Saw a Kenmore Progressive at Goodwill Today and Walked Away

[human]

So I was out running errands today and like an alcoholic wandering into a bar, I found myself in a Goodwill store and back in the electronics/housewares section, I spotted a teal Kenmore progressive canister and matching power nozzle—no hose, no wands and no other attachments. It's so rare to see a canister there, I had to take a look at it but quickly decided it was not at all worth the $25 they wanted for it, especially considering the thing is useless without the hose, into which the power switch is incorporated. What was there appeared to be in decent shape and amazingly, the elbow on the power nozzle was intact. My ex-wife and I had a burgundy one like it and we had to get that replaced no less than three times, twice under warranty and once out of warranty, when I just bought the part and installed it myself. When I left it and her, the third elbow was held together with zip ties and duct tape. Anyway, between it being overpriced, incomplete, reminding me of a particularly unhappy time in my life, and the fact that I had just finished refurbing my Sanitaire S645, I took less time deciding to walk away from it than I had deciding to buy the Sanitaire two weeks ago. The trip wasn't a total washout though; I did find a nice camera bag for $4.

 

[jo]

Good decision

Sometimes good to walk away from some of these. I saw a nice shark upright at Salvation Army thrift yesterday and did not buy it. I also like coffee makers and they had a thermal French press for just $3.99. I passed on it as I have a nicer one but they are rare to come by at that price. I doubted buying an Aerus Lux legacy that was barely used marked $39.99 and everything was there and the power nozzle was virtually unused. I did finally decide to take it and it rang up half price. Glad I took it, it is a real cream puff and my best find. That one I know I would have regretted not getting so glad I got it. Came across an Electrolux Olympia pretty well worn out at a Goodwill. Generic hose was torn in two places. Didn’t buy it, don’t regret it.

So some are good finds and and some not so good ones are good to exercise self control on is good too.

Jon

 

[fan-of-fans]

I wouldn't have bought it either, with a missing hose. I don't pick up most Kenmores unless it's something 80s or earlier, or if it's newer, one of the top models with dirt sensor, etc. Since I find those more interesting than the run of the mill versions.

I used to see Kirbys and Electroluxes come into Goodwill but it's been a couple of years. I did see a Rainbow last year. I see Kenmore canisters sometimes but they usually aren't anything interesting, just newer BOL models.

 

[human]

Yeah, I don't think I would have paid $25 for it, even if it had the hose. $10 maybe but I generally prefer less plastic.

 

[hoover300]

Good decision

I paid $8 for my forest green one, and my creamsicle one and navy blue one were trash finds, cleaned up they were all in the same condition. They'll turn up eventually in your area.

 

[fan-of-fans]

They come up pretty commonly at thrift stores here and at flea markets. I've passed up some nice ones like a 1991ish TOL model with variable speed and the dual stage Lamb motor. As well as a straight suction one from the 60s at Habitat. Mostly because it only had a few attachments and the hose, yet they wanted $35 or something pretty high for it. It was in practically mint condition though so maybe they realized it was collectible.

My main Kenmore I'm looking out for is one of the avocado PowerMate ones. That was my mother's first vacuum back in the 70s, ironically she got it at of all places - Goodwill. She's bought Kenmore canisters ever since, other than a few uprights here and there to supplement them.

 

[human]

Okay, here's an interesting twist on the one I saw. A friend dragged me out thrifting yesterday and we hit about three Goodwills. That machine was still on the shelf but somehow it had been reunited with its hose but I still wasn't interested at $25. No vacuums of interest at any of them. The most interesting finds I made were from a 'free' bin located outside one of the stores.

 

[cam2s]

It’s always crazy how different goodwill stores price their products. $25 for a vacuum that you can’t use as is is too much. I’ve seen goodwills try and sell Dysons for over $100 or cheap plastic vacuums for almost what they cost new. On the other hand I paid $19.99 for a single speed rainbow with all the fixings and if I remember right I paid $9.99 for a lux 7000 with all the fixings...I can say those went straight into the cart!

