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Disposable bags & China...


Hello Joe.


I spoke with one of my 'contacts' at Kirby regarding this a year & a half ago or so.


Whenever & as much as possibly, Kirby strives to deal with "American" sources. Part of the problem herein lies with the vendors.


Years ago, "3M©" exclusively made the Allergen Reduction Filters (ARF), the white polypropylene bags. [These bags are NOT made of 'cloth' like some sellers list them as.]


Somewhere along the way 3M headed for Mexico. Kirby had a couple vendors in the States then making them, I believe one was in the Carolinas, the other in Illinois. The company in Illinois, I understand went bankrupt.


You (any business) have to have sources you can depend on. Kirby even checked on doing them themselves; however, that wouldn't have been practical it turned out.




One of Kirbys primary concerns, is to continue to build quality. The machines themselves are still built in Cleveland, OH & Andrews, TX; and as long as the 'quality standards are being met' by the vendors, I guess one has to go where the sources are available.


I do not carry (stock) near the parts I used to (as I don't need to) for recent models, as the quality has so improved even from what it was before. That combined with how quickly I receive my orders from Kirby.




Some of this is not new, news either. There have been certain parts coming from Germany, Japan, Mexico, etc., for decades.


As I have indicated, my main concern is that Kirby & Kirbys vendors, continue to maintain parts & products to a higher standard.




In closing, one of the batches of bags Kirby had produced were entirely made in the States, & the label packaging accidentally was printed "Made in China, with US materials" when such was not the case. I guess proofreading missed it. ~~lol~~



Frankly, the bags are disposable, so in keeping with that, they should be made somewhere else!!! What do you think??? ~~lol~~



Cheers & hagwknd all,


Bill


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