Demoing vacuums

[fan-of-fans]

From reading the the recent thread here on vacuum displays, I was wondering about another topic. Which stores allow customers to try out vacuums now? Which ones did in the past?

Of course most stores in the US that specialize in vacuums would allow demonstrations. As far as department and big box stores, the first one that comes to mind is Sears. The department is carpeted also. The odd thing is, I have never seen anyone trying a vacuum out there, but some of the bagless uprights on display show evidence of being used. I was allowed to try the clearance Kenmore Progressive canister I bought also.

Other than Sears, I don't know if any other stores here allow this. It is pretty evident from the design of many displays that the vacuums cannot be demonstrated.

While I was referring mostly to US stores in my examples, it would be great if our members from other countries could give their input as well!

 

[super-sweeper]

I'm willing to bet,

That Montgomery Wards offered demonstrations, seems as if they would.


Could anyone back me up on this?


 

 

[mr_mom]

serveice merchindise did demos but they were locked on display and you had to call someone over to unlock them for anyone to try

 

[suckolux]

Our Wards allowed it, I think Sears too

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

When I worked at Sears, we did... lots of demos... even when there were no customers I vacuumed and I drove the people in the neighboring departments crazy with the noise.... major appliances, electronics, and sporting goods all hated me! If Bobby was working there was going to be a vacuum going, come hell or high water. Usually a top of the line Progressive canister or Direct Drive upright, but sometimes I ventured out and used the Hoover Windtunnels (then they really hated me, those things were loud). I loved showing people how to use the machines, from releasing the handle to using the attachments... I even flipped the machines over and showed the brushroll to everyone I demonstrated a machine to...

When I was about 20, I went to Best Buy and began trying out a bagless machine... there was dirt in every machine there and I'd seen people trying vacuums there before so I helped myself... I had the machine on for about 4 seconds... a sales associate came over and asked if he could help... I told him I was just trying that machine. He said that wasn't allowed there and that I was welcome to buy the machine if I wanted to try it in my own house. I asked how I knew if I wanted to buy it if I didn't try it first. He said that was why they had a return policy and asked if I thought they allowed people to try the washing machines and dishwashers before they bought... I pointed out that there were plugs right by the vacuums, all the vacuums had dirt in them, that I'd seen other people trying them out before, and that Sears allowed customers to try the vacuums. He said that there was dirt in the machines because they used the display models to clean the store with. He said it still wasn't allowed and he was going to have to ask me to put the machine back. I got his name and left... called the store about and hour later. I asked for the manager and said that associate was very rude to me and kicked me out of the store for trying a vacuum... I told the manager that I went straight to Sears and bought the same machine there (a lie, but I didn't care) because they refused to allow me to try the machine. I told him that associate cost a sale and then I asked where I could find something in writing about their policy change that prohibited the trying of vacuums in the store... The manager apologized and said they had no such policy... I think the noise of the vacuum was annoying that particular associate and he thought I was just playing because I was young, but it sure made me mad. I've not bought anything at Best Buy since!

 

[vacman117]

Sears is the only one that I know of that lets you try them. A lot of stores actually zip tie the vacuums to the shelves so you can't take them down. If there is something that I'm interested in at a store that doesn't tie them down I'll usually pull it down and mess with it, but there's usually not an outlet around.

I was at Menards once debating on buying my LG Kompressor and a worker came up to me and said that I could take it down and a find an outlet if I wanted to try it. I actually did end up buying it too.

 

[adamthemieleman]

Well..

I guess it was my thread you saw. Yes I actively encourage it, I even have stuff to clean up, dc01 collected dust from home, flour and pet hair. I actually enjoy initiating a demo, I'm just not happy when I have to hand it over!

Yes Bobby, I know what you mean, you know if Adams in because you can hear a cleaner going, most chances it's me going round dusting our glass shelves with a Dyson dc34.

 

[kirbylux77]

Here in Canada, if you walk into Future Shop, you can try their vacuums out there. At my particular store, they have some very thin commercial style carpeting in the aisle the vacuums are located. And if my memory serves correctly, I do believe Eaton's & The Bay stores in Canada allowed you to try out their vacuums as well.

Rob

 

[diabeticdoode]

There's a couple of Lowe's stores around here that allow you to demo them. The floors are just concrete though, so idk what good it does.

 

[suckolux]

Hmm, maybe we could drag some samples from carpeting?? Prob not.