Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

A really cool insight to the workings behind the company and how they develop what I believe to be some the most well designed vacuums with overall good-great build quality in history.

Actionvac wrote:

Hi Actionvac,

I think there lots of shopping options around.  However, people can be lazy or feel too beleagured by other matters to take time to look.

Indie shops can be good resouces for good vacuums -- because pricing can be negotiated -- and also for good, sturdy rebuilts that come with warranty that may come at really nice prices.  We now also have eBay but accomplishing good purchases by way of it takes common sense and care.

Nonetheless, many people who'd only deal with specialists for highly expensive purchases seem to feel, as I'm sure you're well aware, "What's a vacuum cleaner?"

I was at my local vac shop yesterday chewing the fat for a minute with its owner who was proudly regaling me with the story of how he'd made his first hole-in-one a couple of weeks ago.  I know squat about golf so that part of the conversation lasted just a minute or two and got to vacuums.  Most memorable, he said that years ago he'd been taught by a company rep that vacuum buyers fall into definite categories.  Those that feel no more than 99 bucks is a proper price for a vacuum and who will never spend more than that and then those that feel a good vacuum can't be had for less than 500 dollars who will probably never spend less than that.  The opportunity for real sales potential predominantly lies with those who stand in the middle. They can be convinced to try this or try that and probably settle on whatever gives them perceived satisfaction.  The quote, unquote good fit.

Venson

Venson wrote:

Hi Venson:

20-60-20 rule.  20 percent of consumers could care less about vacuums and the particular brands/models.  20 percent know exactly what they want and are willing to pay for quality made and performing vacuums.  60 percent go with the flow..whatever comes along and anything as long as it runs and picks up the dirt.

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

Thanks Carmine,

My neighborhood guy didn't tell me there's a name for it.

Venson

Venson that is so true, I have done Dirt devil warranty for 20 yrs and do you think I have sold anything to those folks more than a pak of bags? no of course not thats because they are the 100.00 people, now Dyson warranty sells me 20-30- new high end vacs a year (and pays better) because they are the folks that spent the 500.00 to get something good and willing to spent another 500 plus in my shop.

CarmineD wrote:
Sadly I wish that were true in the UK. When I worked in retail in the UK, most customers knew that they wanted a Dyson by the infamous commercials and wouldn't back down from the brand until they tried it in the shop. Then they began to see that it was not all sweet and wonderful. Most customers now are reading up on Which and other consumer sites and asking weird but wonderful questions that I've not heard for a long time stuff like:

"Well it looks fantastic but how easy is it to change the drive belt?"
"If the hose goes up a stair case, does the model fall over?"
"If Dyson says his models are lifetime, what about the filters and drive belts?"

Clearly some UK consumers are thinking ahead of themselves and most would if they have had bagged vacuums and ran out of bags. Dyson has tried every rule in the book when it comes to bagged vacs. If sales were really that bad, I guess there would be no market for bagged vacs.

vacmanuk wrote:

The economic situation worldwide makes all who want to keep a little money on hand more thoughtful as to how they spend and what they buy.  The questions you mention are posed by informed consumers.  They know there is no such thing as magic and if there is, it's doubtful that they'll find it inside the box a vacuum came in.

The more intelligent questions and demands.consumers put forth, the better possibility of getting worthwhile product.

Venson

A little insight on how I dislike Dyson. On any other vacuum repair that I have done of late , it has been for the consumer to get a fair shake on keeping their cleaner running. A Dyson DC-25  is currently here that needs a brushroll and new end bearings. Normally that is something that the customer would pay between $30-$60 depending on the cleaner. The Dyson brushroll can be bought separate but not the cheap made plastic bushing end caps. The customer is having to pay $75 plus the cost of labor for a bearing and brushroll combo that shouldn't cost the consumer more than $25 . They want you to buy a complete head.  The way the head is constructed and the material it is made with makes me wonder why people would fork over so much money. If people saw the cheapness of the brushroll and bearings  I don't think they would buy one. Hertz and  his well designed vacuum is poorest designed in my book.   CONSUMERS are # 1 and should get quality.                                                                       Procare

procare wrote:

Just out of curiosity, how easy is it to get parts from TTI versus Dyson?   Which companies are best for getting parts and service?

Severus wrote:

Hi SEVERUS:

I went to the HOOVER site and clicked on the parts icon amd then typed in brushrolls and got this:

http://www.hoover.com/parts/?category=vacuumbrushrolls

Brush rolls go from $12 for some current models like the Elite Rewind to $45 for the old metal agitators for concept, spirit and celebrity models etc and everything in between.  The average price is about $25 for the WT. 

I went to dyson site for DC25 clicked on parts and typed in DC25 brushroll but couldn't get anything but jibberish.  Nothing even closely related to a brush roll.  Went to DC07 and DC14 and the same.  No brush rolls just jibberish.  Interestingly, according to the site it claims DC25 has a 5 year parts and labor warranty.  Wonder if the brush roll is covered?

It appears the default for not finding the dyson part is a telephone number.  I'll go back and type in brushbar and see what that does.  No success with brush bar either.  Just a telephone number.

Carmine D.

Carmine ,

   The question I asked my Dyson  repair friend about how long to get a head or any part if he had to order was 10 days minimum. That is too long. The people that brought in the cleaner had a problem early on under warranty and went  to Sears where they bought it and it took 10 days before they got it back. The next time they had a warranty center they went to and it still took 10 days. I got the cleaner Wed. and they will have it back tomorrow.  My Dyson repair center just called me and asked if the customer wanted the head I got off of him or decided not to repair. It happens that he needs one and it will take 10 days to get another one.

                                                                                                                                                                                            Procare