Doubtful of New Panasonic Vacs In The UK

[sebo_fan]

I got a tweet earlier in the week when I sent a message to Panasonic UK regarding floorcare.

The reply I got back wasn't what I was expecting at all.

 

[parwaz786]

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?! No freaking way

 

[kirbymodel2c]

Hi,

<span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">I heard a several months ago that Panasonic was pulling out of the floor care market in the UK.</span>


<span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">Hay ho...</span>


 


<span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">James</span>

 

[sebo_fan]

I heard the rumour too but I also heard that Morphy Richards were also pulling out but then seem to have brought those EIO German cylinder vacs back.

The SuperVac hasn't been a good seller which is why MR has re-released three different power versions (still cordless) and selling through catalogues. They're not bad vacuums but then they're only cordless stick dust buster vacs that are hardly going to make much of an impact.

I think it is particularly sad and slightly lousy that Panasonic has allowed this to happen. Their bagged uprights have had cosmetic updates over the years but are better built than others in my experience at the price they cost. Only other bagged upright brands left will be Hoover's Purepower and at the premium end, SEBO and Miele.

In my experience Panasonic have made good cylinder vacs for the UK and Europe, but its a possibility that the marketing hasn't gone very well for either style and in some cases, some of their uprights both bagless and bagged lack basic features that used to appear on earlier models. Clearly if designers are cut on budgets then the customer suffers.

 

[parwaz786]

My mate was buying a Bush handheld vacuum from Argos a few years ago, when he collected it at his local Argos store, it was the vacuum he was expecting, all the same but branded as "Pro Action"?

 

[turbo500]

I'm really gutted that Panasonic have pulled out of the market. This unfortunately means that there is no decent budget bagged upright anymore.



Panasonic have consistently been a great range to choose from as they're under £100 and a nice basic upright. They've always been nice, basic, realiable machines.


 


Rewind to 1986 however and they were very ahead of their time with on board hose and tools and variable power uprights.


 


It's a great shame that they've gone. There's definitely a market for such a cleaner and it means that people will now have to spend over £150 to get a decent bagged upright. Such a shame!




Another classic brand down the pan, just like Electrolux. Two brands I very much miss.

 

[sebo_fan]

Electrolux should know that the model that gave them rise in so far as profit is concerned shouldn't have the name taken away. At least they will still be around in the form of AEG and Zanussi. However, Panasonic don't have a sub-brand let alone a premium one for vacuums but then I don't think they need any other brand name other than themselves.

I do hope Panasonic make a return though.

 

[sensotronic]

I've never had much to do with Panasonic vacs until I got an Icon, which is an excellent machine.

I had been thinking of trying out their basic bagged upright on my channel, because as Chris said, there isn't much choice in bagged uprights at the lower end of the market. I think I will get one soon before all the stock runs out. I may even try a few more Panasonics such as their bagless uprights, because a few places have them at reduced prices.

It's a sorry state of affairs if all we are going to get is a Hoover Purepower/Enigma for people that want a cheap bagged upright. At least Hoover still offer a bagged option unlike Vax with their current domestic range.

 

[vintagerepairer]

Well if Panasonic are stopping vacuum cleaners, it won't be because they are flying off the shelves and making a huge profit for the all involved. Sad, for us yes, but the reality is clearly that the public don't want their goods.

 

[sebo_fan]

Lack of bags at major franchises.

It isn't just Panasonic though.

I went over to another town yesterday to buy bags for my old Hoover Telios (and my newer TeliosPlus model). Oh what a disaster that was. Where previously the Telios bags were available at Tesco in copy boxes, that Tesco and the next larger Tesco super store no longer sell them; they only now sell bags for their own bagged vacuums, universal bags and Numatic Henry.

At Currys the situation was worse; only Miele dust bags, Vax tubs and Numatic bags were on sale.

At Wilko, Electrolux (of course, their small 2 litre capacity bags), Vax tubs, Numatic tubs and Hoover's Purepower upright copy bags on sale; also nice to see Panasonic upright bags. However, no Hoover cylinder bags - clearly there must not be that many Hoover cylinder owners.

No wonder brands like AEG, Zanussi and Hoover are losing out with certain styles; if the shopping franchises are lacking in dust bag replacements, no wonder buyers are being forced to go bagless.

I stopped at Argos to find that even in their catalogue, they have not changed the product number for the Hoover Enigma uprights AND cylinders. I ordered the product number knowing that the Enigma model listed in the Argos catalogue is the same as the TeliosPlus/uses the same bag as the Telios and had to get a refund as only the bags for the Purepower go under the product number and not the cylinder bag product number. Coincidence or another Argos product number faff up?
[this post was last edited: 8/12/2015-03:40]