Prices...

[vacowacko]

A few years ago stupidly/ naively or something else like that I decided that I didn't want my vacuum collection anymore got rid of most everything unfortunately. Having a bit of regrets over that oh Well recently I've become interested in it again. However I fear that rebuilding a collection will not be as easy or cheap as it was 10 years ago.... But my main question is how much would you be willing to spend Ive been looking on eBay and can't believe what people are asking could buy several brand new higher model vacs for what people are asking for basic and beat up Kirby's etc that may or may not work.

 

[centralsweeper63]

If you see a machine you want that is too far away or expensive just leave it, there will be another one. Prices have gone up way too much, though you get good ones. I have found that some weeks nothing shows up, some weeks you get 10 properly vintage machines. If you are serious about collecting, ask around, people talk.

 

[vacowacko]

If you see a machine you want that is too far away or expensive just leave it, there will be another one. Prices have gone up way too much, though you get good ones. I have found that some weeks nothing shows up, some weeks you get 10 properly vintage machines. If you are serious about collecting, ask around, people talk.

Yea Its just crazy to me how people are asking almost 100 dollars and sometimes hundreds for some reason... And Most of my old collection I paid probably no more than 50 bucks for the most expensive. Mostly at thrift stores and 1 yard sale I think. I've seen a few posted up here but most people don't want to ship kind of sad really id even pay if it was reasonable.

 

[centralsweeper63]

Goodwill has become extremely expensive, most of them that is.

 

[huskyvacs]

I started collecting in 2017. I am mostly entirely a digital collector as my thrift stores are dead of vacuum action because my city lost its independent vacuum repair shops. In the last 3-4 years I have noticed a big surge in vacuum cleaner collectors and vacuum cleaners in general pulling big money. Most modern 90s-00s vacuums going for well over $100-$120. Rare prewar vacuums pulling as much as a used Corolla. It's insane. Even bags and belts and parts are selling like hotcakes. I have bookmarked many vacuums I want, and just in a couple weeks time between my paychecks, someone has bought it out from under me just in that short of a time.

Shipping rates have gone up many times since I started in 2017 so it gets increasingly harder to find good deals as far as online shopping, but if you keep looking and hammering the sites, you can find good stuff. I keep my acquisitions under $50 but will stretch a bit higher if its something rare or unique. I collect anything I can find a good deal on, or thats rare, or thats strange, or if i like it, or if its free off the side of the road or thrown in a ditch.

I will sell common garden variety vacuums once I get them milked for content, and rebuilt and restored to new, but I will keep any vacuums that I truely enjoy and love, and anything rare or unique that I know will never come up again. You can't hoard everything you do have to prune some out from time to time.

Vacuum cleaners are very robust, they will usually never not work, and even so just need some basic TLC and simple electrical diagnostics. I love plucking Kirbys up for cheap because "they do not turn on" and its because the seller doesnt have the brushroll attached properly to trip the safety switch. I've probably got a lot of the worst condition vacuums you've ever seen in your life and they all power up and run when plugged in.

I even have a 2019 model Hoover Windtunnel that was a store return marked for salvage I got for $25 with free shipping from a returns reseller. It was still brand new to the market when I bought it. I plug it in, the motor surges up and down aggressively or stalls out and it makes my house lights flicker like crazy, and it starts smelling really really bad, but be damned if it isnt still fully functional and operational! The motors are made to take long hours of high speed high RPM use so they are really built to take a lot of hard treatment without faltering.

 

[huskyvacs]

I've seen a few posted up here but most people don't want to ship kind of sad really id even pay if it was reasonable.

Most people dont know how to ship a vacuum, or do not know how to dismantle it and fit it in a small carton. And trying to teach a eBay seller to dismantle a 86 year old vacuum is like trying to put a wet cat into a paper bag. I just let them do them and pay the shipping they are asking.

The most insane and crazy thing you would never believe is I bought a pair of Dysons from a pawn shop in 2017 (over eBay) and they just shipped them pressed against each other and then shrinkwrapped 400x times. No box, no bubble wrap, nothing. Just shrinkwrap. Somehow by some insane miracle they made it unharmed, with just a few chips on the edges of the nozzle and the handle tips.

