Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

There is talk of a boycott of British goods over the questionable release of the Lockerbie bomber Megrahi.   Since Dysons are at least designed in Britain, I wonder if it will have any effect on them.   Dyson might want to increase the size of the "made in Malaysia" stickers on their vacuums.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2603158/Americans-call-for-boycott-over-Lockerbie-bomber-Megrahi.html

Personally, I don't believe in punishing an entire nation for the stupidity of their government officials.  We've certainly had our share of stupid politicians in the US. 

*** Note that I am not implying that Dyson should be boycotted.  I am only saying that a call to boycott British goods could have an effect on Dyson sales in the US.     **

As well, it was Scotland, not the entire UK that made the decision wasn't it? I think the bombing was horrendous and that the bomber's release from prison extremely odd but he is paying the price. (Prostate cancer in some cases be slow moving.) Whether by, firing squad or act of God, he's not expected to be with us long.

From wherever his punishment originates, those he's killed will not be brought back. As well, I won't wake up the day after this man's death feeling the world's any safer than I did once McVeigh and Saddam Hussein were done away with. The loonies just keep on comin'.

Venson

It comes across like a news story hyping up something that is unlikley to happen in practice. As mentioned, with Dyson it would be a touch misguided as they have a business legally registered in England and Wales, with Scotland having it's own separate administration for businesses and indeed political matters.

S'pose you could boycott exported Scottish goods.. like Whisky, Haggis, Tartan clothing and um, whatever else they make up there. But sounds a bit crazy if you ask me.

M00seUK wrote:
I haven't got the legs for kilts, the haggis is a turn-off but I am NOT giving up whiskey.

Venson

The reason the UK is threatened with boycott is that it lobbied Scotland [and has been for several years] for the release of the Lockerbie bomber.  Why?  The Wall Street Journal was the first, I believe, to break the story this week end that the UK is interested in reaching an arms for oil agreement with Gadafi/Libya and this [lobbying Scotland] was a stipulation for the deal.  Of course, Gadafi and his son, implicated in the clandestine arrangement, disavow all knowledge of the ulterior motives.  As of yesterday [Sunday] morning there were 97 on-line comments on the WSJ story.  I haven't checked yet today but I will.  On Thursday of this past week after news of the Lockerbie bomber release broke I sided in favor with the compassionate release by Scotland based on religious beliefs and teachings.  After the WSJ article this weekend, I've changed my mind. 

In fact, I'd say boycott is way too lenient for the guilty parties involved, if there is truth in the WSJ article. 

Carmine D.

M00seUK wrote:

     I agree.....kinda like some people i know wont buy  BEN&JERRYS  ice cream because they support the democrats.....crazy.  Now ENGLAND/dyson .....sounds like far too many people with far too much time on there hands......if anything boycott  WAY OVERPRICED DYSONS.........especially  the $200- 6min handvac.

turtle1

M00seUK wrote:

I agree with you completely.  Again, I don't want to encourage anyone to boycott Dysons or any other British product.  I saw the headline, and immediately thought of Dyson as being one of the most prominent British products in the US due to the prime time advertising.    

Today's Wall Street Journal [Monday August 24] in an OP-ED article states that powers to be at the highest levels of the UK government have been in constant talks [even written] over recent months with Libya's Colonel Gadhafi and his son about commercial oil and gas contracts.  To include the UK Queen, Prince, Prime Minister and Foreign Office Minister.  Seems they and Colonel Gadhafi are on first name bases.  To date the UK has been called out to come clean with regard to its influence peddling in the Scot release of the Lockerbie bomber by Senators McCain and Lieberman, FBI Director and a US General.  As they say readers, the plot thickens.

Carmine D.

An editorial revision to my above post.  It is not a General.  It is an Admiral [same rank as General] who is also the current Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Carmine D.

There is discord in Scotland.  Safe to say global anger too.  The Scotish justice minister Kenny MacAskill is taking full responsibility for Mr. al-Megrahi's release.  While the British PM is mum.  MacAskill's testimony before a specially convened Scottish Parliament yesterday failed to mollify parliamentarians over the release.  No doubt a motion for a vote of no-confidence for MacAskill will follow putting pressure on him to resign.  Could bring the Scottish government down.

Senator Frank Lautenberg, the point man in Congress on the Lockerbie issue called Monday for the US State Department to put restrictions on the travel visa for Libya's leader Gadhafi during the September UN meetings.

Seems like the politicos in this mess failed to heed the advice of St. Louis, King of France.  Before you stand before men to ask them to follow you, you better kneel before God.

Carmine D.

