Vacuum pricing

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whiskeyjack

Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2015
Messages
7
Why are the prices for European vacuums so much less in the EU than North America?
Is the EU providing Subsidies or they subject to tariffs or a combination of both?
 
One German vacuum manufacturer, when they opened a headquarters in New Jersey decades ago, decided to position their machine as a Premium cleaner, decided to sell through vac shops, and allowed the shops to double their money, so a $500 machine at wholesale becomes a $1000 machine at retail. Ironic, in Europe, this machine costs less at retail than a Dyson. People in Europe don't tend to buy their vacuums from a vacuum repair shop that doubles or triples the wholesale cost to make a very high profit.
 
Dysons are priced similarly in the US than they are in the UK and the rest of Europe. German vacuum cleaners tend to be more expensive due to a combination of what is mentioned above and also the US still has ridiculous tariffs imposed on Germans manufactured goods which stem back to the roaring 20's when alcohol was banned and German brewers were hit. Nothing really to do with the EU.
 
Tariffs from the 1920s still in effect, well that's not to surprising considering our government's tendency to pass laws for problems then never revisit said laws. I never knew that the profit margin for certain brands at vacuum shops was so high. Wouldn't that tend to incentivize salespeople at those shops to steer customers to the brands where they make the most profit? Also in the U.S. at least would consumers get the most bang for their buck buying American made vacuums, or do they high just as high mark up to? I purchased a new Sebo D4 with an et2 power, love it. I was able to get it for 610 dollars pretax because of an advertising snafu.
 
The Uprights are 100% made in USA. The Canisters are assembled in USA of mostly american parts, so quality is no issue. Some parts are made in China or Taiwan.  Eventually all Canisters will contain 100% american parts.
 
Some of the US machines

Mostly those sold door to door have a 300-400% mark up.  The vac shop brands may not be as high, but you know they have a very good sized margin.  


 


 
 
Buying a vacuum from a Vacuum Cleaner Shop (repair and sales) is a wise choice. The repair shops don't sell vacuums that they cannot repair. And the person selling the machine has experience with them, and can answer questions. The entry level models tend to be good vacuums, for example, Tacony makes no machines that don't clean well, no matter what price.
 
My vac shop dealer in Houston.........

He finally gave up that certain German brand when the company rep started harassing him for selling other brands that were specifically positioned to compete with the pricey "Uber" vacuums. The company rep had a particular problem with the dealer wanting to sell Sebo and Tacony machines.
 

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