 

[human]

No rhyme or reason...

Thrift store prices are really set at the whim of whoever is wielding the pricing gun. Last summer, I grabbed an Electrolux Epic 3500SR upright in pristine condition for $3. Last week, I saw two identical Keurig coffeemakers on opposite ends of the same shelf. One was priced at $25 and the other was $15, not that I bought either of them. Makes no sense.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

once I got a Hoover Convertible, model 704

It was $6.00. The attachments were $12.00
Crazy

 

[gregvacs28]

Once you learn to walk away from what used to be viewed as a treasure, you'll feel empowered.
Especially if you were once an avid collector or hoarder, it's a big step. There is freedom with that NO.

 

[huskyvacs]

By comparison to the Kenmore with no P/N or accessories for $25, I found a woodgrain green Eureka Princess at Habitat Restore a couple months back for $25. It was a steep price for me by all means for such a simple vacuum, but it looked like it just came out of the box 10 minutes ago, and at that time I had not seen a vacuum in there for 5 months and the store closed in 10 minutes... so.... I bought it. lol

What I look for in my collection is variety, I try not to get too "samey" with it. As in, not having 20 something Oreck 9500/9800 series uprights, or not having so many Hoover Windtunnels of various iterations. I do rescue vacuums from the trash or from sellers that say they are going in the trash regardless of that rule though. Also if its a limited edition or some kind of exclusive store-specific color, that also is an exception to the rule of not having multiples of the same vacuum.

You don't have to stop collecting completely, just set some boundary rules for yourself and keep within the boundaries. Also don't forget there is always money to be made refurbishing and reselling vacuums. The vacuums you have no interest in owning forever, you can still buy and clean up to resell for $$$ to buy more of the vacuums you want (or parts for that matter). It's a collection hobby that supports itself, lol

 

[huskyvacs]

Also the person who mentioned Goodwill pricing is correct. I worked for Goodwill for a little bit doing the pricing. You have about 6 rolls of stickers to pick from at the processing station ranging from 99 cents to $49.99 and then an entire selection of blank stickers that you can fill out your own price for, and you pick whatever price you think is good for it. That's all they tell you and they leave you go to it. There is zero supervision or anything. Some stores have a pre-filled cheat sheet for prices with picture guides of what the item looks like, but those are seldom.

I also heard on thrift store finds forums about employees that would keep a roll of stickers for themselves and go in the store as shoppers on their days off and put their own cheaper stickers they stole from the back room over the items they previously placed high price stickers on the day before.

This system is totally flawed anyway because most people have no idea about the passage of time or electronics depreciation. My Goodwill prices VCR's at $20, if it says any expensive name like Apple or Keurig or Cuisinart on it, $50, if it is a DVD box set, $10...and so on and so forth.

If there was people working in there that were "junk experts" so to say, or some way to screen people out that know how to price things, Goodwill will be better off. Or just not make anything in the store cost over $20...something like that.

 

[gregvacs28]

The "hunt" is always fun. That's for sure.

I recently came across a 1983 middle-upper Kenmore power-mate canister vacuum WITH HOSE in the back of a dumpy warehouse "antique" store where the owner was old, sick, and no longer able to tend the store. This kid was doing his best to sell out stuff for him with plans to close shop for good.

I was excited. I found something even though I really don't collect portable vacs anymore.

Initially it didn't have the PN connected nor was it anywhere in site.
I was going to buy anyway. (I was excited)

I asked him if he knew where the pn was doubting he would. HE DID ! We went back there and unburied it. Other than being dusty, it was in reasonably good condition.

He wanted $15 for it. I probably could have talked him down to $10 but was like "ah O.K.". lol

I recently came across 3 1970s uprights at a thrift store and thought, I can't use these but I bet there are people who'd be interested in those Hoovers.