Kirby Color Change before full makeover

[pr-21]

I know we have had this conversation before, but I was hoping for a color change before the complete makeover. I think Kirby sales will suffer if they don't. You can't go back to people you tried to sell before with the same model, the salespeople get burnt out selling the same machine for more than a few years, also causing low sales. A color change would not be that difficult to do....

What does everyone else think?


Sincerely,

Bud Mattingly
PR-21

 

[williamr1248]

Kirby color change before full makeover

Bud,
I have thought the same thing but I have noticed with my cleaners, many people don't even know or notice the difference between machines or colors.
For example my family always had Air-Way, but neither my mother or grandmother would notice if the machine were a 1951 blue 66 or green 77 or 88.
They did know it was an Air-Way. I am thinking most people would be the same with a Kirby. A Kirby is a Kirby.
I did have an individual look at the machines one time and he only noticed (and was impressed) with the simple,elegant style of the Compact and was horrified at the Dyson. He was very good with all types of design and thought the Dyson looked like a cheap dress with too much trim. It made me laugh the way he explained the design. He knew NOTHING of vacuums and probably never used one.
I would think it would be nice for the sales staff to have new color trim and box to sell. I hope they go back to color matched tools and hose and get away from all grey tools.
I always hated it when Hoover quit making the matching handle color,cord color. It got so everything in the last 30 years was the same color handle,cord,base and tools no matter if it was the bottom or top of the line-same boring tool color.

Kind of like the new cars-every interior is either beige or grey.

 

[danemodsandy]

I Know....

....This is probably going to outrage Kirby fans, but I think Kirby is a brand with a limited future.

It is a large, complex, heavy machine, and today's typical consumer does not have the time or interest necessary to master it and use it to the fullest. And many are simply too lazy to deal with the sheer heft of the things.

If Kirby does not make its new machine far more user-friendly - meaning friendly to TODAY's users - I don't see the company prospering long-term. Kirby has traditionally been what I call a "maid's vacuum," meaning something extremely durable to survive in situations where a servant doesn't really care about the machine. Electroluxes used to be like this.

But there aren't any more maids for most of us, and people don't take long hours to clean any more, and those who are interested in cleaning don't necessarily want to bench-press their cleaner while they do it.

I also think that any company continuing to rely on home demonstration is going to encounter rougher and rougher times, for the simple reason that many people's "at-home" time is scarce and precious. Some DTD companies, like Amway and Avon and Longaberger, will be okay because their products can be introduced or demonstrated in the workplace, on breaks. But you can't very well demo a Kirby in the workplace, and that's where customers are spending much of their time nowadays.

Sorry, I think Kirby is seriously compromised unless they change with the times, and I believe the absurdly low selling prices for scarcely used Sentrias on eBay bear me out.

 

[kirby519]

The econonomic times are hurting sales for one. Another factor is the some (NOT ALL) of groups authorized to sell the machines with thier pushy and un-ethical sales practices and way over pricing the machines. Great vacuums but not worth thousands. I for one am a huge Kirby fan. My preference is for the pre G series. I for one am not overly impressed by the G Series design and not looking forward to the complete remake of the Kirby Vacuum. At the time My Heritage II no longer works to my level of satisfaction will be the day a central vacuum goes in and my love affair with Kirby will be over.

 

[kirby519]

Changing the color of the machine isn't going to help or hinder sales. When the new model doesn't do any more or perform better than the one you have what is the need for a new one. Besides you just paid out over 2 grand for the one you have 3 yrs ago. And was told then this is the last machine you will ever need to buy.

The G 3 and a Sentria couldn't vacuum any more dirt out of the plush carpet or upholstery here than my 1987 Heritage II. Rainbow tried as well and failed 5 yrs ago.

The true die hards are the ones that will buy the product available today. And stand by the classics they love. Those that are to busy to be bothered with it will sell it at yard sale or put it at the curb when the brush won't spin becouse it is broken and doesn't work. Then go out and buy a disposbale vacuum because to them it is just a thing and if the surface is clean they are happy.

Kirby needs to direct their attention at the authorized sales force and bring them into line and therefore restore there reputation.

 

[IL-Kirby-Fan]

Hello...

I am a Kirby salesman. There are a lot of unethical salesmen and women and a lot of unethical distributors as well. I am very thankful to work for a wonderful distributor and our sales team isn't pushy or forceful in anyway. We of course want to promote and sell Kirbys but we are very careful about the manner in which we do that. I know I personally make sure it's very clear to the person whose home I am in that there is no obligation to buy anything but do ask that they watch the presentation with an open mind and ask any questions they have and give feed back. I tell them that at the end I will show them a price sheet and if they're not interested all they have to do is just say so. If they're not interested, afterward I will do the cleaning I said I would, thank them for their time and attention and I'll go on my way. More times than not people are very interested and all it comes down to is if they can afford it so we then discuss some options. The Kirby Company itself is a great company, and there are a lot of great distributors...but like with anythere, there are some bad seeds that give the rest a bad name.

