Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Hi,

I'd like to start researching financials and annual reports regarding some of the more significant vacuum makers -- both corporate and private. Surely there's a way for private individuals to do this but I need some advice and ideas as to how to go about it without the process becoming expensive.

Thanks,

Venson

Hello Venson:

The US majors that are publicly owned post the financial results on their web sites if you navigate through them.  But usually rather late in the year following the operations due to the reasons I've already posted.  You have to have alittle accounting and finance wherewithal to read between the accounts and numbers.  Usually the industry entities that track and report on such matters, like NPD and even CR, will excerpt the key brand name numbers and report too.  But takes time.  Most of the publicly owned companies, not just in the vacuum industry, but across all sectors have not issued their 2008 financials and won't for at least several more weeks.

Privately held, like dyson, as I mentioned wait until the filing date which is much longer than the time constraints for the publicly owned ad traded.

Carmine D.

Hi Venson:

Within the last week several industry watchers like This Week in Consumer Electronics and NPD have released preliminary data on appliance sales at several big retailers like Sears, Lowes, and Home Depot.  Not so much the hard numbers and dollar data but percentages.  Again, due to the nature of appliance sales and retailers' financial reporting.

Carmine D.

Hi Carmine,

Thanks much. I have begun looking around and the names you've provided should be quite helpful.

Best,

Venson

Hi Venson:

The article which appeared in the March 18, 2009 WSJ has not been posted on-line yet [so I couldn't post the link].  It's author is Mary Ellen Lloyd.  The article is "Sear's Market Share Rises."

Carmine D.

Venson:

According to MIELE, on a yearly basis, the German MIELE plant ships ONE MILLION vacuums worldwide for sale.  [That doesn't count the MIELE's made in other countries].

Carmine D.

Thanks Carmine,

I'm still at work on this -- surely moving but doing it slowly. Besides my involvement with job hunting, the car up and went dramatic on me. It wanted a new fuel pump. What could I do but say yes?

Venson

You mean your BWM is not IMMER BESSER!

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:
Well, it's an eight-year-old BMW and things can only GET THE WORSER.

Venson

You knew it was not a new and unproven 'test' model!  You knew when you made the purchase that BMW's like all other cars require frequent maintenance, despite what the sales people say, and with BMW these come at a higher cost than most, unless you can fend for yourself.

Perhaps catlady is reading too.  She hopes to get 8-10 years out of the MIELE Salsa.  At $100 per year for just the bags, not counting the other items that MOLE pointed out will go bad during this time, she's looking down the road at some hefty out of pocket costs.  

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:
True Carmine but I take the event last week as one more of life's little surprises. If anything is painful it's expensive repairs that are required at not necessarily opportune times. I had the car checked out by a very experienced mechanic before I bought it and, overall, it has been running well. (He said one speeding ticket later.) Bad roads as opposed to bad car were more my problem.

I also wouldn't have been half as irritated if this had not happened after I'd just had an oil change and the mechanic informed me that he'd, "looked the car over" and everything seemed fine. Most fortunately, the car started right up for the trip home from the shop and I wasn't aware of any problems until I went down to the garage to take it out again. I could have been stranded on the road as I am told that fuel pumps die right out of the blue. Imagine that! She refused to die until she got me home.

There are great things under the hood like a chain instead of a belt for timing plus lots of sensors to keep you aware of possible problems. I am told that 100,000 miles on my car may be considered just the beginning. However . . .

I think Melanie's got a good chance. If the only problem she's had after many months of daily use is needing a hose repair -- that ain't bad. Most of the repair people here get plenty of demand for the replacement of stretch hoses on all brands I'm sure. They endure a lot of stress. In any event, Melanie appears to be a conscientious user and, if she continues to keep tabs on bag fill and the brush roll she should do well with the brand new one.

So far my S7 and he old BMW make me happy.

Venson