Help! Shopping for New Vacuum and Overwhelmed

[nycwriter]

Very astute, Durango ...

I think many people also try to make the point that since there are SO many old Hoovers and Kirbys on eBay, they must not be good machines because so many people are getting rid of them.

On the contrary.

What's the percentage of, say, pre-1983 vacuums on the second-hand market, versus POST-1983? I'd say it's significantly higher, because most of the post-1983 stuff is plastic crap that people THREW AWAY years ago. I think the very fact that machines from the '70s, '60s, '50s, and even dating back to the '20s are even still around are testimony to their superiority.

Most of the time, these old machines are for sale on eBay because they're part of an estate that's being liquidated -- not necessarily because they're being replaced.

 

[durango159]

Another way of evaluating products is by how long a consumer holds onto something. A $60 Eureka may be quite disposable to someone they wouldn't care about replacing it with an upgrade in a few years.

On the contrary if you purchased a Miele White Pearl from around 1996, you bought a quality vacuum with lots of features and good performance. What would you upgrade to-- something newer that's not as durable?? OR Are you going to run that Miele White Pearl until the day it dies, whether that's 10 or 25 years. Another way of looking at why Mieles aren't as much on the resale market.

A Hoover Convertible upright or Electrolux Jubilee on the other hand might be machines to trade after some years to get something more user friendly. By trading your Hoover Convertible you can find a machine with better filtration, easier attachment use, better suction for attachments, etc. By trading Hoover Elite you can upgrade to better filtration, clean air design that can handle abuse of a penny being sucked in, agitator on/off control, better attachment suction and quieter. By trading in Lux J you may get better filtration, better sealed hose, a Sidekick powered hand tool, longer hose, headlight equipped power head, agitator on/off switch and other features.

I've heard several local vacuum shops tell me in my search for refurbed canister vacuums that consumers have a higher tendency to hold onto canister vacuums until they die. They're not traded as much. Even if a canister owner decides to buy an upright they still hold onto the canister as a great back up vacuum and love them for versatility of easy stairwell cleaning, car interior cleaning, vacuuming under furniture, etc.

 

[ctsooner]

cooler head prevail, lol

I do love the Sebo as it's the best I've ever owned. I always get some buyers remorse and then reading some of the things over here it makes you question things. Yes the Sebo has a full metal wand.

 

[nycwriter]

Buyer's remorse ...

Don't give in to it!

Look, all of these "upper tier" vacuums are *very* good at their primary function: removing dirt. Some are better than others ... and on the high end, you're really splitting hairs, with the main differences being fit, finish, and features.

Enjoy your vacuum. Love it. Treat it well and it will treat YOU well.

 

[ctsooner]

My house cleaner is back

After 2,5 years we can now afford to have the housecleaner back. She's awesome. From Brazil. Not sure what she uses, but she just checked out the Sebo and it using it today. I'll let you all know what she thinks.

 

[nycwriter]

Bully for you guys ...

... who have housekeepers.

I tried and it's just not a good fit for me. My standards are just way too high, and I found that working my schedule around hers was more of a pain in the butt than just doing it myself.

Truth to tell, I've found that when you work a mentally taxing and stressful job, housecleaning can be wonderfully therapeutic. And humbling. The world would be a much better place if people in positions of power, 15 minutes a week, got down on their hands and knees and scrubbed their own toilets, tubs, and bathroom floors.

 

[ctsooner]

Once MS hit

I wasn't able to get around quite as good as I used to. I love to clean and do it daily, but I can't get down on the floor well to get to the deep cleaning and stuff. When I worked, it was at least 12 hour days and there wasn't time to do anything but work, workout, run the kids around and hopefully get 5 hours sleep. I have a woman who does have the highest of standards and she's not expensive. Since I clean a fair amount, she only comes twice a month. It's kind of a treat to my wife who owns her own insurance agency and isn't getting home until 9 or 10 at night and then doing another hour or two of work before bed. It works nicely for us.

 

[stricklybojack]

Zen & the art of vacuum acquistion...

A circumstance of choices & trade offs that leads to, 'pick your poison' senarios...
Perfectionists with carpeting or rugs, beware, here lie dragons...
Big box plasti-vac buyers have the best machine...for them. Cheap, & or flashy, & rated in a consumer magzine for easy & comfortable decision making. When the jigs up just pony up another c note (give or take). The failure rate is like hard drives, a certain percent are duds & the negative review gets posted double time. Far more do all the customer wanted in the first place & everbody is happy until planned obselences will have them buying again just about the time they see another that catches their eye & on sale too...just the part & parcel trade off in this path of least resistance choice.

At the other end of the senario spectrum has been playing out in this thread. A Robert Persig* like search for quality & 'Quality'. Some find it in 'the best, TOL money can buy'. Again the right choice, for them...Trade offs here include time spent, money spent, dependence on shop for repairs (plati-vacs can be trashed & replaced for less than many high end vac repairs) etc...

All this is par for the course when one considers the engineers who designed the vacuum in the first place were also caught up in a labyrinth of trade offs in their design choices, so too were the directors of the companies that employ(ed) them, but their concerns were instead business related.

(sigh) Maybe why we all caught this bug, it's a beckoning puzzle waiting to be solved, again & again, and so on...

