what is the next kirby model

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That sounds nothing

like a Kirby at all , more like an improved Vorwerk which never really took off here in the states .

They made the Vorwerk based on what they thought a Kirby should be .

The new Kirby WILL be the answer and solution to all the gripes about the Generation series .

Besides the economy they are making sure it is perfect beforwe they release it .

Warren Buffet was asked if he would put them in retail stores and his answer was NEVER it was how his entire family always purchased Kirbys and he will never break that tradition .

Thats why he purchased the company .
 
Actually..

What I envision, in the floor-cleaning upright mode would look very much like a Kirby, or a Royal upright, but with inclusions of other improvements as far as weight, quietness, and ease of use. If nothing changes, the product remains the same. Think outside the box.

I doubt seriously if the new Kirby will address the issues of the G series. The Kirby engineers are not paying attention. If they were, they would have made some significant changes before now. I will say it again: For the next 15 years 5000 people PER DAY are turning 65 years old. This means smaller homes, less disposable income, less physical mobility and less need, desire, and willingness to purchase a cleaning system that costs in excess of $2000.00. At the other end of the spectrum are the Walmart shoppers who buy $50.00 Bissells. My mom has always had Kirbys, but her next vacuum will be something else. She has one (Kirby) on every floor, and in the garage, but also has a hand vac and an electric broom to supplement.

Kirby, your market is shrinking. Do something.
 
The real problem with Kirby

It won’t matter what Kirby does. Their sales will continue to fall. I feel the best thing they could do is change their name. I know most people think this is crazy but hear me out. Most people’s complaint on Kirby is their sales tactics. When most people hear “Kirby” they cringe. The reason for most of this is everyone knows a horror story of salesmen being in a home for 3 hours or the neighbor getting their machine for hundreds of dollars less. I believe the worst thing Kirby has done was the inventory building program. What it is if distributors purchase 600 in a year they get around 45 or 50 Kirby’s free. So what this has done is force the smaller distributors to sell machines at any cost to make their 600. This leads to them selling them cheap to one person and high to the next person who can’t negotiate. And High pressure tactics. Kirby puts a price of $1349 on the box now for a new machine, yet most cover that up and retail the machine for $2500+. I’ve seen Sentrias sold for as low as $600 brand new out of the box. They stress numbers and nothing but numbers! I’m sure the changes they do make will have their fans and those who hate it. It’s the same with any vacuum. So by changing their name (which will never happen) will take away from the initial bad reaction when you say “Kirby”. And change their sales model, always stress more volume, but get #’s the right way. Not by shady sales tactics. I know a distributor who sells between 20 and 50 machines a month. They make money, their salesmen make money and their customers are VERY happy. Yet Kirby threatens to cancel them if they don’t buy at least 30 a month. So, what will happen they will place another distributor in their territory. Who will do WHATEVER it takes to sell that 100+ a month. And change the entire good name Kirby had in the community. It’s not the machine that’s the problem it’s the management. So the next Kirby could be the best thing since sliced bread, but until they change their ways their market will continue to shrink.
 
DTD vacuum sales complaints

Why are some picking on Kirby--ALL OF THE DTD vacuum companies have had complaints filed against them.The way for the vacuum companies to fix this--is make the salesman or sales company EMPLOYEES of that vacuum company-so if any get out of line--they are fired.It is hard for the companies to do that with todays CONTRACTOR based system.The contractor system needs to go-and go back to employee system.And other factors--with cheap vacuums being sold just about everywhere-its hard for the high priced DTD companies to compete.
As a high end vacuum buyer-I would like to see LESS plastic in the high end DTD machines.After all the cheap machines are plastic-the plastic conveys a "cheap" image to buyers-and of course its less durable-and in the long term--less recyclable.Metal always has a recycle market.
 
DTD vacs

Any DTD company can have a quality vac but the PRE Aerus Electrolux had a better system in that the branches and equipment was company owned.All sales people were employees and there was a one price policy that any customer paid the same price for the same machine anywhere.But the bottom line is sales.When the Elux auditor drove up on a Monday and said call a locksmith you knew the old manager didn't get the sales as expected and another was on the way.
 
Tolivac

I think the reason that Kirby is been picked on as far as the horrible sales Is that Kirby is the most well know dtd vacuum company, Even around the worls. ask the average person what a tristar or Rainbow is and they won't have a clue but mention Kirby and everyone knows of those. 


 


As for the picking on Kirby's design , I personally think out of all the d2d designs it is the most impractical. Infact apart from some  Electrolux/ Aerus models  & vorwerk is there another upright d2d vacuum.


