Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

  < yr. 1979  < yr. 5/2008

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

Hello DC18:

Your welcome.  And now on to the other questions. 

I have not viewed the youtube video.  My sense is the model tested is the Classic, which is the least expensive of the ORECKS, and the one most discussed here by me.  I own and use the XL Classic.   My sense too is due to the paper bags that come standard in this model: The CC.  The other models: The Deluxe, Ultra, and XL 21 all filter better than the XL.  Tho with my dog and my dear Wife's allergy and sinus conditions, the XL with the CC bags bode well for her here in Las Vegas.

Price?  Here in the US, where the ORECKS are made, there are 4 models: The XL Classic for $299 with the giveaways.  This is the model that was recently on sale for Memorial Day for $199 without the giveaways.  The Deluxe for $399.  The Ultra for $549 and the XL 21 for $749.  ORECK added some new models recently in the $499.  More on those later.  The first 3 models all share the same motor and brushroll.  Only the XL has a more powerful motor.  And the XL has a brush roll more suited for easy pet hair removal.  Of course there are other features that account for the price differentials.  2 speeds on the Ulta and XL 21.  Warranty periods are different.  Free tune ups, etc.  The Deluxe and Ultra are 10 years for warranty.  The XL 21 has 21 years.  The latter comes to $35 a year for a vacuum that lasts for 21 years with free parts and labor replacement all during the period.  This is the most expensive.  Is it worth the $740.  Not if that's beyond your vacuum budget.  Then the Deluxe is probably the better buy.  If it isn't beyond your budget it's probably a good deal for you. 

I can't make the pound conversion, but I suspect the high prices overseas is due to shipping costs and the higher costs of oil to get the ORECK vacuums to market there.  Last year this time oil was $60 a barrel.  Now its $130 a barrel. 

Carmine D.

Hello DIB:

I couldn't disagree with you more.  ORECK improved filtration, brush roll, uses microban on all vacuum products, improved energy efficiency and increased power of the motor in its XL 21.  Plus, ORECK invests in other home floorcare products, including a fairly decent canister, floor waxer/polisher, rug cleaner, stick vacuum, and carpet sweeper.  In other words a full array of household cleaning appliances.  Plus ORECK sells excellent air purifiers.  There is a connection too with air purifiers and vacuums.  ORECK is not a vacuum maker that invests in unrelated technologies.  Like one you and I both know.

More importantly ORECK invests in its employees.  They're not contractors.  They are company employees with full employee benefits.  Talk to ORECK employees about working for the company.  Even former employees.  See and hear what they have to say about the company, its founder, and the products.  They're proud.  That counts as much if not more than investing new technologies.  It's called social capital.  It's priceless.

ORECK is a quality product and company.  Has been for over 45 years.  Why mess with it.  Keep it good and make it better.  Not by wholesale rebuilding from the ground up [like some].  And investing R&D in unrelated ventures.  ORECK makes marginal incremental changes. That's what Oreck did and does.  The uprights are 8-9 pounds.  Simple rug cleaners and groomers.  Nothing complicated. 30 parts.  No other vacuum maker even your fave can match up. 

Carmine D.