Today's [Aug. 27. 2009] Wall Street Journal carries a story from Con Coughlin of the Morning Telegraph in London linking 2 UK high level officials with ties to PM Brown to a letter written to MacAskill requesting release of Megrahi, the Lockerbie bomber.  That's the smoking gun.  Now pressure mounts on PM Brown to answer some questions about his statement that he had no involvement in the release.  Seems a muckety muck at BP [ "SIR" MARK ALLEN] wanted to land some contracts with Libya for the 44 BILLION barrels of oil in the country.  Gadhafi's son, heir apparent to the Colonel and a graduate of the London School of economics, brokered the deal with the stipulation that Megrahi be released to clinch the deal.

BTW, NJ Senator Corzine and other NJ officials are refusing to allow Colonel Gadhafi entrance to Englewood NJ as part of a planned visit while Colonel Gadhafi is attending the UN meetings in NY in September. 

Carmine D.

HARDSELL wrote:

HS:

That's the smartest thing you've posted here in along time.  And probably the best review of dyson you have ever posted too!  There's hope for you yet.

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:
I thought that it would be very clear to you. 

Crystal!  Wish I could say the same about some vacuum manuals!

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

I would have never guessed that you need a manual.  Just kidding.  I am cetrain that you need one.

HS:

 I was wondering who would bring the dumb blonds into the conversation, now I know. Dyson advertises -never loses suction and never clogs.  Today a customer came in for those reasons. The filter was stopped up, lost suction, the channels were clogged, and it cost the customer $20 -mainly for the time to find all the problems and show them what they were not doing. They traded the Dyson in . One because I outperformed it in suction and cleaning, two because they needed to go to someone that could take care of them and their cleaner, three and most important my reputation of taking care of my customers. Something they said they couldn't find with Dyson.

                                                                                                                       Procare

procare wrote:

No dumb blonds mentioned on this thread. Nor did I mention Dyson here. Looks like we now have a polock among us.

I am sure there are lots of good stories about ignorant or lazy users.  How about the ones who bring in non working vacs with broken belts, over filled bags (if the vacuum will over fill it), foreign objects in the air paths, broken fans, and finally water.  Should all those non Dyson makers post warnings of those things happening if you use the vacuum stupidly or is it user responsibility to READ THE MANUAL?

procare wrote:

Hello Procare:

Thanks for the advice on troubleshooting the dyson.  You probably know, or know of, Tom Gasko.  Before dyson launched in the US, there were discussions of the best venue for its sales.  He was already familiar with the product and opined that the best sales venue would be the indies because dysons' require training and familiarization by the users.  INdies could do this with customers with demoes and answering their questions.  After dyson ignored his advice, he then suggested a DVD instructional disk for users.  Dyson didn't do that one either.  I suspect alot of dysons' refurbs are customers who buy from big box stores and just don't know the product and how best to use it so they return.  Read the d-manual like HS says?  Takes an egineering degree and most users won't.  LAst I counted it was 25 pages.  I would say to James that it's not just enough to make a product work properly, but you have to ensure that customers use it properly.

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

Even your friends with an engineering degree can't figure it out.

No degree or manual would be of value for owners of those bagless Hoovers with the screen filter.  I wonder why you never criticized your previous favorite brand.

HS:

I suspect its more than my friends who can't.  Dyson owns the record on refurbs currently.  With HOOVER a distant second.  And ORECK not even close to either with the least of all.  Based on the sales price and volume, the huge number ang constantly increasing refurbs for dyson are much more detrimental to its sales revenues than HOOVER and ORECK are to theirs.  Don't need a degree to figure that one.  My 5 year old grand daughter can.  You can too.

Carmine D.

Hard to say enjoy reading this.  I didn't enjoy writing it.  But truth needs to told.  And Severus, thanks to his heads-up here, gives me the opportunity.

I want to say I was sorry about my remark in the wrong thread but what I said was in reference to ablond that probably couldn't plug in a plug.

procare wrote:

Hello Procare: The Man

Surprised HS took umbrage at your post.  You were after all defending a dyson buyer and user regardless of her intelligence.  By attacking you, he asserted that dysons  appeal to dumb blonds.  Not very complimentary about dysons. 

HS may know how to plug a vacuum in, but he doesn't know how to turn it on and move it across the floor and rug.  So he is in no position to criticize a poor dyson user. 

Carmine D.

PS:  As I recall, and it was Summer 2007, the young lady with the COSTCO Excl. dyson for $500 in tow with her child was also a blond.  She told me she was returning her year old plus dyson because it no longer picked up as well as when it was new.  I mentioned the filters and routine cleaning and her angry response was:  I didn't pay $500 for a vacuum to have to clean its filters.  I suspect she was referring to the the dyson mantra, no longer allowed: Doesn't clog, doesn't lose suction.  She did get her money back when I inquired about it afterwards. 

procare wrote:

procare,  I was once a blond.  I am now platinum (worth more than gray).

No need to be sorry.  I was just trying to rattle you a little.  I will cease my evil ways.

CarmineD wrote:

Lighten up.  I was not attacking. 

