Stores use vacuum displays? GROSS!!

[compamac]

So today I went to boscovs and they had a decent sized vacuum selection there. I always like to look at the Dirt Devils so I went ahead and did. I found that they use the store displays as store vacuum cleaners. They could at least get a sanitaire. Anyways I asked the guy if they do and he says they "demo" them. How dumb does he think I am. If they demo it, it's only going to be for a customer for about a minute. This was too gross. The filters were clogged and all so here is a picture. Look at the bottom of the filter and bottom of dirt container. I will also include a picture of their gross bissell healthy home.

 

[compamac]

Pic 2

Bissell healthy home dirt

 

[compamac]

Another picture of the Dirt Devil

Another dirt devil pic

 

[sebo_fan]

Your post has lost me - whats the problem? If they are demo machines they're likely to be used as either store machines or demo machines for the buyer. Are you expecting a clean machine each time you see a demo vacuum?

 

[compamac]

Well...

Its kind of gross to see their dirt, and I have a question. Since I am new to posting, what is the star by your username?

 

[GM1982]

what you mean is that its a dump, the store is lazy to not get a separate vacuum to clean the store, rather the pull the vacuums on display, use those and put them back...with the dirt in it to.... that's funny/trashy

 

[sebo_fan]

The star means I'm a paid subscription member on Vacuumland.

It may be gross to see the dirt but I think thats part and parcel of what qualifies a demo machine... even bagged machines with a dust bag inside will have dirt that the machine has collected - its just that with a bagless model, it's clear to see.

 

[compamac]

Thank you

Thanks for the info...But I just dont see it looking nice because it gives the vacuum a bad impression. Because they dont properly maintain the vacuums. As you see in the first picture, they do not wash/clean the filter. Also, shouldn't stores use commercial grade vacuums with better performance and or filtering?

 

[sebo_fan]

Well you must remember, stores can do whatever they like.

Secondly if I was the owner of a store I would leave dirt in to show the performance of the vacuum for owners to see what it picks up or leaves behind and leaving the dirt in can also give new buyers/new owners an idea of what it like to empty the machine.

I don't think it gives the store or the machine a bad impression. Certanly if the hood and parts of the body were scratched and abused with missing tubes etc, then yes I would probably get a bad impression - but from the photos you've supplied here, these machines don't look scratched to me.

 

[dysondestijl]

Well no, most vac selling stores I've been into have vacs with dirt In them- the customer may want to see the vacuum in action, I've watched demos at currys before too, they let you use the cleaners, just they never bother to empty them!

 

[cue003]

I would rather see some machines with dirt in them. We all know that these machines run better with clean filter/bag but that isn't really real world unless you have a bagless system (and you empty and clean the filter after every use) or loads of money (new bag after each use.... But then again if I had loads of money a vacuum store is the LAST place you would find me. The housekeeper would be taking care if things). I think some usage and dirt is a good thing for testing the machines. Sometimes I think a 1/2 full or more bag is important to see how much the system may lose performance.

 

[durango159]

Customer testing

I have a friend who is a manager of another Boscov's store in Pennsylvania. I have indeed seen Sanitaire machines being used in Boscovs stores-- different branches. Boscov's is a department store that has always had a very decent display of vacuum cleaners, similar to Sears. Similar to Sears, they have always had numerous electrical outlets throughout each branch store for customers to play with them as they please.

To be quite honest I think the dirt inside those canisters is quite minimal and looks like demo. I don't believe most department stores vacuum everyday as their stores are so large, I think its only a couple times a week. That being said when the machines are demoed on the regular stores rugs, they will definitely find some dirt. You might also imagine that ordinary janitorial staff is very quick and abusive with machines. They would not be doing a very good job vacuuming regardless what they use and crash, bang into everything. If indeed these machines were used by janitorial staff you would see lots of scuffs and scrapes from hitting different metal clothing racks, etc. With the poor quality vacuuming that many store janitors do, a demo unit will ABSOLUTELY find dirt! It only takes a few demos to get a fair amount in the there. The stores should leave some of that dirt in, as I've seen customers dump the dirt back onto the rug and test several machines to pick it up.

Around 1999 I worked for a restaurant in a mall. I went around to numerous stores in the mall to borrow a vacuum as our restaurant vac broke and the manager was cheap. Sears actually let me borrow one of their displays to clean our restaurant. I loved the vacuum. I borrowed a Hoover Windtunnel S3630 canister. As you can imagine in 1999 most vacuums were all bagged style. Bagless was still too new and only seen in a few machines such as the Fantoms. All of the Sears display units had dirt in the bags. It wasn't from the stores use of cleaning store, it was customers demoing them.

There are more consumers than you think out there smart enough to shop at department stores like Boscovs and Sears where you can actually plug in and use a machine on carpet for testing. Something you could just about never do at a Target, WalMart and many other Big Box store.

 

[sebo_fan]

The next thing I'd definately like to see shops putting in are the little stair case sets you see on the shopping networks, especially the types that show you the use of the hose. Though not exactly the same as tackling the steps in your home if you have them, it could be one main deciding factor for and against an upright for example that claims to have an anti-tip design and a long hose.

 

[durango159]

Sebo fan that's a very interesting idea. You can also test how much of the unit fits and remains still on a stair case and which vacuum has better attachment tackling a carpeted stairwell edge to edge. I like doing stairs with one attachment that gets it done most efficiently and every once in a while going around for full detail with crevice tool. Many of the air turbine nozzles have a thick plastic front bumper and you can't clean back of step by riser well.

The original Hoover upholstery attachment with the red rubber fingers was my favorite. It came with all canisters from Celebrity to Windtunnel and a few early uprights. I wish they were still around. The entire step looked afterwardss, edges and all.

 

[compamac]

Good Idea

That is not a bad idea!! Im just saying that I do not see stores like this often and it just made me think

 

[sebo_fan]

The demo machines at John Lewis dept stores are not so full of dirt, but they do look well used and Miele's S6 and S5 models look quite tired and uncared for! End of year clearances usually see the demo machines put up for reduced costs, though strangely I've never seen any Dyson machines put up for reduced sale - possibly because there are so many specific Dyson demo stalls and shelves that show off the actual machines designs and what they can do - rather than actual uprights or cylinders.

That's not to infer that JL won't allow you to test run an actual Dyson - they do.

 

[whirlcool]

At least you don't get home to open your new vac from Boscov's and find dirt in it.

 

[thekirbylover]

i hope you dont buy you vacuums from there

go to your local vacuum shop and buy one from there, ive found the people are more friendly,also you usually get a good service plan and a demo you can also try the machine

 

[dysondestijl]

Sebo fan- yeah I know what you mean about those clearance sales- I got my ex-demo model Electrolux T8 from there, it was the one they had let customers try on a bit of carpet before they bought it!