Dirty, Avalir... Can it be redeemed?

[godfreys_guy]

I bought an avalirs for the bargain price (in australia) of $150. The ad said needed new bag and small floor head. In the ad it said the accessories have never been used.

Went the 50km trip to collect, people were nice enough and in an entirely tiled house...(why a Kirby?). They have used it as a cannister but have broken the floorboards and 2 wands. The shampoo system and turbo accessory and zippbrush have never been used as have most of the small tools.

Anyways took it home and had a look... Eep yeah have a look at the pics as to why a new bag (now washed and fine). Also need a bag topper and the small pieces. The brushroll shows almost no use.

There was a pencil and glue stick in the hose, because that's normal house litter and have a look at the price they paid, holy crap!

 

[mariotron]

They paid that much?!

You at least think they would have taken better care of it. I can't believe they used it without a bag...

 

[human]

Some people...

...obviously have more money than sense and if this isn't proof positive of that, I don't know what is. People like that deserve to have the cheapest, sorriest plasticrap vac out there. Nice save, Guy.

Yeah, it's amazing the foreign objects you find in machines. I picked up a Gsix at a thrift shop a few years ago that had an AA battery wedged in the nozzle. It had immobilized the brush roll, which burned out the belt. I guess that's why the previous owners donated it because other than that and needing a new inner bag, it was in pristine shape and a bargain at $50. I had the necessary items on hand and put machine to rights in about five minutes once I got it home.

 

[honestjoe68]

Hi Patrick,

Great deal and you did an excellent job at cleaning this poor abused Kirby. So glad it’s owned by someone who will now take care of it properly. It just goes to show how well Kirby are made, that it could take all the previous owners abuse and still run perfectly after you cleaned it up. I’m just curious how the large glue stick made it’s way through the turbine impeller?? Wow what a mess in the bag too that they didn’t use a disposable bag.

Anyway, congratulations on your new Kirby and the great deal you got.. even with the abuse this Kirby would be worth twice what you’d paid. I recently got back into Kirby when I added a Sentria 2 to my collection, and I love the two Avalir’s as well.

Thanks, from another Patrick

 

[godfreys_guy]

Patrick

The glue stick andn pencil were in the hose cuff... That was why when he started it, there was an odd but not concerning noise
There was a genuine bag in all that mess, but it's like they just put it in there? No tears on the collar or anything?

 

[huskyvacs]

It's not necessarily more money than sense, it's letting yourself believe what other people tell you. Older people often get taken for the ride as well. My mother got caught in the same Kirby bear trap and paid about $2,000 for her complete Ultimate G setup with shampooer in 2002.

I am not saying that Kirby is a bad company by any means, but their door to door sales business is garbage and pretty sleazy. Those people are just average joes that get written into all the contracts without any understanding and just want the money for the sales. They will not take no for an answer and you will find all kinds of reports of the salesmen getting violent and pushy, most are still in high school or college.

I've got a few older Kirbys on hand now as well that I have to fix up and get back in shape. One is full of drywall dust, the other was in a flood, and the other has a bad fan bearings.

 

[madman]

$4300?! And they were too stupid to put the bag in properly? Well you know what they say about a fool and his money...