I own an armada of metal & or vintage machines waiting to be repaired & put to work or already in operation. But i just bought a nearly new, TOL Kenmore upright, in a Beautiful blue green hue, with a svelt aluminum wand that i love. Full circle from the Comercial Royal that was my first vac buy after i caught the bug. But the Kenmore machine is hard to push across the carpet (like many reviewers mentioned). I took a flier on it as an Ebay demo unit, a trade off in buying without trying, but for only $86 delivered. I also just spent about that amount in a box full of consumables for my fleet of trash picks & Craigslist finds...but using those resurrected vacs is most satisfying. Not as fun for me as the hunt to acquire them, but the most fun i'm going to have running a vacuum.

* Author, Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, see link.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_M._Pirsig

 

[kirbyultimateg]

Kirby, Rainbow, Thermax machines are better values because they convert into carpet/rug shampooers.

 

[stricklybojack]

well U G...

You know what you like. I have a old Filter queen with a power head that seems worhless for the rugs i have. So i'm interest in Rainbow but i have the same issue with the older models that fit my price range...shite power team. For me i don't shampoo the rug so the ability to do so is not a selling point. Like kirby & that whole mess of attachments i never want to use...once it clicked in my bain i didn't have to i warmed up to the brand & now own 3. The brands you mentioned generally don't work in a situation that calls for a light weight machine...not your concern i guess.

 

[xraytech]

NYCWriter,

There aren't too many vacuums sold today that I'd much care to use as I prefer using my 60s and 70s Hoovers.

The few modern vacuums I have tried and like have already been touched upon here, the only new vacuums I personally like in ease of use and quality are the Aerus upright and any of the Aerus canister line.
I've had an Electrolux(aerus) Epic 6500 for a few years that Ive really enjoyed using and I am by no means a canister lover.

I hope you find the right vacuum for your needs that you will be happy with.

I happened to notice also that you mentioned earlier in this thread you were considering buying a second home in Pittsburgh. Being from the rural outskirts of Pittsburgh I'd be pleased to meet you and take you around if you are ever visiting Pittsburgh or purchase a second home here.

Sam

 

[nycwriter]

Thanks xraytech ...

Where exactly do you live?

 

[nycwriter]

Thank you strictlybojack ...

"The brands you mentioned generally don't work in a situation that calls for a light weight machine...not your concern i guess."

KirbyUltimateG really loves his Kirbys (and Rainbows, for that matter).

So do I.

But I don't have *acres* of wide-open carpeted areas like in Downton Abbey. Fully half of my flooring is hardwood, and much of the carpeting is under furniture and in tight alcoves that are difficult to maneuver a beastly Kirby into.

Kirby = HOUSE.

x = APARTMENT.

Find x.

The answer I've found, after much searching, is that "x" for me is a no-fuss canister (all due respect to the Rainbow).

 

[sebo_fan]

Ive said it before and ill say it again

The reason the D series is HUGE is because it has a HUGE amount of cable that SEBO fitted to it (12M) and compared to the C series canister which is a lot smaller. The dust bag is also pretty big. No other reason - which is probably why Miele would find it difficult to contain twice as much cable in such a compact body as their latest S8 - if they actually installed their canister vacuums with the same amount of cord length.

 

[ctsooner]

I'm enjoying the Sebo

My cleaner did also. She just plugs it in and can do each floor with it plugged into a central outlet. She really likes the machine and didn't find it cumbersome or heavy at all. She said it went where she pulled it. I can tell you that the bag really is huge and I had so much deep crap on the carpet that it's vacuumed up. She said it was much much quicker for her to use than her Kenmore. She just set the PN at '2' and it was fine for everything. There are always better things on the market as you go, but even the Aerus is a think skin of metal that dents and scratches easily and it shows. There isn't a perfect machine yet and never will be. I'm having fun learning though. Thanks.

 

[GM1982]

CTsooner

well said.....Nothing is perfect and no vacuum is the best. Something that is sealed and does not leak air, filters well, has useful features, is quiet and durable will come close to perfect, and your Sebo is an example.

 

[ctsooner]

I'd say there are about 4 or 5

canisters that stand out that are fairly 'main steam' and not sold door to door. From what I saw, it's not even always the TOL models from companies nor is it always their newest offerings. The only think I wish my power nozzle had was an LED light that is actually angled down and not straight ahead. I felt that's one area the Moxie missed on. I like all the controls at the finger tips. I do wish the Miele 236 head was L shaped as it's just easier to move around the furniture during quick pick ups. That and a savings of over 300 was what pushed me Sebo's way in the end I think. If I could have the Miele Capricorn or S8 with 236 head, Sebo or TOL Riccar/Simplicity, I'd probably go Miele then Sebo, but after having both in the house, I'd chose Sebo for the cord and hose lengths. It's just so easy to plug and play.

 

[xraytech]

NYCwriter,

I'm located in Washington county about 30 minutes from the airport, and also about 30 minutes from the South Hills of Pittsburgh where there are some great higher end neighborhoods is Upper St. Clair, Mount Lebanon, and Bethel Park.
I'm also about 40-45 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh


I'll shoot you a private email as well.

 

[ctsooner]

So what vacuum?

NYC, where are you in your search? Will it be the Lux?

 

[nycwriter]

ctsooner ...

I'm going with the Lux.

Just looking now for the best price.