Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Dyson has this week released details of their end of year 2009 performance and generally paints a positive picture. Highlights include:-

• Despite the recession, global sales for the company increased 23% to 770m GBP
• Operating profits more than doubled from 90m to 190m GBP
• The Dyson Air Multiplier is a top seller in Australia; within 6 weeks, representing 64% of the market for desk fans, by value.
• In the UK and US markets, the updated 'ball' range represents more than half of the Dyson cleaners sold.
• In the UK, the company has a total market share for vacuum cleaners, by value, of 40%.
• Dyson is the market leader for vacuum cleaner sales (by value) in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, France, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, Ireland and New Zealand.

Looking ahead, the company talks about new product launches scheduled towards the end of 2010 - a fair number of which (my speculation) are likely to continue the trend of offering a completive advantage by using digital motor technology. Ironically, a technology originally developed for use in their full-size vacuums, while all current models continue to use traditional motors.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/dyson-profits-double-thanks-to-rd-investment-1983841.html

http://www.themanufacturer.com/uk/content/10603/Dyson_cleans_up

http://www.managementtoday.co.uk/channel/Entrepreneurship/news/1006022/sales-vacuum-dyson-gadgets-cost-worth-paying/

http://www.eurekamagazine.co.uk/article/25296/Dyson-doubles-operating-profits.aspx - note: this has the statement 'The company has also confirmed plans to launch a robotic version of its bagless vacuum cleaner' - dunno if that's significant, but I haven't seen it reported elsewhere.

retardturtle1 wrote:
Retardturtle,

Sounds like something my mom would do (use a nylon thinking somehow this was a benefit when in reality it’s more trouble than it’s worth).  The Dyson shrouds are the most imitated, I’d assume this means they are ‘best in class.’  The fly screen had been used by Euro Pro and the newer Fantom, but it’s a choke point and forces the user to maintain (get dusty).  Not good.  If hair makes it past the shroud then perhaps she was filling to high or airflow is interrupted (often).

Dishonest Dave Oreck loves demonstrating that it's impossible (for him and his team) to empty a bagless without getting dust everywhere and in ones lungs.  Dyson sued him twice over this falsehood.  Now Dishonest is going bagless - too funny. 


Dyson Invents Big

DysonInventsBig wrote:

Oreck has had bagless floorcare products for decades.  Most recently a compact size canister.  Dave never said bagless vacuums would be a collector's item in time to come.  I recall in print your hero said that about vacuum paper bags in 2006.  Dishonest dyson or just dumb dyson.

Carmine D.

Severus wrote:

Thanks SEVERUS.  Nice to see that CR had the sense to review at the start of the summer season [Memorial Day]. 

Carmine D.

M00seUK wrote:

Thought you might like to read the latest on bugatti from the NY Times.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/23/automobiles/collectibles/23BUGATTI.html?ex=1290484800&en=f4858c8bf631e842&ei=5087&WT.mc_id=AU-D-I-NYT-MOD-MOD-M151-ROS-0610-HDR&WT.mc_ev=click

Like collectible vacuums or more like dyson's comment on paper bags.  The only perceived truth is in the heads of the sayer.

Carmine D.

DysonInventsBig wrote:

dib,

Companies sue each other all the time.  How were the lawsuits resolved?  Please provide a link to the story of the rulings if possible.  David Oreck is a very smart man.  He also knows that it's important to protect his reputation.  He doesn't just say that bagless vacuums are messy, he demonstrates it with videos.   In a table comparing bagless to his bagged vacuums, he does use the phrase "bagless - may be messy to empty."  

I'm not sure how the lawsuit was resolved, but several videos are still on the oreck web site depicting the messiness of emptying a Dyson DC14:   www.oreck.com/upright-vacuum-cleaners/oreckxlultra_vs_bagless.cfm. 

I have no idea what led me to go window shopping this moring but in the process of making the rounds I finally got to see the "bladeless" fan on a shelf at BestBuy for $299..  Best yet, it was even plugged in.  Is it is cute?  Heck yeah!  Could I use one . . . . well . . . well . . . no!

But fortunately, just down the aisle what did I see that could change my life -- an 8,000 BTU Frigidaire air conditioner FOR JUST $199.  If I want to I can add another $60 and get coverage for in-home repair or replacement through BestBuy for the next four years.  I'm but lowly and plebian but the deal rings sweet in my ear and I swoon . . .

Moving on to vacuums -- Dyson should be beefing about the awful manner in which BestBuy allows vacuums to be used for demo and store maintenance and then returned to the shelve for display without emptying or cleaning up.  It is not helpful as far as turning on a possible buyer is concerned.  I of course have been informed that BEstBuy does not promote this kind of use for saleable stock but it appears, alas, alas, word hasn't reached my branch.

Despite the dirty, dusty (and scratched-up) state that this branch of BestBuy had set out its demo model of the DC28 in, I was able to immediately appreciate the thing that makes it a winner.  The brushroll.  The bristle tufting is set more tightly together and the "drum" is larger.   For all his far flung ideas, Jimmy D finally got something right.

Venson

Venson wrote:

Saw the fan at target....no way on this earth is it worth the cost..period.

a/c....so worth the cost my friend....years of relaxating enjoyment....money well spent as i would die and fall out without my a/c.....my youth  is to blame ive been told...? the ext warrty...in your situation is worth it...id be all over it . the security is worth it.

The 28s roller would be an after-market gift to the 7.....that and the clutch system....get rid of i say and install an aftermarket roller like the 28 and you have a beast in waiting...problem solved...and one im surprised hasnt been addressed...due to the issues at hand.

turtle

retardturtle1 wrote:

As a fan, the Dyson air multiplier is way overpriced - by several hundred dollars.  However, as a status symbol and piece of art, it's "priceless."  

Severus wrote:

A collector's item. 

Carmine D. 

CarmineD wrote:
Although I won't be buying one at the current pricing, I would consider one if the price dropped to say $50.  The danger to Dyson is that by gouging consumers on the fan, consumers might do the math and conclude that vacuums are overpriced by a similar factor.  Just to be generous, suppose that with it's novelty that the fan is worth $100:  then the fan is overpriced by a factor of 3.5.   A consumer might conclude that the vacuums are also overpriced by a factor of 3.5.