If you think I am pushing a $500 vacuum you are not as intelligent as I thought.  For that much money it should push/pull itself.

How about stopped up bags.  Really, should one have to replace bags and belts on a $700 to over $1000 Oreck or Meile?  The dealer should make house calls to perform this service.

How about those $100,000 cars that require new oil and filters.  Or how about having to spend $40 for nitrogen in tires when air is free.  What is this world coming to.

BTW, the Dyson warranty at BB in 2002 was $19 and not $40 as you stated.  Get your facts first.

HS:

You failed to mention when the BB warranty kicks in and for how long.  Depends on whether you buy the $19/$40 ESP.  As I recall $40 was the max ESP available on a dyson after dyson's warranty expired.   

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

I had a full 3 yr. replacement warranty.

HS:

Dyson pulled the same bull shine BWM did.  Telling customers no maintenance costs after purchase.  Same same.  You criticize BMW for this, give dyson a pass.  BMW: you say is brake your wallet.  Dyson you say: you get what you pay for.  Which is it?  You can't have it both ways.  I know: Where you stand depends on where you sit!

About the same number of women told me if they buy a BMW it doesn't ever need maintenance as told me that they bought dysons for the same reason.  BMW sales staff lie, dyson sales staff just didn't know any better.  They bought into the dyson hawking and hype: Doesn't clog, doesn't lose suction.  Lifetime filters and belts.   Dyson bull shine to justify outrageous prices for mediocre performance..

Carmine D.

HARDSELL wrote:

Yes, but 2 of those years you paid extra for were covered by dyson.  Read the BB ESP.  I forgot......sorry.  You can't read and comprehend.  You bought one extra year from BB for $19.    Like I said:  BT Barnum said there's one born every 6 minutes.  Stand in line.  Get your sign.

Carmine D.

PS:  HS take note too that the BB ESP says a product replacement is provided, and I paraphrase, only if the vacuum can't be repaired.  BB reserves the right to provide a similar product in cost and not the same product.  In part because as in your case BB no longer sells DC07's.  And it doesn't have to be another dyson.  It could be any brand/model comparable.  Even a HOOVER Z, for example. 

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

HS,

      I wasn't sorry for what I said but only the thread it was in.  Dyson  should be boycotted ,not because of the Scottish but the Malaysians that  are for the most part  Muslim and hate us. At least that is what is written. Why spend money there that may be used against us. The same goes for Bissell. I do not hate  Muslim but the radicals that want to kill democracy and destroy the Christian faith.

          If the Dyson was built in England it would provide jobs to their own countrymen. Dyson must  have problems in England or he would. Right?

                                                                                                  Procare

                                                                                                                                                                                                     

 

procare wrote:

Hello Procare:

The USA and world are on track to do just that [impose huge economic sanctions] with an Islamic country and leader [disfiguring the Muslim religion for their own self-interests] with Iran and President Ahmadinejad.  President Obama gave Iran a deadline to the end of September to engage with the USA in talks to curb/freeze Iran's nuclear ambitions.  If Ahmadinejad refuses, Obama will likely make international overtures to enforce big time economic sanctions against Iran and will prevail.  Several meetings [G5/G20] are in place for September and then the UN meeting at the end of the month.  The door will be open to Iran to walk through and/or suffer worldwide economic sanctions.  Libya quit its nuclear ambitions some years ago, thanks in huge part to Guadafi's son Seif, the heir apparent.  Let's see what Iran does this month.  No vacuums come out of Iran, but the collateral Muslim country damage, if Iran doesn't go along, where vacuums do come, are uncertain.

Carmine D.

It's always strange how we are prepared to overlook things that others do that may not be our idea of correct or perfect as long as we can get something we want out of the deal. However, when they cease to "put out" or properly flatter us, we suddenly consider them the lowest of low.

To me the real issue is that American business and consumers are still not saying no to buying cheap and selling high no matter what the cost. Consumers are still buying without standards save for wanting the best bang for their dollar -- wherever the product comes from. AND no one's looking to share the wealth. Just like the boss who won't give you a raise but is always free-handed when it comes to an advance on your pay or a loan, we are more interested in their indebtedness to us and their advancement.

If indeed wealth is built on the backs of the poor -- and probably maintained by keeping the poor as poor as possible -- then if indeed Malaysians and Asians in general dislike us, I think they've every right to. The rest of the world isn't stupid you know. The folks who get paid dribs and drabs for making product later sold for hundreds, even thousands of American dollars are probably well aware of it and have every right to be resentful.

That said, we have long invested in tantalizing nations with opportunities to lay hands on American dollars and then found ourselves walking around later with dropped jaws when we learn that there really are some things money just won't buy.

Despite all the propagandizing I've been inundated by over the years, the one thing I fortunately had opportunity is that when you cross a border two things exist -- government and the people living under its domain. Nonetheless, the two may well not necessarily be aligned.

