Potential New Kirby Vacuum Model Discussion

[panasonicvac]

From my understanding, Kirby went back to using black as their primary color because it's one of if not the cheapest colors to make. You'll notice for example that replacement cords are now black for the Legend II, the G5, and most other models. So if we're getting a new model from Kirby, chances are it'd still be black but with a different secondary color. I'd love to see a Kirby that's green because we haven't had a green Kirby in a very long time and it's my most favorite color on a vacuum. Or at least a color they haven't made before like purple, orange, yellow, etc. I'd also love to see another Kirby that's for limited production only like the gold plated ones. That'd be awesome if they had a pink breast cancer edition one just like some other brands have done before like Oreck, Dyson, Riccar, Simplicity, etc. My aunt survived from one so that's why I like it when companies help donate, not to mention they do look pretty in the pink color in my opinion.

Anyways with that being said here, I mention "if" we're getting a new model because I'm not so sure anymore that we'd get a new model from Kirby anytime soon or ever at all. With the acquisition, more dealers signing up to be warranty centers, price increase, and now allowing Kirby to not just be sold through door-to-door anymore, I think Kyle has made an excellent point here. The Avalir 2 may be the last Kirby we'd ever see in our lifetime. But if we ever do get a new model, chances are the only differences would be the name and color change. If you look at Aerus for example, their Guardian Platinum unit is now white but still the exact same thing as the black version. Heck the rest of the canisters are still the same after 10 years. If you think 6 years is too long for Kirby, some other companies like Aerus is doing it far longer than Kirby. There's also chances that we'd see the Avalir 2 being sold for many more years to come. I wouldn't mind if the Avalir 2 gets updated with more blue colored parts just like what they did with the first Avalir with more red colored parts before it got discontinued.

 

[jfalberti]

I have a feeling we shouldn't hope for a new Kirby

With the pandemic, and them now comparing the Kirby against the likes of Miele and Rainbow (and giving them nice reviews) I kind of think Kirby's new owners are happy to stick with the status quo. I was looking at their website last night, and saw that they offer the Avalir II for sale online now, no demo required. Base model with just the upright and attachments is $2,000, next level up with the multi floor attachments is $2,399, with the complete package selling for $2,599.

Looks to me like they are phasing out their home dealers and going with a new sales model. when I sold the Kirby Tradition brand new in the late 70s, early 80s in Western PA, the price of a full boat Kirby was $769. That included the machine with the attachments, Miracle head, and Handi waxer, the Rug Renovator, and the Handi Butler. That was about the time the steel mills were all closing down, and people didn't know how they were going to be able to pay their mortgages and put food on the table, let alone splurging on an $800 vacuum cleaner.

With all the quality machines out there today costing LOTS less than a Kirby, maybe the new owners are just gonna ride the Avalir out as long as they can, and then just kill the line. I hope not, but wouldn't be surprised.

 

[lesinutah]

When

Was the last tradition sold. I do like the tradition color scheme. I like the avalir 2 color scheme just as much.

 

[jfalberti]

I seem to remember transitioning from the Tradition to the Heritage 1HD in late 82, early 83.

 

[lesinutah]

So

There could have been a tradition could have been sold in April of 1982? That's the month I was born just curious.
Thanks for replying.

 

[dysonman1]

The Kirby dealers just had a 'convention' in Cleveland very recently. Going to just be a color change. No new model.

 

[kirbyg6]

Hi dysonman1 oh great another boring colour change just great

 

[lesinutah]

Hmm

I wonder what color with black it could be. Green or yellow is my guess. The avalir 3.

 

[juju93]

lord here we go again... 6 years just for another color scheme, if it even is that. Hopefully down the line they bring back older accessories, such as the sentria handi butler, or something new, espescially since they inflated the prince. shoot 10 years ago the base package with the machine and attachments was like 1400 and 10 years later its 2400? for what, a cosmetic/ color scheme?

