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DysonInventsBig


Location: USA
Joined: Jul 31, 2007
Points: 1454

Hoover USA; a Chinese manufacturer owned corporation...
Original Message   Dec 21, 2008 2:16 pm
... Not sure if Americans realize Hoover is no longer an American brand.  Our jobs have gone to China, our manufacturing has gone to China, our dollars are wired to China and our brands are going over to China.  Hoover USA celebrated their 100th year in business...  in China.
This message was modified Jan 4, 2009 by DysonInventsBig



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DysonInventsBig


Location: USA
Joined: Jul 31, 2007
Points: 1454

Re: Hoover USA; a Chinese manufacturer owned corporation...
Reply #12   Dec 23, 2008 10:57 am
CarmineD wrote:
FYI:  There are technical difficulties with the Bloomberg interview with Joe Galli.  

Hello DIB:

The HOOVER Floormate has been on the market since the early 2000's in its current form/design.  It can be used on all hard floor coverings and venues with applicable cleaning solvents.  Originally retailed for $229 but prices now, even with the new and improved versions, range from $80 to $200.  Excellent product.  I own and use one myself and have for several years. 

HOOVER originally launched the product as an electric  floorwasher in the late 50's with several iterations primarily with color differences.  There was no market for it.  And HOOVER scrubbed it after several years.  Reintroduced by HOOVER early this decade with an improved version.  It has been a huge success both sales and performance wise.   It uses a single path and filter for wet and dry pickup with the same bin collection for both.  Filters run $6-$10 each depending on retailer.  I changed the filter once in 2 years [it's washable and reusable].  Not because it was dirty.  I used the Floormate to pick up glass shards from a candle holder that my granddaughter knocked off the table.  After I picked up all the broken glass, I replaced the filter.  The only step needed by the user for wet/dry usage is a flick of the dial switch.  It even dries floors by suctioning up over 95 percent of the wash water and evaporating floor wetness with heated air.  One of HSN's most popular floorcare products in sales.  I recall on one HSN TV sale day several years ago that over 10,000 were sold.  This number was the rule rather than the exception.  My caveat is that I can't verify/support these numbers with accurate data save HSN's say so. 

I recommend watching a Floormate demo if you haven't already.  I enjoy using the product and seeing the results.  It does exactly what it claims to do.   The proof is self-evident.  And whenever I use on our ceramic tile floors, it's a sure way to get into the good graces of my dear Wife.

Carmine D.

Carmine,

There is no switching, save the brushes turning off.

I’ve actually watched the Floormate demoed on HSN in the past.  It's one of the few Hoover demos given by their rep, Julie Truster where she is not flat out lying to sell.  Hoover does not have to lie whey they innovate products people want to buy (I have not used the product, but have heard the scrubbing was weak).

DIB
This message was modified Dec 23, 2008 by DysonInventsBig



hoovergroover


Joined: Jul 29, 2008
Points: 14

Re: Hoover USA; a Chinese manufacturer owned corporation...
Reply #13   Dec 23, 2008 11:50 am
Strange that Oreck an american company can open the clean home stores, yet TTI at the same time closes Hoover Service Centers with I'm assuming now lower production costs. Mexican and Chinese made products VS. American. I guess one way to think about this is to use the same old 30 year design that is extreme simplicity to increase production and lower the time to piece, or to increase the complexity and effectiveness through technology while lowering labor costs (overseas) (TTI). The result a similar market approach.  Funny I think we / they are all in the same bed... Capitalism.. Yet if Oreck can maintain till 2010, it has great positioning.  Going to read Marx now bye..

(perhaps not perfectly stated but close.)

This message was modified Dec 23, 2008 by hoovergroover
DysonInventsBig


Location: USA
Joined: Jul 31, 2007
Points: 1454

Re: Hoover USA; a Chinese manufacturer owned corporation...
Reply #14   Dec 23, 2008 12:01 pm
CarmineD wrote:
DIB:  Not sure of your point.  Do consumers care?  Save old timers like me, none probably do.  So thank you for your concern for my feelings.  Whoever these unnamed CEO's are that you allude to, at least they did not grovel to get a bail out from the US taxpayers for their ineptitude.  Instead, true to the tenets of capitalism, they [whoever you mean] sold the HOOVER brand/products on the world market to the highest bidder.  Are you surprised it was a China based country?  Look at all the electronics makers and their countries of origin.  All paths lead to the east.

Whether HOOVER can resurrect itself or not depends on the new owners and management not the old.  Time will tell.  So far, the products I see and own under the TTI tutalege are impressive.   

Carmine D.


Carmine,

Maybe I was using to broad-a-brush in describing “Americans”.  Many do care, [it looks like] most do not.  Certainly those that don’t care are getting an education during these economic and jobless times.


DIB
This message was modified Dec 23, 2008 by DysonInventsBig



CarmineD


Joined: Dec 31, 2007
Points: 5894

Re: Hoover USA; a Chinese manufacturer owned corporation...
Reply #15   Dec 23, 2008 2:59 pm
Hello HOOVERGROOVER:

The Oreck business model is essentially the original HOOVER business model.  Make products in the USA with a network of sanctioned stores owned, operated, and/or licensed by the maker to sell, service and carry genuine replacement parts for the brand's products.  ORECK is also a "niche" vacuum brand with the lightweight upright market.  It has expanded into other floorcare venues with canisters, sticks, hand vacuums, waxers, and rug cleaners but only as an accomodation to ORECK buyers/customers.  Not to mass market. 

