CarmineD

Hello HARDSELL:

No, can't say I saw the story you speak of.  I raised the issue for Venson because of a personal experience related by a friend who bought 4 new tires for his 2005 Acura MDX recently before making a cross country road trip with his grand daughter for the Holidays.  He got several quotes from tire retailers with large price fluctuations.  Turned out the cheapest quote, when he went to buy the tires and have installed, were the oldest.  He decided against them.  He's a retired auto mechanic who owned and operated his own business in Connecticut for many years.  Now owned and operated by his son.  Tires, brakes and wheel alignment.  He shared his story with me so I passed along. 

BTW, air, if you can find pumps nowadays at stations, is no longer free.  If you use nitrogen in your tires, like I do, filling can cost you anywhere from $25 to $100 for 4 tires.    Getting it free from the vendor is a customer benefit!

Carmine D.

Hello Venson:

Do you know the age of the tires you are buying on-line?  Did you factor that age issue into your buy decision?  With the slowdown in the economy and auto sales, tire sales are way off.  Shelf life of unsold tires is increasing drastically.  In some cases by many years.  These old in stock tires have risks associated with their use that tire customers may not know and/or are not told by retailers.  Especially with on-line tire purchases where you can't see the tires to see the dates they were made.

Carmine D.

Your economic praise for dyson is misplaced if you live in the USA and the UK.  Dyson products are made in MAL-ASIA and imported by the USA and UK.  Sales contribute to foreign countries and workers at the expense of the US and UK economies.   It's an outflow of US and UK resources/capital when Americans/Brits buy dyson products.   

ORECK is made in the USA with several US plants, 500 US stores and hundreds of US employees.  Sales of ORECK-s contribute to the US economy and US workers, increasing people's wealth here not abroad.  Like they say in the USA:  Buy American.  I like to add: Especially in the current economic times.

Carmine D.

Hi Venson et al.

There isn't a simple pat answer on same brand wholesale prices fro independent vacuum stores.  Cost to the dealers vary depending on a alot of different factors working together simultaneously, like models, quantities and promotions.  

Brand selling prices among the independent vacuum stores vary too depending on the factors that Lucky1 and MOLE talk about.  Wholesale pricing is irrelevant for buyers doing business with independent vacuum stores.  Why?  They have no bearing on your actions to get the best deal you can on the vacuum you want. 

My advice is shop around.  Find a store owner/operator/location where you would like to do business [word of mouth helps].  Then get informed and know the products well.  Consumer Reports is an excellent source and starting place for vacuum shoppers.  Never ever feel you should buy UNLESS you are confident you made the best deal you can on the vacuum you want.   

Carmine D.

Unfortunately, HOOVER is a victim of the economic sunami of 2008.  Others will most likely follow too. 

Carmine D.