Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

I would like to throw this question out........

If you are not a vacuum enthusiast or professional in the business.

What would you pay for a vacuum cleaner[please disregard being sold by high pressure sales or hyped promotional advertising]

$5.00, $ 20.00, $ 150.00, etc. I'M trying to see how the public in general sees this industry..........

Thanks

MOLE

mole wrote Oct 31, 2008:

What would you pay for a vacuum cleaner[please disregard being sold by high pressure sales or hyped promotional advertising]

$5.00, $ 20.00, $ 150.00, etc. I'M trying to see how the public in general sees this industry..........

Thanks

MOLE

HARDSELL wrote Dec 2, 2008:

HARDSELL wrote Dec 1, 2008:

HARDSELL wrote Dec 2, 2008:

Hello HARDSELL:

Since your answer to MOLE's question appears fuzzy [one with a price amount and one without a price but a day caveat], please clarify which brands you think are overpriced and which are not.  Why?  

As an example, I say most big box store vacuum brands costing over $200 [your amount] are overpriced: i.e. dyson, kenmore premalite, electrolux, and halo to cite several of the current ones sold in the big box store venue.   While most of the independent store brands like MIELE, ORECK, SEBO, Lindhaus, RICCAR/SIMPLICITY, BOSCH, PANASONIC and AERUS [the typical vacuum store brands] costing over $200 are not overpriced.  Agree/disagree?  If you disagree with me, tell us why?  Pick any day of the week and any time of the day you want if it makes a difference in your answer. 

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

Carmine,

I am typing very slowly so you might be able to understand.  You were anti-Dyson long before you ever used one.  Your constant bickering got at least one vacuum forum shut down.  Every comment that I have made is from personal experience and not from bias because I never sold the product nor because Dyson made a fool of me as a consultant.  That alone must have cut you deeply.

It is only natural that as a former independent you dislike big box stores.  My experience with the big box stores has been better than with the independents. If I purchase a product at a big box store I can simply return it with no questions asked.  Making a return to an independent is more unpleasant than dealing with hemorrhoids.  Also the big box stores have never tried to upgrade me simply for more profit as you eluded to yesterday.  You already know my experience with an independent trying to sell me a motor when all the old motor needed was brushes.  That same motor that needed replacing is still running years later after new brushes. 

All those independent brands (along with many big box models) are over priced in my opinion as are most expensive items.   They have invested little to nothing in R&D or technology since start up.  Most perform no better than less expensive models and require regular repairs, tune ups, bags, etc.  An independent can't exist without the profits of these things.  Vac sales alone would be a short business venture.  Who wants to pay in excess of $500 for a vacuum that does not include cleaning attachments or that requires a 2nd vacuum because it has no hose.  Any vacuum could clean a hotel/motel.  Those house keepers make a quick sweep over carpet that allows little to no dirt to become deeply embedded.  They have no need for attachments.  I do not like a vacuum without a manual height adjustment or brush on/off control.

To date Dyson is the only vacuum that I have used on non carpeted surfaces that did not blow more dirt away from the vac than it pulled in. 

Simply because one is willing to pay a price for any item does not mean it is not over priced.

You say that Dyson will have to reduce pricing when sales slow.  That would also apply if consumers quit buying any over priced good.

The day of the week was a pun to MOLE.  Sorry that you can't comprehend.

Hey guys,

I appreciate the discussion but if you're going to discuss overpricing is it possible to get down to brass tacks and quote either what these machines cost to make or what they sell to vendors for? I was most surprised a long time ago when I was able to purchase a new Kirby, everything included, for $350.00. There's no real way to get a handle on things otherwise. Yes, I too think things are overpriced but it would be great to get a line on by how much.

I would love to know if my Miele was sold to the dealer for $500, 600 or $700. That wuold better explain how things work but is what no one is saying.

Does a $400 Dyson wholsale for $200? Is a $250 Hoover sold for only a $120? Are there usually sizable purchase price reductions for vendors that buy in large quantity?

Venson

Hi Venson, the market sets the prices, Your Kirby was bought at less than 50 lot wholesale from kirby,that was a great price you got,although its not very uncommon now,a lot of distributors are bailing out and just selling their inventory for WHAT THEY CAN GET, A  lot of manufactures and dealers are having FIRE SALES,if you have the CASH, they will bend to your price,if not someone else will,

As you may have heard the dtd brands cant even get people financed because all the credit lending companies are either bust or dont do business with them anymore,all the lifelines have been cut off.