 


I personally prefer a Upright to a canister but If I had to make a choice out of all the d2d vacuums as my only vacuum I would go for the canister due to its ease of use and more versatility .  
 
The reason Kirby is so picked on...

They are more well known, and just about every other DTD brand has vanished, or is barely hanging on.

There was a time when being a vacuum cleaner salesman was an honorable profession, and a respected way to make a decent living.

The branch system was better in many ways because the people working there were checked out before they went out to the field. Freshly shaved, pressed clothes, shined shoes, clean breath and fingernails. And before they were allowed to be hired, they had background checks run. However, they were not employees, they worked strictly on commission. They were monitored, and held to standards of ethical behavior, but they were still independent contractors, commission salespeople. Kirby used to be the same, as was Hoover, and Airway, etc.

In all my sales experience with Kirby there was never a mention of proper behavior in the customers' home, ever. Guys in the van would get high. I reported a despicable instance of behavior a dealer actually boasted of, and was berated by the Divisional Supervisor for it.

In the last 30 years there have been over 30,000 complaints about the conduct of Kirby dealers in the home in the US. Very few distributors follow up. No reporter, as of yet, has thought to search the databases of all the municipalities across the country and do an expose`. Only sporadic stories are done, and the memory of them dies down. (That figure came from someone on the inside at Kirby, and I do not doubt her word)

It is not fair to tar every distributor with the same brush, but most of them care only about making money, and will let anyone sell Kirbys, figuring they will sell a few to family and friends before they quit. 60% of sales come from the warm end, as it is called, new recruits. A demo that goes longer than 90 minutes is just too long. In 90 minutes I could pull over 100 dirt pads, shampoo a carpet, clean a mattress, kill their cleaner, and write a contract. Longer than that is just too long.
 
For the breif time I sold TriStars-simply came to the prospects home clean-and in non formal clothes-formal clothes can frighten the customer and alert him you are a salesman-and doors closed in your face.Filter Queen-Healthmor studied this-and provide uniforms for the salesperson-Its kinda hard to give a demo in a suit and tie-remember you are showing a cleaning product-expect to get dirty.Most of the Kirby people I knew from years ago were professional people-and acted that way.They were not the "dreck" you see today.Again the "dreck" salespeople are trying to represent ALL DTD companies.I have read complaints filed against not just Kirby,but Rainbow,TriStar,'Lux,Filter Queen,Vortech Force,WaterMatic,and Miracle Mate.Most of the complaints were the machine was misrepresented and the salesperson was too pushy and didn't want to leave when the prospect asked them to and said they weren't interested in buying the cleaning system.
I can surely agree on demos that were too long.The TriStar training points that out-and I have training materials from other companies including Kirby-all suggested breif demos-and clearly showing the prospect what the cleaner can do,and how to use and care for it.Kirby wasn't the only one with dirt meters and pads-Filter Queen and TriStar did the same.the clear top lid for the TriStar.
Yes,Kirby is got to be the most well known of the DTD companies.I think TriStar made a mistake changing the name---when you started to show the machine--the prospect would ask--"What is TriStar?"I would tell them "Remember Compact-your Mom or Grandmother probably had one." then the customer would catch on.Name changing means more explaining on the salesmans part.I would mostly let the machine do the "talking" after letting the customer try it.Customers liked the "feedback" from TriStar-Compacts by seeing the dirt they just picked up in the bag after opening the lid.
 
Rude vac customers

One time a customer called from long distance to "see" the TriStar.But when George and I got to his house-about a two hour drive-he wouldn't let us in the house or even want to see the machine---I think if a customer calls or requests the demo-he should allow the salesman to demo the machine.So for vac or other DTD salesmen-there can be RUDE customers,too.
 
I was never more successful selling Kirbys...

than when I did it in a TUX...
"If I can use the Kirby in tux, how hard can it be...? Will that be check, credit card, or payment plan."
 
I don't have any comments re: the new Kirby, as I am sure whatever it is Kirby will have made sure it was up to their standards of Quality, Reliability and Performance.

I agree somewhat with Trebor, honestly Kirby has too many attachments. I have used everyone, but as I have stated before I don't care for the shampoo system. I always wonder when the garden tiller attachment will come out.

Anyway, I had a question. Where does one find the vacuum sales numbers?
 
Its Time...

I sure wish the new Kirby would come out, that or they would at least change the color and the name of the Sentria. The Sentria is the longest running Kirby and they're several years over due for a new model. Don't get me wrong...I love Kirby, but come on already...get something new out there and don't use the color gray on it!
 
I heard it`s

on it`s way very very soon .

I said what about 2014 and I was told it will be much sooner than that .

