Kirby Accessories are kinda weird

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I don't see rexair going out of buisness anytime soon. Yes the SRX has some flaws that can always be fixed. I do believe rexair should take Kirby's approach and now offer selling their systems online and also still door to door and maybe offer trade in value towards a new system.I say this as someone who owns the SRX and tend to upgrade down the line, but I dont want to fork out an arm and leg to afford one. Also i'd like backwards compatability wth accessories continue between systems that way I can use my srx accessories with the new model, kind of like how the accessories with the E2 Black is compatable with the SRX, with the exception of the minjet and extended hoses. I also have to mention that being on the market for almost 6 years. that the SRX sales are going to slow down, because most people want something new at this point.
 
Handi-Butler.

The main reason was to have something to interest the husband watching the demo. Same thing with the spray gun. All he thought of was killing the bugs attacking the flower garden.
 
I'll be honest, I hope Rexair will still be around for many more years to come. They've made some of my favorite vacuums. I've read that part of the reason why Rainbow has been on a decline is again they've got competition. The Prolux CTX for example reviews on Amazon are saying consumers are buying that over the Rainbow is because the SRX is too expensive, not that it's getting old. And I still stand that I'd buy a Sirena over the SRX because of the price, in fact I can get one right now from Sirena's website for as low as $598. Otherwise if I was gonna pay thousands for a brand new Rainbow, I may as well get a Aqua-Air or a Drainvac Automatik central vac instead.
 
Problem with metal fans is that they were cast - very brittle. The aerodynamic curves of the fan makes it difficult to use other material and MFG methods.
People do not watch what they suck.. Coins and other hard objects broke the fans.
The white plastic fan flexes enough to not break.
Even my 30 year old Toro yard vac has a plastic impeller and it grinds up acorns. It broke finally after 25 years but I bought a new fan.

As for Kirby sales, online is great and should be! I think they are doing that now.
I do not like the high pressure sales of pedaling vacs door to door.
HOWEVER, the option to have an in home demo (before or after the sale) should be available, though not required.
Some of those attachments could use some updates to make them more attractive in todays market.

Kirby's current design is solid and reliable so redesign may not happen soon.
However a smaller D50 style (push only) and even a cordless model should be introduced also. We'll see what happens.
Using my G6 as a 'canister' is a hernia waiting to happen. My dumpster save Oreck works much better for over the shoulder use.
 
As I've mentioned in other threads, I think Kirby has taken their present design as far as they can, and in the process, they have painted themselves into the proverbial corner. People have suggested that Kirby make their machines out of plastic to save weight and eliminate the need for the Tech Drive, make them bagless and give them onboard tools, but if you do all that, you will have removed everything that makes a Kirby uniquely a Kirby, and turned it into something no different from the $99 disposable plasticrap vacs from Wally World, but that's not what Kirby owners/customers want or expect when they shell out two grand for their machine. Right now, Kirby's biggest competition is itself, in the form of used machines at thrift stores, pawn shops, yard sales, and even eBay. When you can pick up a used Kirby in nice shape with all its tools for around $50, who in their right mind would pay forty times as much for a brand new one, much less twice as much for the aforementioned plasticrap vac?

Personally, I think Kirby's present owners aren't interested in innovating. They're just coasting things out for as long as can. Whenever they decide that's no longer advantageous, they'll close up shop, carve up the assets, and call it a day. The Chinese will then end up with the trademarks and slap the Kirby brand on $99 plasticrap vacs, for which they will charge $299, because they carry a prestigious American name. The buying public will fall for this in the short run, because they will think they're getting a bargain when they see Kirbys at Wally World, but wehn that wave subsides, the Chinese will start watering down the brand by slapping it on any random product they can think of, from microwave ovens to TV sets, and thus another proud American brand will take its place on the ash heap of history.
 
TexasKirbyGuy

That's the thing, the Generation series isn't completely solid and reliable. They have a few problems that should be addressed, but they seemly haven't.