Times are a changing,back to the way business use to be done,no more smoke and mirror shows.

MOLE

What I am about to say will not answer your price question Venson but you do have to consider into the price by dealers the cost to do business, rent, hold inventory, gas &amp; elec. maintain a service dept etc and the willingness to take risk in starting a business. Capitalism offers those who take risk the right to reward.... from the company that invests into research and development, the workeres in the plant to, Distributors and Retailers. <BR><BR>If your going by the rule of cut and dry of course your vacuum seems overpriced but there is much more behind it. In a new world of the impersonal internet we take things for granted WAY TOO MUCH.<BR>Just my opinion of course.

HARDSELL wrote:

Hello HARDSELL:

I'm not anti-dyson.  I bought one [unlike you].  I was anti dyson shills who hawked/hyped dysons and bashed all other brands on Forums for months before dyson launched in the USA [Kudos to MOLE who got it right away].  Now, dyson shills are useless.  Most are long gone.  Still a few lurking.  Why?  Dyson has a legacy now:  Big box store venue; fair to middling performance; spiffy colors; false and exaggerated claims; exorbitant prices; refurbs galore; and a host of copy cat competition just as good for less. 

I got the pun my friend but you still missed the point.  Big box stores are fine for vacuums that cost $200/less and customers who know what they want.  If you enjoy a business challenge and have some real money to spend you are better served by shopping/buying at the independent vacuum stores.  You'll get your money's worth.  Any one can buy at a big box store.  It takes an educated business person to buy at a vacuum store.  Of course you have to be up for the challenge of seller/buyer negotiations [hemorroids, as you say].   You obviously aren't. 

Carmine D.

Hi Venson et al.

There isn't a simple pat answer on same brand wholesale prices fro independent vacuum stores.  Cost to the dealers vary depending on a alot of different factors working together simultaneously, like models, quantities and promotions.  

Brand selling prices among the independent vacuum stores vary too depending on the factors that Lucky1 and MOLE talk about.  Wholesale pricing is irrelevant for buyers doing business with independent vacuum stores.  Why?  They have no bearing on your actions to get the best deal you can on the vacuum you want. 

My advice is shop around.  Find a store owner/operator/location where you would like to do business [word of mouth helps].  Then get informed and know the products well.  Consumer Reports is an excellent source and starting place for vacuum shoppers.  Never ever feel you should buy UNLESS you are confident you made the best deal you can on the vacuum you want.   

Carmine D.

Lucky1 wrote:
Hi Lucky1,

Thanks for your reply.  I am not asking that vendors sell merchandise with no mark-up.  I thoroughly understand the cost of overhead and having to pay salaries plus all the other things that end up eating up money and that all must be reflected in the pricing of merchandise.  I simply want an idea of pricing to help in deciding where to buy from -- namely vendors whose pricing leans more toward fair as opposed to what the market will bear.

The plight of vendors -- especially independent ones does not escape me.  However, consumers have their own special  plight  which no one appears to be concerned about -- being able to buy what they need.  In such cases, informed shoppers are  prepared to do the work start looking for ways to save.  By way of the internet, we can now bettter investigate quality and price. 

As an instance, I've been looking for new tires.  I did some searching and investigating and decided on a tire with a good rep that should well suit my needs.  (Like vaccuums, everybody has his favorite tire too.) However, price was as much as an issue s quality.  Between lowest price and highest, the range is about $70.00 per tire.  I have solved the problem.  I am buying the tires I've chosen online and will chuck them into the back of my car and have them installed by a small but reputable shop in my community (instead of a big commercial entity) where they will be properly mounted and balanced for far less the price offered by the big kids.  AND even with shipping cost included I will aquire the tires at a better price.

I'm not asking for goods at next to nothing.  All I want is a decent price.

Venson

Hello Venson:

Do you know the age of the tires you are buying on-line?  Did you factor that age issue into your buy decision?  With the slowdown in the economy and auto sales, tire sales are way off.  Shelf life of unsold tires is increasing drastically.  In some cases by many years.  These old in stock tires have risks associated with their use that tire customers may not know and/or are not told by retailers.  Especially with on-line tire purchases where you can't see the tires to see the dates they were made.

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

I see you watched that tire story also.  Slow auto sales should actually cycle auto parts inventory at a faster pace.  Keeping a car longer means more repairs and replacement parts.

What % of the consumers do you think have ever looked at the date on a tire?  Better yet, what % even knows it exists or where to find it?