Thrift store Vacuums

[human]

Scheduled price drops...

gregvacs 28 wrote:
So the Sentria went from $199 to $99 and you're expecting it will drop to $50?

Is this a Goodwill?

I reply:
The scheduled price drops are spelled out on the price tags, including the dates, which is most likely why they haven't sold yet. The store is not a Goodwill. It's called Freedom House Thrift. They have two locations in town, only one of which is doing the scheduled price drops on higher ticket items. I'm guessing it's a pilot program. The way it works is the price drops in half after two weeks at 'full price', then drops in half again in another two weeks to reach its final price. The concept has a few kinks to work out but in its present configuration, it provides a good incentive to bide one's time, which works for me.

I haven't made any definite decision to buy either of the aforementioned machines, especially having just acquired the Kirby Diamond G, which is now a work in progress. I was just pointing out that it's an unusual circumstance to see three machines that I would even consider purchasing show up in such quick succession like this. Since everything in the Kirby package is a duplicate of what I already own, I'm actually less likely to shell out for it, except maybe to resell and make a few bucks to support my habit. The Olympia is also fairly low on the priority list, considering what I already have in the stable, but it might be a possibility if it were to sit in the store long enough to drop to $10 from the present $40.

 

[gregvacs28]

That scheduled price drop scheme I've seen at the Habitat in Gainseville FLA when I lived there.
It's an interesting idea.
I bought a few things with that discount and if you come in on Wednesday they give you an additional discount for being over a certain age. The savings add up.

 

[human]

So I went back to Freedom House today and the Sentria was still there so I got it for $50, including a full set of tools, shampooer, manuals, and DVD but no Zip Brush and only half the handle for the wax applicator. The wax roller was there and the back end of the handle but the part to which the wax roller attaches is missing. Perhaps a standard paint roller would work. It also came with a half dozen Micron Magic cloth HEPA bags, a spare belt and a set of mardi gras beads.

The vacuum itself is in great shape. It was a little dusty and needed a good wipe-down with a couple of Tub-O-Towels wipes but it had no major crud built up and no odors whatsoever. I'll probably go back and shine it up with some Mother's at some point, but from a practical standpoint, it's good to go.

The Electrolux Olympia One I saw in there last week, however, was gone. I'm kind of surprised (but happy for them at the same time) that they apparently got the full $40 for it, even without a power nozzle or most of the tools. Oh well, that's one less thing for me to obsess over.

Speaking of obsessive behavior, where's that Vacuholics Anonymous meeting? I've seriously fallen off the wagon!

 

[gregvacs28]

Edgar

How bad is it? According to your profile you have 29. Is that the truth?

You have to keep calm and show no fear. If the vacuums see you crying...it's all over for you. You may as well resign yourself to a house over run with them.

I myself had upwards of 70 vacuums, but it wasn't all at the same time.

There are others here who've already lost the battle.
You have to decide your fate.

Is it correct to think that if the Olympia was there you would have broken down and bought it too?
You might need professional help.

 

[human]

I had no intention of buying it today at $40 or even $30. I was just expressing surprise that the Olympia brought that much at a thrift shop. At the most, I would simply have made note of the date when the price would have bottomed out at $10 and I might even have let the Sentria go to wait on the Olympia. The $50 I paid for the Kirby is about the going thrift shop rate around here for one in decent shape with its tools and an absolute bargain, compared to eBay. Their original price of $199 was a pie in that sky price, most likely inspired by eBay, but apparently that strategy works for them sometimes and I'm glad for them. The local charity that runs that thrift shop does good work and I don't mind supporting it.

I realize others have many more vacuums than I do. Everyone has their threshold on collecting things. I think I'm at mine for vacuums. I haven't really decided what I'm going to do with this machine. It's a duplicate to which I have no particular attachment at this point. After I cleaned it up, I just stuck it in the barn because there's no room for it in the house. Once I've had my fun with it, I'm seriously considering trying to flip it to support my habit. And if that goes well, I might even decide to try and move some of my other machines to new homes.

 

[gregvacs28]

I recently saw a Sentria (?) Kirby at a Habitat store and it appeared to have all the attachments.
They were asking $300. There was a good sheen of dust on it. It's probably been sitting there a while.

 

[human]

At $300, I'm not surprised it has become more or less a fixture of the store. To even come close to fetching that much, I'd think it would have to be a nearly flawless example.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

It's amazing

that all those machines are taken there. I often wonder what the owner replaced them with. Some of those units can never be topped.
A few yrs ago, I was in one of my old, Philly haunts. I saw a Kirby 100th anniversary, WITH unused tools. The cost was about $25.00 !! I almost died!