I was also told it was going to be completely redesigned and they have addressed

every problem and complaint that consumers have complained aboout for years .

I was told being a collector I and other vacuum collectors will be suprised and pleased .
 
The 2014 model...

would more than likely be introduced late August, early September 2013, so just over a year to go.  It takes about three months to clear old stock, on average. Kirby likes to keep the selling of two models concurrently to a minimum. This is the alleged 100th anniversary, an exaggeration at best, since Jim Kirby's name did not appear on the machine until 1935. Fall 2012 is a wee bit early to introduce the 100th anniversary model, summer 2013 MAYBE. I will be very surprised if it is before that.
 
New Kirby

I don't care if they put it out next week and call it the 200th Anniversary edition. When Jim's name first appeared on the machine doesn't matter. A Kirby is a Kirby...get the new one out already! As for over stock on Sentrias they can strip them all down, save the part for their replacement part stock and melt down the aluminum to be cast into the new model. It's just time. I am Sentria'd out! So KIRBY CO...if you have your informants monitoring this page please take note that the Sentria has been sold to death-New Model Now!
 
Why do you think

it will only be released as the 100th Anniversary model ??? Where did you come

up with that therory ?

Do you not remember when the G4 was introduced they did not wait to release it

until the 80th birthday . They just slapped an 80th Anniversary sticker on it .

I guess you will be suprised then because its gonna be

here sooner than what you think !
 
The G-4 was introduced in 1993, the 80th anniversary

being 2014. Vehicle introductions are always in the calendar year prior. On their charts, Kirby has listed the actual dates of production with the exception of the 'Generation III by Kirby' which was so-named because the Legend II was produced concurrently all the way through 1990. The G-3 was introduced in late 1989, but listed as 1991. If the Tech Drive failed in the marketplace, they would have had production of the tried-and-true model up and running.They attribute the Legend II as the only model produced during that time. I knew many old time Kirby salesmen.


 


There was serious talk of a color change before now, and as time crept along, it was not practical to have two new model introductions in so short a time.  The distributors who buy heavily will have a heads up so they can move old stock. The factory tracks serial # so the heavy buyers will start seeing their purchases delayed to level the playing field, so that light purchasers will not have an advantage in getting new machines sooner and leave the heavy hitters with overstock they need to lowball. 


 


"A Kirby is a Kirby"?  From 1935 on, true, however, prior to then, it was a Grasshopper, Vacuette, or Scott and Fetzer.  That's like saying a Mustang is really Chrysler because it was produced under Lee Iaccoca. It's Scott & Fetzer's history, so they can take a bit of historic license if they choose, but it it is technically inaccurate.


 


Dissemble and melt down already manufactured Sentrias? You must be joking. That is a decision that makes absolutely no economic sense whatsoever, for any reason.


 


 
 
All true but

the first G4 was not labled an 80th Anniversary until a year after it was introduced.

I have the very first G4 and its not labled 80th so that`s why your therory of the
redesigned Kirby not being released until 2014 doesn`t make sense .

The new totally redesigned Kirby is on the way very very soon .

They realize they need a new machine but needed to work out all the bugs
because in this economy you can`t afford to introduce a new model and have
it break down .
 
Kirby history

Model history
Ezee Vacuum Cleaner (1914-1919)
Vacuette Wireless (1919-1930)
The Vacuette Electric (1925-1928)
Scott and Fetzer Sanitation System (1928-1934)
Kirby Model 1C (1935-1937) Gray and Black
Kirby Model 505 (1945-1947) Gray, Black and Red
Kirby Model 508 (1948-1949)Gray, Black and Red
Kirby Model 509 (1949-1950) Gray, Black and Red
Kirby Model 510 (1950-1951) Gray and Red
Kirby Model 516 (1956-1957) Gray and Red
Kirby Dual - Sanitronic 50 (1965-1967) Sirrocco (Tan)
Kirby Dual - Sanitronic 80 (1967-1970) Avacado (Green)
The first model with a substantial redesign was the Kirby Classic.

Kirby Classic (1970-1973) Chocolate Brown w/ Gold Bag
Kirby Classic Omega (1973-1976) Rosewood Brown w/ Tan bag
Kirby Classic III (1976-1979) Red w/ Plaid bag
Kirby Tradition (1979-1981) Royal and Navy Blue
The Kirby Tradition was first Kirby model to feature disposable paper bags, notably later than other vacuum manufacturers.

