Saw a lot of vacuums this week in

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gottahaveahoove

gottahaveahoove

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Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640
the vintage stores, thrift stores, etc. F0r example, I came across: a D Devil "broom", Haan steamer, Riccar upright, Oreck Portapower wannabe, etc. Naturally, they stayed there. I HAVE, on occasion, picked up an item for friends who delve into other makes. But, I despise when people have had the nerve to actually, almost demand that I get a vacuum for them.There are several, for instance, in my cellar...... soon to leave here.
Anybody else encounter others who treat you like their personal vacuum supplier?
 
I've never in my life seen a Dirt Devil Broom Vac, not even seen one on eBay in 3 months, I assume they are rare.

I wouldn't take it personally. A lot of areas are dead for vacuums, or have nothing but garbage. My Goodwill sells half dead vacuums for $30 a piece, so I can't really do Goodwill. Salvation Army never sells any at all, so you can see the problem.

I've noticed a lot of members here are underage and likely do not have a driver's license, a job, or their parents won't do it, so they cannot go out either. And most people can't find the stuff other people do, due to regional rarity, so they ask others to look for one for them.

If you like to help people out and do your good karma, and they have the cash to do it, I don't see anything wrong with it. I'd do it if I could, as I think it would be a fun adventure mission. I don't think there's any need to humiliate people over it, but in my short time I've been here, I've seen people get very defensive over such trivial things, so it wouldn't surprise me if people do take great offense to it.
 
Yes I've had that happen, the person or persons I'm thinking of seem to forget that I collect too. I don't post a LOT of vacuums that I find because of that very reason.

The minute I posted something in the past I would get phone calls " How much do you want for it? When are you going to sell it? A friend of mine really really really wants it, how much do you want for it? "

I did pick up a couple of vacuums in the past for someone and then ended up storing them for several months until they decided to pick them up and pay for them.

I gave someone a Kirby 513 that is still sitting at the shop after a month and haven't heard from the guy who wanted it. I guess he didn't want it after all.
 
I don't pick them up because I don't have room to keep them, and to me shipping vacuums seems like a big pain because of the size and weight. Plus I don't usually see anything that rare in my area. Mostly just plastic modern uprights, Elites, or once in a while a Kirby or Rainbow, or Lux.

As far as Broom Vacs, they aren't all that rare. I've seen a few in thrift stores and one even on the side of the road. I've yet to get one though, they seem like neat little machines.
 
Bikerray,
I know what you mean. In the past there have been MANY times I have had to keep things I have got to myself because I didn't want to deal with the phones calls or messages of omg I want that you sell or give it to me please it's special to me because it was my Mom's uncle's brother's cousin's sister's neighbor's roommate's daughter's vacuum from grade school etc.
My favorite is...... Well I'm a collector and I live in a area where we don't see many vintage machines and you already have 2 others similar to this so I don't see why you have to be greedy and keep this for your collection. Yes I have heard this more than once even from people I don't know. Now if I find something and I know that's it's someone elses dream machine I am a very generous person and I am happy to get it for someone.
 
I saw two Electrolux canisters

two weeks in a row at the same Salvation Army. Last week I bought a Super J and this week I bought an Olympia. I'm like Nathan on here. I just can't leave an Electrolux behind they are too good of a vacuum to pass up. The checkout lady said “I thought I saw you in here last week buying a vacuum”. Maybe I should think about the other 8 or more Electrolux canisters that I have buying another one. I don’t know.
 
On two occasions here I volunteered to go look at very large collections up for grabs.  I'm glad they fell through honestly.....because it would have been piecemeal; 'I want that, I want this', 'Would you send me this right away?', 'Figure how much it's gonna be to my locale and send me the total', 'Can I just buy the PN or the accessories/hose?'....etc, etc. Who in the world would want to pack up hundreds of vacs/pieces and send them piecemeal all over NA to strangers?? Not me....lol.


 


Kevin
 
If you want to try and help others buy something that's great. If you want to share pictures of the find for your collection that's great. But my pet peeve is when people post how they left one of my dream machines is a store. If you can't or don't want to buy for someone else then don't brag about what awesome stuff you didn't bring home. Ignorance is bliss.
 
I passed up a Kirby

there last week. It was a 90's model. They had $50 on it. It didn't look too bad.
It had the tool caddy, but no hose.
Heavy machines. Still, for those tired of replacing plastic machines that last a few years tops, they can't be beat.
I'm at the point in life where you begin to simplify, clean out things you no longer need, want, or use. Not add more.
We're also redecorating the house. I took two car loads to the Salvation Army last week. Also cleaning out my dads house to sell it. They were buyers and sellers of antiques, etc.
I gave my little sister permission to sell what ever she wanted to on Etsy, etc.
It's just stuff now. They had drawers full of old toys, dishes, even flatware from the Queen Mary. We are only keeping the Victorian furniture. The heirloom pieces which will remain in the family.
I have my dads fishing equipment. If spring ever gets here. I got my license last week.
 
Kevin,

You are so kind to say that. I try.....don't always 'hit it', but.........
I've even kept non-Hoover stuff in my home for over a yer, for someone to collect it. I WILL/HAVE gotten things for others. Mostly, because I KNEW they wanted it.
When Vac Way, (local vac stores) were demolishing one store, I was 'allowed' 45 min or so to "take anything I wanted". After a quick 'scan', I thought about: what I could see, what I could get to, what I could carry, what I could fit in my car, What someone I knew would want/need. I remember climbing up through filth in the dead heat of summer, to get an Electrolux canister, (J, maybe?) I certainly had NO use for it, but would hate to see it last this long, only to end up in a 'crusher'/'dumpster'. So, I mailed to a good friend in CALIFORNIA... yikes.
I wouldn't do that often, or for many. But, in certain cases, I did, and would again.
"What goes around comes around'.... is true....in numerous ways That is something I never forgot. Maybe, someday, a kindness we do will come back to us. Maybe not.
 
Great story John.....what an unusual bid for used junk....45 minutes and all you could grab...lol! I can't even imagine that one.....


 


Ya know since parts are usually NLA available, maybe the best deal there was just to go strictly for part...lol.


 


Kevin
 

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