What I have learned is that no matter whether you're in New York or Moscow, Munich or Beograd, Istanbul or Tehran, ever-day citizens basically want the same things. Work that provides not great wealth but alleviates fear of lack in regard to the health and welfare of their families. Government lends to a secure sense that they may work, live by their own faith, impart their sense of right to their children and have peace.

We've long made a big thing out of shows of charity -- the delivery of aid and armies all over the world. Sadly, I have yet to hear much about our public insisting on pay hikes for those who daily spend many hours but receive little in profit for making of goods we easily spend big money on and we have no such intentions in mind.

Yet, it's always "them" that are found at fault. There are and have been no long discussions here as to our own culpability. No one makes much remark as to how we love technology so much that we won't insist on not buying American-made TVs, appliances and electronics or holding out until at least a significant part of the market here is composed of American-made goods.

Americans just like Malays and others seemingly not synched-up with our so-called Christian way of life are equally ready to believe that the source of our troubles always stems from somewhere else. We accept its direction from wherever the finger of government is pointing.

Venson

Well said Venson:

People, Americans too, follow the letter of the law but forget the spirit of the law.  It is true that if we follow the letter of the law for its external reasons, we are not always living in the spirit of the law.  BUT if we follow/live the spirit of the law we are automatically living the letter of the law, even if we don't actually know it. 

Carmine D.

Two lovely sayings/parables come to mind from the Bible, Venson.  When you give alms, don't let your right hand know what you left is giving.  And of course the workers in the vineyard.  The master of the vineyard goes out to the town at the beginning, middle and end of the day to get workers for the grape harvest.  At the end of the day he asks his chief steward to pay the last a full day's wage.  And so to do the same for those who came at the middle and then the beginning of the day.  The workers who started at the beginning of the day are grumbling!  They expected more.  The master of the vineyard corrects them and says who are you to tell me how to disburse my money?  I gave you a full day's wage, why are you upset?  Because those that came later got the same!  Yes, of course.  But that is not their concern/money to say how it should be given.  It's the master. 

Carmine D.

For those who are following the news developments, there is an ongoing war of words between Scottish officials and the Prime Minister Gordon Brown of England.  Each blaming the other for the release of the lockerbie bomber al-Megrahi.  The more news releases the UK issues, the more questions and doubts arise about the real reasons for the release.

Now the real looming threat:  London is the site of the 2012 Olympics.  3 years away.  But time is not the UK's side.  Just the opposite.  Any business deals consummated between the UK and Libya for oil/gas will impugn all the stories released by official UK sources.  Several EU countries not to mention the US and President Obama are irate at the bomber's release.  Will they remember the controversial bomber's release in 2012?  It's already being called a "second Lockerbie outrage."  When Colonel Guadhafi goes on television and thanks his 'friend' Gordon Brown, the Queen of England, and her son Prince Andrew it feels like spitting on Winston Churchill and the heroes of the Battle of Britain.

Carmine D.

The latest: Scotland's justice minister who released al-Megrahi, Lockerbie bomber, has a brother who has worked for firms that sought oil business/contracts with Libya. 

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:
Interesting.  But if we used your guidelines...  this is not vacuum related.  You’re a walking-talking contradiction.  You flipped out when the Dyson fanless invention patent was posted but your non-vacuum news is perfectly okay?  The tired vacuum and industry has little news and I thought it quite humorous you declaring Dyson’s non-vacuum inventions (paid for by vacuum sales, and perhaps invented by vacuum “design-engineers”) unfit to be posted here.


DIB

P.S.  Again, I did find your post interesting and this news could effects/could effect all of us, yet hypocritical by way of your guidelines. 

I didn't start the thread DIB and don't force others to read and post on it.  But while its here and free to post on, I will.  Read it or not.  It's your call not mine. 

This is a story that won't go away.  And in 3 years may result in the boycott of the Olympics in London.  Maybe not?  Are you planning to go!  I'm not.  And have attended other Olympics in other countries.

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

This is a story that won't go away.  And in 3 years may result in the boycott of the Olympics in London.  Maybe not?  Are you planning to go!  I'm not.  And have attended other Olympics in other countries.

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

HS:

Since you don't get it let me spell it out for you s-l-o-w-l-y. 

T H E R E   A R E   S O M E T H I N G S   M O R E  

I MP O R T A N T  T H A N  V A C U U M S   A N D 

A  LO  S P E E D  O N  S O M E  O R E C K' S.  

T H I S  I S  O N E.

Carmine D.

For an update on this thread subject [albeit not related to vacuums, YET] here's the latest.  Warning: Don't read if you choose, it's your decision.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125384761259439997.html

As long as Gadhafi and al-Megrahi are alive this will not go away.

Carmine D.