Any Aerus News?

[jo]

Bristles

I think when the bristles are new they are fine. I have a Kenmore canister with super stiff plastic bristles and while it does fluff older matted cheap carpet better, it also rips the fibers out and sucks them in the bag. Too stiff I say. For expensive carpeting and rugs the bristles on the Aerus/Electrolux are correct so as to not cause excess wear on the carpet but still remove the dust that has settled into the carpet without destroying it. Stiffer isn’t always better. If you need better lifting of the carpet fibers, you either have cheap carpet that mats or it is already worn out. If it’s just matted, better to use a carpet rake than a stiff bristled power nozzle to lift that nap in my opinion. Yes you can use a stiffer bristled power nozzle to lift the matted nap but it will also wear out the carpet that much faster, whereas a carpet grooming rake won’t wear out the carpet.

 

[jo]

Combination of reliability and performance and ease of use

For me I would want a combination of time proven reliability, performance and ease of use. For me for Aerus to start making major changes in their products doing away with some of those time proven systems such as on the Lux Classic would be a mistake. It works well and has proven itsellf and is time tested. Yes, under super abuse it will wear but that’s not “normal” use.

I notice when people are young they want the latest and greatest and new advancements thinking they are going to somehow be better, not always true. And after learning this people as they get older realize newer isn’t always better and tend to just demand reliability on a higher level than fancy advancements that aren’t time proven. I’m 51 and HATE modern days appliances that have circuit boards. Yes I know it’s cheaper for the manufacturers to put these in than mechanical controls but not when it has to be replaced due to failure.

I’m pretty sure the Lux Classic doesn’t have any circuit boards. The Lux legacy might for the lights on the top but it seems minimal. Clearly the platinum does and as noted above people are already having issues with it. If it’s under warranty which I think they all should still be unless not owned by the original purchaser they should be covered, but who wants the inconvenience of the board dying? Makes the product unreliable. Aerus is catering to both the people who want the traditional reliable models and the ones who want the latest and greatest advancements in my opinion and therefore should be ok. If they change or eliminate that strategy they will lose customers of whichever models they eliminate. If I had an unlimited budget and needed a new vacuum I’d likely end up choosing the Lux Classic most likely for the reliability and ease of use and change to the flip rug and floor tool and add a sidekick. Personally, I think it should be sold this way especially considering it’s current price and maybe include the lighted power nozzle as well and the longer length crevice tool. The short one is interesting but limited in its use. The above is strictly regarding the canister line. The upright is a whole other story That likely needs modification particularly to have the attachments on board and easier to use but I’m not an upright user so I won’t go into that here as I’ve never had one to experience it fully.

 

[kloveland]

Brian, I like your version better. The PN matches well.

 

[marks_here]

How do I

Go about doing that for mine? I already have have many Sebo power nozzles plus I've got the floor scrubber attachment I got for $25 brand new 2yrs ago for my Felix but have never used it.

 

[n0oxy]

gimmicks

What is most important is good quality and good cleaning performance, I say skip the gimmicks, it's just more things that can fail on the machine, the Classic is a tried and true design, nothing fancy but it cleans well and that's what matters. Usually the gimmick features require a circuit board which can fail.
Mike

 

[mark40511]

Holy crap - I had NO CLUE that Electrolux had national commercials in the USA back then! I mean it would be so WEIRD to see a Rainbow Vacuum, a Kirby or Electrolux commercial... That blew my mind.

 

[electromatik]

Here's another Electrolux advertisement

I forgot to include this one earlier. They rip Kirby big time in this one. I must admit, compared to most uprights at the time, if I had seen this, I would definitely have wanted it instead.

 

[kirbysthebest]

I don't like, and have never liked

Run them down sales approaches. You don't show people how bad their machine is, you show them how good your's is.

I saw a Lux dealer at the home show a few years ago, he was saying how great his machine is, and they are good, but then he made a nasty remark about another brand. There were four people at his booth, and three of us walked off.

 

[jo]

There is a proper way...

To compare to other brands without turning people off. It’s all about how you say things. This ad above is unfortunately bad as it exaggerates the Kirby issues making fun of them in a bullying sort of way. This could have been done in a much better way. As much as I ageee with the ad’s point, I don’t like the ad because of the unfair exaggeration. They could have been more fair by professionally showing the Kirby not being able to fit under the bed or another pierce of furniture, could have shown how the Kirby has to be height adjusted constantly and the Electrolux is automatic and just shown the Kirby and all it’s parts taken apart to put the hose on in a better way than they did and said the competition has to be disassembled to be coverted. They failed to show the switch on the Electrolux to switch between floors and carpet but did make the point.

Jon

 

[electromatik]

I just posted these for historical value

I'm not attacking other brands nor am I making personal statements. I just wanted people to know how large and powerful Electrolux used to be. Many don't realize that Electrolux was always much bigger than Kirby or Rexair or any other direct sales vacuum company. It had much bigger financial resources and used them accordingly. Electrolux was for decades the best selling vacuum in the U.S. and even after they lost that title, it remained the largest selling canister in market share for decades more.

In any case, a company "attacking" other companies' products certainly isn't new and isn't unique to Electrolux. I liked the ad, and found it mostly humorous.

 

[kirbysthebest]

I wasn't stating that in regards to you, or your post, just the poor practice in general.

 

[human]

Valid claims....

That is a pretty humorous ad, in a lowest common denominator sort of way. Its rhetorical approach is more commonly employed in those dial-the-800-number ads for some sort of wonder gadget selling for $19.95 with the inevitable "But wait! There's more!" Any way you slice it, it's definitely an artifact of its time.

