Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Venson wrote:

Hi Venson:

I hear you.  Ironically, all big box retailers are gingerly raising their prices and passing along increases in their operating and administrative costs and expenses to their customers.  Have to wait and see how that works for them.  I'm predicting customers will respond as they usually do when this happens.  Stay home and don't shop and if they do, don't buy.

Carmine D.

PS Venson:  1 in 5 US homes are facing foreclosure and 1 in 8 Americans are living below the annual poverty amount.   

November 2010 Consumer Reports rates and ranks the latest from LG in uprights and surprise they score fairly well with overall totals of 65 for the LuV200 and 67 for the LuV300.  Carpet and pet hair cleaning scores are Very Good but tool suction for the LuV300 only scores Average.

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

Hi Carmine,

I know, I browsed CR online and was pleased to learn they'd done well. They are quite good vacuums as far as suction power and cleaning ability go. 

Venson

Venson wrote:

Hello Venson:

Do you think in time and after pending patents expire that other bagless brands will copy the LG "compression" feature?  Consumer Reports was rather neutral on the benefits of the feature but at least highligted this LG feature as a major difference over other bagless brands. 

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

Hi Carmine,

It's hard to say.  How well the system -- vertical cyclone and the "wiper blade for compacting dirt -- actually works.could prove to be debatable.  A while back I posted links to a video or two re earlier Kompressor models that sort of made the grade but not as perfectly as ads and claims may have stated.  From what I've seen this system does help keep collected demo material-- confetti, kapok and coffee grounds -- toward the back of the collection bin but that kind of material makes for a loose pack, possibly not allowing a chance to view the full effect.  "Real dirt" is different.

From what I've seen people are thinking on how well the cleaners pick up, their  weight and pricing.  The possible larger collection capacity and longer cleaning time between emptyings is what they find equally interesting.  The crucial point is how they will perform -- and survive -- for over-zealous or neglectful users that take the claims to heart.  In other words, compared to others, how long will LG's machine last when compromised by user preference day to day?

Venson

Venson wrote:

Hi Venson:

Well said and true.  The test of time.  Those that survive and flourish, pass and continue to be part of the CR reviews and ratings.  Like MIELE.  Like KIRBY.  Like Aerus.  Those that don't, die off and are forgotten.  Like Fantom. 

Carmine D.

Hi Venson:

SEARS launched the latest LG Kompressor 400 this past week with and an advertised price of $399.  However, the newspaper ad has the caveats that the listed price is before in store savings and before a 5 percent discount if purchased by SEARS cfredit card.  Looks like SEARS and LG are together once again.

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:
Hi Carmine,

Maybe, maybe not.  Pricing seems to be going every which-way.  I went online to check it out.  I don't know if online Sears sites are several in number and set up for region or if one site serves for all.  From what I saw, the LG 200 and 300 have finally  been dropped to what I thought were the manufacturer's suggested prices -- $299 and $399 respectively.  However, the 400 model has been upped from $522 I've seen in Sears stores to $549.  See link to LG below.

http://www.lg.com/us/appliances/vacuum-cleaners/index.jsp

Venson

Venson wrote:

Hi Venson:

You know better than me.  Is it likely that big box retail stores are pricing vacuums better in the store than on line to get more foot traffic, especially with the upcoming holiday sales season?

Carmine D. 

CarmineD wrote:

Hi Carmine,

Well-known "black Friday" is soon to come and will probably tell the story re holiday shopping this year.  I've seen a lot of optimism but I've also seen of people still looking for work.  And even with those who are woking and maybe even with the so-called middle-class and its gung-ho shopping traits due to easy credit access slipping away here, it seems that asking for $250 to $350 is like asking folks to invest $1,,500 on a Kirby or Aerus. 

What retailers need to learn is how to take a new tack.  You really have to explain to someone the value of sacrificing the price of a couple weeks worth of groceries or what you could have paid out to your utilities provider for just a vacuum cleaner.  We're not dirt-poor but becoming extremely judicious as to what we spend on.  Andf, these days its totally necessary. 

Personally, I don't like but accept the way things stand these days.  What you paid $49.95 for in yester-year you pay 500 bucks for now.  Junk factor in mind, even I am prone to go the extra mile in price and sacrifice something else if I feel the product will be worth it.  Yet what I'm seeing is no matter whether warranties are 5 years, 10 or 20, "buying ahead" is not a great point of interest to a lot of current shoppers. I went to the Bissell website for pricing examples and discovered that out of many models only two priced above the $200 mark. and that appears to be what people seem to make themselves content with in light of limited or no demo facilities. Imagine, can't turn a vacuum on just to see if you like the noise level yet its the Bissells and inexpensive Hoovers that you see being walked out of stores more than anything else.   .

As you know, the stores are making money off their so-called "extended service plans".  (And to think I thought people were actually becoming resistant to the idea.) You pay extra money and when the product dies in a year or so you go back to the store and get another one or its equivalent. What spells cheap product better? Nonetheless, the more youu extoll teh value of a long warranty, the more you learn uit falls on deaf ears.  If it really is an ill wind that bears no good, maybe this will benefit the indies.  You can at least walk in and kick the tires on what you want before buying.