 

[human]

Yeah, Kirby has really painted themselves into a corner. They can't go the plastic/bagless route, because the cheapo Wally World vacs own that market segment, and they've been building the present configuration, which is so nearly indestructible, for so long that the second-hand market is flooded with good G-series, Sentria, and Avalir machines to the point that there's no way they can be price competitive.

Around here, thrift shops sell good Kirbys for around $25 without accessories. Rough but repairable ones can go for as little as $10. A good machine with a full set of accessories goes for about $50. A couple of years ago, a local thrift had a practically new looking Sentria, with all accessories, priced at $395. Like other larger ticket items there, the price would drop by 50 percent every two weeks, down to a pre-set minimum. Over about eight weeks, this machine dropped to $200, then $100, then I bought it when it dropped to its bottom price of $50. With that pricing dynamic, there's just no margin at all for a new one.

 

[kirbyg6]

Well let’s just hope it’s a cool colour scheme

 

[juju93]

I personally don't thing kirby would go down the black and yellow rout. I mean they already had that with the g6 back in the late 90s/ early 2000s and to do it again, it would be a similar replica of the g6 with a few cosmetic differences. Even If its still a color change they still have the issue of second hand markets like pawn shops, ebay and so on. Personally if I wanted a kirby I just go to my local vac shop and get one for pennies on the dollar. I remember back in 2004 one of my local vac stores were selling new condition like G-series kirby's for like $200 and back then that was a major steel and now its just a new norm. Hypothetically speaking, if kirby does come out with a new model and by new model I mean different than the G-series I do hope they address the issues that consumers want addressed. I know I've said this numerous times but I want them to reduce the bulkiness of the system, especially when using in certain cleaning modes. And for the love of god reduce the noise of the system because the g-series or kirby's in general are just loud and unbareable to hear, especially on hard surface floors. I do have a question for the group. If kirby had a dealers convention recently, what makes yall think a new model is or was announce. Like in the past when kirby has had these conventions have these events been when they announce "new models".

 

[kirbyg6]

It seems to me that Kirby are more interested in how the machine looks than how it operates in my opinion

 

[juju93]

@dysonman1 what do you know about said kirby convention? Any inside sources?


Also my question for the group is how do we know kirby is planning on launching anything at all? Like how ofton do they have these conventions and how ofton are they followed with a new model or some sort of launch.

 

[kirbylux77]

I hate to be the Negative Nancy here, but time to bring some of you guys down to earth:

There will NOT be a new Kirby design! If anything the company will launch a new colour scheme and then go out of business.

A company like Right Lane Industries DOES NOT believe in investing millions of dollars designing a new product for a company. If anything, they will hold onto the company for as long as they can, sell parts of it off, and then sell it for a handsome profit. They have already proven this by selling CWP, the brushroll manufacturing division, and by starting to test selling the product in retail stores and selling online.

Furthermore, as it stands now, the Kirby Home Care System is exactly what consumers DON'T WANT to buy. Consumers believe the product is old fashioned, heavy, clunky, hard to use and outdated. Don't believe me? Go on YouTube, you will see news reports of people complaining they have difficulty using the vacuum because it's so heavy and want to return it. And today's consumer definitely does not want to mess with taking off a powerhead and fiddling with the vacuum to put on a hose or other attachments. They don't care if the darn vacuum can do a million different things! And to be frank, the Kirby doesn't fit into today's modern homes with hard floors and area rugs, and the types of vacuums today's consumers want to use.

If Kirby does design a new model, I can see 2 possibilities: 1. A simplified Royal style upright that's lighter, easy to use, fairly light to push and pull, and easy to put a hose in the front of the powerhead to use attachments. Best part is, TTI would probably sell the Royal Metal patents cheap since they no longer have any interest, and it would be easy to put the "Kirby" spin on it to make it their own design and model. 2. A Riccar Supralite/Oreck style upright with a separate canister that's a lightweight, direct air, effective carpet cleaning upright vacuum and easy to use tools with a separate canister. I can also see how Right Lane Industries would buy a stick vacuum design to sell under the Kirby name online on the website, as Aerus and Filter Queen have done, for consumers that want something quick and convenient to use between using the upright for full house cleaning.

