the Coca Cola brand that revamped its age old secret formula in the 80's after as many years as the classic.  What happened?  It reversed course after it was inundated with complaints by the public.

If you have a good thing, make it better.  Don't change it!  Making it better is better served by marginal changes, as in the case of ORECK.  Not completely new and outright revampings.  The HOOVER Convertible, as Mole pointed out, had a 40 plus year life span in production and sales.  From the mid 50-s to the mid-90-s.  Probably the best rug cleaning vacuum on the market, ever. 

Carmine D.

DC18

Carmine,

I own 2 American made automobiles and love them.  I bought them on the basis on their form, function and cost.  Buy buying American I am supporting American auto manufacturers.  The difference between a given auto manufacturer and Oreck is the auto manufacturers do invest in future technologies and designs and bring better and more variety of products.  Oreck does not.        DIB