Very High Priced Vacuums - The Future?

[robsmith1977]

In all of the years that I've been alive, I never thought I would see a $2,500.00 vacuum cleaner (that was not a central vac or a commercial appliance) being sold to the average customer. Companies like Aerus and Rexair are now doing this. Where do you think these companies will be in 5 - 10 years? Who in their right mind would spend that much money on a vacuum? I mean you'd have to be a fool not to see that the cost to produce them couldn't be more than $300. Thoughts?

 

[luxkid1980]

Well, as the old saying goes, you get what you pay for (or don't pay for). I personally would not pay those high prices because I can't afford to do so. There are perfectly good used machines out there for a lot less that will last a long time. I wouldn't say someone was a fool to spend that much money if they want to do so. Just look at cars, refrigerators, washers/dryers, etc. They all have huge markups; that's how businesses make money and stay in business.

As far as Aerus goes, they sell quality machines that the owner can expect to last for years and years with proper care. The same may not be true for the $100-$150 vacuum from Target or Bed, Bath and Beyond. Keep in mind too, when someone buys a cleaner from, say Aerus, they are also buying into a relationship for service and repairs, should they ever need them. I truly believe Aerus will be around for many more years. They have built a reputation, just like the former Electrolux name, that people respect.

 

[human]

Yes, one of the challenges companies like Aerus and Kirby face is they also have to compete with themselves. It's hard to justify shelling out a couple of grand for a new high-end machine when well maintained secondhand models that still have decades of use left in them can be had for about the same price as a brand new plasticrap vac that's maybe going to last two years with the typical (ab)use they receive. And that's not to mention the ones that are left on the curb with a full bag and a broken belt.

 

[kirbybb]

I know I'm new here and new to collecting but here are my thoughts and opinions on this one. So far my favorite vacuum is Kirby and although I've never purchased one new I've heard the price range is $1200 USD and up. That is a lot of money for something that sucks up dirt and takes mild abuse from time to time. One pro for Kirby is their factory rebuild program for original owners. I was at a local thrift store looking around and noticed an Aerus store a few doors down. I went in to look around at their new vacuums and was asked if I needed help. I proceeded to ask about servicing my Kirby Heritage 2 in which the gentleman asked what was wrong with it. I said nothing really but you can rebuild the motors, replaced the bearings, fan and basically make the machine new again. He said Kirby doesn't do that anymore and if it needed serviced they would likely order a new motor for it. I just walked out of the store shaking my head.

Now I understand I'm asking the Lux guy to fix a Kirby and he wants me to buy his machine. However, I also understand that they could fix my machine, get my business, and keep me in their store which is an opportunity to sell me a Lux. I don't know much about the new Aerus machines but I was told my Miele motor is not serviceable. If something breaks on that machine it is costly. That model doesn't sit well with me on a vacuum that was over $800 new.

So for me, if I were to buy a new machine over $1000 it would be a Kirby as I know I would get the value out of that machine for 25 or more years. Spending over $2000 for a newer plastic machine like Miele or Aerus is out of the question. Now my focus is pre-tech-drive Kirby's and maybe an old Hoover Convertible to take me back to my childhood from time to time.

Average consumers will continue to buy Shark and Dyson and throw them away every few years like we are trained to do. Everything is a consumable now which is really sad.

 

[huskyvacs]

Well people will spend $800 on a Dyson, so there's that. People think more money means better quality and will not hesitate to mortgage their house to get it. Then the price depreciates like a rock and within 5-6 years it is worthless.

My mother got suckered into paying $2 grand for a Kirby in 2002, now you can get them on eBay for $50.

 

[madman]

You know what they say about a fool and his money.

But you know what? There's always going to be rich people who are so deluded and disconnected from the world that they wouldn't bat an eyelash at spending $2.5k on a vacuum cleaner.

