Disappointed with Dyson ethics

[marcusprit]

Following Dysons reply regarding lowering the rating from am A to a C because they say they had to retest with the brushroll turned off.
I sent them another email explaining that I'd seen the EU criteria for the test procedure and nowhere does it say the brushroll should be turned off!

I have not received a reply. I am very disappointed. It is not acceptable shall we say to be economical with the truth!
I have no problem with my cleaner I think its excellent but I have a big problem with their ethics now!

 

[turbo500]

As much the updated is appreciated, does this really warrant another thread being created? Shouldn't this just have been a new post in the thread that you've already started about the same topic?


 


Btw, Dyson talking out of their a$$ is not a new thing.

 

[marcusprit]

I will start a new thread whenever I choose!That's not for you to decide.

 

[turbo500]

Well I would've thought that it's pretty much common courtesy to keep discussions about the same thing together in 1 thread rather than creating lots of seperate threads. Adding it to the already existing thread just makes logical sense, surely?


 


The more threads we create, the bigger the site gets, the more it's costs to run.


 


Anyway, you're right, not my decision. Just don't be all that surprised if the 2 threads get merged.

 

[marcusprit]

Well I'm sorry if it costs a lot of money. I will make a donation. But I've put up 3 threads in the last 4 months. So I apologise.

 

[turbo500]

It was only a friendly heads up, Marcus, I wasn't trying to be an arse about it .

 

[marcusprit]

Dyson reply

Hello Mark

Thank you for your response.

It appears there has been some misinformation provided to us and as a result yourself regarding the reasons for the change in the pick up grades. I have clarified the situation with our technical services team who have provided the below explanation.

Since the vacuum energy label was launched in September, it has emerged that the carpet test method can return highly variable results depending on the age and quality of the test carpet used. Independent test laboratories give different results when testing the same machines, thus giving inconsistent carpet pick-up grades – we have seen variation of several letter grades.

Dyson has highlighted this troubling point to European courts, and is awaiting the result of an investigation that is currently underway between test laboratories across Europe, aiming to explain the problem. In the mean while, in the interest of protecting consumers Dyson have decided to declare new conservative grades on the energy label. The products themselves remain unchanged, and deliver the same high level of performance.
The consumer report Which? recently published an article highlighting that the energy label scores on several vacuums are inconsistent with the results achieved in their own testing – further supporting that this is a real problem. Since 2013 Dyson have been vocal in expressing concerns with potential flaws in the energy label, and the carpet test issue further supports the view that the label could mislead consumers

 

[marcusprit]

They may have a point. Maybe I was a little too quick to complain.

 

[turbo500]

So, basically, this translates as:


 


"Because Bosch are taking us to court over our energy labels, we have to be more accurate whilst the court case is on-going".

 

[marcusprit]

Well there are inconsistencies with all the testing. How long before someone takes Vax to court?
This will only be sorted out with independant testing even then there will be disputes.

 

[turbo500]

Absolutely agree, there are far too many inconsistencies. They need to do what they've done for washing machines and set up an independant testing centre which awards the ratings. At least that way, whilst the results may differ slightly depending on the carpet etc, the testing will be consistent. Whilst not perfect, it would be a vast improvement.


 


I really do appreciate what the legislation has tried to do - lower the wattage of vacuums, whilst keeping performance high by impliementing a minimum performance criteria. But they really haven't gone about it very well. Having said that, it was the same for the first year or so of washing machine ratings, so we could see things pick up (no pun intended). Especially if something positive comes out of this court case.

 

[marcusprit]

Yes the court case could lead to independent testing. I hope so.

 

[marcusprit]

What Dyson are saying is probably correct. Testing on different types of carpet and new and worn carpet could give different results leading to different grades.
So will independant tests have to use a new strip of the same carpet for each cleaner tested?

 

[turbo500]

have to use a new strip of the same carpet for each cleaner

I would think it doesn't have to be the same strip of carpet, but the same type and style of carpet, possible from the same roll, that would need to be replaced after X amount of tests. So have lots of test strips on 1 huge piece of carpet, using the same weight and type of dust.


 


I noticed that the ratings are awarded using fake dust, so they don't take into account large particles. I find this a bit ridiculous, especially on bare floors.

 

[spiraclean]

That's the very first thing I would expect each lab to be doing. Regardless of who is doing the testing, they ought to be using a brand new section of the very same carpet from the same manufacturer each time (after cleaning it first with the reference vacuum cleaner to remove any loose fibres from the mill). On top of that, they need to use the same test dust mixture, apply it in exactly the same manner, and use the same test rig to drive the cleaner over the carpet during the test.

It's the only way to ensure full accuracy and repeatability. Really it would beggar belief if they were not doing this, because fair testing protocol is the kind of thing we learned in GCSE science at school. I sincerely hope the testing institutes concerned are operating at a slightly higher level than that.

 

[marcusprit]

I would hope so. But i'm sure there will be refinements they can make to give even more accurate test results. I wouldn't mind that job myself

 

[spiraclean]

Never do what you love for a living. Sucks all the joy out of it, pun intended.

 

[ralph123]

I'm so glad that the governments have so much time and effort to devote to regulating vacuum cleaners. It's not like there's anything else for them to do. They really should hire tens of thousands of vacuum cleaner testers and build hundreds of testing labs. It's not like the taxpayers can't afford to pay more in taxes.

 

[ralph123]

yes, the government labs should have new carpet samples for every test. and a new vacuum for every test.