My Review of the Kirby Diamond Edition

[shrink1982]

I have a Kirby Diamond Edition and this really applies to most Kirby's. While there are both pros and cons to the Kirby models, overall, it really depends on your needs.

Pros: Excellent at cleaning carpets. I don't think you can get a better vacuum for carpet care. Great suction and the roller really agitates the carpet and grooms it nicely. The build quality is excellent. Taken care of, these vacuums will last a very long time. I frequently run into Kirbys that are more than 50 years old that still work. Tech drive is nice. It basically helps push the vacuum a long as it is mostly metal and quite heavy.

Cons: Not great for bare floors. Also, in order to use attachments, the front nozzle needs to be removed and the hose attached. This is very inconvenient if you need to use the hose in a pinch. Also, because it is direct air, the suction is not very good with the hose attached. This vacuums leaks dust EVERYWHERE. Forget filtering the air. Every time I use this machine I get a headache. It is also very heavy and if you have stairs, you need to have normal upper body strength to carry this machine. Sales tactics are HORRIBLE. Not a good company.

Overall: I am switching to a Sebo D4. I want something that will work well on all my floors, filters the air, and is a quality product. I cannot fault Kirby in regards to its ability to clean, however, if you want flexibility and any type of air filtration, this vacuum does not make the cut.

Carpet Cleaning: A
Hard Floor Cleaning: C
Ease of Use: B
Attachments: B
Versatility: D
Air Filtration: D
Build Quality: A
Overall Score: C-

 

[blackheart]

Out of curiosity?

What kind of bags were you using in it?

 

[dedede]

Surely even the cheapest bags wouldn't leak a visible amount of dust. Must be something that doesn't seal like it's supposed to.

 

[kirby519]

Hmmmmm... I have used the Kirby with the Heritage II disposable bag system with the original bags sold at the time to vacuum up the contents of a powder chemical fire extinguisher with very minimal dust escaping from either the disposable bag much less the outer cloth bag. That is the equivalent of vacuuming up talcum powder. I have also used the same set up with the newer G series bags to vacuum up the sanding residue from dry wall compound. I coated all walls in a 144 sq. ft. kitchen and sanded all the walls ceiling to floor. Again with very minimal if any of that dust escaping from either the disposable bag or the outer cloth bag. Both times the bag was almost to the full line on the bag of this type of dust.

By the way how do you rate a vacuum a "D" in versatility that does every thing but whistle Dixie??

Sounds like a sales pitch for the Sebo vacuum. Another High priced machine.

Comments?

 

[tolivac]

I have a Sebo D4-Great machine as a canister vacuum-the Kirby is MUCH better for carpet vacuuming and damp cleaning.The D4 can't do that.The D4 is SUPURB for canister vac jobs-bare floors and above floor cleaning.I don't have ANY issues of my Kirbys leaking dust.Are you sure bags are installed in them correctly-and NOT using bojack bags.Are the seals and gaskets on your Kirby in good shape?

 

[human]

The only one of my Kirbys with which I have had any trouble with dust leakage was my G5, which appears to have been run without an inner bag. The outer bag was filthy when I got it and even after I cleaned it, the thing would send out a big puff of dust every time I turned it on. The problem was easily solved by replacing the outer bag with a newer, cleaner one from an Ultimate G. There's nothing special about the Ultimate G bag except I was able to get my hands on the whole bag assembly for about half what a new G5 outer bag alone would have cost. And I don't even run the fancy HEPA bags in mine. Right now, two of my three Kirby machines have Kirby Generation 3 paper bags in them and the other one has a third-party Envirocare paper bag in it.

Other than that, I agree with most of your assessment. I find the attachments to be a pain to use, which is why I have a couple of metal Electrolux canisters as well. I don't have steps anymore so that's a non-issue for me these days. But when I lived in a place that did, the Electrolux 1205 was absolutely the correct tool for the job.

I tend to use my 1205 and Super J canisters a little more than I do my Kirby machines, but I have no intention of getting rid of any of them.

 

[kirbyvacuum]

kirby Diamond

All i can say is that i love it. It works as good as my new Avaliar kirbyLove the color combo on both

 

[charleskirby66]

Kirby Ultimate G Diamond Edition

I've owned mine for almost a year now, and this vacuum has completely changed my life for the better. I no longer have to use Zyrtec daily to be able to breathe, despite having moved to the most rural, dusty, polleny area I've ever lived in. I love that I can completely clean my home using just this one machine, its attachments, a few rags, and some solutions. I have the main Kirby unit, standard attachments, Home Turbo Group, Floor Care Group, and Carpet Shampoo System.

