NYC Writer
Good luck with your choice. I was torn every time I read this thread, lol. I realized that it really comes down to personal preference on any purchase. That's why all companies make consumables and they all have price ranges and different models. In the end it's tougher when you have an unlimited budget as it gives you every option.
Most expensive really isn't always the best. I can show you in audio/video and knives how that works. I got a ton of help from funeral director from this board and I thank you. He helped me narrow it down and then made me drill down to what I DIDN'T want. I alway used that when dating. My wife laughed at me when I told her that I knew what I didn't want in a wife, but I didn't know what I really wanted. That's a simplistic view, but think about it.
I knew that as much as I loved the Miele top end units, I didn't want to pay for the name. I didn't want a short hose or cord as it's more difficult for me to unplug and replug. I didn't want a unit that was difficult to use as my wife needs to be able to pull it out when I'm gone and use it if she wants to. I didn't want to overpay for a unit. I didn't want a unit that didn't have a warranty so I took myself out of the running for all ebay and craig's list units.
For each unit I said I like, there was always someone who said they didn't like it, but that's because of things important to them. I realized that all vacuums that I looked at were going to do a good job technically, so I just said go with what feels good and then what looks good. Even though I could get a Capricorn and 236 head for under 900, I realized that I didn't want the short hose/cord, plus the PN on the Miele's didn't move like the Riccar/Simplicity or the Sebo D4. I put all three units side by side and lifted them (I also put the S8 Marin in the mix thinking if I like everything else about the Miele's that I'd deal with the hose length, but in the end, I realized I wanted the longer range of the two others.
That meant I was down to the D4 and the Moxie as that unit was being closed out locally for 599 list with everything from turbo head, to blinds head to tons of bags to....... I also knew he would probably take 525 for the new unit and the one on ebay with no warranty went for over 500 if I recall. I couldn't go wrong and was leaning heavily to that unit. On Sunday I spoke with a D4 store and the owner said that he was more than willing to talk turkey as he wanted to move his demo. I told him on the phone I didn't want to waste his time as I wasn't sure I wanted that machine and I wasn't going to pay too much more than what his cost was. He said he didn't care and that I should come in and try it and make an offer. I missed him on Sunday by 5 minutes, but I liked the machine. I knew I didn't love the handle/hose on the Moxie as much. I wanted the swivel on the hose/handle hook up plus it was comfortable. I didn't care that the case seem where the handle on the unit was located. Maybe it was Rob who said he got a blister moving the machine. I will only use that handle a little as I will store it in the closet and pull it out when needed. A simple strip of moleskin will cover that seem anyways. Handle comfort was more important. I found the D4 much easier to use and I like the large area for the bag and I felt the wand was easy to connect and disconnect. I also liked the idea that another SEbo dealer told me that if I get the D4 (he doesn't stock them and told me to get it elsewhere if I wanted it) he will sell me the disco floor unit for his original cost as he wants to get rid of the ones he has. I will probably get one eventually. I liked the look, feel and ease of use of the D4 best. It's built like a tank and the weight is similar to the Moxie, as least when I picked them up. I like the ET1 head design where you can take the roller out and clean it easily. I get a TON of long blonde hair from my wife and dogs and I always have a lot of string, so that was a nice feature for me.
Long story, I called the store yesterday morning and the owner wasnt there again, but the woman who helped me told me to call back in the afternoon. She had my contact info from the day before and I told her to have Mark call me when he got back as I was willing to make an offer, but didn't want to piss him off as I liked his store and they were nice people. I also will be buying a Hunter Douglas window treatment from them I think and I want to have a good relationship with the story I do business with, but I'm also cheap. She called me back a few minutes later and asked me my absolute bottom line. I told her 699 for the demo and she said she'd call me back to let me know yea or nea so that I would have to drive all the way out there if he wasn't able to do that. I didn't hear from her until 4 or so and she said it wasn't a problem and that he accepted my 'bid'. They were great. He wasnt' there when I got there, but the women helped me out and gave me a box of bags too (8 pack). That was really sweet of them. They have not only earned my business, but the business of my friends. I'm always the COI who folks ask about where to get things. I've already referred two people to them for vacuums and window treatments. I'm happy, Mark is happy (even though I haven't met him yet) and the women in the store are happy. My wife even likes the machine. It's black and has no scratches. It was on the floor for less than a month. I'm happy as is was the best buy for me at that price. It was worth 100 more for me than the Moxie would have been.
It's not the unit for most of you and I realize that, but it's for me and I will want to pull it out daily and vacuum and that's what matters. I want to thank everyone for their sincere input. Hopefully this thread was helpful for NYWriter as it was HIS thread. I never meant to hijack your thread, but I thought it was the perfect one to use rather than start a similar thread. On sports/audio boards I hate it when folks start the same thread when we could have merged them to keep the board easier to read. I hope I haven't offended anyone in any of my posts and I read every word on this thread a bunch of times and I went to every link that was shared. I was a serious buyer and you all helped me make what I hope will be a good choice for me.
Thanks