ORECK has literally weathered bad economic times in the past, most recently Katrina [August 2005] which was a direct hit on it's New Orleans plant.  ORECK's ability to maintain normal operations without stumbling and relocating operations to Tennessee so quickly are testaments to its business model.  It will have a tough time in the current economic environment and Dave is getting old.  2010 is not that far away and his family members have/will take over the bulk of the day to day business.  But the business was Dave's and his youngins may not feel the same way about business as he does.

The weakness with the ORECK business model [or its strength depending on your perspective] is the limitations of a "niche" product maker for sales and profits.  Dave and his family members are not billionaires.  They're successful business people living simple comfortable lives.

Carmine D. 

This message was modified Dec 23, 2008 by CarmineD
CarmineD


Joined: Dec 31, 2007
Points: 5894

Re: Hoover USA; a Chinese manufacturer owned corporation...
Reply #16   Dec 23, 2008 5:54 pm
DysonInventsBig wrote:
Carmine,

Certainly those that don’t care are getting an education during these economic and jobless times.


DIB


Hello DIB:

WRT education for those that do care, and the China HOOVER connection, you might recall [maybe not] that HOOVER contracted with TTI in 2004/2005 to produce the FUSION and FUSION Plus bagless uprights for $100-$130.  These were VERY popular sellers among the retailers who carried them.  Even displacing more expensive bagless brands and models for shelf space and future sales.   It was a reason in part that one poster here opined that TTI might be a likely suitor for HOOVER.  To his credit, he was "spot on" as they say in the UK.  In 2007, after Whirlpool acquired HOOVER with its MAYTAG buyout, WP decided to divest vacuums from its venue.  WP sold HOOVER to TTI which already owned the VAX, DIRT DEVIL and ROYAL vacuum brands. 

BTW, DIB, do you know what country produces the all metal ROYAL-s?  Is it China or the USA?

Carmine D.

This message was modified Dec 23, 2008 by CarmineD
CarmineD


Joined: Dec 31, 2007
Points: 5894

Re: Hoover USA; a Chinese manufacturer owned corporation...
Reply #17   Dec 24, 2008 3:48 pm
DysonInventsBig wrote:
Carmine,

(I have not used the product, but have heard the scrubbing was weak).

DIB



Hello DIB:

As opposed to what?  A bucket and mop?  Swiffer? 

It's a misconception to judge the Floormate solely on scrubbing alone.  It's a floor washer and dryer.  It comes with two sets of brushes, one slightly more aggressive than the other.  And with my particular Floormate model, a hose, extension wands and array of brush attachments for hard to reach areas.  The brush attachments are not revolving brushes.  Just straight suction tools with bristles.  The cleaning power comes as much from the cleaning solutions as the scrub brushes.  IMHO. 

I have mohawk sealed ceramic tiles that cover about 75 percent of my home.  I use the softest brushes with warm tap water and no solutions.  Works great especially in the tile seams which maintain their original new luster w/o yellowing and discoloration from dirt build up.  A testament to the HOOVER Floormate's cleaning performance since I have an English yellow lab and 3 grand daughters who like to scuff and mark the floors.

Carmine D.

This message was modified Dec 24, 2008 by CarmineD
DysonInventsBig


Location: USA
Joined: Jul 31, 2007
Points: 1454

Re: Hoover USA; a Chinese manufacturer owned corporation...
Reply #18   Dec 26, 2008 5:24 pm
CarmineD wrote:
Hello DIB:

As opposed to what?  A bucket and mop?  Swiffer? 

It's a misconception to judge the Floormate solely on scrubbing alone.  It's a floor washer and dryer.  It comes with two sets of brushes, one slightly more aggressive than the other.  And with my particular Floormate model, a hose, extension wands and array of brush attachments for hard to reach areas.  The brush attachments are not revolving brushes.  Just straight suction tools with bristles.  The cleaning power comes as much from the cleaning solutions as the scrub brushes.  IMHO. 

I have mohawk sealed ceramic tiles that cover about 75 percent of my home.  I use the softest brushes with warm tap water and no solutions.  Works great especially in the tile seams which maintain their original new luster w/o yellowing and discoloration from dirt build up.  A testament to the HOOVER Floormate's cleaning performance since I have an English yellow lab and 3 grand daughters who like to scuff and mark the floors.

Carmine D.


Carmine,

This vac uses air driven brushes with little down force, does it not?  This wet/vac has a fan base for sure, but there are those who have textured floors and/or grout lines that complain in their reviews.

I like the vac (I think).  Your sealed tile and grout is the primary reason your floors release stains as good as they do.

DIB



CarmineD


Joined: Dec 31, 2007
Points: 5894

Re: Hoover USA; a Chinese manufacturer owned corporation...
Reply #19   Dec 26, 2008 5:38 pm
Hello DIB:

Correct on both accounts:  Air driven brushes and my tile is sealed.  But, I sealed the floors and granite counter tops before moving in per the contractor's instructions.  I have neighbors who sealed the floors too, but don't have/use the Floormate regularly like me.  Their tiles and grout seams have discolored in just a few years.  Looks terrible. 

My only criticism of the Floormate product is the vacuum's weak suction in the dry cleaning mode.  Inevitably, if I use the dry cleaning feature for vacuuming, there is some dust and debris [like pet hair] in the dirty wet tank pick up.  If I use my ORECK to vacuum the floors first before using the Floormate for washing/drying, nothing is in the wet dirty tank except liquid!

The Floormate IMHO is an amazing floorcare product.  All houses with substantial hard floor coverings should have and use one.

Carmine D.

This message was modified Dec 26, 2008 by CarmineD
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