Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

   Customers are coming in  asking  about bags, belts and filters for cleaners that Wal Mart sells. They were told they were discontinuing these products and want the customers to go online when they need these items. When you need a belt or anything else ,it is," I need it now", not days from now. These customers didn't like being told they had to go to another store if they had what they needed. In our area it is 20 miles in three directions for a store.

  Many small businesses have been driven out of business by this company as well as other big box stores.I feel there will be a ressurection of the Independent Vac Shops because people will find getting parts and service there is better than going online and waiting. Looking at a cleaner and seeing what it will do is better than buying online and hope it does what it is supposed to. Online sales will still be made but having the service after the sale is still important. 

You can say what you will about your favorite brand but when it gets down to buying a cleaner going to a Vac Shop is the best way.  At Wal Mart and the other big box stores they sell you what they want to sell you. At least with Vac shops you can find a wider variety of Vacuums.The Door to Door sales peolpe also have a variety. It is if the cleaner meets the needs of the consumer that they buy.

                                                                                                           Procare

Over the last couple of years, I have almost always taken a walk through the vacuum aisle of any BBR I happen to visit, of whatever stripe, home improvement, electronics, or department/discount. The average number of full size  vacuums has consistently been 15, what will fit on the shelf of an aisle. The carpet cleaners and stick/hand vacs typically are facing the vacuums, and frequently one or more end caps are devoted to vacuum display. Wal-Mart is the one store that has recently and radically cut that selection so that all of it fits on one side of one aisle.  Probably the largest part of the reason behind that is the reduction of the highest price point in the offerings to be no higher than 159.99

Lowe's and Best Buy have much larger selections, with prices approaching 300.00 for non-Dyson models. Dyson is still present at both those retailers, and they both offer canisters as well.

Trebor wrote:

Hello Trebor,

I suspect you're correct as is Procare and the information he's receiving from W*M customers who couldn't find their usual vacuum parts on the shelves.  W*M has always maintained that its typical customers shop at least once a week every week, have 5-10 items to buy, and want to spend no more than 20-30 minutes finding/buying these items and be out of the store.  W*M made a huge investment in time and money several years ago trying to ensure that customers could get the last one or two items they need in 20 minutes including the time needed to check out and pay.  

It's no wonder that since January 31 2010, after the annual W*M stockholders meeting, there have been major shakeups in W*M management for merchandizing, store operations, and inventory management.  WIth thhe reasons kept very close to the vest.

The more vacuum products you carry, the more replacement parts too you have to stock and display.  The more vacuum parts, the more shelf space.  The more shelf space, the more difficult and time consuming to arrange, sort and keep organized.  Most especially in recent years with the onslaught of pre-post bagless filters.  It's a nightmare for stores and their customers.  If the parts are out of place, require time for look ups/staff assistance, W*M customers/shoppers won't bother.  They'll leave frustrated without the needed vacuum parts.  In good times, just buying another inexpensive make/model.  Not now in bad IMHO.

Whether you cull, which W*M does regularly as all BBR stores do, or scrub completely, the result is a loss of sales [not customers in W*M cases].  W*M will still get shoppers who will most probably end up buying other products and merchandise rather than vacuums/their replacement parts.  Sure, other retailers will profit from the W*M changes.  I'm sure W*M has factored this into their decision making process already.  But, W*M has other products to make up the losses: Food, gas, clothes, furniture, appliances, electronic equipment, cards, magazines, drugs, toiletries, and the list goes on.  

Time will tell if the decision is right or not.

Carmine D.

PS:  If the decision and changes work for W*M's bottom line, and obviously it will take time to know, watch for other BBR store chains to do the same.  All bodes better for vacuum store independents who will be the winners in the end.  They will get more customers and sales, even if just vacuum parts and repairs.  Finally one more reason for dropping all if not most vacuums: The cost and expense for the loss on returns in recent years have become astronomical for BBR stores.

FWIW, Wall Street Journal yesterday carried an article about Wal*Mart in particular and several other retailers like Home Depot and Lowes who reported Qtr 2 earnings this week.  "Retailers Are Sold on Frugality, by line: Store Chains Take Cue From Shoppers As They Brace for Rough Second Half.  Several new W*M execs [installed after the management shakeup following the annual W*M stockholders meeting] talked about major changes in all W*M stores.  Some of which have been mentioned here in this thread:  Culling products, sizes, selections and staff.  The key is cost cutting and lowering expenses to improve the bottom line.  All retailers see a long protracted andf slow recovery especially for the housing market and consumer spending.  Complaints by retailers are already coming in about the lackluster  "back to school" sales usually the busiest time of the year for retail sales not counting Christmas. 

Carmine D.

Complaints by retailers are already coming in about the lackluster  "back to school" sales usually the busiest time of the year for retail sales not counting Christmas.


