Hi Guys,
Here in Mansfield, we have a few stores that allow you to try out the vacuum cleaners before you buy. The Royal Touch is a small mom and pop that sells Fuller Brush, older but brand new Shark vacuums, a few Panasonic and then a mixture of older, used but refurbed that he’s taken in on trade, etc. I tried out my three Fuller Brush vacuums there and was very impressed, they have full nap area rugs, runners and low nap commercial carpeting for you to test vacuums on. BUT if the older, mean woman is working when you’re there she will only let you vacuum a few seconds (Literally) then she rudely yells you MUST immediately turn it off as “they sell the displays as NEW” and they cannot allow you to muck it up! lol She is totally annoyed by me as the owner guy really likes me and gives me price breaks, but she cannot get mad at me as I did buy all the ones I tried out.
Then there is my absolute favorite store in town, Vacuum World. A husband and wife sell Riccar, Sebo, Royal, Cirrus, Carpet Pro and a few others taken in on trade, etc. They have nice carpeting areas to try them on: Frieze, Medium Plush, Thick Berber, Commercial and a very soft, plush carpet. It makes it really nice to try the different carpet types as there is a huge difference in those different naps. Randy and Laura Eichar (owners) are SO nice to me that I have bought probably 8 or 10 vacuum cleaners from them so far. They offer gold star service above and beyond the manufacturer and give you full demonstrations of each vacuum, allowing you to use it like you would at home and explain all the features of each vacuum. VERY nice people and I’ve added a link to their store website. That is my only criticism, they cannot find someone to update and improve their somewhat outdated website.. they had companies offer but they would have charged a fortune to update and maintain and they are living on nothing but the store sales. I always buy everything I can from them to help out, including bags, belts, etc every chance I can to help out. That’s another great thing about Vacuum World, they keep all then needed parts in stock at all times and you can even buy most Kirby parts from them too.
We also have a Kohl’s store and you are allowed and encouraged to try out the vacuum cleaners right there, but they only have low nap commercial carpeting and tile.. so it’s harder to get a feel for how it will clean and ease of use.
Our Sears is still open, as of today, but they have NO clue if you have questions and you basically have to lift the vacuums off high shelves and try them out yourself.. you will get no help from the staff there and they look at you like you’re annoying them when you try the vacuums out. They must know our store is soon to be closed?
Our Volunteers of America and Goodwill do NOT allow you to try the vacuums and you will get yelled at and threatened to be thrown out of the store if you try to plug in a vacuum before you buy it.. THEN they all have NO returns policies on vacuum cleaners. Basically they tell you.. As IS and Absolutely NO returns on vacuum cleaners... even if they are non-working. It’s sad but the employees at our stores don’t give a crap and are mean... they also mark the vacuums WAY over what they should which is why not many sell. $55 bucks for an old, very worn Kenmore is ridiculous! But when I find one that looks like I can fix it to almost new, I sneak over and plug it in and try it out.. LOL I’ve been yelled at but I’m not about to buy a used vacuum without seeing if it at least has a working motor and brushroll. Then I clean them up and give them away or donate them back to a different store than I bough it at... Usually to a nice Mom and Pop type Flea Market, Junk store that has nice stuff and they keep it clean.
Mansfield has a place called ABC Warehouse and you can demo their vacuum cleaners too, but again, they only have flat commercial carpet. Their selection isn’t that great either and most are cheaper, low end vacuums like TTI stuff.
Now our Walmart, Sam’s Club, Meijers, Bed Bath and Beyond No longer have working vacuums on the shelves and you cannot try any of their vacuums out before you buy. They have either fake, non working models or vacuums with the cords cut off and everything that is removable is screwed or wire tied onto the body of each vacuum. You basically can see what it looks like and maybe feel the brushroll bristles.. but that is it and all but Walmart give you a big hassel returning any vacuums as they don’t want to “deal with the returns with the manufacturer or vendor”... Some of the employees at BB&Beyond know I buy vacuums as a collector and are happy to get them down and let me try them out.. but I’ve been in there before when I was Not looking at the vacuums myself and heard them say NO to other customers who wanted to try them out. But thankfully they are very nice to me since I bought about 5 or 6 vacuums in that store so far.
Any other vacuumland members who cringe and find it horribly wasteful to see vacuums destroyed by screws driven in to hold all the parts on and cords (Gasp) Chopped off at the base! It’s offensive to me as I think, even the cheaper vacuums IF LEFT INTACT could be donated or sold at a modest discount instead of ending up in the dumpster!
Other than that, you have to drive about an hour to Columbus (our state capital and largest city) and then you have lots of choices. We have Oreck stores, Miele, Simplicity, Riccar, Sebo and many more. The folks at the two Oreck stores were VERY nice and had about 4 types of carpet and tile, wood and vinyl floor to test the vacuum over. I am upset though as when I went a few weeks after the Oreck POD was released and everyone here mentioned seeing them in stores... ours did NOT have them yet. Now that’s been months but I’ve not been back since then cause summers been very busy. Oh and they have a very nice Costco you USED TO be able to try the vacuums out, but now they, Like Sam’s Clubs have the vacuums Wire Tied and secured to the wire racks above and you are Not permitted to take them down, etc.
http://www.vacworldinc.com/