However, where I really see this going is that Right Lane Industries will eventually sell the buildings, equipment, patents and designs, and put Kirby out of business. I don't see how they are going to turn the company around when they are stuck with selling a product that's a dated design, that's well known, and they have to stick very close to the same design so people will recognize it's a Kirby.

Sorry to all those that hate reading this, but this is pretty much the end for Kirby, and it's time we all owned up to it and move on.

 

[repairman]

Kirbylux77

I'm curious to know how sales were after selling the vacuums through HSN and Costco.

I've also said the same thing about Kirby bringing Royal back from the dead too. That might give them a better opportunity to re-enter the commercial division.

There was also a program rumored to have dealers selling refurbished Kirby units from the the factory while new sales would be handled online and door to door. Did we ever see anything from that?

 

[lesinutah]

Oh no

The sky is falling. Did you hear anything about that
It's not like kirby has authorized dealers, website to order parts, actually has customer service.
Warren buffet one of tge greatest business enovatoes ever didn't buy a company and sell if it wasn't in the green.
It's like the know it all have everything figured out.
If Warren Bufet sells a company it's in the green and it's not get liquidated. Thank for playing The sky is falling.
Y'all come back now ya hear.......

 

[panasonicvac]

Well said Rob

I've said this before, there's just doubt Kirby would ever come out with something new at this point. Again, they did had a new design before they abandoned it because it just wasn't working well like they hoped. I know I wouldn't buy something that's worse than it's predecessor like Rainbow for example. I think Rexair went downhill ever since the release of the SRX. I believe it's better off for RLI to do what they'd supposedly do, just come out with a new Avalir in a different color. That's how I think Kirby can hold out for as long as they can without going downhill as much as Rainbow. Now as much as I love Kirby, they just aren't my favorite to use. Even if they did released that new design from reply #13, I know as a consumer I wouldn't want to buy one. For example, I dislike having to change the nozzles out for the hoses. Otherwise if they did wanted to come out with a new model, their best chance would be to revive the Royal metal uprights or something similar. Because those Royals are WAY better machines and I've also said this before. Although I'd much rather have TTI reserve those under the Dirt Devil brand if they were expand the commercial market as not only they've done it before but I also think they'd have a better chance at selling them more than under Kirby as TTI does have great marketing. But TTI doesn't have to bring back the Royal metal uprights. They already have Oreck as their direct air uprights. I'm sure TTI has sold more Orecks than RLI or even Scott & Fetzer selling Kirbys, at least just here in the states. And to be honest, I'd much rather have a Oreck over a Kirby because they're lighter, simpler, and easier to use. Even though Kirbys are more powerful machines. But if I wanted something that's just as powerful if not better than Kirby, I'd also much rather have a Sanitaire F&G upright. Especially the canisters because both the Oreck handhelds and Sanitaire Mighty Mites are just so much more pleasant to use than Kirbys as a canister. I'm also sure Bissell or even Electrolux has sold more Sanitaires than RLI/S&F selling Kirbys here in the states. One of the biggest reasons is the price point. Why on earth would I pay for a brand new Kirby than pay for a Oreck or a Sanitaire that's WAY less? Doesn't really make sense to me.

 

[tolivac]

While talking to me Kirby distributed he says a new model is available. He has one reserved for me. I had a house fire that destroyed. My house,all of my vacuums and everything. Got out of the house with clothes on my back and my cellphone-nothing Elese Now staying in a motel with expenses paid by insurance. Next step is a rental house-hopefully today. When settlement checks come a homes I can purchase. So far the Kirby website doesn’t show the new machine. My Kirby dealer has other machines and things for me-will take delivery when I am in a perm home. One thing at a time! My car has been replaced. When I het the rental house will go back to work. Can’t sleep in a motel for mid shifts.

 

[kirbyg6]

Hi tolivac sorry to hear about the house fire do you know anything about the new model I really can’t wait to see it