 

[SeboU1]

I also have noticed that the prices are much higher. I paid $40 and $50 for some of the machines that are or were in my collection since around 2014. I do visit Good Will when I find one, but I haven’t found any vacuums. I’ve been in a few pawn shops, and the only vacuums they had were Sharks. If you think the prices are high on eBay, vacuum stores think they’re selling gold in “refurbished” vacuums. I drive through several residential streets to get to my home, and I never see any vacuums in the trash. I would recommend looking on marketplace, some appealing vacuums have been appearing. The prices on eBay seem to be from the fees that eBay charges sellers and clueless sellers. I will pay around $400 if the vacuum is nearly brand new. For a used vacuum, I wouldn’t pay much more than $200, I always calculate that it will need at least $100 worth of parts. Don’t ever pay anymore than $200 for a Kirby without the accessories, Avilir and older. There are plenty of Kirbys that appear for about $150, I have seen an avilir2 for $150. Buying all of the Kirby accessory kits on eBay is not cheap. I would say that the best vacuums to buy on eBay are the metal body Electroluxs, they’re absolute tanks and you really don’t have to worry if the seller doesn’t package them well.

 

[vacerator]

Vintage is worth what people are willing to pay. As for new, there is some gouging because prices of everything is up per tariffs, etc. Some may be asking higher prices for vintage in taking advantage of the situation.

 

[rugsucker]

So it seems you can't find vacs and don't like the prices when you find them?!?As I have told any and all who will listen and understand I am ready for a final clearance of my vac shop building with everything from Apex to Hoover Z.Most will be $0 to $20 dollars or go for scrap or trash.Filter Queens old and modern will go on scrap metal truck next.Then Avilirs for $50 or scrap.A room full of Kirby accessories Heritage to Avilir waiting for helper to take to dumpster.If you don't understand and care I don't care!If you do care call-423-268-4841.

 

[vacerator]

rugsucker, my Elux. XXX needs a better genuine hose, and a dusting and floor brush, carpet tool, or even a combo. flip over type. The hose was repaired and does not allow nearly enough air flow. The tank is in fine shape, and the motor runs great. I would have to pay for shipping to the Detroit area.

 

[cheesewonton]

Something like 15 years ago I got into this absolutely insane bidding war on ebay for a particularly rare Kenmore canister, the black and gray with red trim Kenmore Heavy Duty 3.9 canister. I quit bidding at $450 and was outbid by two other people. Then the next day something happened and without changing my high bid I was suddenly top bidder again. A few hours later I wasn't. Maybe people were trying to do deals off line? I don't know. All I know is I lost the bidding war.

But a few weeks later the power nozzle for a Kenmore Heavy Duty 3.9 turned up on ebay for $35. I immediately bought it. Then I asked the seller if he had the rest of the vacuum, which he did including the rare gray hose for them. He sold me the rest for another $35 ! Yes, I am still smiling to this very day. Total score and everything was in great original condition, missing only the lid over the attachments which that $450+ Kenny was also missing. The hinges on those lids always break and you almost never see one intact. No complaints. It was missing the gray dusting brush but there was a gray dusting brush sold by Hayden that was basically identical, though a touch darker. Plopped that into the attachment tray and good to go. A year or two ago the correct dusting brush showed up on ebay and I replaced the Hayden brush with the correct Kenmore brush with the Sears logo on it. Someday a lid will turn up. I just know it. Also since then two new in the original bag gray hoses have turned up and I have those stashed away. It's a good working vacuum that I am not afraid to use.

 

[paul]

Something like 15 years ago I got into this absolutely insane bidding war on ebay for a particularly rare Kenmore canister, the black and gray with red trim Kenmore Heavy Duty 3.9 canister. I quit bidding at $450 and was outbid by two other people. Then the next day something happened and without changing my high bid I was suddenly top bidder again. A few hours later I wasn't. Maybe people were trying to do deals off line? I don't know. All I know is I lost the bidding war.

But a few weeks later the power nozzle for a Kenmore Heavy Duty 3.9 turned up on ebay for $35. I immediately bought it. Then I asked the seller if he had the rest of the vacuum, which he did including the rare gray hose for them. He sold me the rest for another $35 ! Yes, I am still smiling to this very day. Total score and everything was in great original condition, missing only the lid over the attachments which that $450+ Kenny was also missing. The hinges on those lids always break and you almost never see one intact. No complaints. It was missing the gray dusting brush but there was a gray dusting brush sold by Hayden that was basically identical, though a touch darker. Plopped that into the attachment tray and good to go. A year or two ago the correct dusting brush showed up on ebay and I replaced the Hayden brush with the correct Kenmore brush with the Sears logo on it. Someday a lid will turn up. I just know it. Also since then two new in the original bag gray hoses have turned up and I have those stashed away. It's a good working vacuum that I am not afraid to use.

Great story! Congrats!

Think about increasing the size of your new garage to include a floor/surface appliance museum or go digital—you certainly have the inventory!