Torn between Sebo D4 and Simplicity Moxie

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ricccar prices

The prices on the Riccar web site are the retail price. You can usually get it cheaper from a dealer but this can be inconvenient. Companies like Miele, Sebo, and Electrolux sell their vacuums on their web site, and it's the same price whether you buy it there or through a dealer, no need to go through all the bargaining nonsense. What Tacony should do is sell their vacuums on their site at the factory direct price, or at least comparable to what a dealer charges.
 
You really don't have to bargain that much!!!

I've seen Riccar significantly less at the dealer compared to the MSRP online. Riccar and Tacony don't seem to want to be caught up in the hype of online sales. Sebos can be found at QVC and they've been sold at WalMart.com over the past few years.

Riccar/ Simplicity are dealer exclusively sold products. Several steps above the perception that Walmart.com has to offer!! There are numerous options the consumer can choose to get the right tools and bags included. Many dealers offer promos too for a vacuum trade in.

I think of it as car shopping. When was the last time you bought a car at the MSRP??? That's what the online Riccar price is: Manufacturer SUGGESTED Retail Price, Suggested is the key word. Very few purchase Dockers khakis at the MSRP of $58. Usually one can find them on sale for around $30 at Kohls or elsewhere!

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sebo-Sebo-Premium-Canister-Vacuum/21443538
 
on line shopping

Actually, never bought a car. I'm a blind person, so can't drive, though I'm told I might be able to drive better than some people who actually have a license, lol. Anyway, on line shopping is here to stay. There's certainly nothing wrong with dealers, but any company that tries to exclude themselves from selling their products on line direct to consumers is making a mistake, and probably losing business. Sebo, Miele, Electrolux and probably some others I'm forgetting sell their vacuums directly on their web site, and the price is not marked up from a dealer price. I also think the sales model used by Aerus, Kirby, Rainbow etc. is a dying breed. The internet and on line shopping are here to stay I think.
 
Mike (no0xy)

I tend to agree with you that the Door to door model is dead.  With so many people working outside the home during the day it is hard for the door knocking to be effective.  Thus they are moving to solid leads from home shows, and referrals.


 


I don't believe the home demonstration is dead. The whole idea of in-home demonstrations is to get the vacuum in the hands of the consumer in the environment they are used to, home.   These are still going to be needed to point out the features of the machines that you would not otherwise purchase in a store, or online unless you knew the vacuums first.


 


I think more will move to the video demonstration model online, at least to help them get interest in their product so the consumer will request a demonstration.  This will, however, severely limit the sales, because a good number of in-home sales were made to customers that had no intention of buying before the demonstration, so they are still going to need some avenue to reach these customers.


 


 
 
Im all for home demos - but a lot of consumers these days think they know what they are doing. At least home demos eliminate maintenance ignorance because most owners who have had home demonstrations know what to do where general maintenance is concerned if they have been shown how.
 
Shifty Salesmen

Unfortunately, these exist in any venue where cash can corrupt the character of the seller.  Cars, Vacuums, replacement windows, tree trimming. 


 


Even places where they say their sales people are non-commissioned, but they receive "bonuses" for making the sale. 


 


 
 
sales methods

Most vacuums that are sold through the in home demonstration have much higher prices, mainly to pay for the sales people probably. Take the Aerus vacuums for example. Don't get me wrong, they are good vacuums, I have an Aerus classic, but it was more expensive compared to other models that are very similar. Rainbow is another example, supposedly the Sirina is just as good, but much cheaper. I guess some people like to try and bargain with sales people, but not me. Give me a decent price and let's be done with it. When I bought my Aerus classic, I simply gave the person the price I was willing to pay and said, take it or leave it. I should get my new Lindhaus HF6 canister either today or tomorrow, can't wait to take it for a spin.
 
While I agree your home is the best place to show the new machine, most sales people don't explain the maintence of a machine. I think the biggest offender would be rainbow sales staff, they just want to sell the product and if they said you need to empty the water often during cleaning and clean the separator most people would be put off and decline the sale. Luckily they are made well and generally just keep chugging along separator and hepa clogged and all.
 
Simplicity Moxie and stairs

Update:
-So far loving the machine. I have been using tools like I never have before and they make cleaning baseboards, furniture and tough places so much easier to clean. I have never effectively used a vacuum to clean hardwoods (always swept and damp mopped) but, man, this thing works great with the floor attachment with the microfiber pad. And it seems that I can get under most of the furniture that I want. Awesome.

Questions:
What about the stairs? It was a bit of a bear to vacuum the stairs. How does the handheld electric brush work for this purpose? Does the Moxie still need the added canister mini wand for this?

High places. Now that I am discovering the versatility of such a fine machine, I am looking to address other areas, like the tops of bookshelves. Anybody use the long attachment hoses for this?

Thanks again for all the input,

Peaches
 
YAY! Glad you love it!

The current model mini power head available from Riccar and Simplicity does not require a separate wand. the extender is built in, it has a swivel and is also direct connect. Simplicity also has a turbo tool available.

Your telescoping wand will help with cleaning high up places.

Also a nice thing about the Simplicity is that despite the special wand lock to lock into wands that are Riccar and Simplicity made, the hose size is universal. So you can use friction fit slide on tools from Kenmore canisters, Eureka canisters, central vacuum systems and many others in addition to the wide variety that is available direct from Tacony. That opens you up to a wide variety of styles of various upholstery nozzles if you don't want to fork over the bucks just yet for the electric mini powered head. The suction power options on the machine will not let you down ever for any task!

Glad you're enjoying the machine!


As far as D2D sales, when I worked for Filter Queen and Rainbow just a few years ago, the distributors urged us to go through the maintenance with the machine at the customers home. It's crucial in buying a high end machine like that, the customer is aware how to maintain the unit so that it maintains its power continuously and runs the same way years later as it did on day 1 during the demo. We want to maintain a good rapport with customer so they come to us for scents, filter cones, accessories as well as possible future customer referrals and in general be pleases with their purchase.

On Filter Queen I was trained to show the customer how to install new cones, the differences of using the MediPur cone in conjunction with the standard cellulose cone or just the cellulose cone, the premotor filter, the scent pad in the exhaust cap, and how to properly install all attachments, store the cord and general ease of use.

You would be surprised the amount of customers that called on the phone or came into the store to return their unit, complaining that the machine wasn't working as it did in the demo because the carpet wasn't clean---- The idiot that sold the customer the machine didn't show the customer the agitator on/off switch!!! Or sometimes not how to ensure hose was properly installed to machine. The boss was so pissed and constantly brought these things to mind in meetings!! Yes there are crappy salesman out there!

On Rainbow I was trained to show customer how to care for the basin, remove, clean and install the separator, fill the basin, where the spare belt is on the power nozzle and show/ discuss the washable HEPA filter.

Not doing these steps in a demo is definitely a far greater probability that a machine is returned, has a warranty issue or a customer continuously calls to complain. This is definitely a business where returns are very much disliked because the machine has be fully cleaned and evaluated for being resold and the salesman loses and has to return commission earned if it was already paid out!
 
Paul in Bristol UK,

You also forgot the difference between the US dollar, and your British pound.
There may also be a tariff.
Miele marks up their machines here by at least 75% to boot on the exchange rate over the Euro.
 
hose size with simplicity

Interesting that some of the simplicity models use the standard size, with the Riccar Prima, which is also sold as the Simplicity Wonder, the hose size is slightly larger, and you have to use an adapter to use standard size attachments. The adapter is easy to get, it's the same adapter used on Miele canisters, my new Lindhaus HF6 also uses this hose size.
 

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