Another one got away.

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rainbowd4c

rainbowd4c

Well-known member
Platinum Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2011
Messages
698
Location
Saint Joseph, Michigan
I just keep losing.  I have been hunting for the last three years a blue late 70s Sears Kenmore Very Best canister.  I found on on Ebay and up until last night six day ago I was the only bidder. Then at I think around 01:00 am I was outbid by a dollar.  I kicked up the bid again and then at 1 minute 45 second when I thought it was mine I went to get a bite to eat and came back and the auction ended and I was outbid again and lost the auction. Between houses and vacuum I give up.  LOL And so the hunt continues. 
 
Don't ever give up... someone wanted it more than you and was willing to pay. I always just bid the maximum I'm willing to pay and walk away. If I win, it was meant to be, if I don't - well like I said, somebody wanted it more than I did.


Sometimes you get a steal, most often not. It's the nature of an auction. I won one a few weeks ago for $1.99 plus $21 in shipping.... the seller lost $5.21 out of the gate because shipping was $28.20 add in his final valuation fee and paypal fees it probably ended up costing him close to $10 to sell the vacuum. On the other hand I lost one I really, really wanted and I bid, what to me was, an astronomical sum for a vacuum... I lost by $1.. but if I'd have bid more, I'd still likely have lost by $1 or ended up paying more than I was comfortable with. Have to take the long view with auctions....you never know what value someone else will place on the object of your desire.
 
Thinking about it now...

I guess it's okay, because I would have had to put money into it to fix the carpet height adjuster. But it looked perfect with the hose and hopefully the cored that were the original from purchase.  Like I said the hunt continues.
 
I am sure that you will have success and will get the 'right' one at the right time. One thing collecting vacuums has taught me is patience. Early on I'd snap things up and end up having so much invested to get them running that I'd get a bit ill thinking about it. Every one of those units taught me something, but most importantly that getting the one I'm looking for at a price I'm happy with makes it all the better in the end and much more enjoyable.
 
I'm not really starting a collection.  I just like the vacuum.  LOL  I had one like this years ago when I moved into my first apartment and it was a great vacuum and it would be perfect to rotate out with my Rainbow. I'll find one.  Your right. When it happens it happens.
 
andy unless you are good at scratchbuilding repaairs you wouldve been dissappointed with that kenmore anyways. the pn's height adjsuter was broken as was mentioned in the selling description. it looks me quite some out of the box thinking to repair mine using wood shims, jbweld, expoxy and 2 failed attempts before i fixed it and worked properly, as i have the same model. probably sure who won it will have no clue how to repair it, and bitch at the seller because they failed to read that disclaimer...
 
I'm loosing either way.  I bid on a new hose for my Rainbow.  The hose I use for my shampooer has a small crack and I wanted to replace the hose. I saw one on E-bay and placed the bid and I'm already loosing. LOL


 


I'll keep looking.  I'll get my Blue Kenmore.  It's just a matter of time. 
 
Andy just wait

Most likely another vac will come along in much better shape that will be yours. Like Tom was saying the timing isn't right..I've got faith you'll get the one you want! It will be worth the wait!! Mark D.
 
There are a couple on Craigslist, blue with the wood grain on the bag lid and over the headlight of the Powermate. I think one is shown in some New York and other New England states. I also saw an absolutely beautiful cream colored one like my 4.2 that had me counting my pennies.

Mahalo
 
That's the one my aunt had..the only complaint she had was that where the powermate cord clamp attached to the wand it never stayed tight & always fell off.
 
True that! Exact same situation with my folks Kenmore of similar vintage. It is pretty easy to overlook after three decades of absolutely trouble free service. I cleaned and inspected the motor compartment two weekends ago, and inspected the brushes. They still have more than half of their original length. Those old fashioned Powermates are pretty brutal on the ears compared to a modern Hayden, but when the motor finally quits you put in the ultra quiet late model Hayden motor (direct swap in the old Kenmore base), chevron patter brush (also a direct swap), a new belt (same as the old belt) and soldier on another few decades. They are about as close to perpetual motion machines as one finds.
 
Electroluxxxx.  I have attached a copy of the link.  I like this color and if you have any at this length I would like to buy two. 


 


Everyone else  I'm good.  All of you were right it wasn't right or the time.  Instead I used the money and paid off my plain tickets and rental car for my vacation in October.  I should have done that to begin with. I'm not worried.  I'll get one. It's just a matter of time, and not is not the time.  Thank you all!!!



http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Rai...281369247943?pt=US_Vacuum&hash=item4182ea00c7
 
As an eBay Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Holy moly ! The price of collectible old Kenmores is great enough that the same amount of money can pay off an airline ticket and car rental? Yikes. I thought this would be a cheap hobby. Guess not.
 
So let me fix my last statement. LOL I bought my vacation plan two round trip tickets and car rental through United Vacations. I have been paying on it since February. I didn't have that much of a balance left so I just used the money of what was going towards the vacuum and paid the rest of the balance off. LOL Now I am going to finish paying off my condo for the vacation.
 
I've never found it a cheap hobby but a most enjoyable one! I love ressurecting the dead and working on the vacuums to look close as new as possible. Parts seem cheap enough it's the freight to NZ thats a killer! Last purchase from the states - 1 sponge filter $2.75, freight $19.95.....mike
 

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