Awesome Find- Thanks to my local Kirby Dealer.

[mpbyrd]

I got this Rainbow SE PN2 today for $25 at my local Kirby dealer. I have became good friends with the owner and she always saves me vacs and for the best prices around. I had been stopping in hoping to find one of these and today I hit the jackpot. This machine has been kept in pristine condition. There is absolutely zero scratches and all gaskets, cords, hose, etc are in perfect condition. I powered it on and was pleasantly surprised because this machine had no bearing noise, which can sometimes be a problem for machines of this age. This will be my daily driver because you cannot beat the reliability and cleaning performance of this model rainbow, not to mention this was always a part of my childhood memories because everyone in my family owns a rainbow lol.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I'm just always amazed that

someone would pay such a high price for a vacuum like that and then get rid of it, especially when there's nothing wrong with it. We have a family friend who has and loves hers. I also had a friend who sold them. PLUS, our own Mike Gravelin sells them as well.
Best of luck with your machine.

 

[mpbyrd]

Thanks so much

These are truly one of my favorite vacuums and I spent most of my childhood using them. My grandma and I both sold rainbows at one point as well. This one will sure get much use!

 

[panasonicvac]

My local Kirby dealer also had one at the time they were selling it. However they asked $100 for it so I past that one and it was sold the next day. I found one at the thrift store a few weeks ago for $50, I was going to get it but it was sold the next day. Tonight I found a D3 that's $25 but it's only the unit itself and it's in rough shape. Otherwise, congrats on your find.

 

[kenkart]

The former Kirby dealers

In Lenoir , Buell and Janet Pearson were also wonderful people who always were willing to help me when I was a kid.

 

[mpbyrd]

They really are great folks...

Since I stop by their office at least once a week, they never sale me a vacuum over $25 this includes several Electrolux canisters and my almost new "perfect" canister with all bags and attachments, my Sanitare, Ocean Blue and many more. They no I am a collector and I guess they know I am not out to try and make money off of these machines. That being said, the machines are all sold "as-is" and I have had a few problems but that's to be expected. Occasionally I will buy a plastivac or two to flip for a few bucks but other than that, it's all for collecting purposes only, however I am running out of room since my collection has now reached over 100... Lol

 

[human]

Back around 1989 of 1990, I had a roommate who sold Rainbows. He kept his demo unit in his room and I never saw it in action; in fact, I never actually saw him do any house cleaning. But he was always ready with a disparaging word about my green and tan "Brady Bunch" Hoover convertible when I'd pull it out to do some vacuuming. I haven't thought about that guy--or missed him--in a long time. If only he could see me now--fourteen vacuums and a filthy house.

 

[vac-o-matic]

I have that model Rainbow, and I got mine from a Kirby dealer as well. It was complete, clean, well maintained. I vacuum a lot due to a shedding dog so a Rainbow is not my regular go-to vac, however I do pull it out once in a while and give the house a good cleaning. I like being able to use the scents in the water, always smells so good when I'm done. That power nozzle does very well on my plush cut pile carpet, but that trigger on the handle is a PITA!

 

[mpbyrd]

I have dogs as well...

So I vacuum everyday sometimes multiple times a day. If I don't use a rainbow, I use a Eureka 1934b. It works beautifully on my shag rugs and is a light weight reliable vacuum and cleans up pet hair way better than my Dyson Ball Animal, but I prefer the old style design to a new vac any day. If Eureka ever stops making these machines I have already planned to buy several of them NIB before they do so I will always have one on hand. It's a shame they don't sale them in stores, I believe more people would be satisfied with one of those than a new bagless machine anyday.

 

[durango159]

Gorgeous looking Rainbow! The fresh air produced by them is nice. It's a shame they gave it up for a Kirby. But the Kirby salesman are quite forceful and probably found a way to put that Rainbow to shame while in the house. The Door to Door sales market is brutal!! Each one of them is great at making at making any other vacuum on the market sounding like awful crap. Then they offer a high discount to trade in whatever vacuum the person has, but really it takes the price from an inflated price down to what they normally sell from at that distributor. It's just a mind game they play on the consumer. In the end, it's kinda sad what goes on. That's why I got out of it all! Much better for people to get a Riccar or Miele or a refurbished Door to Door unit than to spend that kind of money on a demo. You get a Miele or Riccar and the rest of the money that would've gone to a new Kirby, Rainbow, TriStar or other door to door sales demo can be put towards a great vacation!!

 

[mpbyrd]

Very true...

I used to sale Rainbows and some of the people in the business were complete crooks! However when saleing Rainbows, I was always saleing a product that I truly believed in. Rainbow was not door to door so I enjoyed it more because I could generate my own sales, most of my customers where already owners of rainbows and were interested in the upgrade. That's one thing I don't like about Kirbys Sale tactics...They will let just about anyone work there, pile them in vans and go to neighborhoods and are extremely pushy. I never pushed my customers. I plainly just showed them what the product could do and left it up to them. It's hard to find quality made products anymore so I do agree, Miele, Riccar, Sebo, Simplicity, etc are still a quality made product at a far more reasonable price.