Welcome to the 21st century...
...and good riddance to the door-to-door sales model. That has needed to go away for a very long time. I remember reading once on this site about somebody who had to show the sales goon to the door with a .38 in his hand to get the point across that he wasn't interested and wasn't buying. Kirby is smart to be putting the machines where the buyers are.
I could even see Costco coming out with a Kirkland Signature line of bags and belts for them--in appropriately humongous quantities, of course. I also have to wonder whether the Costco machines would have the same warranty as those bought directly through the company or an authorized sales center. That could be one way to get the cost down. Costco sells Interstate car batteries at a discount, but they have a different warranty (three years prorated, only through Costco) than those purchased from an Interstate dealer (two years free replacement and then three years prorated). They also might not offer the factory rebuild program for those machines. Of course, they still could also leave a little meat on the bone for the local sales and service centers by not offering accessories like the carpet shampooer through Costco. Please understand, this is all supposition on my part as I have no insider information.
The bottom line still remains that Kirby's biggest competitor is itself in form of the second-hand market. Who in their right mind would want to pay well over a grand for a brand new Kirby when a gently used one can be found in the same price range as a cheapo plasticrap vac at a thrift store or online. A couple of years ago, I got a very gently used Sentria with all the accessories, including a carpet shampooer, for $50 at a thrift store. It's essentially the same as today's Avalir although I understand the carpet shampooer may have been improved. Even though I am a Costco member, I have no intention of purchasing a Kirby there, if and when they ever actually show up at my local warehouse.