1. The cords. Whatever rubber they use for them isn't the most durable, and has apparently been known to catch fire.

2. The Tech Drive mechanism. There's a reason why self-propelled machines aren't made anymore. They add unnecessary weight to the machine, and they're another thing to break. I would know, as the pedal on my G7 fell out, and it makes the infamous clicking and grinding noises when I use it. I'm not saying that I don't like it, but that it has its major drawbacks.

3. The accessories. I mean, this entire thread is about them, but I'm mainly referring to the tool hose and carpet shampoo system. The hose on my G7 is extremely stiff and hard to use in cramped spaces. I don't know if that's just because of age, but either way, that shouldn't be the something to worry about on a $1000+ machine. As for the CSS, I think Kirby should've switched to the extraction format for it a long time ago. I personally can't speak on behalf of its performance, as the only times I used mine were with homemade Kirby shampoo, but from what I've seen and heard, it doesn't do a great job compared to cheaper carpet cleaners from Bissell and Hoover.

4. The noise level. I get that Kirby wants to be traditional, but they should really add some sound-deadening around the motor, as they're loud, especially in tool mode.

In short, I get that Kirby wants to do things traditionally, and I respect that, but that being said I think that improvement in innovation is necessary.
 
Human

I don't really think that Kirby is going to go down that route, at least not anytime soon. I've got a feeling that someday they'll come to their senses and realize that they need a successor to the G series in some way, shape, or form. If they did turn to making cheap Walmart vacs, that would kind of be the final nail on their public image. Then again, what do I know? I wasn't born when Hoover was making stuff like the Convertibles, Constellations, and Concepts, and then switched to the Elites, Windtunnels, and the TTI stuff.
 
I'm at the point where I just want a REAL color change and not an accent color change. I say that because the past 3 kirby models have all been black with different accent colors and yet they call it a new model and new color, when reality its not. The fact that they came out with the avalir platinum I about laughed and rolled my eyes. I guess they didn't want to say avalir 3 or sentria 5 at this point. If kirby wants to keep in the market heres what they need to adress in order to stick around.

1. move on from the G-series.
2. reduce the weight and noise of the system.Because for most people, myself included both of those are a huge turnoff.
3. Have attachments and accessories that are actually pratical and useful and not very gimmicky.
4. For the love of god come out with an actual color scheme for every new model. Because seeing the same color getting repurposed over and over with different accents, is getting very old.
5. Also pricing and sales tatics.
 
I agree with Edgar. Unfortunately I don't think things are looking very good with Kirby. As I've said before elsewhere, there's a reason why Scott & Fetzer sold off Kirby. There's also a reason why they're allowing them to be sold online and through big box stores like Costco. There's a reason why vacuum stores are now Kirby warranty dealers. There's a reason why Kirby is sticking with black as their primary color now. And there's a reason why Kirby is no longer allowing to rebuild for secondary owners. The way it all fits together makes total sense to me. We also could be seeing the end of Kirby which I seriously hope not but it wouldn't surprise me. At this point, I see no way how Kirby would come out with a brand new design of their own. They once tried and I've seen the design of what the new Kirby would've looked like but they couldn't get it to work right.
 
They started doing that a couple years ago. But my local Costco never carried any.

It's the one they've been working on back in 2009, there's a seperate thread about it. They also had another different prototype back in the 80's. But that's all I'm aware of.
 
The problem with present Kirby plastic fans is not breaking-but melting when used in the blower mode with the inflator deflator attachment for a period of time exceedning a few minutes-not a problem with metal fans.Also deforming when Kirby users allow the bag to get too full and not replacing it.The deformed fans have a lower efficiency compared to non deformed fans.Again metal fans don't have those problems.Royal must have used some other type of laminum alloy in their fans after witnessing a Royal facrtory rep picking up several coims with their metal fans with now problems.That test would have destroyed a Kirby plastic fans.
 

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