Kirbys here in the UK are sold for the same numerical range as I posted before, but you just swap the $ for £, and I think it's just insane, I'd never buy a Kirby from Kirby!!!
My Dad used to sell them in the 80's, and he had to pack the job in because he was suffering depression from having to force sales on people who couldn't pay for them or didn't even want them, he did work as an engineer with them for a while, but ultimately he didn't like the company's policy on sales, and I agree, they make a brilliant product, but they really need to move into the 20th century retail market ethos, and then update themselves for the 21st century, cos door-to-door sales are just not popular in this day and age...
If they don't, well, it'll be goodbye Kirby...