A couple of reactions...
First, I'm glad to see the online sales option, which is definitely an improvement from their traditional home invasion tactics. I'm guessing the reason this is happening now is because of Kirby's recent acquisition by Right Lane Industries, or whatever it's called. It could be that they are a little more right-minded about their sales approach than Scott & Pester was. They seemed to rely heavily on plausible deniability about what their sales force was doing out in the field, putting it back on the local independent distributors.
But that price--I would sincerely hope it includes shipping, or at least free delivery and setup from a local branch, if there is a branch within a reasonable distance. The only advantage to the home demo/invasion approach was—if you had the stomach to haggle—that you could negotiate the price down out of the stratosphere. Now, it appears the new no-haggle price IS the stratosphere! There's still a lot of room for improvement, as far as I can see, since the consumer loses out either way. At least now, the consumers are truly willing victims.
As for me, I believe I'll continue buying them (if and when I buy any more) on the second hand market for pennies on the dollar. That's still Kirby's biggest competitor—itself.
