update...Got to see my first Riccar canister today.

[jkbff]

I'll just leave these here...

 

[marcusprit]

[No message]

 

[oliveoiltinfoil]

I claim to be no expert when it comes to economics, or how businesses should run efficiently or whatever, but are you saying Tacony, the people who build the lower end Riccar canisters, have them made in China, just for them to be sent over to the states to be stripped down again, checked and reassembled, a powerhead put in the box and then stamped "Assembled in the USA"? Don't think you have to be a genius to realise that is very inefficient; time and cost consuming, and the end consumer will undoubtedly be affected, not receiving the products quick enough or at the correct price.

I know lots of people have said this already, but surely that is common sense?

Either those quality control producers could have been carried out at the factories in China, or better still, why doesn't all the production just move to the States? I understand that Riccar want to see if this model does do well, and if it does they will be produced their, but as it stands, seems a lot effort for nothing. Surely, making the most of that facility in Missouri by actually manufacturing them there is much more efficient for everyone, and then there is no shame or embarrassment by saying "assembled in the USA", rather it could be stamped "Made in the USA".

Either way, lets just hope these cylinders do well so the manufacturing of them can be bought back to the US. I think it would be really good if Riccar would sell in the UK or Europe. Their uprights looks fantastic.

 

[dysonman1]

The lower end canisters are not stamped "made in the USA", only the power nozzle which IS made in the USA. The lower end canisters say "made in china" on the model info plate. All the uprights are made in the USA.

There is such a high cost to produce a new model in the USA, for such low sales numbers. Canisters sell the least in the USA. Most people buy and use uprights. A canister has to be 'sold' to a prospect. Even then, many people have returned Miele canisters after having bought one because of the in-store demo. Once they actually try to clean with a canister, after having had uprights, many people are dissatisfied.

To produce the Wonder/Prima in house, Tacony would need to invest in injection molding machines in addition to the large number they already have - making upright bodies and parts. Two new injection molding machines would run several million dollars.

All the canisters Tacony sells that are made in China (10 different models) are quality checked by stripping them down and then reassembling them. Quality Control is a very high priority. The Prima/Wonder is set to eliminate 8 models, freeing up warehouse space and employee time. When sales of the new model reach a point where it would make sense to invest in the production of the machine in the USA, it will happen.

So the first thing to do, if we want to build the canister portion in the USA, is to SELL the heck out of them. Meaning many people who have never used or owned a canister before, need to be shown and sold one. I know high volume dealers who sell 1000 uprights in one year, and only 5 canisters. That has to change. The only way to change that, is to change people's minds about using a canister vacuum cleaner.

 

[suckolux]

Very well and completly explained I feel, thanks again.

 

[kirbysthebest]

I can see that canisters are not as popular in US

I personally prefer an upright, though I have more canisters now than I do uprights. It's a preference because of the way I vacuum. Having, like many American homes, quite a bit of wall to wall carpet, I prefer to vacuum my way out of a room, backing out that is.

With an upright you can just go backwards, with a canister you are constantly kicking it backwards out of your way, or you have to turn around and pull it behind you, but then you are stepping on the carpet you just vacuumed. It's just me, I know.

In any case, I hope the launch goes well and the sales climb.

 

[rosiembanks]

Question: Is the Prima eligible for Red Carpet service?

 

[jkbff]

Rosiembanks,

As of now they don't have red carpet or VIP on them. Tom might know if that will change or not.

 

[dysonman1]

Prima/Wonder will not be selling at the price point where Red Carpet Service can be part of the warranty. Red Carpet Service is usually on models well in the $700 to $1400 range. The Prima/Wonder do have a three year bumper to bumper warranty.


I spoke with KirbyloverDan today on the phone, and he reminded me that our UK and European members are so used to canister vacuums being available for sale and used extensively, it's odd for them to think that virtually all places vacuums are available in the US have uprights exclusively. Wal-Mart is the biggest retailer of vacuums, and none of the large Super Centers carry canisters that I'm aware of. Even at that, Best Buy and Lowes only carry two canister brands, Samsung and the Dyson with turbo brush head. Only Sears carries full size power nozzle equipped canister vacuums, and Sears is heading for bankruptcy and retail death. In the USA today, probably only 1 in 100 vacuums used in homes is a canister.