Having worked many years in retail, the big predictor of how lush or sparse a Christmas season would be was back to school sales. If the kids got all their fall clothes in  one swoop, Christmas presents  were luxury clothing and toys. If they got just what they needed to start the semester because it's all Mom and Dad could afford, then Christmas gifts were mainly the balance of the clothes usually purchased at the beginning of the term in better times.

Trebor

Trebor wrote:

Hello Trebor:

Some financial analysts are blaming the doom and gloom Wall Street Journal article on retail sales and the economic outlook for the sell off in the markets on Thursday and the Dow's 145 point decline.  SEARS reported financial results too the following day.  Didn't even meet the street's predictions and forecasts but came in worse.

Carmine D.

Carmine,

I view the current  economic situation as the result of a very skewed set of values. The consumer culture as we know it is less than 100yrs old. The whole concept of creating needs that can never be fulfilled was deliberately crafted and foisted on the American public, We work to earn to spend, rather than  work to live, with spending as a necessity that is sometimes enjoyable. A healthy economy was a by-product rather that the raison d'etre.

We have reached a dead end. We already have too much stuff and can no longer afford to buy more, not even at reduced prices thanks to lower wages overseas and increasing trade deficits.  We in the US live in what is essential a gated community untouched by the troubles our consumptive lifestyle wreaks upon the rest of the world. Lives used up too soon to bring us the mall, where indulgence awaits the bearers of cash, check and above all else credit cards.

Natural capitalism views natural resources, including human capital as valuable, too valuable to be squandered or misappropriated or abused, but still recognizes the value of free markets and competition. It is a way out of the mess we find ourselves in without becoming a socialist country and ever increasing government intervention.

Trebor

Trebor wrote:
The UK isn't that far off. Thanks to the internet the consumer gets a better bargain than trade who mark up prices in a fight to survive. It works in some areas and in other areas, not.

Sadly, Americans are so "stuff" oriented that our propensity to have and want more has spawned a new American industry for storage centers nationwide.  Imagine, we are so tied to our possessions we pay to store them and never enjoy.  We've confused the desire to consume more and own more with happiness.  Albeit superficial as most learn with wisdom and age.

My daughter recently drove my old Ford Exp XLT and commented how old it was.  100,000 miles and almost 12 years old.  But, still going strong.  Every two weeks it doubles in value: I gas it up. 

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

Hi Carmine,

Despite it being quite true that many Americans are suffering from too much of a good thing, obesity being an all too common ill these days, let's not forget that those nifty storages spaces are also being used by many displaced persons. They are trying, if nothing else, to hold onto some of what they have and what they feel they may not be able to soon buy again. 

I have seen much of it here in the city and its surrounds and speak of those persons who have suffered foreclosures, those who have lost rented spaces due to their loss of unemployment benefits and no likely possibilities of work in view.  There are those as well who are working but who have been forced to take smaller living spaces due to the unaffordability of more adequate but reasonable space because of low rates of pay or fixed income.

We shouldn't forget either that here we often advocate the ownership of more than one vacuum as opposed to suggesting just one that may prove good all around for the average person.

Again a possible answer to all this is for us over-consumers to learn to say, "Uh-uh, I don't need it."  But, that's a long way off I think. Let those that can thank the Lord for money and solid medical insurance to cover their excesses. Let those doing without thank Him anyhow.

Venson

Venson wrote:

Hi Venson:

Sad but true.  Not only using the storage spaces for clutter but some, illegal as it is, live in them for lack of a place. 
We can thank the US foreclosure mess to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, Government Supported Enterprises promoted by the likes of Senators Christopher Dodd and Barney Frank.  Home ownership was the American dream.  Now it's an American nightmare.  40 percent of Americans owned homes in pre-WW11 America.  By mid 80's, 65 percent.  Right before the housing bubble burst in 2007, the percentage was 74, the highest its ever been.  It's gone down dramatically since then.  After one home, many bought another, and another.  Using the over inflated equity in one for the down payment on another.  Washington DC sold us a bill of goods.

Back to here.  With more and larger homes, came the need for more vacuums.  With home foreclosures and less new homes built, there's less of a need for more vacuums.  Consumers are saying "no" and getting more frugal with spending.  Buy, use, and reuse.  Like the good old days.  Hence, the reason for W*M and other BBR stores cutting back on number of products, sizes, brands, staff, etc to reduce costs and shore up the bottom line. 

The Almighty should always get paid first [we use to call it tithing.  10 percent says the Bible].  Like the old poor woman in the temple who gave her last 2 pennies in the money box [you can hear the miniscule sound they made] but gave more than the rich Pharisees who put in heavy coins making big loud noises for all to hear.

Where your treasure is, there will be your heart.  

Carmine D.