Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Hello Vacmanuk:

Do you have some specific brands and models other than dyson to share with us?  Stateside, median prices of big box store vacuums have declined in recent years EXCEPT for dysons which have actually gone up int he same time.  With the exception of the most recent and current year which finds dyson following suit.  It took 8 years for dysons to actually lower product MSRP and retail selling prices on its newest models and matching 20 percent retailers' discounts.  Contrarily, other vacuum brands and models, like TTI, Dirt Devil, EUREKA, BISSELL, [even ORECK selling its upright solo for $200 and stocking its combo team in big box retailers for $225-$250] have all been lowering their price offerings in the last 8 years except perhaps for one or 2 models of each brand.  Use to be $200-$225 was the median price for a full size decent up/cann in the bb retailers.  No more.  $100-$200 for most of their full size vacuum wares.  Hence, the reason tht the buyer/user of the SEARS progressive Glide wrote: For the money [$200] the SEARS Glide should offer more, like attachments.  Why?  He's been [and others] conditioned by the falling vacuum prices among big box retailers.  Dyson tried unsuccessfully for its time in the states to buck the trend of downward vacuum prices and now has joined in.  Why?  Because the competition at big box retailers is hurting dyson sales IMHO.

Carmine D.

Without getting too entrenched in the micro economics, it's safe to say that the lower vacuum prices in the USA have not allowed total annual new vacuum units to stay the same at 20 MILLION or in fact go up, as one would expect, with all things being equal, and we know they never are.  Recession in America [worldwide] with 14 percent unemployment, falling housing prices and new starts, and the tanking US housing market, worked adversely on the economics of new vacuum sales staying the same and rising.  Including dyson where the US market represents 2/3 of its total annual new unit global sales.  Add to this, the US Federal Reserve, my good old friend Ben boy Bernanke revising economic growth in the USA downward from 3-3.5 pecent to 2-2.5 percent, not just for this year, but next.  Add too, the collapsing Euro overseas.  First Greece going bakrupt, now Ireland.  Next Spain?  and Portugal.  I expect a 2 tier Euro across the pond: Northern and Southern euro.  Add too, the USA monetizing our debt [after Keithner and Bernanke swore under oath to Congress never to do so] adding $600 BILLION on top of the 2 Trillion already under this current administration, and inflation is already starting to rear its ugly head.  Big time.  Setting off, no doubt, an increase in vacuum prices in the near future.  What will all these factors do on new vacuum unit sales in the USA?  Globally.  For the next 2 years and out.  Doesn't take a genius to know. 

Carmine D.

Hi Carmine

Is it not hard to beat a tempo overall...or a panasonic 583....versus the higher priced alternatives. Same results or better  at a far lower price...even in the long run with proper care they are both hard to beat at that price point. Why spend more when u can spend less for far better results....and a product that will last just as long as the higher priced units. Why spend more ...when you dont have to for the same results.

turtle 

Hello turtle:

Agree.  WRT HOOVER/TTI Tempo:  It's prices have actually risen over recent years from a low of $50-$55 to now $80 and $85 and rarely on sale/advertised.  Worth every $ plus some.  Pano makes a decent budget line of uprights. Very popular sellers among vacuum store independents and worth their prices.  I have no doubt that as the vacuum makers raise their prices on their big box store vacuums, the vacuum store independents will see a resurgence among vacuum customers for their new and rebuilt brands/models.  Hopefully, these vacuum sales, at last the new ones, not the rebulits, will balance the fall off in new vacuum sales among the big box retailers.  Sadly, no industry data/sources factor into the annual vacuum sales both new and used vacuum sales.  Nor can/should.  Except to know that to the extent big box store vacuum sales fall off, possibly even precipitously, used vacuums, rebuilts, parts and service will surge among vacuum indies.  A good thing for the industry.  Nice to see a silver lining, despite the bad economic reasons and causes for it. 

Carmine D.  

Hi vacmanuk:

Overall, would you say that the median prices of vacuums sold at UK big box retailers have gone up or down [or stayed the same] over the last 3-5 years [excluding dyson brand]?  How do these recent vacuum price trends compare to median vacuum prices in the UK in 2000 and soon after with the adoption of the euro?

Carmine D.