Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Since I have been coming to this site I have seen bickering about Dyson, Hoover and a few other brands. But to me it is why is this industry important and why all the different brands and models. My feeling is that they are necessary to maintain a way of life. Cleanliness, health, and just plain keeping everything nice. We started with dirt floors, went to rock and wood floors. Floors were kept up with brooms for hundreds of years. With the advent of electricity the vacuum cleaner came along  with elecrtic motors.

Just so you know , I am aware of the types of early sweepers from the late 1800's.

So the question I put to you is why is it so important to be a bagless society of Dyson? Why Bagged? Why a particular brand over another? Give me and anyone that comes to this site some answers as to why and how is one better than another?

I am watching and listening.                                                                  Procare           54 years in the business and still going strong.

          

CarmineD wrote:

You have told us that you could not use the Dyson on your builder grade carpets.  You do not own a Kirby.

Tell us more when you have experience and not an opinion.

HARDSELL wrote:

I do own a KIRBY. 

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

Good paper weights aren't they?

HARDSELL wrote:
Other than just being a contrarian, I miss your point... If you tried the vacuums with a proper demo at the BBS before you bought them... why weren't you aware that they wouldn't meet your cleaning needs?

I have worked at a Box store and KNOW they don't want to take returns. A manager who takes too many gets a firm repremand. Some BBS have now reverted to telling the customer to return the vacuum to the manufacturer not the store. I still couldn't name a BBS in my area that demos a vacuum and only a few even have them out of the box.

We get the picture, ad nauseam, you like your vacuum....maybe half the Dyson buyers do as well. I will agree in addition that in many cases it is the right vacuum for many customers. I base "my" opinion the my dealings with the company and the amount of complaints I personally hear from people not liking the product. Your distrust of the indie is common. People fear the vacuum salesman just less than the Auto dealer. But all I can tell you is overwhelmingly, those I have met, talked to, dealt with, and had internet relations with, are good hardworking people with a genuine love of their work and want to share both their knowledge and enthusiasm with others.

Lucky1 wrote:

If insisting that my purchases meet my needs as opposed to what another thinks then I am a contrarian.  Show me a store with rooms set up with furniture and my carpet and hard surface floors then I will agree that they give a proper demo.  Simply pushing a vacuum back and forth in the store in no way represents its performance.  I do not need all the details of why A is better than B because that opinion from a sales person usually represents the one with most profit  (not always).

I can understand why BB stores do not want returns.  However, corporate management dictates the policy and should not reprimand a manager for returns.  Actually I have never had to see a manager to make a return.  Wal Mart is the mos successful retailer currently and they allow 90 day returns on most all items. 

Do you sell Hoover?  Would you recommend the new Platinum bagged with canister if a customer asked about one?

HARDSELL wrote:
I sell Hoover. I don't stock many, I try to find the best vacuums for each need and price point. I do have a little problem with the time it takes to receive Hoover orders and the amount of difficulty to repair but my rep is very good and responsive which I like. I would like to sell more of them. As far as the platinum, I don't stock them (maybe I will but haven't decided). I am just VERY impressed with the Simplicity Freedom line. It has proven it's worth to me and until I or my customers complain I will probably stick with that line instead. If I were a bigger store, I might offer more choices. I feel with the economy the way it is it only makes sense to stick with the proven winners.

As far as recommendation, I would have to say the verdict is still out on them but if the customer wanted one I would order it and maintain it for them. Not out of greed to make a sale but to be at their service.

HARDSELL wrote:

Point well made HS.....very true and dead on..  But a demo...walk thru /test weight  ...get all your questions answered ...is the first step...a very important one.  So when taken home it will perform as expected ,,if the dealer/sales did their job and listened to the customers needs/wants/price...and adressed them.  All things have a starting point....and a good dealer is it.....

turtle1

Lucky1 wrote:

Thanks Lucky1,

I have been considering the Platinum bagged upright. 

I called the largest independent in the area who is an authorized service center for Hoover.  I bought my Royal there.  I talked to the owners daughter who sells.  I asked her if they sold the Platinum.  Her immediate was 'NO'. She said you do not want one as they are made in China.  She proceeded to tell me about getting a new Platinum floor cleaner in for service.  Her factory trained Hoover tech and a Bissell tech could not repair it.

She said that they had some refurb Panasonics for a very reduced price.  These supposedly have never been used.  Panasonic shipped units with out the sole plate on them and had to take them back and add the plate. Naturally these have to be sold as refurbs although never sold to a consumer.  How did they keep the brush roll in the vac with no plate?

I explained that I was not interested in the Panny and wanted the Hoover for ease of use like Oreck.  She quickly said that the Oreck does not clean good due to the 'toy like' fan for starters.

She suggested Sanitaire and then Miele uprights.

I later called Hoover.  They have a Platinum line.  I asked the rep about using the Platinum on laminate and tile since it has no brush cut off.  After a moment she said to test it in a small area to see if damage resulted.  What kind of answer is this from a customer rep dedicated to a single product line.  It is good that the carpet and rug institute makes recommendations because the manufacturer does not seem to know. We were suddenly disconnected.

I called back and spoke to a different rep.  She put me on hold for a good 5 minutes to try and get an answer.  She fianlly returned to say that it should not do damage, however if it did to discontinue use and switch to the canister.  I inquired about the belt replacement.  It is not listed as a consumer part.  I guess because it is advertised to never need replacement.  I was told to take it in for service as it was not replacable by the consumer.  The manual shows how to replace the brush roll and gives the part #.  The belt has to be removed in the process.  So much for consumer not being able to replace. I was never told emphatically that warranty would cover replacement.  Only that it was located in a place to prevent breakage and wear. Would that location be in the package and not the vac?

And to think that Carmine has been critical of Dyson customer service knowledge.

Now I have an authorized Hoover dealer discouraging a Hoover sale and encouraging me to step up to their top of the line products or a refurb that I am certain the make good profit on.  A service rep dedicated to a so called special series that can't answer the simplest of questions.  A favored rag tag mag giving top honors.  What is the consumer to do?  Simple, buy from the bb store and use for 30 to 90 days.  If it performs keep it.  If not return it and let the manufacturer suffer since they and their dealers are almost useless.

HARDSELL wrote:

If you're holding down trees HS!  Great vacuums if you have top of the line looped medium pile Mohawk wool, like me.  And my KIRBY doesn't have a self-propel feature.  But it does have an excellent rug height adjustment.

Carmine D.

And to think that Carmine has been critical of Dyson customer service knowledge.  Per HS

Well, if being told to return to the store for a refund because dyson can't work on my carpets, is critical, then you're right.  I was merely telling the facts and circumstances of the telephone call.  You imputed I was being critical. 

Carmine D.

PS:

HS, Did you ever think that perhaps that is the reason, at least in part, for the huge number of refurbs.  Dyson HELP LINE telling dyson owners to return their purchases to the retailers for refunds because the dysons won't work on their carpets?  Or do you think the buyers determine that on their own once they have the vacuums in their home and use?  Hint:  The answer is all the above.