PROS
1. Amazing carpet cleaning and grooming
2. Incredible quality of materials and Kirby products
3. Awesome performance of powerful suction and airflow
4. Reliability
5. Awesome hose performance with killer attachments (Zippbrush, Turbo Power Group)
6. HEPA filtration bags capture 99.97% of allergens
7. Colors and styling of this unit are gorgeous
8. Motor speed switch, GREAT feature, unique to this model

CONS
1. Maybe heavy for some people, not a problem for me
2. Converting to hose mode, also not a problem as it takes me under 10 seconds, one-handed
3. Kirby is not perceived to be as "cool" as Dyson, Shark, etc.
4. Attachments must be twisted onto the hose or they will fall off, not a problem but some privileged people have a heart attack over this

RATINGS
Carpet Cleaning: A
Hard Floor Cleaning: A
Ease of Use: A- (I'm being hard here)
Attachments: A- (I'm being hard here)
Versatility: A+
Air Filtration: A- (I'm being hard due to that 0.03% allergen leak rate)
Build Quality: A
Overall Score: A

I absolutely LOVE my Kirby Ultimate G Diamond Edition Home Sanitation System.

 

[shrink1982]

Reply

I think what I meant is fine dust escapes into the room because not only can I smell it but I get a runny nose and headache when using it. Given that it isn't a sealed system, there are many places for dust to leak back into the air. For those without dust allergies, this might not be a problem but for me, it is a deal breaker. I always loved Kirby's as my grandparents had a Heritage II but I can't get sick every time I vacuum.

It regards to versatility, what I meant was it is difficult to go from vacuuming your carpet to dusting your wall. I found I had to do all my dusting first and then vacuum as taking the head off the vacuum is quite inconvenient when in the middle of cleaning. The hose is also very short and does not have great suction. I hate the dry carpet cleaner. It is a pain to setup and doesn't get the carpet clean deep down. It also isn't ideal for bare floors and scatter rugs. BTW, don't get me started on the shady sales reps. I had one in my house and couldn't get him to leave. I have read numerous reports that others have had the same experience.

I am sorry but I do not agree that a Kirby cleans carpets better than a SEBO D4. I just switched from my Diamond Edition to the SEBO and the carpets have never looked so good. Just the other day someone asked me if I had new carpeting. I have kept my Kirby in top shape and have had it serviced once a year. I know how to use it properly and it is a good vacuum. However, the brush roll does not compare to SEBO's brush roll. I find the ET-1 powerhead to be far superior to the Kirby powerhead. This is my opinion based on five years using the Kirby. I agree some like the new, Dyson looking vacuums. I hate Dyson. I have always liked the classic look of a Kirby. I just wished it was more user friendly and didn't pollute the air. There is a reason these things are a dime a dozen on eBay.

I will always have a soft spot for Kirby's and will keep mine but I have no desire to actually use it.

 

[charleskirby66]

Shrink1982

I also have dust allergies, however I have been able to discontinue Zyrtec since owning my Kirby Ultimate G Diamond Edition. I'm not sure how your unit is leaking fine dust, mine obviously does not. No headaches, no sneezing, no coughing, no watery eyes, no allergy issues at all using Kirby.

While it may be "difficult" (not really, under 10 seconds one handed!) to go from vacuuming to dusting walls, I've found that it's best to start with all your above the floor cleaning first. In this way, you can knock down dust, cobwebs, loose drywall, ceiling popcorn, etc before doing your final vacuuming of the floor. This makes for a cleaner, more impeccable and dust-free environment.

I've found the canister mode to be excellent for hard floors, throw rugs, and scatter rugs. The suction control near the handle grip on the hose makes it SO EASY to alter the suction for any kind of carpet. I can actually move my throw rugs using the Kirby hose alone with its powerful suction in canister mode. I'm not sure why yours doesn't perform similarly.

As for the sales reps, I thought everyone here knows they are not employees of the Kirby Company. They are employees of an Independent Distributor, and unfortunately those Distributors' practices tend to be questionable and their employees scumbags. However, these people are NOT the Kirby Company. There is no integrity in blaming Kirby for what other people do with their product.