But as far as a color change, I would love to see that happen. I think our customers would too. The particular office I work out of has some very loyal Kirby diehards as customers, they get all their bags, belts, shampoo, etc from us and just love the Kirby that they've invested in. I have found in a lot of demos the result in a sale that the people ask about "trade ups" for "when a newer model comes out". People do recognize a Kirby as an investment and think of it in terms of it being an important appliance in their home, and like with cars, people love to trade up for "the next best thing" so we do have a lot of repeat customers. Also, some people will like their new Kirby so much they'll contact us about buying a second one for another level of their home. Really as a salesman, you just have to be smart about your customers, don't just talk someone into buying it but sell to the people who appreciate what the product has to offer and it's great performance and durability.

As for the designs for the "next" Kirby...I can't say from the sketches really what I think of it, I will have to see it in front of me when it comes out to decide how I feel about it. While I admit I don't like to see a drastic change, I do have faith in the Kirby Co that they will create and produce a superior product. While functionality and performance may stay the same, the appearance is what has to "keep up with the times". Kirby has always had one of the best products on the market so really I don't so much feel like they need to "improve", just maintain. If that makes sense.

Well, just some thoughts on the subject. I am interested in what everyone else has to say. I love reading the Kirby posts.

 

[kirbyloverdan]

Sorry Sandy but

Kirby`s newest vacuum to be introduced after the inproved Sentria with the color

chage will be a change with the times greatly improved model . Kirby will always be

around and are going no where . I beleive when EVERY D2D manufacturer introduces a

a new and improved model they are always better than the model they replace . Just

because the companies don`t use metal that does not mean the Vacuum is junk . It`s

called a sign of the times . I own a Tristar DXL which I love but my new Tristar

MG3 is an awsome improvement .

 

[danemodsandy]

Dan:

If Kirby does come up with a new model meeting the needs of today's consumers, that will be great. I still think the problem of the DTD sales paradigm remains - you just can't get as many in-home demos going today as you could in the past, because people aren't home as much, and when they finally DO get some downtime, the last thing they want is a salesperson - of any product - in the house. Kirby stores might be a good solution. Or they might not - Aerus is having some problems with theirs in this economy.

If you like your MG3 better than a CXL, more power to you. I'm a CXL owner, and I've tested the MG-3, and wouldn't have made the switch for the world. Suction wasn't remotely comparable.

 

[danemodsandy]

Dan:

Perhaps I should also explain that I think the Sentria was doomed from the start because it was simply a new face on the same Kirby format - big, powerful, formidable upright. It's sure sleeker-looking than a 1950s Kirby, but it's essentially the same idea, and the time for that idea has passed.

 

[tolivac]

Kirby,'Lux "stores"this was common in the Wash DC area.DTD was not common there-you went to the Kirby store for your demo-just walk in.Have been to the two stores that were in my area when I lived there-Forestville,MD and another Kirby Store in Suitland,Md.both gave nice demos and had various surfaces and items to try the machine out on-since it was the "Classic" at that time-the Suitland place put on a clever demo--"I am going to show you a Kirby Cleaning system that you can use to build a birdhouse--and clean up the mess"sure enough-he did just that-the Handy Butler jigsaw attachment cut the parts-and the sanding wheel sanded them.and yes-the machine cleaned up the sawdust.didn't buy though-but kicking myself to this day for not getting that cleaner.Electrolux had a walk in store in Forestivlle,Md-another store was in Downtown DC-knew a man that managed it-he sold machines to the various embassies!Their folks would just walk in,pay cash-many machines,bags, and attachments.The Kirby place even offered to drive me back to my apartment-I didn't have a car at that time.The "stores" were common in the big citys-sort of like the Oreck stores.
On the Kirby-I have heard more than one salesman remark that the Kirby is more appealing to MEN than the lady of the home.Men like the way you can change the parts and attchments-the things the Kirby can be made to do-like helping you build a birdhouse if you don't have any other tools.
I think what is dooming DTD items-their high prices-and you can buy vacuum cleaners at just about any store now-never mind they are cheap and made in China-for many folks it works and that is what appeals to them.and they don't mind buying another machine when the one bought a couple years ago breaks or its motor burns out.another thing about DTD machines----only ONE model to choose from for the most part-customers like CHOICES.

