Quote from old-timer on 06/13/07 at 8:15pm:

 
Hello Jimmy P/OT:
 
I agree.  Some high priced vacuum brands thought they could deceive the USA vacuum buying consumers with high priced vacuums at the big box stores.  Retailers bought into it.  Why?  Profit.  The perception they thought was that if vacuums cost alot more they must be better.  This is typical of the Japanese customers [my apologies to them if they find this offensive].  The problem with this thinking is big box stores HAVE to sell new vacuums every year.  Well, people are not going to buy new vacuums priced at $300 plus every year.
 
What happens?  Perception soon gives way to reality.  Once the US vacuum customers get burned [sucked in], they remember.  Result: They flock back to the independent vacuum cleaner stores and the established vacuum store brands.  Not just to get their high priced big box store vacuums repaired, but to trade them in.   Or buy new outright.  Why?  Product support and reliability and customer satisfaction.    
 
Carmine D.

Expect to see 2 more bagless upright vacuums on store shelves.  The Dirt Devil i-vacuum for $250 with a 5 year warranty.  HEPA, permament washable filters.  11 foot hose reach.  Power tool on board.  Shroud and bin completely washable.  Easy bottom bin dump.  Cord winder.  Finger tip controls.  Decent brush roll.  Looks amazingly like the VAX and Siemens.  
 
And the Eureka Capture for $150.  Completely redesigned.  I have pics on someone else's cell phone.  As soon as I get them and figure out how to post on the Forum, I'll give it a shot.  
 
Expect to see these and more new models on retailers shelves soon and some culling of older models, especially the high priced dyson line.  
 
For example the Electrolux Intensity lightweight upright will soon appear on TARGET shelves.  And a new HOOVER Floormate, just to mention a couple more.  
 
HAPPY LAZY HAZY CRAZY SUMMER VACUUMING DAYS  
 
Carmine D.

Thanks Carmine,
 
I wasn't aware.  It was my assumption that Best Buy called the shots on the placement of the stock it bought.  Things being the opposite, it makes it a little clearer to me why Dyson prices stay elevated.  To what benefit I am want to know.
 
In my last few recent excursions to both Best Buy and Costco, I've definitely observed more shopper interest in far lower priced brands.  There does appear to be much less discrimination regarding features over price.  
 
As for Costco, or at least mine in Long Island City, I didn't see one Dyson on display my last visit two or three days ago.  Hoover and Eureka uprights seem to be in great supply however.  There is also a version of the Euro Pro Shark upright there for $199. It's blue but not the teal blue color that's being pushed elsewhere. ("Pushed" . . . can I call that a pun?)
 
Costco offers any number of brands, known and unknown online, but vacuum stock and quantity must vary noticably store to store.  My local Costco remains not overly focused on vacuum sales.  Overall there is not a lot to choose from and not a lot of effort put into engaging customer interest in what's available.
 
Regards,
 
Venson

Hi Carmine.I would like to post the following question to the dealers on the forum.
Since we know that manufactures pay the box stores for space on their shelves.How about the CO-OP advertising money.Are the dealers and big box retailers playing in the same ballfield. I would think at this point in time that the indy's and box stores should have more leverage and start dictating to BIG D,and others what they are going to pay for the product and what price they will sell it for.I think the tides are turning.
 
remember the HOOVER co-op plan,it worked out well for the dealers.........
 
 
O.T.

Carmine,
 
If the average Costco shopper makes 72 grand a year -- ple-e-e-z don't tell them about me.  They'll snatch my card back the very next time they see me.  Anyway . . .
 
I'm not sure that the"big box" stores will just up and go away.  I think the survivors, should public interest begin to wane, will be those establishments that are more thoughtful, clever if you will, about their offerings.  They will attempt to make consumers feel less like pigs at the trough.  
 
Did I ever tell you about the greatest shopping experience of my life?  Well I will!
 
Just before Mother's Day a hundred years ago, I wanted to give a gift to show my appreciation to each of two ladies who'd been very, very kind ot me.  I was going to school at the time, didn't have a lot of money.  BUT -- I saw an ad in the Sunday Times that Tiffany & Company was having a sale on some small crystal items.  The price was small too.  Only $25.00 per each.  I decided on a Bacarat jam jar for each of my good friends.
 
As I said, I didn't have a lot of money -- and I certainly looked it.  Nonetheless, I gathered my courage, threw my head up and pushed a door open.  There I stood in plain old jeans and with a hole in a sneaker thoroughly expecting to be taken for a shoplifter and ejected when the most pleasant of voices called out to ask, "May I help you?"
 
The nicest salesperson that I have ever had occasion to meet stepped forward and directed me to a petit point chair beside her desk.  Knowing the cost of the stores usual fare, I immediately blurted out a nervous apology for my being there only for a couple of paltry 25-buck items. She immediately set me at ease by telling me how tight Jackie O could be when Christmas time came.  In any event she made a lil' ol' country boy like me feel just as important as royalty.
 
And that's where the problem lies.  Yes, it's super cool to walk into a place where you can pick up a bag of potato chips or a 60" TV but the art, and a most profitable art it is, is to be able to make a customer actually feel valued enough to win their trust.  Costco, Best Buy or even a Wal-Mart could do this given more thought to the product they vend and/or the way they vend it.  They could sell any brand of ridiculously priced product to the masses if they were more able to convey a particular sense of their own selectiveness to the public.  But they don't.  
 
And so drove of shoppers come in looking to buy "cheap" though not "good" because they know they can't trust these places of business for that.  Yes, people are going to have to be offered something other than sleight of hand in regard to savings that aren't and long lines at the cash register.
 
Venson