I can't speak on Sebo, as I've never even seen one in my life. However, I have seen the difference of a vacuuming job with a vacuum someone likes, versus with a vacuum they don't like or have raised issue with. You will spend more time and do a better job vacuuming with a vacuum you like, versus with a vacuum about which you have written a scathing review online. Thus, the end result will be and look better, not necessarily because of the machine, but because of your enjoyment of that machine.

In conclusion, yes, there is a reason we find Kirbys on eBay. It's because people don't know how to use them properly, and being the self-righteous society we are, people cannot be bothered with learning to use an advanced tool properly. People are so privileged that they get upset when they cannot drive a Ferrari the same way they drove their Ford Pinto. The same is true of vacuums. I highly doubt those Kirbys are on eBay because everyone of their owners found them to be leaky or faulty. If that were the case, they wouldn't be as expensive as they are on eBay, they would be nearly free.

 

[tolivac]

I have a Sebo D4 Premium-and its powernozzle JUST DOESN'T compare to the Kirby for me.The Sebo nozzle simply bogs down too much in my deep carpet-the brush motor really slows-and the nozzle and belts are new.No problem with any of my Kirbys.Use the Sebo for the other vacuum jobs.Unless you carefully put the tools in the back of the tank unit-they fall off as you go.Like the top mount tool compartment with the lid better-as on the "C" model-but the bag on the "D" is better.The slim bag in the C clogs quickly.I can really stuff the D machines bag!If your Kirby is leaking dust-any tears in the outer bag?Emptor gasket there or not worn?Emptor should fit rather snug.No cracks or leaks in the fancase?I just wonder if your Kirby has a leak somewhere.Oh yes-like the Kirby dust brush on my Sebo better than theirs-just easier to use-since the Kirby tool is soft-it can adapt to other vacuum hoses-including Meile-and my NuTone central vacs.Since i don't use the Sebo powernozzle-took of the pigtail for it since it sometimes falls off as I vacuum.Can easily put it back if I want to use the powernozzle.I do like the easy access to the brush on the Sebo nozzle.

 

[human]

Sleazy salespeople...

CharlesKirby66 wrote:
As for the sales reps, I thought everyone here knows they are not employees of the Kirby Company. They are employees of an Independent Distributor, and unfortunately those Distributors' practices tend to be questionable and their employees scumbags. However, these people are NOT the Kirby Company. There is no integrity in blaming Kirby for what other people do with their product.

I reply:
Wouldn't the fact that Kirby continues to tolerate these questionable sales practices that are so pervasive among their independent distributors effectively constitute a tacit approval of them? For better or worse, most people don't perceive any distinction between the manufacturer and its independent sales force because those salespeople, whether they are company employees or not, are representing the Kirby brand. How many people get turned off from buying a particular brand of car because of the way they're treated at a local dealership? Those dealers are independent franchisees, just like Kirby distributors, and the manufacturers hold them to certain standards for a very good reason. The brand is riding on it.

For all practical intents and purposes, the independent Kirby distributors are the face of Kirby in their community and their practices reflect--mostly negatively--on the company by tainting many consumers' perception of the brand. When people get sleazy treatment from sleazy salespeople they logically and rightfully equate that to a sleazy company. And quite frankly, if Kirby condones that sort of behavior by not enforcing a stricter code of ethics on its independent distributors, they are demonstrating their own sleaziness and are richly deserving of every bit of criticism they receive and every sale they lose over it. I love Kirby's products but I would never, ever allow a Kirby salesperson through my front door.

It's really no different than if a retailer knowingly sells products made overseas with slave labor but does nothing to stop it, making the excuse that "we don't own the factory, we just buy the shirts or sneakers or whatever they make". That retailer is effectively expressing approval for that manufacturer's practices by saying they don't care how the job gets done, only that it get's done. Willful ignorance and plausible deniability do not absolve someone--corporeal or corporate--of any responsibility for things done in his, her, or its name.

 

[charleskirby66]

Sleazy salespeople vs. Kirby Company

Excerpts that human wrote will appear in black.  My responses will be Italicized and in blue.


 
"Wouldn't the fact that Kirby continues to tolerate these questionable sales practices that are so pervasive among their independent distributors effectively constitute a tacit approval of them?" 


Kirby does not tolerate these questionable sales practices.  See their Better Business Bureau website for Complaints against the Company due to sleazy salespeople, and how the company responds.  http://www.bbb.org/cleveland/busine...pany-world-headquarters-in-cleveland-oh-6522/


 


"How many people get turned off from buying a particular brand of car because of the way they're treated at a local dealership?"