Kirby Heritage (1981-1984) Medium Gray and Scarlet Red, the last Kirby to be fitted with the Sani-Emtor and now optional shake-out bag; introduces the Turbo Brush, Turbo Sander, and Turbo Groom
Kirby Heritage II (1984-1987) Black and Red w/ Gray and Red Kirby bag; introduces the Zippbrush, smaller rug nozzle and the new "Mini-Emtor"
Kirby Heritage II Legend (1987-1989) As Heritage II but with a design on the handle and with "Legend" on the belt lifter
Kirby Legend II (1989-1990) Maroon and Black w/ Maroon and Gray Kirby bag, handle design as Heritage II Legend but with new color scheme & with "Legend II" on the handle and the "Kirby" logo on the belt lifter


Another substantial redesign from the ground up, introduces the patented TechDrive Power Assist self-propelled feature which eliminates 90% of the effort required to move the Kirby back and forth.
Kirby Generation 3 (1990-1993) Alabaster White and Gray w/ Gray stripes on bag and handle
Kirby G4 (1993-1997) Stone Gray and Periwinkle Blue w/ G4 pattern on bag; introduces the patented Micron Magic filtration system
Kirby G5 (1997-1999) Burgundy and Gray w/ G5 pattern on bag
Kirby GSix, G2000, and G2001 (1999-2002) Black Onyx, Yellow and Gray w/ G Six pattern on bag; introduces the patented and redesigned Micron Magic HEPA filtration system
Kirby Ultimate G (2002-2003) Twilight Gray and Yellow w/ Ultimate G pattern on bag
Kirby Diamond Edition (2003-2006) Twilight Gray and Yellow w/ Diamond Pattern on bag and handle
Kirby Sentria (2006-Present Day) Gray and Red w/ Sentria pattern on bag; different handle shape and belt lifter modification
[this post was last edited: 7/6/2012-10:33]
 
The Heritage II

initially had the wide Classic type nozzle and the mini-emptor and the Zipp brush. Did the switch to the more streamlined nozzle happen before the name change, or concurrent with it?
 
Brad

I was just told very very soon and when I mentioned the anniversary she said oh it will be way sooner than our anniversary and everyone waiting will be quite pleased with its release .

Trebor , concurrent plus they offered the 500 series head to customers who did not like the wide head .
 
Very very soon...

could be three months from now, or it could be the anniversary. We have been down this road of speculation before a time or three, with supposed information from the inside. We have seen patent drawings, heard rumors of people seeing the new machine, etc.  Unlikely, but this still could be just a color change on the Sentria. I have not heard anyone say specifically that the new model introduction that is supposedly coming 'very soon' will be the long-anticipated redesign.  There is only one hundredth anniversary. Why would they launch it prematurely and not close to the century mark? It seems anti-climactic. In any case, if Kirby follows what they have done in the past, the production of the old model ceases about 90 days before the introduction of the new. Large distributors have been known to ship overstock back to the factory so it can be sent out to other distributors without revealing that these machines had already been shipped to another distributor first. Kirby wants the new model to arrive everywhere as close to simultaneously as possible, with as few old machines still for sale as possible. This is why all the secrecy surrounding a new model release.  If this one is the big change, I'd think they would want it to be the 100th anniversary.


 


 
 
Kinda hard to

release it nearest to the anniversary date when many distributers are pissed and many are leaving Kirby .

Kirby has to release this model before 2014 or risk losing people to sell them .

From what I was told they can`t wait until 2014 to release it .

So I guess we shall find out soon enough ![this post was last edited: 7/6/2012-16:10]
 
Distributors are pissed for many reasons...

One of the biggies is that when people purchase supplies on-line the local distributor receives NOTHING, Zippity Freakin' Do-Dah!


A distributor who has been successful will not leave over lack of a model change. That may be the excuse, but there are distributors are still making a living selling the Sentria.


 


There is not a commission schedule for bags and accessories like there used to be with Electrolux, so dealers could develop a base income that helped them through periods of low sales. Kirby even now has shampoo for extractors! It's true.  So many cleaning products that could add to the dealer's bottom line, and the distributor's, but nothing is in place. And what about factory rebuilds? The salesman and the distributor should make a few bucks off of those as well. What about an extractor carpet cleaner? People do buy them, even people who have Kirbys.  Why not have one of Kirby quality? Why not a revival of the straight suction nozzle they had on the pre-508 machines with all the hard surface floors everywhere?  Yes, distributors have reason to be angry, but the delay of a new Kirby is just the tip of the iceberg that has been melting for a long time now.


 


I don't know what is spring push month in the Kirby Universe these days, but I think February, March, or April is when the new model will be introduced. The 100th anniversary model in 2013 is believable. "So fantastic, they couldn't wait any longer!"  I will be very surprised if it is introduced within the remainder of the calendar year of 2012.
 

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