Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

What is a fair asking price for a kirby ultimateG,[model g7d], it has the following new genuine kirby parts,brush roll,bag tube,cord,fan and pully kit,belt ,bulb,carbons with holders,the machine is mechanically as good as new,cosmetics on a 1 to 10 score i would give it a 7. It comes with a 5 year parts and labor warranty,on the motor and fan unit and the transmission.

I was thinking around 275.00,[whats your thoughts]

MOLE

CarmineD wrote:
Hi Carmine,

Thanks for the breakdown.You know Carmine i'm still a little bewildered why there are so many of these machines out there, I am starting to think that everyone must of had a relative at one time or another in KIRBY ,

MOLE

mole wrote:

Hello Mole:

I agree.  There are always a good supply of used Kirby-s on the resale market.  Always been that way since as long as I can remember.  It speaks to the quality of the product and the sales force.   I think after a while most people are put off by the heaviness and awkwardness of Kirby.  They begin using less and less and then they opt for a lighter easier vacuum for more frequent use.  The Kirby-s get sold, traded, and gifted away to family members.  The sharpest and best sales people I ever met in in the industry were Kirby.  Usually also very knowledgeable of the vacuum industry.

Carmine D.

HI Mole,

Go for $350.  Check out the "buy-it-now"prices on eBay.  Latter G-series Kirbys have staying power and are remarkably good at carpet cleaning.  Personally, I hate them for above the floor use but would say regardless, considering the amount of use and good air filtration a sensible user should be able to avail him or herself of over time, $350 is a bargain.

Best,

The V

Venson wrote:

The V  [University of Virginia]:

How are you Venson?

e-bay prices are such because Kirby buyers are being specifically scoped out.

When you sell other brands beside Kirby, you have to price the Kirby competively with your other brands for sale.  If Mole is smart, and we all know he is that, he won't assign any price to the Kirby yet.  Not until he has a bite.  Then if it's a Kirby buyer shoot the $350 first. 

Carmine D.

Venson wrote:

Hi Big V, you make a good point,but the market determines the selling prices.As you know i do all the rebuilding myself on my own time,i have everything available to me from parts distributors, to work stations, to showrooms, to marketing outlets.

350.00 for an ultimate G is a bargain,but you are better off selling it for the going price on the internet. Like Carmine says you have to have a willing buyer,so nevertheless,he who has the money wins.It does me no good sitting on my showroom floor.

B.T.W. kirbys are a dime a dozen,I like to buy in bulk 20 or 30 a time,the more i buy the better the deal,[SHOW THEM THE MONEY THEY ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO GET RID OF THEM], Kirbys,e series rainbows,aerus/electroluxes,filter queens,tristars,still sell like mad on the net.

THE-MOLE

As a vacuum professional you have the privledge of viewing vacuum cleaners from the other side of the bench.  Much like a judge gets to see the faces of the gallery as opposed to the back of heads.

With this persepecive you see many vacuums (often more accurately) as overpriced, overweight, or poor quality but lots of glitter. However, there is the old saying "You have to beieve in something before you can sell it."   You have to believe the Kirby is the best choice for the job, which often it isn't. 

 As a consumer looking for a vacuum, many know the quality of a Kirby, so to see one that is nicely priced might only ask "is there something wrong with it?"   By offering the warranty you are offering you are placing the value back in the machine that many would be proud to have.  Save for the negative being the weight, a Kirby is built to do it's job.   To many a $250 - $350 couple of year old Kirby would be a find.   Throw in a pack of bags, and offer to carry it to the car.

What I saw on my recent visits to vac shops and sewing centers is they are only interested in selling their featured machines and if you make any inquiries about anything other than what he was wanting to sell, he just walked away from me.

The one who made the sale was the one who listened and let me buy what I wanted to buy.   I know there are those that don't know what they want, or for that matter don't care what they get as long as it makes noise and picks up the kitty hair.   They usually shop at Wal-Mart.

J.P.T.,

You know this business is really not that hard,ask the customers the right questions and they start selling themselves.Just be honest with them,stand behind your words..................

MOLE

mole wrote:

And I think the five year warranty you are offering is a great way to stand behind it.  That's even longer warranty  than the machine had when it was new.

mole wrote:

Hiya Mole,

I'm sure that there are ins and outs as far as business goes but I can't imagine who wouldn't be willing to pay $350 for a used or rebuilt Ultimate G -- if they liked Kirby.  Because of the "if" I recommend putting a precious few on the floor unless you plan to market them online.  If we're just talking about having product to sell -- Kirby is not the ideal machine for someone who just wants a vacuum cleaner.  That's what Dirt Devils are for.

From what I've seen the real wishful thinkers are the folks who put a used Kirby models on the block at eBay for $500 and above -- with no warranty offered or even implied. 

I like the current TriStar MG2 and a bunch of other "luxury" machines but both prices for new and used models are too high to turn me on.  As I mentioned, contrary to that I did indeed finally break down and get a new Miele S5980 but only because I could land it and the SEB 236 PN for a flat $900.  I would not have been interested otherwise. 

No folks, I did not buy the machine on the internet -- and it did not "fall off the truck."  I did negotiate with an independent against what I could get one for on eBay.  I'm a happy camper.

Best,

Venson

Just wrote:
Hi J.P.T.

I know very well what the kirby factory warranty is,3 years parts and labor, except the B parts brushes,belts, bulbs,

I have literally taken and rebuilt thousands of kirbys from the dual50's thru the sentrias. The generation series machines motor and bearings are almost fail proof, although a couple of G4's have been known for carbon lock.[an easy fix] when a kirby is done right and used in a normal household setting the average life expectancy is 40 years with 1 or 2 tune ups in between.

The only time i have had problems with kirbys is when unqualified HACKS try and repair them,and pretty much sabotage them just to try and sell the customer what they push[you can fill in the blanks].
I really despise when vac shops do this and many do, and deserve to be run out of town.......................

MOLE