I'm sure many, as people are fools.  If they had done their research and ascertained which make, model, and options they want, they would be foolish and unempowered to allow a sleazy salesperson dissuade their desires.  Call on the manager and get a WAY better deal than Sleazy Salesman Steve was offering, due to his behavior!  I love sleazy salespeople, because they open up the door for me to get EXACTLY what I want at an even better price than I planned.  Be empowered, people! 


 


"When people get sleazy treatment from sleazy salespeople they logically and rightfully equate that to a sleazy company.  And quite frankly, if Kirby condones that sort of behavior by not enforcing a stricter code of ethics on its independent distributors, they are demonstrating their own sleaziness and are richly deserving of every bit of criticism they receive and every sale they lose over it."


I logically and rightfully equate sleazy salespeople to their own lack of integrity.  Read the BBB web page for Kirby Company in Cleveland.  In those Complaints, you will read where Distributors lost their licenses from Kirby, and where Kirby stepped up to "make right" the wrongs committed by Distributorships.  That shows Kirby does not condone the sleazy tactics.  Independent Distributors and Salespeople are to adhere to the DSA Code of Ethics, of which Kirby Company is a participant for 2015.  http://www.dsa.org/consumerprotection/Code


 


"It's really no different than if a retailer knowingly sells products made overseas with slave labor but does nothing to stop it, making the excuse that 'we don't own the factory, we just buy the shirts or sneakers or whatever they make'."


Actually, it's COMPLETELY different.  Kirby Company is the producer of high quality products, made with integrity in the USA, where production and labor are regulated.  The Independent Distributors are the "retailers", and THEIR practices are the ones in question, not the product or company that produces the product.  In your own example, the faulty store would go out of business, but the product would continue to be made with integrity and sold via reputable retail outlets.  Again, Kirby issues real consequences for Distributorships and Independent Salespeople who do not adhere to the DSA Code of Ethics, thus I'm afraid your comparison is a bit unfounded.  Again, please see and understand the BBB page and DSA page.


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[shrink1982]

Kirby

What I find interesting is how pervasive the poor sales tactics are across markets. Even dealers in the UK are known for providing very bad service. Why is it this is so common with Kirby distributors? It can't just be coincidence. There are just too many complaints about sales tactics with Kirby distributors that makes me believe Kirby has encouraged this kind of behavior. It happens in every state and over seas. Kirby distributors are very poor. I have never heard a good thing about a Kirby sales pitch. Why is this? Can you honestly say Kirby just has bad luck?

As far as dust is concerned, Kirby Vacuums ARE NOT sealed systems, therefore they will leak dust. This is a fact. Perhaps I am just extra sensitive to dust but after using my Kirby for five years, I purchased the SEBO because I wanted a sealed system. I have no complaints about how the Kirby cleans carpets. It is one of the best in that regard. As far as using the hose to clean my hard floors and rugs, my hose is very short. I don't see how that would work well.

In regards to the SEBO not doing a good job on carpets, this surprises me. I had read that it did well on carpets but had no idea how it would compare to the Kirby. As I said, I bought it mainly because it is a sealed system and I like using a canister for hard floors and above floor cleaning. I have no reason to praise the SEBO over Kirby. I didn't expect it would do better than the Kirby at cleaning carpets but was shocked at how well it does. My cat died a year and a half ago and I vacuum 3-4 days a week. I assumed all the cat hair was out of my medium pile carpets by now as the Kirby wasn't picking any up. However, my first time using the SEBO and a good amount of cat hair was in the bag. I was shocked. Perhaps the SEBO does better on the type of carpet I have. I really don't know but if you compare the brush roll on the SEBO to the one of the Kirby, there are a lot more bristles on the SEBO. Perhaps this is why it has done a better job. The Kirby always seemed to do a very good job as the pile looked good afterwards and I could feel the vibration in the floor when I would vacuum. But the proof is in the pudding. For me, the SEBO just does a better job. Perhaps I will run a test like Roger does and compare, side by side, which one picks up more.

 

[tolivac]

I have mentioned this on here before-NOT JUST KIRBY-but other premium DTD brand vacuums can be equally at fault here.Yes,even Areus/Lux,Rainbow,TriStar,Miracle Mate,Filter Queen,list goes on.It seems like complaints were less of a problem when the salesman actually WORKED for the vacuum company in question and was NOT a "contractor"When the salesman worked for the company-any misbehavior meant immediate dismissal.-Now its more difficult.