 

[daknx1994]

Apparently what Tacony is doing works for them. As for common sense, yes I have that oliveoil, I am not sure if you are referring to me or not, but yes I do have enough sense to wipe my rear every time I use the restroom. I as a dealer have never had a supply problem from Tacony, unlike other brands, cough TTI, cough Dyson, and others who are overseas, thanks to the Longshorman Strike, I can't even get bags or filters for my customers! Now that is frustrating. I would rather explain to my customers that a machine has not arrived due to final and full product testing and ensuring the highest in quality control, instead of "Sorry, it's been made in China and either on a slow boat or just stuck in a port". I have not once, had stock issues from Tacony. If I need something in a day, it's here. If I need something from China, I give the customer a loaner and tell them I will let them know when it is in.

 

[rosiembanks]

Thanks, Jeff and Tom, for the info about Red Carpet Service. Three years is a nice warranty. I asked because I'm trying to decide where to go to buy one. The obvious choice is the nearby vac shop (which is where I bought my upright), but I'm not fond of them, which predates the 'Prima's been abandoned' story by many years. Without Red Carpet Service attached, I feel freer to explore my options.

--Mary

 

[luxman107]

I have never had anything but a canister. With wood, laminate and tile floors so common now a days an upright doesnt seem practical. Also how do you clean above the floor, widow shutters, blinds, shelves, fabric on chairs, sofas end tables etc with an upright. Vacuuming under tables, beds, chairs and couches is almost impossible with most uprights without moving your furniture every time you vacuum. I also vacuum bedding, pillows mattress weekly when sheets are changed. Even with homes that are mostly carpet wouldn't you need a good canister for above floor cleaning. I know kirby vacs and a few others be converted to canisters but most others are very limited in their ability to clean anything but floors. How do you all do this with only an upright.

 

[tolivac]

Funny-How come most of the DTD machines trying to be sold are canisters?The ONLY DTD upright is---Kirby.For molded parts-you don't have to own your molding machinery-there is a company out here that just simply molds plastic parts for other companies.This is very common.You just supply the dies or the specs to make them to the molder.You also supply the raw plastic material you want the molder to use.
For use I like BOTH types of vacuums-there are jobs for each.If you have LOTS of carpets-the upright-then for bare floors,the car,above floor vacuuming-the canister!There are uprights that tout to do the job of a canister-but not well-and the upright is awkward-often its like trying to dance wth a drunk!

 

[dysonman1]

This is how

Your turn an upright into an efficient canister vacuum. There's no particular reason for the vast majority of Americans to buy canisters, even those who use their attachments all the time. This photo is of the wonderful, and virtually bullet-proof model Simplicity 7850.

 

[suckolux]

Very much like my Panasonic 6255, works well

 

[daknx1994]

Tom that has been one of my favorite Simplicity models to date! I love my 7850 and it gets used just about all the time. It is one of my go to machines that never lets me down.

 

[rugsucker]

"Canisters sell the least in the USA."

I thank Tom for explaining the facts of manufacturing a quality product in todays world as well as introducing new products and forecasting and promoting sales.
I cannot count how many times I have heard-'We took up our carpet and now we don't even need a vacuum cleaner.'Just last week I serviced and cleaned a Hoover Air(not a bad vac)for an older retired couple in a nice home.When the husband picked it up he told me-"We were in Lowes and my wife saw a big canister(probably Electrolux with power nozzle)and said that was exactly what she wanted."He then explained that after 2 weeks she did not want it and when walking through another store(probably WalMart)she wanted the Hoover Air.They still have both but only use the Hoover.Almost $700.00 spent in 2 weeks.Real customers,real vacs.
The upright and attachments in reply 84 would be great for many homes but much needs to be done to educate potential customers with mostly hard floors what a canister is and does.

 

[dysonman1]

I sold three Prima canisters today. Today was the first day they were available for sale to the public. I saved the first four off the assembly line for fellow vacuum collectors. All three that I sold, were to people came in looking for an upright vacuum cleaner.

 

[kirbyloverdan]

What a gorgeous

Canister vacuum wow I am super excited to receive mine just got off the phone with Tom
I have been waiting a long time and I finally will own this amazing vacuum .

Dan

 

[suckolux]

Very nice looking machine for sure!