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.

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. 

I think the S7 will be fine because she did use it for 10 mo, rather hard, and the problems when all said and done were really minor, just handled slowly and with a lack of grace. The protoype served its purpose. 7.25 /hr does look good to a lot of folks, but in Melanies' case it was not earned income, but energy and time expended to keep from losing money already spent, big difference, BIG difference.

And now, since the issue has been resolved, let's move on to a new vacuum topic, shall we?

Trebor

Trebor wrote:

Minor problems?  10 months of "hard" use?  Do I detect some cracks in the armor?  Chinks in the chain?  Just handled "slowly" and w/o "grace?"  Is that the same as in a "business like manner?"  

The BIG difference is the way different spectators view the action.  Considering over a year's worth of research was done and several months of hands on testing of vacuums went into the effort  [most of which involved the MIELE dealer's too], I suspect the customer weighed the cost/benefit of her lost time and effort worthy and necessary before making a buy decision.

The new topic is and always should be matching the right vacuum for the buyer/user.  Especially now that she has gotten a new start.

Carmine D. 

I picked up my new S7 today.  Things went well at the Vac Shop.  I took them cookies and apologized for being a pain in the butt.  They said I wasn't a pain in their butts, but I was too Miele.  It turns out that Miele replaced my vacuum because the back panel has changed on the new S7's and it would have required additional parts that they weren't sure they could get from Germany to fix the back panel.  In the end it was easier to replace the vacuum.  I'm ready to clean up the house and I am relieved it's all over.
Melanie

Hey Melanie,

Great news! They offer six models here in the U.S. which one did you get?

Venson

PS -- the cookies were a great idea.

Venson wrote:
They replaced it with the same model, the Salsa.  That's fun to say.

catlady wrote:
Pretty good. Suggested retail is $750.00

Enjoy . . .

Venson