 

[cmbcool01]

I understand mabye 1200 for a kirby considering shit like Dyson is 800 but some of the other high class machines are ridiculous no vacuum should ever be over 1500

 

[gmarquez]

I wouldn’t be surprised if high priced vacuums continue to survive as they always have. Once you adjust for inflation the high end door to door vacuums have always costed upwards of $1,000 for example my father payed around $500 for a Kirby heritage in 1985 adjusted for inflation that’s $1,200. Not to mention that’s for a vacuum which really is about as basic as it can be look at Mieles which range from $800 to $1,500 for a c3 that’s packed with circuit boards and engineered the absolute max. As far as I’m concerned the cost is justified. And I think it will continue to always be this way for a long time, people will always be able to justify spending the extra money when the quality and engineering is shown in a product

 

[dartman]

The last time a Kirby guy showed up here I told him I wasn't going to buy one but he could demo if he wanted. The machine was really nice and he pointed out that Kirby would carry the contract on whatever price we settled on but if I stopped paying they wouldn't come back and take the machine. Then eventually he did realize I wasn't buying so he asked me what I figured a fair price was and I said 600. I probably could have gotten it for somewhat close to that with the trade in credit but I didn't need yet another bill or give away my Royal 4650 they'd probably just toss. I bought a almost new Royal 413 for 200 about 1990 when he couldn't sell me a Kirby but we both knew I really needed a better vacuum. He if course took it in trade so he still made money and we both were happy. He called me a week after the demo and offered me the Royal. I still have it and it still works but needs a powered hose again and I have replaced the power head once in that time.

 

[man114]

It’s not a waste of cash to spend $2500 on a vacuum when you consider they usually last decades.

Regardless there will be people that buy them.

 

[rivstg1]

you ask where the company's that sell $$ vacs be in 5-10 years? Id say , based on the past 50years....they'll still be there...thats the story with most of them anyway....they've been around forever mostly selling door to door (Riccarr's aren't, I think their most expensive model is about $1800.

They do last a long while...but dang....thats a lot of money for a vac ($2-3k)

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Some of the prices are outrageous, indeed

Yes, look at those old Kirbys, and, the Hoover Convertibles. They last, practically forever, with proper care and service. True, parts wear out, but just look at them!!
My sister just bought a Shark!!!!!!! (no kidney for her)! She's giving me her old Hoover canister that just 'died' after 25 years. We'll see.......................But, when you realize that a 1940s Hoover cost almost $100.00 THEN....... Convert that.

 

[tseg]

When I had vacuum inspiration a couple years back I got a Miele C3 with every option imaginable (powered and unpowered), then doubled down getting a (used but mint condition) Dynamic U1 upright. They have been exceptional... but after dropping ~$1500 between the 2 units and accessories I still found myself making an impulse buy of a Shark Duo Clean Ultralite for ~$130 at Costco recently. A great little vac for quick jobs and stair cleaning. And my wife still maintains a 90's era Panasonic that remains her favorite.

In summary, I've come to realize having multiple units in well-placed locations around the house has much greater utility for me than one ultra-king-of-kings vac that can do it all. I get no joy lugging vacuums up and down stairs or from one end of the house to the other, or even unpacking/repacking commercial-length cords and hoses when not needed for some light-duty clean up.

No multi-thousand $$ vacuum has yet overcome the convenience opportunity for me.

 

[madman]

The other night, in our Discord server, a friend posted this photo (probably found it on funnyjunk or some place). Do you honestly believe these people would think twice about investing $1500 for a vac?

 

[frkirby560]

If you allow for dollar value per years of inflation, a Hoover Model 62 with attachments which sold in 1951 for $123.00 today would be $1208.00. The prices for the high end vacuums are not that out of line given the quality and versatility that they possess.

 

[kirbylux77]

MadMan - Those people spent $64G for dinner?!?!!!!! OUCH!!! That is WAY TOO MUCH to be spending out at a restaurant. Those people have much more money than they do common sense.

As for high priced/high end vacuums, I don't think that will stop anytime soon. There are always people out there that realize that little old saying "you get what you pay for!" is very true. Especially in today's world where everything seems to be cheaply made & made in China. About 70% to 80% of consumers will buy low & mid end vacuums, & be totally satisfied with their cleaning performance & they don't realize if they replace their vacuums more often, they might as well have just bought 1 really good vacuum that not only lasts MUCH longer, but cleans much better too.