 

[danemodsandy]

Rex:

I think another problem with DTD stuff is that the differential is being eliminated. For a while, DTD machines were usually metal, very often cast metal, and that was a big difference between DTD and mass-market stuff. Now, even expensive machines like the new TOL Luxes are plastic. Now, you know and I know that there's a big difference in Lux's plastic and TTI's plastic, but the average consumer doesn't know that. All they see is "Hmm. Plastic. Well, those machines down at Target are plastic, too, and a whole lot cheaper."

I think plastic for anything but small tools and seals and bumpers, etc., creates a cheapened perception for premium brands. I know that I personally could not possibly justify the current list price of a TriStar MG3, because of those plastic wands and tools - I'm accustomed to much longer-lived accessories, and I'm not willing to spend that kind of money for cheaper ones.

By the way, while I consider excess weight a problem for some DTD brands, that's something that could be at least partially overcome with intelligent design and alloys.

 

[tolivac]

Weight on the vacuums-for men this may not be an issue-but for the lady that has to lug the machine up and down the stairs-than it is.She dosen't want to have to drive the forklift to bring the vacuum upstairs.
Yes,plastics-its true the quality of the plastic used in more expensive machines is far better and heavier than that in cheap ones.Flex the body or machine cover panels and you will see.the expensive vacuums have thicker plastic parts-but more weight-and more reinforcement "ribbing" on those parts.the cheap vacs have thin plastic-no reinforcement-and probably even "regrind" plastic that has been recycled from something else.when all is really said and done-a properly made plastic vacuum body can end up being as heavy as a metal one.I would also second the motion on the TriStar-(thats another bugaboo here-the name Compact should have been retained)Me and a freind sold Mg type compacts for a couple years-when you went into the customers house and said-"we would like to present our demo of the TriStar cleaning system"then the customer would look at you as if you had lobsters crawling out of your ears-so I would say to them-"this is a modern Compact for the most part-"did your Mother or Grandmother have one?"and then the customer could relate to what we were talking about.I honestly feel the old Compact Turbo-Nozzle" was better than the Lux design one.Its just too wide-the airflow of the machine just doesn't match up to that new nozzle-it would be better for a commercial vacuum using a higher CFM motor and 1.5" hose.Don't like the plastic wands either.The old style Compact metal ones were much better.and the Lux dust brush on the MG type machines-no adjustable speed to slow the motor down-the bristles get sucked into the brush opening.the old "gold Speckl" tool was better.and its larger opening could gulp down loose bits better than the narrow opening Lux brush.but the TriStars sold none the less.And miss the AmeTek motors the older machines had-actually MORE power-suction,airflow as measured on Baird guages and suction guages.and the old motors held up-the newer motors in the MG's last only a couple years.Like my TriStar-Compact CXL best.Its a good companion "pig" to my larger "pig" The NSS M1.

 

[joshdonnell]

Sandy

NO one cares what you think !

 

[danemodsandy]

Josh:

I don't know why you have decided to be that rude to me.

I think an apology is in order.

 

[hoovercelebrity]

I'm at work and extremely busy to have to stop what I'm doing to deal with childish nonsense.


 


Sandy -- I value what you say. You have lots to offer this site, and have become a regular poster with lots and lots of good things to say.


 


Josh -- you need to aplogize to Sandy. He does say a lot of things, good things, and I certainly care what he says. Your posts on the other hand are seldom more than one or a few sentences long. Please stop and think of your own contributions to this website before belittling someone else's.


 


This is going to be your one and only warning from me. Next time you cause trouble, you're gone.


 


-Fred


 


PS -- thanks to the individual who marked josh's post as offensive!

[this post was last edited: 3/23/2012-19:05]

 

[trebor]

This parallels a thread on...

the off topic forum.

The color change will not happen prior to the model changeover. The new model is scheduled to be inroduced in fall 2013. That means there would have to be TWO clearances of old stock prior to the new model. The time for it to really do any good is past. Would you like to pay $2000.00 + for a new color Kirby, only to have a subtsantially redesigned machine introduced before you have finished paying for it?

The other thread repeats in-depth many of the points made here about weight, versatility, and usability, and viabilty of the Kirby unit. Unfortunately, people here tend to be passionate about the Kirby, and view any attempt to interject a note of reality about it's appeal to today's homemakers as negative, or as bashing the machine.

 

[vac-o-matic]

Thanks Fred!

I've really been biting my tongue on this one!

 

[IL-Kirby-Fan]

Hmmmm...

Ya know Trebor...you've given me something to think about. You may be right about the whole color change thing. It would make more sense for them not to release a color change. I still wish they could just because the Sentria has been the running model for so long, but I can understand if they don't.

 

[joshdonnell]

To sandy

I'm sorry for being rude!