Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

First upright from Miele

29 February 2008 This summer, Miele will launch its first range of upright vacuum cleaners – the S7.  It will consist of about six models, all of which feature ultra large dust bags and  “a unique swivel body, which makes it easy to manoeuvre in even the trickiest  of room layouts”. According to the company,  the decision was made following  numerous requests from customers that wanted to buy Miele  but would only use  an upright model. Text: courtesy ERTweekly.com Picture: courtesy Miele.co.uk, 2009 Edited 21st March 2009; reason: loss of original image.

Hi Action, Severus,

While i have a lot of respect for the 2 of you as industry professionals, I must throw this out ,Yes the average life expectancy of the powerplant  itself will last for 20 years its all the other components that break and wear out within 5 or 7 years. The replacement parts for the german machines are 5 times the price of the domestic brands,and the quality is not that much different.

A central vacuum system is life of the house, but the attachments go away in 8 to 10 years, I have tried to justify a 900.00 portable vacuum cleaner but i can not , maybe i look at it the wrong way, but i'm not your average vacuum cleaner salesman.............


Take care

MOLE

mole wrote:

Hello MOLE:

I'll throw this out too in parry to you.  Central vacuum systems, tho around for almost as long as we've been in the vacuum business, have never obtained the popularity and success in the USA that one would think.  A testament to the the fact that vacuum buyers, at least in the USA, still prefer portables to centrals, regardless of the prices. 

I mentioned that my daughter's home [over 3000 sq feet with 2 levels] is plumbed for a CVS and I plan to install one.  But I've not rushed.  Why?  I suspect even with the CVS, she, her husband, and the little ones will inevitably use the portables.  Why?  Custom?  Habit?  Not particularly enthralled with the vacuuming chore?  Currently, the portables are an ORECK upright, dyson DC07 pink, HOOVER WT Dual V [bag/bagless], a Dirt Devil handcleaner [stairs] and several cordless stick vacuums not counting garage vacuum cleaners and a compact ORECK for vacuuming the vehicles.  They are, in my opinion, a perfect candidate for a new MIELE upright/canister that will last 20 years vice a CVS.  I'd go with the CVS.  But not them.

Carmine D.

PS:  And you can see where I'm going with this: New MIELE vice new CVS? 

CarmineD wrote:

Hi Carmine,

I believe that many dealers shy away from central systems

1 dont want to get involved with installations

2 try and turn the customer against them with horror stories ,that really hold no merit.

3 dont understand how it benefits the consumer,

4 the old it looses suction and cfm because of the pipe run [only if you use a system thats underrated for the application,

5 stuck in the stone age and like some of us its hard to change.

6 the only customers that dont use centrals are renters,[so a portable is the only way out.

7 If Box stores want centrals [LET THEM] i would welcome them ] it creates compitition,may the best man win.

8 there is not a strong indy that i know that does not sell service and install central systems....

sincerly

MOLE

Hi Mole,

Personally, I all for central vacs but I have one question . . . Would the possibility of a lesser requirement for after-market purchasing (bags, filters, etc.) be a reason for disinterest in CVs by some vendors? Hypothetically, there should be less annual spending on maintenance and consumables(?)for a decent central vac. I'd guess it doesn't pay off unless you can move a good number of units per year.

Thanks,

Venson

Hi Venson.

Yes this is a big reason, But dont forget their are bagged and filtered central systems, The aftermarket is there, Almost every central vacuum customer buys a hose sock[great product], a vacpan  for hard floor surfaces,

 Even garage kits are popular, doesnt beat up on electric hoses,powerheads,attachments.Garage kits are for garage duty only,you know the rough stuff,

There is always a steady flow of service and repair work[service calls], centrals have been around for over 50 years now, there is already a built-in aftermarket.

I agree that a quality system should be cyclonic,bagless, the best set up yet is the self cleaning rayon filter,sort of feels like your shirt,

The attachments and powernozzles go from  bargain basement to ultra expensive.Sort of like MIELES.............


MOLE

Not sure if this has been posted here recently but I just found this today looking around for when the Miele S7 was coming to the us. 

The new Miele S7

Hello MOLE:

Thanks for the summary on CVS.  I'll note too for many years the VDTA did not support and promote them.  Only in recent years has the VDTA taken a more active role for CVS in the industry.

I hail your wish for big box retailers to enter the CVS venue.  Rumors were circulating awhile ago that Circuit City stores were poised to do so.  No doubt its own shakey financial conditions and the awful economy made them scrub the plans [at least for now].

Carmine D.

mole wrote:

Its all about wanting to own quality, just vacuum with a Miele and feel and hear the difference(quiet) and no pollutants blowing back into the air, I am 10 years a Miele dealer and even the smaller 217 powerhead hardly and repairs so far, only the variable speed hoses but were warrantied for life so no biggie and the cord rewind on older models mostly 300 series the contacts would loosen (5 minute repair) but today your box store vacuum is junk with life expectancy of 6 mos to 2 years at best, (I meant Hoover has a self propelled Walmart bagless that is bad within a couple months) except Dyson 5 year warranty but those start at 400-650.00, and if you are my Miele customer it is part only no labor costs so repairs very reasonable, same with Riccar that has very low cost parts. Just placed my S-7 order today so we will see how they go

Speaking of quality, for those that can remember, in comparison to today's appliance prices were the better vacuums in past, proportionate to average income, priced the same?

There is such a thing as quality and such a thing as nonsense and hype. There can be and should be decent vacuums within the $250 to $350 range. (And I'm sure we're all well aware that a $400 vacuum cleaner did not require an expense of $300 to make it but far less. It's one thing for instance to spend a bundle on a vacuum in anticipation long use and another for the manufacturer to further cash in on that perception by price gouging on options and consumables.

One example -- I will never understand why there was not even a mini turbo nozzle included with my Miele Capricorn or why, if I really wanted one, Miele would expect me drop 70 bucks for it. It costs all of five bucks to make -- if that. We're talking a vacuum that has an SRP of $1,195.00.

At least Kenmore included an electric mini nozzle, which I much prefer, in a $400 deal. I also felt that a combi floor tool would meet my needs better than the bare floor tool included with my Miele. It cost over $65.00 to get one by Miele. Save for a cute spin by way of the single pedal to switch fromcarpet to bare floors there is no special quality in any way shape or form. It was merely a purchase I made because I could.

If we're merely talking decent emissions, good cleaning and reasonable convenience, $400 to $500 vacuums, should still be looked on as more the exception than the rule. I like my Miele but will never recommend it over more practically priced machines when observing a budget is a main objective. All that shines ain't gold.

Venson

I have to agree with what Actionvac says, it's about wanting to own quality products.  There is so much 'cheap' rubbish on the markets today, well has been for quite a few years in the UK.  You get what you pay for.

DC18