Then there are the other 20% to 30% who do "get it" & don't mind spending over $700-$800, even into the thousands, to get a quality vacuum that lasts a long time & cleans well. Like Gmarquez said above, the cost can be justified when you factor in the extra features & engineering, longer lifespan & better cleaning performance. The fact that Miele has grown so much in recent years, selling high end German canisters that sell anywhere from $500 to $1500, proves that there are people who WILL pay those prices once they get fed up with buying low-end, disposable vacuums that don't clean well & constantly break.

As for Human/Edgar & his assertion that companies like Aerus & Kirby's competition are their own secondhand models, he makes a valid point. But, there will always people out there that, for whatever reason, despite the money they would save buying used & doing minor repairs/refurbishment, insist they don't want someone else's dirt & want to buy new. And I don't see the door to door method of selling high-end vacuums going away anytime soon. Certain brands that are "unique", like Rainbow, Filter Queen & Kirby, do need to be demonstrated to a customer for them to see the advantages of the product. And like Luxkid1980 said above, part of the reason they would buy is they are building a relationship with that dealer they can count on if something goes wrong with their new vacuum.

Kirbybb - Unfortunately, what that Aerus dealer told you about Miele motors being non-serviceable is correct. The earlier Miele canisters before 2004, that had the Ametek & Miele-made double stage motors, were indeed serviceable & able to be rebuilt. However, the Vortex single stage motor they have used since 2004, is indeed non-serviceable. Watch some of the YouTube videos out there showing Miele vacuums being repaired & rebuilt, they pretty much have to tear apart the entire motor just to get to the carbon brushes, & the skills some of these people have repairing that motor would be beyond the abilities of some repairmen working in vacuum shops. Plus I have never heard of the carbon brushes being available for the Vortex motors as a separate part. I wouldn't use that as a excuse to not buy a plastic Aerus or Miele though - bear in mind those Miele vacuums are designed & engineered to last 20 years use in most people's homes. Sure, the motor is disposable, but considering what you paid for the entire vacuum & it's lifespan, it's very much a viable option.

Rob

 

[dysonman1]

Of all the door to door as well as "high end" cleaners, Aerus Electrolux has what I consider to be a great sales model. There are three tank-type models. In my opinion, the Classic is all anyone needs. Used with HEPA disposable bags, they are very clean running, and sell for less than $1000. There's nothing that cannot be repaired about the Classic. While their upper end models can retail for close to $2000, I don't see how they could remove more dirt than the Classic model.

With Kirby, Rainbow, Tri-Star, etc. they only make one model, so it's either buy it or leave it.

Miele is a machine one either loves or completely dislikes. The uprights clean like a dream, but are quite heavy and the repair parts costs to the customer is outrageous. The canisters are fine, but the hoses are quite stiff and the power nozzle feels very heavy to push for an hour's cleaning time. They ARE durable and can take more abuse than most cleaners, so I think they'll stick around.

Tacony has fired so many important people that I cannot see how that brand will survive long. I've seen with my own eyes that drop in quality as more and more of the machine's production goes to China.

Sebo is a high quality machine, I just wish someone would make it pretty.

To sum it up, most high priced brands will survive in some way - but I think the door to door sales model is on its way out in favor of people making a choice as opposed to being made to feel your home is filthy if you don't buy a $2000+ vacuum sold by a stranger standing in your living room. People love to BUY but hate to be SOLD.

 

[panasonicvac]

I've seen that the Airstorm dropped their price for a little more than half off. They're basically the same vacuum as the Patriot.

https://www.aircleaners.com/product/air-storm-hepa-vacuum-cleaner-silver-blue/

 

[n0oxy]

Lindhaus and central vacuum

Lindhaus is another great brand, although not as common and definitely more difficult to purchase from, there are not as many places that sell them and I don't think they are sold on line the way Miele and Sebo are.
If someone wants to purchase a high end machine, I would suggest a central vacuum, that will give you much more cleaning power than any portable machine.
Mike