Dry Like A Desert

[huskyvacs]

Has anyone else experienced times when you cannot find absolutely anything vacuum-related at all at the thrift stores? I've been going to Goodwill practically twice a month for the last 3-4 months and not found any vacuum cleaners or even belts or bags or hand vacs. It's like every vacuum cleaner vanished from the earth all at once.
I don't know if it's because of the holidays people are waiting to see if they get one for Christmas or what. I just found it a bit weird, you'd think that there would always be vacuums.

 

[crazykirbydude]

Yep. All of the Goodwills in my area either only have hand vacs or nothing at all. Occasionally, a plastic bagless vac will show up, but not much else. I did se a pair of Convertibles a few months back, but I didn’t get them because I didn’t have the space or money.

 

[fan-of-fans]

Hmm, I have noticed that at Goodwill too, and if they've had any it's been stick vacs or rechargables. Habitat has still gotten a fair number in but nothing much vintage.

I don't have any room for more vacuums so haven't been buying any unless something I really, really want shows up, so for me it's probably for the better that I haven't seen anything.

 

[huskyvacs]

@fan-of-fans

Yeah that's what I said too, I was like "maybe this is a sign for me to pause collecting for a bit" lol

 

[panasonicvac]

I always find alot of vacuums from my local thrift store. It's like 2-3 new vacuums every week.

 

[kirbyklekter]

Dry as a bone out west too,

I think there are too many savvy shoppers who know what to look for. I also think a lot of the employees at these thrift shops are catching on. Haven't seen any vacuum cleaner out on the display floors, not even crap vacs, in months. I think I need to "befriend" someone who works at a store near me!

 

[KirbyCollector01]

From my experience going to thrift store. It seems (here in Hilliard at least) that the best time to find good and vintage machines is in the spring/summer. In the fall/winter season, I barely find anything. I was there just last week, but all that was there was one Bissell PowerForce Helix and a Shop Vac. Nothing really good or worth going for. This past summer there was 10-20 Vacuums each time you visited. Amongst those we’re some real good machines. Now it’s very vacuum empty. I won’t rely on goodwill for vacuums until the warmer season begins. (Though I will still go occasionally just in case.)

 

[tolivac]

I am wondering if the "good" vacuums are sold on EBay or Craigslist rather than taken to those places.Same with yard sales-----NOTHING lately.

 

[compactc9guy]

in my thrift store nothing too just small hand vacs or broom not the good stuff.Like i use to see at our local second hand store Filter Queen , Kirby classic 3 , electrolux ,kenmore u name it they had it . Also they fix em up too i had many machine there and enjoy my daily trips to Try out vacuum .But it closed now sadly

 

[dysonman1]

We have a Goodwill collection box that is in a parking lot that's on my way home from work. We get LOTS of vacuums that are just left with us at the Factory Outlet Store. We don't take trade-in's, so people just leave the old vacuum. I always make sure they run and then take them to the donation box. Just last week, I put 2 Riccar Vibrance uprights, and an Impeccable canister into the collection box. I hope they show up in the store and not on eBay, but I did give them away so I don't really care. Last summer, after we decided NOT to hold Vacuum Collector conventions at the Museum any longer, I gave Goodwill about 50 working cleaners, from Royals to Kirbys to Rainbows. That was over just a one week period, the collection box had nothing in it but vacuums I gave them.

 

[lesinutah]

Hey

Everyone in Missouri needs to hit up Craigslist. Idiots won't know what they have and there good machines.
Les
I have had 1 score in last few months but if the thrift store has a Kirby $75. They are retail price or there is nothing.
Les

 

[got2bjennyg]

I see them showing up on Offer-up and Facebook marketplace.

TOL Hoover Convertible for $5 and a Hoover Windtunnel self propelled for $5 on offerup.com in my area.

 

[kirbysthebest]

Fear of Bed bugs

Several of the resale shops in town, not necessarily Goodwill.  Will not accept a bagged machine, they claim they can bring in bed bugs.


 


I told them to just remove the old bag and it is no more of a risk than a bagless machine.  If it is infested, then can hide throughout the machine. 


 


So I am wondering if this could be the logic of why you are in a vacuum desert.

 

[huskyvacs]

@ Kirbysthebest

I doubt this is the case, as they sell used mattresses and hide-a-bed couches often at Goodwill here. If there's anything the uneducated general public knows about bedbugs is that they live in mattresses. If that doesn't scare them then vacuums should be safe.

 

[kirbysthebest]

It is illegal

To sell a used mattress in Kansas. It varies by state, but federal law dictates it must be labled used, and the method and who sanitized it.

Bed bugs do Not live in just mattresses. They can hide in the corners of dresser drawers, suitcases, clothing, purses, couches, carpeting, bed frames. They can be sucked up in a vacuum, which usually will kill them but not always.

Bed bugs are an epidemic, Burlington Coat factory on East Kellogg was just closed for business because a shipment of coats were infested.

I will one million percent guarantee you that is a reason vacuums are in shortage, they said so.

I Take on averaged five calls a day wanting assistance for paying for bed bug eradication. We cant assist because it is so prohibitively expensive.
Best defense, dont bring them home.