Rainbow's 85th Anniversary/ any new kirby info?

[juju93]

Does anyone have any idea on what rexair is planning for this anniversary and what they have planned to celebrate it, or if theres any type of world confrence, kind of like what they did 2 years ago with the launch of the SRX.




Also does anyone have any idea on when kirby is going to release a new model. I ask this question because avalir 2 (really sentria 4) has been out for more than 3 years now and its time for something new. God forbid the avalir 2 gets a 6 year run like the original sentria did. Hopefully if there gonna keep this sentria/avalir look, the lease they can do is come up with some new optional accessories and also bring back the videos owners manual.

 

[kirbyg6]

Well Kirby could keep the G series going on for ever and ever and still call it a new machine I think the avalir 2 really should be their last G series in my opinion I think they are sticking to that saying if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Who knows it could just be another boring colour change or they are going to shock us all with something totally brand new and redesigned

 

[tolivac]

The Kirby dealer I know will let me know if a new model comes out-again don't be surprized if its just another rehash of the G machines-well-if it isn't broke---DON'T FIX IT!Engineering cost money-esp in the uncertain times.

 

[tolivac]

Just as with Kirby-same with Rainbow-f the SRX design works---why fix it?

 

[juju93]

Oh I know rexair isn’t going to come out with a new model this close to just releasing the SRX. What I was referring to was, do they have anything planned for the celebration as in releasing a new optional accessory or something. As for the Kirby G series, there’s definitely ways to improve on it, so it’s technically broke. I’m just surprised Kirby themselves doesn’t read these blogs and address our wants and needs.

 

[human]

Kirby is apparently very comfortable in their niche, offering an increasingly unique product as everything else has gone to plastic. What they're offering certainly isn't 'broke'; it's just a mature technology that arguably has little room remaining for further technical refinement within its established parameters, but the bottom line is that it's a design that just plain works and is durable beyond just about anything else on the market. I think it would be a serious mistake for them to try and "modernize" the design with things like screamin' brushless DC motors, self-destructin' circuit boards, built-in hoses and loads of plastic. I can already go to Wally World and buy that crap, not that I have any desire to. For me, the addition of such "features" would lead to a cheapened and compromised design. I'll say this for Kirby; one thing they're definitely not about is planned obsolescence.

As I see it, and have said many times, the biggest competition Kirby faces is from itself. The second-hand market is flooded with used Kirbys that can be had for the same or less than a new plasticrap vac. There is no way in hell I would shell out two grand for a new Avalir 2 when I can pick up a lightly used Sentria with a full set of accessories for $50 at a thrift shop. Given the added bonus of skipping the high-pressure, home invasion sales pitch in the process, buying used is a total win in my book. While I love Kirbys, I honestly don't want my local Kirby dealer to even know that I exist.

 

[suckolux]

Edgar, point & match! You hit the nail on the head as usual.

 

[juju93]

Don't get me wrong, kirbys are great products there is room for improvment within the current platform design as well as within thr optional accessories. I can say from a personal opinion that kirbys are big and cumbersome and take up a lot of space with the shampoo system attach, even the redisgn MS3 is too wide. I say this because one of the key features of the MS3 is that it can mop floors. Well ok thats nice and everything but how is it gonna fit into hard to reach areas such as tight corners in the bathroom. This next issue i see also ties into the first concern. The noise level of it is unbareable, especially on hard surface floors. If kirby was gonna make it more user friendly to use on hard surface floors they should do something about the noise of the system. those are just a few issues I see with a kirby or the more recent ones. There are a few other design flaws i see which I have posted in other threads, which probably some of yall have read before.

Now as for the rainbow system. I personally see room for rexair to expand its accessory range. I personally have the SRX and its a great system and eveything, but theres room for it to grow and improve, which I'm not referring to the system itself but for its optional accessories. Me personally dont see how rexair can improve the aquamate and rainjet, becuase those accessories are already perfect on there own, especially the rainjet. The rainbowmate is alright, but I feel like its not all that powerful enough to clean my sofa. Like for example when I use the rainbowmate on my sofa the brush slows down from spinningand I'm not even putting a lot of pressure on it to move. As for the minijet attachment, its an ok accessory but heres what I think needs to be improved with it. I think the minijet could use some additonal brushes but different design from what typically comes with. For example it could use a spinning scrub brush that scrubs the surfaces cleaned, as well as some sort of angle brush that can clean different angles. Yes I know these type of designs are owned and patented by different companies. Also, dont get me wrong but the hard floor brush is nice and all but what if rexair came out with there own veriant of a soft roller cleaner head, kind of like what dyson has, but just a rexiar version. I mean its a good concept simply because well the wands alone already have the electrical connections so why not. Also I think rexair can come up with a pet grooming system, kind of like how bissell has the barkbath, why not rexair come up with something like that.

so yeah those are my thoughts, what are yalls opinions.

 

[panasonicvac]

Kirby won't release another model UNLESS their next prototype model is overall better than their current model. I actually agree with some of the others here. If it ain't broke, why bother replacing it? If I were working for Kirby, I would be smart enough to not fall into the same mistake that Speed Queen did a few years ago. When they ditched their old and tried washing machines with their "Next Generation" models, that costed Speed Queen ALOT of controversy. Their new washers are not as good as their old ones, in fact they were not well received so much that they HAD to reintroduce another old school model that lots of people would expect to get from a washer.

 

[ralph123]

If Kirby pays any attention to Consumer Reports, they need to make it lighter and easier to handle, less noisy, improve the reliability, and make it more user friendly (e.g. easier to use tools, perhaps less bulky).

Rainbow also has some deficiencies particularly with the power nozzle for bare floors, and perhaps the electronics in the power nozzle. Rainbow's crazy high pricing can't possibly help sales.

both of these companies seem to make incremental improvements.

 

[kirbyg6]

Iv got a feeling that they do have an new machine in their test laboratory but they just can’t get it to outperform the avalir 2 once they have managed to do that hopefully they will launch it I’m one of those people who can’t wait for their next model I’m always a tiny bit excited when Kirby brings out a new machine I just hope that their is something new and interesting about it