Trading a Kirby for a cheap Chinese-made product

[moderneezer]

Are there any American Kirby owners out there who would like to trade their vacuum cleaners for cheap Bissell's, Eureka's, Hoover's or Dirt Devil's which are made in China and could be found at Walmart? Why would Americans refuse to make such trade?

I'm posting this thread for the thrill of asking a silly question.

 

[mark40511]

Folks who post here?

NOOOOO

But the general people who got one sold to them from door to door sales probably might. Maybe they think it's too heavy. I say this because my cousin bought a Kirby from a door to door salesman back in the 90s. I didn't even know this until I was at her house one day visiting back in NC, and I saw it sitting there. Where that thing is now I have no idea, but she no longer has it.

 

[suckolux]

The elderly seem to do this, I admit I can't really use mine much either now

 

[human]

I'm sure that's what the person who left my first G6 by the dumpster did. And the couple who almost bought my second G6 at Goodwill decided on a used Dirt Devil for $15 instead once the wife dismissed the Kirby as being "too heavy" after trying to push it around unplugged with the Tech Drive engaged.

Sigh...some people...

 

[dedede]

My mom traded hers for an oreck (after about 20 years of use) when they moved to a two story house. That was a "light" one from before tech drive.

I'm sure people have lots of valid reasons to decide to get rid of one. Age, moving, dying, not wanting to pay to fix it.

 

[moderneezer]

I learned that Kirby machines are heavy compared to products from other brands like most compact canisters and Riccar Supralite models, so I think it's reasonable for people to give their Kirby's to their children and/or grandchildren or donate them to organizations when they get too old to lift heavy objects.

 

[sebo_fan]

Precisely the reason why so many "elderly" in the UK were the sole buyers that Oreck tried to pull in, so that they could vacuum again without feeling so overly loaded with pushing a heavy upright along a floor.

 

[moderneezer]

If the retirees want to give their Kirby's to other people but still support local manufacturing, they could still get Oreck's or Tacony machines.

 

[sebo_fan]

Would elderly people give away their Kirby vacs despite it being a good cause though? I dont think they would, particularly if they recall how much their vacuum cost and the length of service it has given. There's a fine line to charity and saving a workforce versus hard earned cash versus parting with income cash to buy the product in the first place.

This is where it makes sense to buy a cheap Chinese vacuum in my experience because NOT all Chinese vacuums are poorly made. If the owner can no longer use the Kirby in their home due to being infirm or handling difficulties due to old age, then a cheaper, lighter vacuum may be justified.

But if I owned a Kirby, there's no way in hell I'd give it away for free unless there was something seriously wrong with it and would need a major repair or give it away for spares etc - at a reduced selling price.

But then in the UK they cost £1000 new which is about $1555.90

 

[human]

Different strokes...

Sebo_fan wrote: "But if I owned a Kirby, there's no way in hell I'd give it away for free unless there was something seriously wrong with it and would need a major repair or give it away for spares etc - at a reduced selling price."

I reply: People obviously differ about such things. Three of the four Kirbys I own were given/thrown away by their previous owners. Two were donated to Goodwill and one was left beside a dumpster. Despite how we feel about our machines, many people see a Kirby, no matter how expensive it was new, as just another vacuum. They don't see any real difference between it and that $49 plastivac at Walmart. But of course, these are the same people who will throw a vacuum cleaner away when the bag gets full or the belt breaks. Were I more arrogant, I would say that such people don't deserve a Kirby but that's not the way I roll.

 

[cb123]

Well, when you find you can't push your Kirby anymore...You really know the end is near and even at the door!

 

[sebo_fan]

Well are the prices of $1555.90 the same in the U.S? I think the cost of the vacuum has a lot to do with it. Not even an average best selling single model household Dyson in the UK costs that much!

 

[suckolux]

I can't push it anymore and NO the end is NOT near

 

[cb123]

There's an angel a peeking thru a broken window pane. Don't got time to oil the hinges. Don't got time to mend the roof...for I'm getting ready to meet the saints! You've got to listen to this one, it's extremely entertaining.