As an owner of both of the machines featured in that ad, I can attest that all the points it makes are completely valid. The Electrolux Discovery style upright is considerably easier to use. I always end up feeling more like that Kirby user in the ad. No matter how I try, I can never manage to replicate the ease with which the Kirby salesman reconfigured the Classic Omega I saw demonstrated in our living room when I was about ten years old.

So although I have multiple sets of hoses and attachments for my Kirbys, I use those machines pretty much exclusively as uprights—when I use them at all. Honestly a Kirby comes out only when I feel the desire to play with a Kirby. For ease of use, I more consistently reach for an Electrolux. For small, quick jobs, I gab my Discovery II or my recently acquired Epic 3500SR because I can just unwind the cord, plug it in and go. For a bigger job, I'm more apt to take a minute or two to assemble a canister since I don't keep hoses hooked up on them. Although the Electrolux uprights are extremely well balanced, it's nice not having to support their weight on longer vacuuming jobs.

 

[air-waycharlie]

IMO, when Electrolux came out with the two motored upright they had a definite winner. It is so easy to go from carpeted floors to non-carpeted floors with decent suction. Also, it is VERY easy to use the hose and attachments.

When the hoses for the uprights became electrified the vacuum was even better. You can add the Sidekick and take care of furniture, stairs and car interiors. Arguably, the powered Sidekick can out perform the Kirby turbo tool. The "rug rat", version is fairly good but just listen to it scream when attached to an Electrolux upright or canister.

Like Human I own, (or have owned), many Kirbys and Luxes. I have the current Aerus upright and really like it. My favorite go to Kirby is a G-3 that was rebuilt by Kirby. There is something about the Kirby design from the beginning to now that is very pleasing to the eye. The polished metal finish with nice accent colors differing in the years of production is kitchy while functional for large carpeted areas.

Again, like Human, for ease of use I grab the Aerus upright or my SEBO Felix. That we all have personal favorites for different reasons just makes us "human".[this post was last edited: 7/25/2020-21:57]

 

[electromatik]

@kirbysthebest

I realized you weren't directing your post at me. No worries.

I just wanted it clear I didn't want the thread to turn into a flame war. It's a 30 some year old commercial now and not worth getting mad over.

But isn't it amazing how long the Aerus threads often get? The legendary company Electrolux, one of the biggest that looms large in vacuum history, still commands our attention.

 

[n0oxy]

mini brushes and Sebo Felix

Another very nice mini electric brush is the Wessel-Werk HEB160, not sure if this would work with these Electrolux uprights, it's a 6 inch brush with a very short cord that plugs in to a standard hose power nozzle connector.
The Sebo Felix is an awesome vacuum. I don't like uprights much, I'm pretty much a hose cleaner person all the way whether that's a canister, backpack or central vacuum, the Felix is the one upright I have and it's a great machine, it's really a canister cleaner in the form of an upright. As far as I know it's the only upright that actually allows you to remove the power head and attach a hard floor brush.
Mike

 

[myles_v]

Air-WayCharlie....

I absolutely agree, the two motor upright is by far my favorite design that Electrolux/Aerus has. If they would update and mass market it then they'd have a winner. It's wonderful as it is of course, but most average consumers completely overlook it due to its outdated appearance. I love finding old ones to clean up and sell or give to friends because they're just so foolproof and effective, but every single person I've given one to has commented on the old boxy look. One friend of mine actually calls them Brady Bunch vacuums. I love the look, it's nostalgic for me, but it's not the popular opinion with consumers.

Lower the price, add some gimmick for hard floors, dress it up a bit, then plaster it all over Amazon. They could push the Sidekick option, maybe add an electric stretch hose onboard like the Shark Powered Lift Away models. I know this won't happen, but I can dream I suppose. The vacuum industry is dying for a middle-market bagged vacuum to compete with Shark. Many people are becoming disgruntled with bagless vacs, but there are very few bagged vacuums between $100 and $500, and none of those mid-range bagged vacs are in major stores.

 

[funeraldirector]

Lux

We have seen this before but not in the Lux International color.


Brian

Lux

 

[paul]

Re: Reply 14

Has Aerus unveiled its new floor & surface product manufacturing and sales approach yet? If so, what is it?

 

[jo]

Not much

They’ve discontinued some models and have sold off the upright which is now made for them. The lite uprights are also made for them. The Lux classic and Lux legacy are all now being produced in China as the Bristol VA plant now is exclusively making air cleaners.

Aerusvacuums.com still up showing the current options.

Parts for older models are now discontinued as of Sept 2021. Likely because they were being made at the Bristol plant which underwent major changes.

With fuel prices insane and shipping delays getting the machines here from China could really add to the cost but oh yeah…that’s right…they moved production to China because labor is super cheap there so I guess they can afford the shipping around the world. It would have been nicer to have built a new plant for the air cleaners and employed more American people to build the machines!

Jon

 

[gabowenjr]

Aerus update

I'm not sure if all of that is true. The lux lite and cordless lite are made for aerus definitely for sure. But as far as the classic and legacy being made over seas and then shipped here I'm not so sure that is true. They did open up another dist facility in Tennessee as well. Aerus stores do more than just vacs. Some do water systems, air systems and vacuums. Some great things are getting ready to be rolled out for the 100th anniversary and the company isnt going anywhere. As far as parts go they have been discontinuing parts for old models for years its nothing new.