Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Hi,

As I was looking for other information, I discovered that TTI, the present maker of Hoover, has come up with a "new" Royal canister vacuum.

Someone please check me out on this but it appears that the Hoover S3670 has been given a new paint job, refitted with the power nozzle from the Platinum Bagless canister and re-branded as the Royal Model SR30020 - Lexon S20.

Thar she is (notice the two generic throw aways aso in this new Lexon series at the top of the page) -- http://www.royalvacuums.com/Household/Canisters/lexon.aspx

I can only imagine the sweat they broke into to come up with this.  For reasons beyond economic, I think I've bought all the vacuums I'm going to for a while.

Oh yeah, I forgot to ask if any of the dealers here has knowledge as to whether the little Royal tank-type with PN has been discontinued.

Venson

Here is the UK version under Vax label, the Maxima. Doesn't come with a power head. Also known in Germany under www.dirtdevil.de as the "Allegra."

Hi Venson: I don't see the similarities with the Royal Lexon canns and HOOVER WT bagged cann.  Maybe some little same same with the Royal precision full size canns/VAX Maxima and DD Allegra.  Interestingly the new Royal canns are all bagged.  Are we seeing the pendulum swing now to bagged canisters?  Considering the smallish bagless dirt bins on the full size canns vice the larger dirt capacities of the bagged canns, even compact and lightweight, it's easily very possible. I'd say the latest Royal bagged canns are more stylish and European than the older USA style of the H-WT cann. WRT your question about the old Royal lightweight compact cann, I think it's going, going, gone.  Old and out of date and eligible for retirement.  Still in some's inventory and for sale.  But not for long with the new crop of canns on the market. Carmine D.

Carmine - the body of the vacuums are the same - just slightly different trim treatments and buttons.

Hi Carmine,

I think the three, Hoover, Royal Lexon and Vax are very similar and that they all also scream Miele.  Placement and style of speed control, attachment storage, cover latches are all similar.  As I mentioned the PN on the Lexon is from the Hoover S3865 also shown.

Venson

You convinced me.  So..........rather than buy a $900 MIELE cann made in Germany, consumers should instead buy a $250 HOOVER/Royal/VAX made in China?  Worse, what is a buyer getting when they buy $900 MIELE's made in China rather than from Germany?  I think this is what MOLE has been saying all along.  Quick, where's the closest Aerus dealer?

Carmine D.

Once yet again I must point out that not all things in China are crap build!

vacmanuk wrote:

I luv their New Year's and the people. Year of the Tiger, except for Woods. 

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

Hi Carmine,

The Hoover version bears a three-year warranty and Royal's Lexon has coverage for four years.  Whether that's worth the paper its printed on, I don't know.  TTI is obviously trying to mimic the Miele S5 series which reminds me of the Garry vac situation.  The question here is the same -- will these cheaper spin-offs prove a good alternative to the more expensive machine they imitate or is this just another test of consumer gullability?

After viewing the TTI site and looking at who knows how many market-angled vacuums (each with its own "special" little selling point) this morning I find myself skittish about buying anything from this company regardless of where it comes from.

Venson

Venson wrote:

Hi Venson:

I have to argue the other side of the fence thanks to my friend MOLE:  If MIELE wants to produce their vacuums in China, why should vacuum consumers pay mega MIELE prices for the products?  I know MY ANSWER to this question not sure of others.  I like RICCAR's approach, bring the production to the USA AND charge for the privilege of USA manufacturing and jobs creation.  Probably, I'm in the minority.  KIRBY, ORECK, FQ, RICCAR/SIMPLICITY, AERUS and a few more too would be my preference over the MIELE made in China for $1000.

[RAD, I've been waiting for you to chime in here, but so far you are doing a Claude Rains]. 

Like I asked in another thread:  How's that whole toyota thingie working out for you?  Can you imagine buying a BMW made in China? 

Carmine D.

The thing is though you're not paying for a vacuum cleaner determined by the price from where it has been made - that is madness. Infact the market prices are determined by sellers themselves taking on the SSP / Suggested Selling Price rather than the RRP / Recommended Retail Price and then whatever the brand is alllowing to happen in terms of specs and guarantees/after care warranties. In this case then its easy to see that Hoover are losing out by a year compared to Royal even though they are effectively the same machine but possibly with differences here and there, or spec changes. The buyer then has to decide whether they want a specific machine as per their own reckoning or the other type buyer who just wants an extended peace of mind and doesn't really mind who it is made by.

Mieles etc that are produced in China are not granted automatic "mark up" on prices = it is the sellers who are pricing them and additionally whatever the dollar exchange rate is like with Chinese currency.