Vacuum Trial Service

[anontemp123]

Is there such a thing? I am trying to find the right vacuum or vacuums for a large non-profit. There are many different variables and I would like to try out different commercial and non-commercial vacuums for a day and see what works best. There is a lot of conflicting information, and I have some opinions of my own, so I want to switch to a hands on approach instead of researching further. Finding used vacuums on Craigslist/OfferUp/eBay/etc is taking a lot of time. I asked a couple local shops if I could "rent" their demo vacuum for an hour or two but they declined (I understand.) Do you think it's a good idea to try and find a local enthusiast who would be willing to help? (Or are most collectors very particular about where their vacuums are used?) I'll post another thread about specifics soon, but was curious to hear people's thoughts on this for starters.

 

[dysonman1]

In a vac shop, the demo machine isn't used to clean real dirt. Test sand or kapok is different. The demo machine in many cases is wiped down, bag changed, and sold as new for the same price as one in a box.

All that changes once a vacuum is used on 'real world' dirt. In the age of Covid, you'll be hard pressed to find anyone shopping for a new vacuum, who would accept one that had been used at a non-profit for a day. It's now a used machine, and worth half (or less) of its price as new. That's an expensive proposition for a vac shop as well as yourself.

A local enthusiast might be different depending upon how he keeps his cleaners. Personally, the machines in my collection are either restored vintage machines, or machines I personally use in my home. In neither case would I personally want someone else to push them or get them dirty. However, I know of several collectors who do not restore their machines and just keep them in their garage the way they found them. That might be the type of collector who would be willing to work with you.

Good luck in your quest for your next vacuums.

 

[anontemp123]

Thanks for your honest reply, dysonman1. It helps to understand the perspective of a shop owner.