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.

CarmineD wrote:

Hi Carmine,

What other information do you need regarding the purchase of the S7?  I don't know what more information I can give you.  I bought the machine as a prototype (test model) and agreed to test it in my home and complete survey's for Miele.  If the machine was not supposed to be sold, I was not aware of it.  My understanding was just as I stated before.  I buy it, agree to use it, complete surveys and that's it.  And yes, it was $599.99.  Other than that, there is no information to give.  If I was potentially screwed over because I wasn't supposed to pay for the vacuum, I'm not aware of that.  Yes, I would like to know that, but I am now getting a replacement that is now, $699.99, for the price I paid for my prototype, which was $100.00 less.  I just want to be done with this and move on.

My original hose actually broke in January.  The Vac Shop did a quick fix on it so I could use it and ordered me a replacement.  The replacement arrived about a week later and it took me a couple of weeks to get back to the Vac Shop to get the replacement put on.  I had some health problems that put that on the backburner.  During that time the vacuum stopped leaning down all of the way.  The replacement hose was installed, but was not the correct hose.  The leaning problem was fixed by taking apart the vacuum and putting it back together.  The actual cause was unknown. The day after I picked up my vacuum I noticed the damage as well. 

When I posted on March 2nd, I was already a couple of weeks into dealing with the faulty hose and damage.  I contacted Miele to let them know that I was a test household and I had 2 problems with my vacuum...the original hose breaking, the vacuum not leaning down all of the way, and then the faulty hose was installed.  I figured they should know about this since I had originally completed surveys to let them know about any problems, but my problems started after the launch of the S7 in December.  I also made them aware of the damage because I felt that they should have provided better training to the Vac Shop for the repair.  However, I was VERY understanding at first regarding all of this.  I was annoyed with the inconvenience of the replacement hose and irritated by the damage, but not angry with anyone involved at that time.  I knew the Vac Shop did not intentionally damage the vacuum and I had no idea where the hose mix up came from, I just wanted it all fixed so I could move on.  I didn't start to get truly upset until after I felt like I wasn't being heard or taken seriously by either Miele or my Vac Shop.  I became angry when I was offered the subpar repair for the damage on Saturday.

Today I am ready to put this all behind me now that I've slept on it.  I finally can have my vacuum back, a new one at that, and hopefully I don't have any more problems besides regular maintenance issues.  So pending an RA from Miele for my prototype I can go pick up my new S7 and get my house cleaned up.  Hopefully over time I can repair the relationship with the Vac Shop.  I will still do business with them as I will needs bags, filters, and yearly maintenance on my new S7.  I was actually hoping they could keep my prototype as a practice vacuum so if they weren't sure how to do a repair, they could try it on my prototype first.  But I guess business doesn't work that way.

Melanie

Why does MY ELLIE sell out their dealers?

Why does miele hate americans?

How can miele keep getting away with selling 300.00 vacuums for 1100.00.?

Its just another overpriced  vacuum cleaner,living off the old german myth of better this and better that.

It cleans no better than a hoover convertible that costs 79.95..........

regards

MOLE

catlady wrote:

As Shakespeare says so well:  All's well that ends well.  You are ahead and have an extra $100 [minimum] to buy a year's worth of MIELE bags.

Immer Besser!

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:
I think your math is a little off.  Melanie indeed has a new vacuum but I don't see the extra $100 in her pocket to buy bags, just a number on paper . Multiple phone calls, multiple trips to the inept vac dealer...time is money.  20 days to get the result she should have had the first day she encountered a problem.  New vacuum aside, she's probably used more than $100 in her time and effort to resolve the problem.

nicht immer besser

Dusty

dusty wrote:

Here's my perspective:  Use of a brand new 2008 'test' MIELE vacuum for over 10 months.  Purchase of a new 2009 production model for $700 at a cost of only $600.  $100 savings.  $100 on a $600 investment yields a return of 16 percent in 10 months.  Considering the stock market and real estate are down almost 50 percent and 30 respectively during that time as well as all other financial investments [save platinum, gold and silver], that's doing Immer Besser with the use of the money.

Carmine D.

mole wrote:

MOLE:

I'd say my two HOOVER TEMPO's [made in Mexico for $75 and China $54 on sale] clean and groom rugs better than just about all the vacuums on the market costing 10 and 15 times more.

Carmine D.

 

I can't pick up my replacement yet because the Vac Shop is still waiting for a RA number from Miele.  I guess they can't release the replacement until Miele provides that information to them for my prototype.  So, still waiting.  I probably can't pick it up until Saturday anyway, but I'm hoping I can leave work a little early if the RA comes before then.

Melanie

I'm not a MIELE dealer and have no inside information so I can't speak for them. 

However, based on the information you provided [need for an RA number], it is evident [at least to me] that MIELE is providing the new production model S7 to you not the dealer.  This makes me believe that MIELE is reasonably assured based on the facts and circumstances provided [whether from collecting it by reading here and/or elsewhere] that the MIELE dealer is not at fault in your particular case.  Whether there are mitigating facts/circumstances that drive this determination by MIELE corporate headquarters, we don't know and therefore can't say.  These facts and circumstances would have been presented by the MIELE dealer in concert with the MIELE rep directly to MIELE and completely unknown to you the customer [and hence the spectators/readers here on this forum].  Anything short of a complete 'excusal' of the MIELE dealer by MIELE from any fault in this sale/subsequent events surrounding it and the dealer would most likely be dipping into its own pockets for all/portion of the expenses to deliver a new S7 to you and no RA from MIELE would be needed. 

I don't think [FWIW] you should have any concerns about the future ongoing business relationship you will have with this MIELE dealer [just as MIELE is not concerned].  There will not be any unless it comes from you.

Carmine D.

Dusty wrote: I think your math is a little off...

I agree. 100.00 divided by the new Federal Minimum wage of 7.25 slated to take effect 07-24-09 is 13.79 hours, not including gas, but Melanie said the shop is close to her home. About 23 days involved in the resolution of this issue, (two weeks prior to the first posting) so 13.79 / 23 is .6 of an hour or 36 minutes per day average. Not bad interest if your money is just sitting there while you collect the interest. To have it be one more thing on one's list of things to have to do, not so much. Calculate the TOTAL number of minutes of human effort from all angles it took to resolve this issue, and tell me that anyone really came out ahead. The 10 months use of a prototype doesn't even enter into the equation because Catlady did MIELE a favor by using the machine and by being the squeaky wheel. Who knows who many similar incidents will be averted/shortened because Melanie uses her vacuum more than the average customer? But, alas, intangibles are of no consequence because there is no column on a spreadsheet for them. Spreadsheets as a tool? wonderful. Spreadsheets as a world view and business model untempered by human prudence and wisdom? myopia.

I'm glad Miele stepped up to the plate, Melanie, and I hope your S7 cleans so well for so long that you will be the poster girl for Miele and can say with conviction

Trebor wrote:

To most of today's unemployed [the highest in decades, some economists who track such things say since the Great Depression] $7.25 looks really promising.  Considering vacuum store owners and operators put in 10-12 hour days 5 days a week and even Saturdays, I seriously doubt they eek out the minimum wage over a year's time of counting.  

I could be wrong, but I believe now after all this that the MIELE S7 is the wrong vacuum for this particular user for alot of reasons and because of the 14 plus 4 legged furry friends and by her admission the high cost of MIELE bags.  The best thing to do now is sell the S7 while it's still new, use the money to buy:  A bagless from Wal*Mart/COSTCO;  and/or:  A central vacuum system which is best suited for her needs.

Carmine D.