 

[human]

Tolivac wrote: It seems like complaints were less of a problem when the salesman actually WORKED for the vacuum company in question and was NOT a "contractor". When the salesman worked for the company-any misbehavior meant immediate dismissal.-Now its more difficult.

To which I reply:
I think you may have hit the proverbial nail on the head. Independent distributorships may seem to add an extra layer of accountability but more likely add an extra layer of plausible deniability between the salesperson and the manufacturer. If the salesperson in question is employed by the manufacturer, consumer complaints would go directly to the manufacturer. But with an independent distributor, complaints to the salesperson's supervisor go to the distributor, who has a vested interest in NOT passing that information up the food chain to the manufacturer. To this end, the distributors may condone--and perhaps even encourage--their salespeople's 'by any means necessary' approach while running interference between them and the manufacturer and whitewashing any customer complaints that do happen to reach the manufacturer. If the distributor is turning in decent sales numbers, the manufacturer is more likely to take the distributor's word that a reported problem has been 'handled' because they don't want to kill the proverbial golden goose. But if the distributor is under-performing, the manufacturer may be more inclined to make an example of them. While it is laudible that manufacturers have some sort of ethical standards policy in place, the fact that the complaints persist is proof of the policies' ineffectiveness and/or inadequate enforcement.

 

[charleskirby66]

human

YES!  I think you definitely distinguished where the integrity of DTD salesmanship goes out the window.  

 

[jp10558]

Kirby - my grandmother had one, still at her house. I have no idea what model, but I believe she bought it at what she thought was a good discount in 1984-1987 range. It still works, especially once we cleaned out the obstructions.

It's a tank, I'll give it that. I don't know how good it is for carpeting, most of the carpet in that house is almost like felt - very short, like 1/8 inch ...

I like kirby, and seriously gave them a thought when I was looking for a "high end" vacuum in 2007. The issues were
a) The Kirby was very heavy. Some of the users of the vacuum would be elderly.
b) The Kirby was very confusing to use, though partially because we lost the manual and this wouldn't be an issue with a new one. That said, messing with the floor nozzel to use attachments is off-putting. The belt was also confusing with the twist on my grandmother's model. Don't know about new ones.
c) No idea how to even see one - not sold in stores, and even if I was going to accede to a in home demo (and that would be a big IF), I had no idea how to set one up.
d) Price - quite expensive, starting around $1,500 if I recall correctly.

The only thing "going for" Kirby ended up being the percieved durability and exclusivity factor.

We ended up getting (I don't think it's respected anywhere) an Oreck XL21 and Iron Man set.

a)The vacuuming was quite good, and easy to use the XL21 - really, nothing to get wrong - plug it in, turn on switch. I guess there's the slow or high speed setting, but other than that - not even attachments on the upright vacuum.

b) Super light, 21 year warranty at a local Oreck store where we could get local service, usually same day as we waited. They also tought us how to disassemble to clean clogs, so very rarely actually need service. Great local store.

c) Iron Man has pretty impressive suction compared to WalMart Vacs we had used. Simple to use because it's all attachments, and they all just push on to the hose. 2 speeds, nothing complicated there either. Decent 3 year warranty, but never any problems through present day.

d) The bags last a LONG time.

e) The price was 1/3 less than the starting prices of Kirbys.

It probably worked out well enough - While I belive the Kirby will outlast the newer Oreck, the Oreck is very likely to last the 21 years in my use of it. Also, it turned out (unexpectedly admittidly) that I replaced 2/3 of the carpeting with laminite, so I rarely vacuum anymore.

I did go whole hog with the Oreck lineup and have an Orbiter, and that's actually been awesome. It wasn't that great for the carpet "dry cleaning" - it was OK, but not amazing. But for cleaning lineolum and laminite, it's better than anything else I've ever used. Granted, probably any orbiter style machine would be, but I'd never have bought one if not for Oreck. It's also awesome that there's a setup for sanding, which is by far the best way to sand our deck. I've even picked it up and used it to clean the top of wood tables and the sides of showers, but I have good upper body strenght - it is heavy.

I don't know if the kirby could have cleaned the laminite as well as the orbiter, and I don't think it can sand decks (I might be wrong). So while I don't know if the vacuums are all that (Better for me than others I've owned, but I've not compared rainbow, Mielie, Sebo etc) but an orbiter style device is a must have for me if you have lineolium or laminite / hard wood floors and decks.